Singapore's first planned housing estate from the 1930s, now home to art-deco blocks, independent bakeries, specialty coffee, and a beloved heritage hawker market.
Order: ['Cereal butter prawns', 'Claypot ee fu noodles', 'Baby kailan with preserved egg']
Tip: Open for lunch and dinner daily. Weekday lunches are slightly calmer but expect a wait at dinner on weekends. No reservations for walk-in groups under 8.
Order: ['Cai Po Dashi egg sando', 'Gyu sando', 'Matcha strawberry cloud']
Tip: Closed Mondays. Opens 8am Tuesday to Sunday. Small space; weekend mornings see a queue by 10am. A five-minute walk from Tiong Bahru MRT.
Order: ['Kouign-amann', 'Croissant', 'Alain Ducasse espresso']
Tip: Fresh pastries go quickly on weekends. Arrive before 10am for the full selection.
Order: ['Signature cupcake', 'Eggs benedict', 'Flat white']
Tip: Sunday mornings are very busy; the shop is quieter from 2pm onwards. Brunch runs daily until the kitchen closes.
Order: ['Golden waffles with ice cream', 'Sea salt gula melaka scoop', 'Kopi peng ice cream']
Tip: Open daily from 12pm. The small indoor seating area fills up on weekend afternoons; the alley outside has informal seating on good days.
Order: ['Tomato tartine with ricotta', 'Country sourdough loaf', 'Seeded sourdough']
Tip: Open Wednesday to Sunday 8am to 4pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Loaves sell out by early afternoon at weekends. A short walk from Tiong Bahru MRT.
Order: ['Kouign-amann', 'Croissant', 'Pain de campagne']
Tip: Freshest pastries are out by 8am. Weekend queues form before opening; weekday mornings are calmer. Multiple outlets across the island but this is the original.
Order: ['Signature cupcake', 'Sourdough loaf', 'Scone']
Tip: Seven locations across the island but the Tiong Bahru flagship retains the most character. Bakes sell out on weekend afternoons.
Wine focus: Natural and low-intervention wines, by-the-glass programme
Order: ['Natural wine by the glass', 'Salted egg carbonara', 'Wagyu beef patty melt']
Tip: Book ahead for Friday evenings. The by-the-glass list changes weekly; ask the team what is newest on the chalkboard.
Tip: Most stalls open for breakfast and lunch; many close by 2pm. Wednesday to Sunday between 6am and 2pm is the optimal window. The wet market opens from 5am.
Tip: The self-guided format suits independent travellers who prefer flexibility.
Tip: Most stalls open 6am to 2pm; some close earlier. Arrive between 7am and 11am for the full selection. The wet market below opens at 5am.
Order: ['Kouign-amann', 'Shio pan', 'Croissant with filter coffee']
Tip: Open daily 7.30am to 8pm (weekdays) and 8am to 8pm (weekends). The Eng Hoon Street flagship carries the widest exclusive selection.
Order: ['Avocado smash', 'Flat white', 'Smoked salmon toast']
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Weekend brunch fills the small interior fast; arrive before 10am or take counter seats. A short walk from Tiong Bahru MRT.