Farrer Park

Farrer Park is a sub-zone of the Rochor planning area in the Central Region of Singapore. Not to be confused with Farrer Road, Farrer Park is located within the vicinity of Little India and its proximity to downtown Singapore makes it a convenient location for expats. With many educational options in the neighbourhood, Farrer Park also makes for an excellent neighbourhood for families. The housing options in the neighbourhood range from HDB units to private condominiums.

Public transport and amenities in Farrer Park

Bounded by Serangoon Road, Rangoon Road, Race Course Road, Northumberland Road, Tekka Lane, and Bukit Timah Road, Farrer Park is a wonderful neighbourhood to live in. Historically, the name "Farrer Park" refers to the open field situated to the west of this subzone. This open field is now commonly known as "Farrer Park Field" and is located within the Kallang planning area. The fields of Farrer Park were once a haven for Singapore's sporting legacy and nurturing ground for many of her golden athletes, where Singapore's first racecourse and Athletic Centre once stood. Today, the neighbourhood has been transformed into a bustling residential area, complete with facilities and entertainment for its inhabitants to enjoy.

Farrer Park - Stay

Housing options are aplenty in Farrer Park. City Square Residences is probably the most prominent private residential development in the area. The nearby Kerrisdale is another large-scale condominium that comes fully-equipped with an array of facilities such as a swimming pool and tennis court. Besides these, there are private apartments in smaller developments for rent or sale such as Clydes Residence and Studios@Marne. The neighbourhood is also peppered with boutique hotels and affordable hostels for those looking for accommodation on a tighter budget.

Farrer Park - Shop

If you think this is just another heartland mall, you might be surprised to know that City Square Mall is a sprawling retail space nestled in this unassuming neighbourhood, with more than 200 stores for every need. Conveniently connected to Farrer Park MRT Station, the mall is also Singapore's first eco-mall, every bit the exemplar of environmental sustainability. Your little ones will love the eco-playground. The 700,000 sq ft mall is family and community-friendly with an urban park in its backyard, used as an ecologically-themed venue for community activities.

For the weekly grocery run, NTUC Fairprice has an outlet at City Square Mall, as do the increasingly popular Japanese discount chain stores, Don Don Donki and Daiso. If it is fresh produce that you want, visit the nearby Tekka Market or the stalls along the surrounding shophouses selling spices, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

Another mall that Farrer Park is famous for is the Walmart-esque Mustafa Centre. When it comes to shopping, Little India has lots to offer, starting with Mustafa that stands guard at the mouth of Little India. The 24-hour cavernous shopping centre sells pretty much everything stacked to the rafters. Think shelves and shelves of everything you could ever need from shampoos to painkillers, to shoes to jewellery in brands and varieties that you haven’t seen before. Then, just when you think you've gone through all of it, another section opens up for you to explore.

On top of that, true to its name, Little India is the go-to place for Indian fashion, exquisite gold jewellery and other Indian accessories. Prices of clothing range widely with Stylemart on Selegie Road charging hundreds of dollars for a sari to more affordable options at Tekka Centre and the shophouses along Serangoon Road.

Farrer Park - Eat & Drink

Take it from us here at 99.co - there is so much good food in Farrer Park to satisfy your every craving, from authentic Chinese dumplings and sautéed eggplant to dukkah sprinkled avocado on toast and hand-pulled Muslim noodles. There are awesome dumplings at Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant, Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant, and Din Tai Fung. For burger lovers, you can't miss Two Blur Guys, Ordinary Burgers, or Mash at Pek Kio. 

As for the best Italian dishes, there is Bruno’s Pizzeria that is more than sure to satisfy. The pizza at Bruno’s is world-class - a paper-thin base, quality toppings, and just the right amount of melted cheese. One of the must-tries is the prosciutto and rocket pizza, which goes nicely with a portion of zesty tomato bruschetta drizzled with balsamic cream and served on crusty Italian bread. Add in a glass of red wine and you have the perfect Friday night!

Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong seafood restaurant is a newish, but no less worthy, addition to the Farrer Park neighbourhood. Their menu is a sumptuous celebration of the farm-to table concept. Almost everything is sourced locally (except the prawns) from the Ah Hua Kelong fishing farm. Also, be prepared for a lot of creativity and fun with a menu that fuses typical Western dishes and South-East Asian flavours. Popular dishes are grilled prawns with kelp, curry mussel pasta, and fried squid with Thai pesto.

For cheap local food, there are also plenty of hawker centres surrounding the Farrer Park neighbourhood. There is the Berseh Food Centre on Jalan Besar famed for its cockle laksa, the no-name hawker opposite City Square Mall with the tantalising butter chicken from Punjab Tandoori, and of course the amazing albeit small hawker at Tyrwhitt Street with the famous roasted pork at 88 Hong Kong Roasted Meat Specialist.

Farrer Park - Play

Living in the Farrer Park neighbourhood, you'll enjoy the best of both worlds - the peaceful ambience with a lively vibrant spot of culture just next door at Little India. Of all of Singapore‘s enclaves, Little India is perhaps the liveliest and most colourful. With narrow little lanes and a bustling community, it is quite unlike the rest of orderly Singapore.

There is so much history and culture in Little India it attracts tourists and locals alike. For starters, there are many temples to visit; from the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, to the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, also known as the Temple of a Thousand Lights.

Insomniacs will love Mustafa Centre in all its 24-hour glory. It is stocked with over 300,000 items across four floors. It is not uncommon to find people getting their shopping done here in the wee hours of the night. So if you need a quick getaway from the typical Singaporean scenery, just wander the roads, streets, lanes and alleys of Little India, admire the architecture, try on a sari or two, get a henna tattoo or watch an Indian movie at the Rex.

Farrer Park - Learn

There are two rather prominent primary schools in the vicinity, Farrer Park Primary and Stamford Primary. In January 2014, an MOE Kindergarten was set up in Farrer Park Primary, one of the first few primary schools to do so, while Stamford Primary has had a long history in the neighbourhood since its establishment in 1951. Several other nearby educational institutions which make Farrer Park a hot spot for families include DAV Hindi School, Outboard School Singapore, Winner Education Centre, and Kip McGrath Novena. Moreover, the LASALLE College of the Arts, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the School of the Arts, all leading art schools in Singapore, are situated in the vicinity.

Farrer Park - Move

Farrer Park is superbly well-connected via public transport. Farrer Park MRT station is situated on the North East (purple) train line. You'll arrive at Chinatown, Outram Park, Clarke Quay, HarborFront and Serangoon, in under twenty minutes on this line. If you do not mind a short walk, there is also Bendemeer MRT station (on the Downtown line) and Lavender MRT station (on the East-West line) within easy reach. Farrer Park is connected to the Central Expressway (CTE) and Upper Serangoon Road, where a network of buses services its residents, providing convenient access to Bugis, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Boon Keng, Novena and Bukit Timah.

Farrer Park - Parks and Gardens

Farrer Park neighbourhood is a true inner suburb with some elements of nature. Somme Road Playground is one such place, for a lovely day spent outdoors. Equipped with a small running track, a sandpit, outdoor gym equipment, sports fields and a multi-use game area, the park offers a wide variety of wonderful activities for all ages and interests. 

If you are willing to walk a little further afield, you can wander down to the Kallang River. There is a lovely walking track there that takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It is also the ultimate spot for early evening picnics. Another option for those looking for quiet sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle, can retreat to Mount Emily Park, a verdant patch of green in the city.

Farrer Park - Sports Facilities

Athletic types will frequent the Farrer Park Tennis Centre and Swimming Complex and the Jalan Besar Sports Centre. Farrer Park Tennis Centre is a tennis centre managed by Sport Singapore. It is one of the most centrally located tennis facilities in Singapore, with 8 well-maintained tennis courts and 2 tennis walls with good lighting. Located at 1 Rutland Road, the tennis centre is about a 10-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT or Little India MRT. It is also accessible via the CTE or Bukit Timah Road.

Next to the tennis centre is Farrer Park Swimming Complex and the Farrer Park Fields, an open space for a range of activities. Jalan Besar Sports Centre is also nearby. Located along Tyrwhitt Road, Jalan Besar Stadium is a 6,000-capacity football stadium, a home base for the Young Lions, one of the S.League football teams.