Paya Lebar

Situated between the dense residential areas of Hougang, Bedok and Tampines, Paya Lebar is a restricted area with few residential spaces. A national military installation, the Paya Lebar Air Base, dominates the entire area. Along with the installation, the Air Force Museum showcases Singapore’s young military aviation history and achievements. Served by multiple arteries like the Bartley Viaduct and the Tampines Expressway (TPE), one can expect quiet apartments and houses along Tampines Road. A national sand quarry facility that stores all the sand required for the Singapore’s building and construction needs is also located here. For residents, Swedish furniture giant IKEA's second store in Singapore along Tampines Ave 10 is just a short drive away.

Paya Lebar used to be a large, swampy area, as reflected by its name, which translates to “wide swamp” in Malay. In the past, it was an infamous squatter district used for the purpose of poultry and pig rearing. Today, Paya Lebar, which is located in the East Region of Singapore, is largely dominated by the Paya Lebar Air Base. This leaves little space for residential areas in the neighbourhood, relative to the surrounding neighbourhoods such as Hougang and Tampines. However, recent years have seen an increase in the development of residential areas, especially condominiums, in the district.

Paya Lebar - Stay

Both public and private housing can be found in the neighbourhood. However, condominiums are by far the most commonly available form of housing in the district, followed by landed properties such as terrace houses and HDB flats. 99.co recommends checking out condominiums in the area like The Vue, Gambir Ridge and Bartley Residences, Forest Woods and Botanique at Bartley or wait a few years as they begin popping up. As mentioned earlier, several condominiums are currently in development, such as The Lilium and The Gazania.

Paya Lebar - Eat

There are some coffeeshops within the bounds of the district of Paya Lebar. These eateries, which are typically found near HDB flats or other housing, and are not air-conditioned, contain various of stalls which offer a variety of cuisines; locals can be found there at any hour of the day or night either satisfying their hunger pangs or having a drink and chat with other residents. The food that can be found at these coffeeshops are most often Singapore's street food, such as Char Kway Teow, Ban Mian, or Prata and are very affordable. The neighbourhood is located right in the middle of foodie havens such as Serangoon and Hougang, so those who want other food options only need to venture a few minutes away.

Paya Lebar - Shop

There are small convenience stores scattered throughout the neighbourhood that cater to the daily needs of the residents; some also sell household wares.

That being said, just outside the boundaries of the neighbourhood are a multitude of shopping malls, such as Nex, which have a larger variety of stores, including supermarkets.

Paya Lebar - Learn

St Gabriel's Secondary School is located in Paya Lebar.

Paya Lebar - Move

The MRT stations that residents in the neighbourhood can access include Serangoon MRT which is situated along both the North-East and Circle Line and Bartley MRT which is on the Circle Line. (All images are stock images and may not be true representations of items and locations discussed in the article.)

Paya Lebar - Parks and Gardens

Although Paya Lebar is mostly dominated by the national military installation, its location which is situated between the dense residential areas of Hougang, Bedok, and Tampines gives the residents easy access to great green spaces. 99.co has listed some of the best nearby parks for you and your family to enjoy in some leisure time. Going to the East a little, you can find Bedok Reservoir Park which has become a haven for fitness and water sports enthusiasts. People regularly gather at the park to dragon boat, kayak, and wakeboard while many others cast their rods in hopes of hooking their next big catch. If you would like to spend your time in a sanctuary of flora and fauna, get yourself to Tampines Eco Park instead. It is also near the Paya Lebar area and it is an eco-friendly park that is perfect for nature recreation. On top of that, going West from Paya Lebar, you will find the famous Punggol Park. The facilities and activities offered there are all suitable for the whole family.