8 great reasons (that aren't food!) to visit Tiong Bahru over and over again

DOES IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?

When it comes to Tiong Bahru, the dining options here are endless! For local fare, the Tiong Bahru Market is your best bet. Alternatively, check out the cool cafes and bakeries (like Forty Hands, Drips Bakery Cafe and Tiong Bahru Bakery) to grab some grub.

But it's not just about the food. Head over to the quaint little Tiong Bahru Estate to experience a blend of old and new in Singapore.

1. HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Tiong Bahru is often associated with the dreaded "H" word (hispter, if you don't know) but its rich historical value should not be overlooked.

For example, did you know you can find Singapore pioneer and philanthropist Tan Tock Seng's grave (pictured) near Seng Poh Road and Outram Road? It's been there for possibly more than 130 years and it's visible from the roads so do keep an eye out for it.

Over at Eng Hoon Street, the Qi Tian Gong Temple is the first temple dedicated to the worship of the Monkey God in Singapore and has been standing at its current location since 1938.

And if you're wondering about road names as you're wandering, the streets in Tiong Bahru Estate are named after Singapore pioneers from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

2. ART

Sure, there are several art and antiques galleries in Tiong Bahru such as the ArtBlue Studio (23 Yong Siak St, 168652), DEGIOSART (#01-82, 57 Eng Hoon Rd, 160057), and Aphorism Antiques (#01-51, 72 Seng Poh Rd, 160072) but don't miss your chance to spot some special heritage-themed murals (pictured) by Yip Yew Chong on the side of the walls at these locations.

They depict scenes of Tiong Bahru in the past and you'll get a glimpse of what it was like to be a resident there.

3. ARCHITECTURE

The design of the flats in Tiong Bahru is unlike any other. You'll find characteristics of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne, unique spiral staircases, and local elements such as the five-foot ways incorporated into the flats.

The famed 'horse-shoe' shaped flat at Moh Guan Terrace, built in 1939, also houses an air-raid shelter and it is the first public housing building to have one.

Our personal favourite? The cute single-storey stores and restaurants at Seng Poh Lane (pictured). (Because it's hard to find single-storey anything in land-scarce Singapore!)

4. BOOKS

We can't talk about Tiong Bahru without mentioning BooksActually (9 Yong Siak St, 168645), our beloved independent bookstore. If you're looking to read works by local authors, check out the various titles from Math Paper Press sold there.

A few doors downs, Woods in the Books (3 Yong Siak St, 168642, pictured) stocks up on books for kids of all ages. This "picture book shop" also holds monthly storytelling and craft sessions for four to six-year-olds.

One for the Francophiles: The French Bookshop (#01-53, 55 Tiong Bahru Rd, 160055) has more than 3,000 books in French!

5. SHOPPING

What else can I shop for, you ask? Well, Tiong Bahru Plaza (298 Tiong Bahru Rd, 168730) offers an array of shopping options and F&B outlets for residents there.

But if you're not looking for mass-produced stuff, head over to OliveAnkara (#01-02, 79 Chay Yan St, 160079, pictured) for unique outfits that amalgamate African fabrics with modern designs, or nana & bird (1M Yong Siak St, 168641), a multi-label boutique offering fashion and lifestyle products from Singapore and international independent labels.

6. PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

What's a Singapore neighbourhood without parks? Tiong Bahru Park is located along Tiong Bahru Road and Lower Delta Road and your kids will love the iconic life-sized tilted train with slides at the adventure playground.

The cosy little Seng Poh Tea Garden at the corner of Seng Poh Road and Moh Guan Terrace is home to the Dancing Girl sculpture (pictured), made by the same man who sculpted the Merlion - Lim Nang Sang - and is also Tiong Bahru's first display of public art.

7. MUSIC

We all know it's not a hipster enclave unless it has an independent record store with vinyl records. Curated Records (#01-53, 55 Tiong Bahru Rd, 160055) carries mainstream releases as well as obscure indie titles which have been carefully selected for discerning music connoisseurs.

8. NOSTALGIA

We're just adding this in because we got excited (and a little amused) when we stumbled upon a payphone that works in Tiong Bahru. Talk about throwback!

This article was first published in The Finder.