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Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre

Photo: Terence Ong, CC BY 2.5, cropped

Neighbourhood Guides

Tiong Bahru Guides

Art deco walk-ups, a classic hawker market and some of Singapore's best bakeries, all in one walkable estate.

This page gathers our Tiong Bahru guides. The estate is a small, walkable area of art deco flats close to the city centre. It has a classic hawker market, popular bakeries and a long-standing café scene.

Start with the self-guided heritage walk. Then use the guide below to plan where to eat, what to look for and how to get there.

Plan it with EatStays: Tiong Bahru Market and Restaurants in Tiong Bahru & Alexandra.

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What makes the estate special

Tiong Bahru is one of Singapore's oldest public housing estates. It sits a short ride south-west of the city centre. The estate is known for its low-rise art deco flats, its hawker market and its cafés. It is small enough to explore on foot in a morning.

The name mixes two languages. Tiong comes from a Hokkien word for a cemetery, and bahru is Malay for new. Together they mean new cemetery, as the land was once a burial ground.

The art deco flats

The first blocks went up in the 1930s. They were built by the Singapore Improvement Trust, the public housing body of the time. Most are walk-ups, which means they have stairs but no lifts. Look out for these features as you walk:

  • Curved corners and rounded balconies, in a style often called Streamline Moderne.
  • Spiral staircases at the back of some blocks.
  • Long horizontal lines, small courtyards and quiet back lanes.
  • Street names that honour early Chinese community leaders.

Several walls carry murals by local artist Yip Yew Chong. They show scenes of daily life from the past. A small temple in the estate honours the Monkey God, a figure from Chinese legend. It is a working place of worship, so be quiet and respectful if you step inside.

Our post Tiong Bahru Heritage Walk: A Self-Guided Route links the best spots into one easy route. For more walks like it, see our Heritage & Architecture topic.

Where to eat in the estate

The market

Tiong Bahru Market has a wet market on the ground floor and a hawker centre upstairs. A wet market sells fresh meat, fish and vegetables. A hawker centre is a food hall with many small, low-cost stalls. The upstairs floor is best for breakfast and lunch.

Look for chwee kueh, soft steamed rice cakes topped with salty preserved radish. Many stalls open early and close once they sell out, so go in the morning. If it is your first visit, read How to Order at Hawker Stalls in Singapore.

Bakeries and cafés

The estate is known for its independent cafés and bakeries. Tiong Bahru Bakery is a popular café and bakery here. Weekends get busy, so a weekday morning is calmer. Browse our Cafés & Bakeries list for more ideas across the city.

Local favourites nearby

A simple half-day plan

  1. Arrive by MRT and walk to the market for breakfast.
  2. Follow the heritage walk past the art deco blocks and murals.
  3. Stop at a bakery or café for coffee and a pastry.
  4. Browse the small independent shops along the quieter streets.
  5. In the afternoon, walk the Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves trail. Or visit the art galleries at Gillman Barracks.

Getting there and where to stay

Tiong Bahru MRT station is on the East-West Line. From there, the market is about a ten-minute walk. Havelock station on the Thomson-East Coast Line is also close to the northern side of the estate.

Several hotels sit a short walk or ride away along Havelock Road, by the river. Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview and Furama RiverFront are both four-star choices.

Tips and etiquette

  • People live in these flats. Keep your voice down and stay out of private stairwells and corridors.
  • Ask before you take photos of residents.
  • Clear your tray after eating at the hawker centre. Our Hawker Centre Etiquette in Singapore: 9 Simple Rules explains the basics.
  • Many small cafés close one day a week, so check before you go.
  • Wear comfortable shoes, as the estate is best seen on foot.

FAQs about Tiong Bahru

What is the estate famous for?

It is known for its art deco flats, its market and hawker centre, and its bakeries and cafés. It is also one of the oldest public housing estates in Singapore.

What does the name mean?

It means new cemetery. Tiong is a Hokkien word for a cemetery, and bahru means new in Malay.

How do I get there by MRT?

Take the East-West Line to the station of the same name. The market is about a ten-minute walk away.

When is the best time to visit?

Come on a weekday morning. The hawker stalls are open, the cafés are calmer and the heat is milder.