Singapore Insider Tips: 9 Real Hidden Gems

Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is one of our absolute favorite neighborhoods in Singapore — and honestly, it’s still flying under the radar for most travelers.

Even the first impression is completely different from anywhere else in the city. The area was planned on the drawing board in the 1920s, and countless residential blocks went up here through the 1940s.

The architectural style can best be described as Art Deco. Unlike the rest of Singapore, where skyscrapers shoot up into the sky, most buildings in Tiong Bahru are only about five stories tall. That’s a big part of why it feels so much quieter and more laid-back here than in many other parts of the city.

Along the streets you’ll find lots of charming little cafés, quirky boutiques, and one-of-a-kind shops. Tiong Bahru is the perfect place to slow down or take a relaxed Sunday stroll.

By the way, there’s also a tour on Getyourguide with a local where you can discover some real off-the-beaten-path spots like the Tiong Bahru neighborhood.

Book the hidden gems private tour with a local

A few spots stood out to us in particular, and we definitely don’t want to keep them to ourselves:

Plain Vanilla Bakery

Just a few steps from Books Actually, you’ll find the wonderful Plain Vanilla Bakery. The bakery is completely open, so you can watch all the delicious cupcakes and other baked goods being made. Even better, though, is simply buying something and trying it. Seriously good.

Tiong Bahru Market

Very few tourists wander into the Tiong Bahru market hall — which is exactly why you should. On the ground floor you get the full, authentic market experience: mainly vegetables, meat, and fish.

On the upper floor there’s a great food court, so come hungry. We tried two of the most well-known stalls:

Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow: The stall at number 2-11 serves one of Singapore’s classic dishes: Kway Teow. These are stir-fried rice noodles mixed with soy sauce, plenty of spices, clams, sausage, and meat. Really tasty!

Jian Bo – Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh: Here you can get Shui Kueh — steamed rice cakes eaten with a savory dip. It wasn’t really our thing, but it’s absolutely worth a try.

How to get to Tiong Bahru

Take the East-West Line to Tiong Bahru station. From there it’s about a five to ten minute walk to Tiong Bahru Market. The streets with the typical Art Deco buildings and small shops are all around the market.

Katong and Joo Chiat

Also super hip and still well under the tourist radar are the two neighboring districts of Katong and Joo Chiat in the southeast of Singapore.

Here, tradition meets modernity. Alongside trendy restaurants and boutiques, there are numerous shops selling traditional clothing and shoes.

Also really worth a look are the colorful Peranakan houses along Joo Chiat Road and its side streets. These traditional buildings are now among the most sought-after and expensive residential properties in Singapore.

How to get to Joo Chiat

The nearest metro station is Paya Lebar, reachable via the CC Line and the East-West Line. From there it’s just a few hundred meters to Joo Chiat Road, which you can simply walk south along.

Southern Ridges

Singapore is one of the greenest cities we’ve come across in Asia. Green spaces are tucked between all the high-rises, and if you head a little outside the center, you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a forest.

If you’re in the mood for some peace and quiet, make your way to the Southern Ridges. Locals love coming here to escape the city buzz, and for travelers it’s still a genuine secret spot.

The Southern Ridges encompass several parks and nature reserves connected by a 10-kilometer trail — including Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park, and Labrador Nature Reserve.

A popular photo subject along the way is the Henderson Wave, a wave-shaped pedestrian bridge connecting Mount Faber Park with Telok Blangah Hill Park.

How to get to the Southern Ridges

The Southern Ridges span an area of several square kilometers and are served by the CC Line.

Depending on which section you want to visit, you’ll get off at a different station. Here’s a quick overview:

• Mount Faber: Harbour Front
• Henderson Wave and Telok Blangah Hill Park: Telok Blangah
• Hort Park: Labrador Park
• Kent Ridge Park: Pasir Panjang or Kent Ridge

Gillman Barracks

The Gillman Barracks were originally built in the 1930s as quarters for British troops. Today, the colonial structures draw mainly art lovers.

The former barracks buildings now house numerous galleries showcasing contemporary art from Asia and beyond.

You rarely see tourists here — making Gillman Barracks a definite under-the-radar pick for anyone who loves art.

How to get to Gillman Barracks

Gillman Barracks is located very close to the Southern Ridges, so you can easily combine both in one outing.

