Tiong Bahru
A heritage estate of Art Deco walk-ups, an iconic market and a cluster of cafes and bakeries.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Best time
- Morning
- Cost
- Free to explore; food paid
The story
Tiong Bahru is one of Singapore's oldest housing estates, built in the 1930s in a distinctive streamlined Art Deco style, and is now a conserved heritage neighbourhood. In recent years it has become a fashionable enclave known for its independent cafés, bakeries, bookshops and boutiques set among the low-rise walk-up flats. Its famous market and food centre remains a draw for traditional local dishes.
What to see & do
- 01The distinctive 1930s Art Deco walk-up apartment blocks.
- 02The Tiong Bahru Market and food centre for local hawker fare.
- 03Trendy independent cafés, bakeries and bookshops.
- 04Heritage murals depicting old Singapore life.
- 05The blend of old-world charm and contemporary boutiques.
Make the most of your visit
- Come in the morning for the market's popular breakfast dishes.
- Wandering the heritage streets is free.
- Explore on foot to find the cafés and hidden murals.
- Weekday mornings are quieter than busy weekends.
- Combine market food with a coffee at one of the cafés.
Getting there
Take the MRT to Tiong Bahru station on the East West Line, then walk about ten minutes into the heritage estate, or continue a short distance by bus or taxi.
Nearest MRT stations- Havelock MRT Station7.6 min walk
- Tiong Bahru MRT Station9.7 min walk
- Outram Park MRT Station12.6 min walk
- Great World MRT Station17.3 min walk
Walk times are real pedestrian routing (OSRM) from the attraction to each station entrance, not straight-line estimates.
Where to eat nearby — hawker centres
- Tiong Bahru Market0.1 min
- Havelock Road Cooked Food Centre9 min
- Market & Hawker Centre (blk 112 Jalan Bukit Merah)13.2 min
- Beo Crescent Market13.8 min
- Zion Riverside Food Centre14.3 min
Eat & stay nearby
Top-rated restaurants and hotels within walking distance of Tiong Bahru, pulled live from Google. Tap any to open it in Google Maps.
EV charging nearby
Driving an EV? The nearest public charging points to Tiong Bahru, from Singapore’s LTA charger registry.
- Blk 78/80 Moh Guan Terrace/Chay Yan StreetStrides Ytl Pte. Ltd.· up to 7.4 kW228 m
- Blk 81 Tiong Poh Road/Keng Kiat Street Tiong Bahru EstateCharge+ Pte. Ltd.· up to 7.4 kW242 m
- Blks 4-8 Taman Ho Swee Bukit Ho Swee ViewCharge+ Pte. Ltd.· up to 7.4 kW357 m
- Blk 22 Havelock RoadCharge+ Pte. Ltd.· up to 7.4 kW477 m
Distances are straight-line from the attraction. See the full EV charger map →
More to see within walking distance
Itineraries that include Tiong Bahru
See how visitors fit Tiong Bahru into a day — with what to pair it with, when to go and real traveller notes.
Staying in the area
Renting or buying near here? These stations have HDB blocks ranked by walk time and liveability: