Tiong Bahru

Singapore's hippest 'hood
Talk of the town: For years, this area was nicknamed Mei Ren Wu (den of beauties), as wealthy womanisers were known to house their mistresses here.

Just west of Chinatown, this former 1930s housing estate has been reborn as the city's alternative hub. In a departure from Singapore's predominant Lego Land-like architecture, apartments here retain their original art deco-style rounded balconies and shuttered windows, which provide a charming backdrop to the increasing number of cool cafes and edgy boutiques blossoming on the streets below.
The area attracts an eclectic mix of people, from young professionals to the gay community, expats to the old school Mahjong generation. Grab a treat from the perennially packed Tiong Bahru Bakery and spend a lazy morning window-shopping, or head to the bird watching corner next to the Link Hotel on Tiong Bahru Road to see local elders gather for a catch up over a kopi (sweetened black coffee) with their pet birds.