Neighbourhood guides: 5 places to explore in Bukit Batok

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Bukit Batok today is a far cry from the quarrying village that it once was – but you can still find tall, looming walls of granite rock around the estate and in its town park, making it a dead ringer for the dramatic landscapes found in Guilin, China.

What’s there to do in this highly picturesque neighbourhood? Read on to find out!

• Get a $1 massage after your game of laser tag at this country club
• Have an impromptu photoshoot at this town park with breathtaking scenery
• Sink your teeth into the legendary Angus Steak at this zi char place
• Try the signature soya sauce chicken at this well-loved Cantonese restaurant
• Quench your thirst with the beer buffet at this microbrewery specializing in craft beers

Get a $1 massage after your game of laser tag at this country club
 

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The clubhouse at Home Team NS is the place to be – not only can you play laser tag, have a go at the air rifles, indulge in a few rounds of bowling, and belt your hearts out at the karaoke lounge, they also have some pretty awesome massage chairs that will cost you only $1 for 16 minutes. How’s that for a steal?

Have an impromptu photoshoot at this town park with breathtaking scenery

We’re referring to the Bukit Batok Town Park – and it’s this very park that earned Bukit Batok its moniker of Little Guilin. This place once housed a granite factory which was in operation up until the 1980s; it subsequently fell into disuse, and all that remains today are these towering cliffs of granite rocks.

The town park is a hot favourite with couples taking their wedding pictures, as well as nature lovers and residents in seek of a momentary respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Pro-tip: visit at sunset to get the most breathtaking views!

Sink your teeth into the legendary Angus Steak at this zi char place

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There’s no denying that the Angus Beef Steak at New Ubin Seafood is the very epitome of #foodporn – and yes, it tastes as good as it looks!

Served with potato wedges, caramelised onions, and sprinkled liberally with sea salt, it doesn’t get much better than this. If you’re looking to try some other dishes, New Ubin Seafood’s chilli crab is also a strong contender – but don’t waste your stomach space or calories on their other dishes, which pale in comparison to these two!

Try the signature soya sauce chicken at this well-loved Cantonese restaurant

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The menu at Joyden Canton Kitchen features a wide range of both traditional and contemporary Cantonese dishes from Guangdong – but you certainly don’t need to be Cantonese to appreciate the food here!

Not sure what to order? The no-brainer option is their signature Joyden Soy Sauce Chicken – whilst this sounds like a perfectly ordinary dish, its beauty lies in its faultless execution. Once you’ve had chicken like this – well-marinated and extraordinarily tender – there’s no going back!

Quench your thirst with the beer buffet at this microbrewery specialising in craft beers

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Feeling thirsty? Head down to restaurant cum microbrewery The RawR Kitchen, where you can choose between the eleven different brews by On Tap Brewery. We recommend the Wheat Beer, which won second place in the Asia Beer Medal Awards – or even better, go for the beer buffet ($35) which lets you drink all you can for two hours.

Feeling peckish? The Salted Egg Yolk Wings and Deep Fried Pork Belly are excellent accompaniments that will help you soak up all that alcohol.

Want to stay around Bukit Batok?

Think that this highly picturesque neighbourhood might be an ideal choice for you? Check out this table of average resale flat prices in the past.

	3-room	4-room	5-room
2016	$284,500	$402,667	$560,000
2015	$286,500	$408,875	$546,750
2014	$309,000	$420,325	$585,000

Source:  HDB

Want to get a condo instead? Here are some great options in Bukit Batok:

Regent Heights – $816 average psf.

Guilin View – $833 average psf.

The Madeira – $869 average psf.

The Dew – $900 average psf.

The Jade – $1,013 average psf.