Tanjong Pagar – meaning ‘cape of stakes’ in Malay – beautifully encapsulates Singapore’s evolution from its humble beginnings as a fishing village to a bustling trading port. Today, sleek and modern skyscrapers can be found around Tanjong Pagar, making it a modern metropolis that’s part of Singapore’s Central Business District. You’ll see white-collared workers hustling hard during the day, but that’s not to say that the area feels stuffy or clinical.

Heritage shophouses and colourful street art evoke a sense of nostalgia, with well-loved hawker stalls serving local grub. These traditional elements coexist alongside trendy new restaurants aiming for Michelin recognition and vibrant underground bars and clubs where locals unwind after a long day. ‘Nuff said – there’s much to see, do and eat here, so here’s the ultimate guide to Tanjong Pagar:

Discover the best things to do in Singapore

101 best things to do in Singapore

Kada

This four-storey lifestyle haven has everything you need – from local cafés and restaurants to an art jamming studio – and it’s set in a restored heritage building originally built in 1923. Fitness takes over at the second level of Kada, where you can find five studios offering everything from pilates to physiotherapy. Head up one level and you’ll reach Habyt, a co-living space, which has a six-night minimum stay policy. Here’s another interesting feature to look out for while you’re at Kada – Singapore’s oldest electric lift, built back in 1929. And yes, it’s still operational, so go ahead and open the rustic gates and take a trip up (or down) nostalgia lane.

2. Singapore Art Museum

When Singapore Art Museum first opened in 1996, it was the first art museum in Singapore. Housed in a former Catholic boys’ school, it exhibited intimate, Southeast Asian contemporary art shows in its small, unusual and hidden gallery spaces. Now at a new location in Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore Art Museum continues to be a prime stop for 20th-century Asian visual art, often drawn from the museum’s own collection of Southeast Asian ‘pioneer’ art.

Thought to be one of Singapore’s most authentic remaining Peranakan residential properties, this is not a traditional museum but a heritage house with a mission to provide education about Straits Chinese culture. Run by the National University of Singapore’s Centre for the Arts, it was restored and reopened in 2007 as the home to Singapore’s 108-year-old Peranakan Association. Entry costs $10 for Singaporeans, PRs, NUS Staff and Alumni. Students can enjoy a discounted entry fee of $5.

On Telok Ayer Street, you’ll find one of the oldest Chinese temples in Singapore – Thian Hock Keng Temple. For the uninitiated, here’s a brief history. A century ago, Telok Ayer Street was right up against the sea. This temple, known as the ‘Temple of Heavenly Happiness’, was popular with newly arrived immigrants, who came here to burn incense to express gratitude to Ma Cho Po (a Taoist deity and protector of seafarers) for their safe arrival. Some of the materials used in the temple were taken from the boats, including the rooftop mosaic. Inside, the main altar features a statue of Ma Cho Po and other deities of luck, war and punishment.

If you’re a self-professed architecture geek – especially when it comes to heritage structures – Tanjong Pagar is the district to be. Grab your camera and take a walk along places like Duxton Hill, Peck Seah Street and Neil Road, where you can find one of the oldest conservation shophouses in Singapore. You might just learn a new thing or two about the different shophouse styles that are prevalent in Singapore.

6. Yoga Movement

Yoga Movement has several locations all around Singapore, including one at Tanjong Pagar. Located at Icon Village, this is touted to be its most beautiful studio yet, with customised wallpaper, calming botanical-themed wall features and spacious studios and changing rooms. Yoga Movement Tanjong Pagar brings its HIIT yoga sweat fests, on top of its seven signature class types. Just a stone’s throw from the likes of Two Men Bagel House and the hip stretch of restaurants down the road, this is set to be your new favourite workout destination.

1. Hoo Kee Bak Chang

This time-honoured rice dumpling store has been around since the 1940s. It has since passed into the hands of third-generation owner Ryk Chew, who continues his grandfather’s legacy of plump and delicious Hokkien-style bak chang. Here, you’ll find shiny, dark glutinous rice stuffed with meat and chestnuts, wrapped in fragrant bamboo leaves.

Photograph: ShutterstockMaxwell Food Centre

Home to a plethora of food stalls that champion different local fare – from flavourful Hainanese chicken rice and nasi lemak to wholesome porridge and mee pok – Maxwell Food Centre stands amongst the favourites for lunchtime nosh in the CBD. The chicken rice hype is real here: you can’t leave this hawker centre without ordering from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice where Michelin-starred heavyweight Gordon Ramsay and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain were impressed with its take on the national dish.

Try Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice’s signature dish — fragrant rice and deboned chicken smothered in light soy sauce, best paired with garlic and chilli sauce. For something less intense, check out Zhen Zhen Porridge for steaming hot bowls of chicken and fish porridge topped with ginger shreds.

Photograph: CloudstreetGrilled lamb and young jackfruit

Rishi Naleendra is a prodigy among chefs. His restaurant on Amoy Street, however, breaks away from the modern Australian cocoon he was known for at Cheek by Jowl. The menu at Cloudstreet showcases progressive dishes that take inspiration from Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world. Tasting menus are priced from $248 for a six-course lunch on Fridays and Saturdays, and beverage pairings are priced from $268. Here’s a tip if you’re heading over: set aside at least three hours for your tastings so you can enjoy the full culinary experience.

Helmed by a mother-daughter duo, Kueh Ho Jiak is your one-stop-shop for your traditional kueh needs, with a twist. Young hawker Elizabeth Chan presses ang ku kueh into shapes of teddy bears and koi fishes, using sweet potato to create adorable variants of the traditional treat.

