5 neighbourhoods to explore before leasing your dream apartment

Singapore may not hold a candle to the exotic destinations we marvel at on Instagram, but consider this: our little red dot has something else to offer.

Of course, you already know that and it’s one of the reasons why you’ve picked this country in the first place. For sure, this new chapter in your life is going to be one heck of an adventure. But first, let’s deal with the logistics.

Have you located your dream apartment? Hold onto your horses before signing the rental agreement! Here’s what you need to know about our neighbourhoods before making it official:

For the hipster: Tiong Bahru

According to a Sicilian gecko who answers to the name of Sophia Petrillo, there are three cliques in the senior citizens centre: the hip group, the not-so-hip group, and the broken hip group.

The same rule applies to our local neighbourhoods. Tiong Bahru is the hip group in Singapore and here are 3 reasons why.

The town is home to Books Actually, an indie bookstore that regularly organises groovy events; Curated Records, a vinyl-infested music store; and Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre, a foodie paradise that will have even the pickiest eater’s mouth watering for more.

See? If you’re all for the hippie lifestyle, Tiong Bahru is for you.

For the simple: Toa Payoh

Toa Payoh is a family-friendly neighbourhood that looks like it’s straight out of a scene from NBC’s comedy sitcom, The Good Place. It’s boisterous, cheery, and bigger than life.

Chock-full of little gems, eager foodies won’t want to miss AMK Curry Puff, Yellow Submarines, Toa Payoh Lucky Pisang Raja, and Zhi Xiang Special Lor Mee. You’ll be spoilt for choice.

Are you a sentimental old-fashioned? Do you have small children? The iconic Dragon playground will tickle you pink.

Thanks to its location, it takes about 15 minutes by car to commute to the Central Business District (CBD) area.

For the shopaholic: Jurong East

Orchard Road has competition and it’s none other than Jurong East. JEM may have had negative press since its launch, but it still remains one of the most popular shopping malls in Singapore.

And no wonder, it’s got the big kahunas – MUJI, Kinokuniya, and H&M, among others.

Jurong East is also home to other malls like Westgate (Tim Ho Wan, BAKE Cheese Tart, and Zaffron Kitchen) and JCube. The latter is not as popular, but it boasts an impressive feature – it has an ice-skating rink.

There’s also a massive library around the corner.

For the old-town charm: Holland Village

If Singapore and Kiki’s Delivery Service had a spawn, it’ll be Holland Village.

It’s the neighbourhood creative folks picture themselves in, strolling down the pretty streets to beat creative block. There are many cafes scattered around the area, so if you’re an avid cafe-hopper, you will appreciate this trait.

Holland Village is popular among expatriates and locals. Some of the neighbourhood highlights include: Wala Wala Cafe Bar; Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao; Fatboy’s The Burger Bar; and The Monocle Shop.

Fun fact: The town is also home to The Eyecare People, an optical boutique owned by local songstress Joi Chua.

For the Malaysia go-er: Woodlands

Woodlands is a far cry from the word ‘cool’, but take a chance on her – she’ll fool you.

Big things are happening. Take The Old Woodlands Town Centre, for instance. Currently awaiting demolition this year, the area is set to transform into a brand new space.

The project is pretty hush-hush at the moment and construction is going to take a while, but if you fancy yourself a globetrotter (the neighbourhood is right next to Malaysia!), this area might be worth looking into.

In the meantime, heartlands shopping centre Causeway Point is your best bet to please your entertainment appetite. Woodlands Waterfront, a park crowded with Pokémon Go trainers during evenings, is a rad place to unwind after a stressful day.