The nearest metro station is Labrador Park.

Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa is a park filled with figures from Chinese mythology. It was built in 1937 by one of the two inventors of Tiger Balm as a gift for his brother.

Haw Par Villa is one of Singapore’s most wonderfully quirky attractions — a real hidden gem if you don’t just want to tick off the big highlights like Marina Bay Sands or Sentosa Island. We actually had the place entirely to ourselves. Apparently it only gets busy on weekends, when many Chinese families bring their kids here.

The standout of the park is the 10 Courts of Hell, which depict the various methods of punishment that sinners can expect in the afterlife. After our visit, we decided to be on our very best behavior from now on. Though we already were, to be fair.

How to get to Haw Par Villa

The Haw Par Villa metro station on the CC Line is right at the entrance to the park. A visit pairs really well with the Southern Ridges and Gillman Barracks, as all three are close to each other.

Dempsey Hill and Holland Village

Holland Village and Dempsey Hill are especially popular with expats and younger, more affluent locals.

In Holland Village you’ll find lots of trendy restaurants and bars. The name, by the way, has nothing to do with the Netherlands — it comes from the architect Hugh Holland.

Dempsey Hill is best known for its antique and design shops. Some of the stores are eye-wateringly expensive, but strolling through the neighborhood is fun even if you don’t buy a thing.

How to get to Holland Village and Dempsey Hill

You can reach Holland Village via metro lines EW and CC at Buona Vista station.

Dempsey Hill doesn’t have a direct metro connection, but it’s easy to reach from Holland Village by bus. Lines 5, 75, and 106 will get you from Holland Village station to the Dempsey Club House stop in just five minutes.

Old Hill Street Police Station

We only discovered the Old Hill Street Police Station by chance. Walking along a busy main road, we suddenly noticed a building with stunning, colorful windows — and stopped in our tracks.

There are 927 brilliantly colorful windows adorning the historic building. It’s seriously one of our favorite photo spots in all of Singapore.

Especially if you’ve chosen the Civic District for your accommodation in Singapore, you can get here really quickly.

How to get to the Old Hill Street Police Station

The Old Hill Street Police Station sits right next to Fort Canning Park, just a few minutes’ walk from Clarke Quay. The nearest metro stations are Clarke Quay (NE) and City Hall (NS and EW).

The best view in Singapore

In total, we visited eight viewpoints in Singapore and have one clear favorite: LeVeL33.

LeVeL33 is still very much a local favorite. Most visitors head to the Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck or the well-known 1-Altitude Skybar. But the view from LeVeL33 was our top pick — it offers a completely different perspective on Marina Bay and the city skyline.

Plus, they serve what is probably the best beer in all of Singapore, brewed right there on the premises.

We’ve put together all the details on the best vantage points in Singapore in a dedicated article:

The 9 best viewpoints in Singapore

The best food in Singapore

Singapore and food — they just go together. There are few cities in the world with as many diverse and delicious cuisines.

We tried a huge number of incredibly tasty dishes during our time here. We hit hawker centers and restaurants alike, and we want to share our best recommendations with you in a quick, easy format.

We’ve also written a detailed article on food courts and restaurants:

Eating in Singapore — The best hawker centers and restaurants

But here are our quick Singapore food tips in a nutshell:

• Best dim sum: Din Tai Fung
• Best Indian food: Rasu’s Mama Curry
• Best hawker center: Tiong Bahru Market
• Coolest hawker center: Timbre+
• Cheapest beer: SideWalk Foodcourt (5.50 SGD for a large Tiger Beer)
• Cheapest Michelin-starred food: Liao Fan (2.50 SGD for the award-winning dish)

Read our full guide to the best restaurants and food courts in Singapore.

Even more Singapore insider tips

Those are our top picks for Singapore off the beaten path. If you want to experience the city beyond the typical tourist trail, these tips will keep you busy for several days — if you’re just making a short stopover in Singapore, you probably won’t get through them all.

Staying longer and still hungry for more? We found a great book at the wonderful bookstore Books Actually: the Lost Guide Singapore. In it, author Anna Chittenden shares her very personal secret spots for Singapore — mostly restaurants and small shops.

If you’re after even more Singapore insider tips, this book is absolutely worth picking up. It’s available in English.

Check out the Lost Guide Singapore on Amazon