At the stall, you’ll find colourful balls of ondeh ondeh, rice kueh in a rare hue of orange, and even ang ku kueh with unique fillings of cempedek and spicy shrimp. Got a special celebration? Kueh Ho Jiak also does kueh dessert tables and other custom-shaped treats.

Photograph: ThevarGrilled octopus with masala lentil

For a taste of experimental Indian cuisine beyond thosai and butter chicken, definitely do not miss this contemporary Indian restaurant along Keong Saik Road. Chef Murugan Thevar serves up creative yet satisfyingly delicious plates inspired by his travels around South Asia and his Penang heritage – from the kokum spiced gujiya and winter rhubarb chaat. The lunch menu is only available on Saturdays, while dinner is available from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and both menus are priced at $298 per diner.

This Michelin Bib Gourmand winner on Peck Seah Street is out to prove that going plant-based doesn’t mean you have to give up your favourite Southeast Asian dishes. Whole Earth serves up a curious mix of Thai and Peranakan vegetarian dishes, including the sweet and sour ‘pork’ and crispy handmade yam rings stuffed with treasures. Don’t miss out on the Nonya curry too – this hearty Peranakan-style curry is served with minced mushrooms that resemble meatballs and potatoes. Other vegetarian takes on zi char staples include sweet and sour ‘pork’ and crispy handmade yam rings stuffed with treasures.

1. Jigger and Pony

Jigger & Pony - Ugly Tomatoes — Photograph: Jigger & PonyJigger & Pony – Ugly Tomatoes

Jigger and Pony is a popular drinking den for locals and tourists, thanks to its vivacious atmosphere and superb service. In fact, it’s even made it to the World’s 50 best bars in 2024. Regulars will know that the bar’s ever-changing magazine menu, or menu-zine, is always something worth browsing. Modelled after Monocle, it reads like a lifestyle magazine complete with styled shoots, illustrations, guest articles and recipe pages. The classic cocktails are what draws the crowd – we’re talking about the Godfather and Old Fashioned, as well as the crowd favourite Espresso Martini, all made with locally sourced ingredients.

This cosy establishment on the second storey of a shophouse along Amoy Street clinched a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2024, and for good reason. At Native, head bartender Vijay Mudaliar showcases unique spirits from around the region and occasionally deploys foraged ingredients to add pep and zing to his cocktails. Some of these ingredients include toasted black rice, purple sweet potato, thai basil, roasted ginger, and bonito garum – sounds unusual, so you’ll have to personally head down to give it a taste yourself.

This tiny 10-seater bar first started out in the hidden alleys of Tanjong Pagar, making a name for itself with its experimental ideas and ever-changing cocktail menu. Junior The Pocket Bar has now moved to a bigger space – fit to house its growing customer base and ambition. It introduces two original concepts every year, and its unique cocktails range from coconut vinegar-infused bourbons to minty gins with house-made Aam Panna mixes.

Photograph: Flow BarBurnt lemon whisky sour

Restaurant Jag is best known for its celebration of produce from the Savoie region. And beyond just the dinner table, the wild-foraged ingredients can also be found in cocktails at Flow Bar. The one-Michelin-starred restaurant has converted its second-floor space into a drinking hole, one that defies the expectations of a usual bar set-up. The open and inviting space is matched with an accessible cocktail menu divided into three sections: Living Room, Garden, and Playground to guide you through easy-to-love creations to experimental tipples. Must gets: the burnt lemon whisky sour, the addictive espresso martini, and Cinnamon Girl.

Dive into the calming rituals of tea appreciation at Tea Chapter, a teahouse along Neil Road that has been around for more than 30 years. Step into variously styled rooms – Korean, Japanese and Chinese – and sip on fragrant cups of tea alongside traditional Chinese snacks. Up for an educational experience? You can also sign up for workshops to learn more about the history of tea and the art of traditional tea-making at Tea Chapter.

There’s nothing quite like a comforting hot cup of kopi to start your day – and Tanjong Pagar is the place to be for OG coffee spots. Quite arguably the most iconic Kopitiam in Singapore, Tong Ah Eating House was once located at the triangular building at the junction of Teck Lim and Keong Saik Road (now home to 1939 Singapore). It has since moved a few stalls away from its original spot. But it’s still a local favourite for super crispy kaya toast, French toast and kopi – where the beans are roasted in-house.

Shops in Tanjong Pagar

1. Tong Mern Sern

They say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. And for antique collectors, Tong Mern Sern is a haven right in the heart of Singapore. This long, three-storey shophouse on Craig Road is the only one on the block that’s not been refurbished, and for good reason.

It is lined and packed with trinkets and treasures – from jade cabbages in cabinets, porcelain plates on the walls and typewriters lining the stairwells, to old Chinese dressing tables and an ancient music player that looks like an oversized, numberless grandfather clock with the functions of a pianola. Spend your afternoon leisurely sifting through the store – you never know what treasures you might find.

You don’t need a special occasion to treat yourself to gorgeous lingerie – especially when they’re as dreamy and comfortable as the bralettes from local lingerie brand Perk by Kate. Originally an online store founded by Singaporean Kate Low, the brand now can be found in a physical studio on Telok Ayer Street. You’ll have to make an appointment before you drop by though, but it’s worth your while. After all, lingerie shopping is the epitome of self-care.

Nasi lemak, spicy fortune cookies and silver dust aren’t the usual tea flavours we see, but ETTE’s blends are daring enough to bring these flavours to its brews. Step into its retail store at Kreta Ayer Road and be wowed by the pretty caddies and sachets, which come in various locally inspired flavours like Chicken Rice. The Pandan Chiffon evokes memories of the childhood snack, while the Kris Grey tastes much like Earl Grey, but spiked with Southeast Asian ingredients.