22 Best Tiong Bahru Food Spots: The Ultimate Foodie Pilgrimage

Where to Eat in Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is a town of architectural, cultural, and historical significance. But more importantly, it's the perfect place for foodies to run riot.

There are plenty of amazing spots for food lovers to gorge themselves silly, whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge. Here are the best places to eat in Tiong Bahru, from hawker centres to cafés and restaurants to coffeeshops:

Best Hawker Food in Tiong Bahru

Sin Hoi Sai Seafood Restaurant

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An oldie but a goldie, Sin Hoi Sai Seafood Restaurant is one of those places that come to mind when you're thinking of Tiong Bahru's good food options. Plus, this old-school eatery won a Michelin plate back in 2016. Come here for comforting rounds of hearty tze char fare like sambal la-la, coffee pork ribs, and crab.

Opening hours: Open daily, 4pm to 4am

Ah Chiang’s Porridge

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If you're looking for a Tiong Bahru breakfast spot to start the day right, make a beeline for Ah Chiang's traditional piping hot charcoal porridge. Peak hours get pretty busy here, but any queue is worth the wait when it comes to wolfing down delicious bowls of century egg, fish, or pork porridge.

Opening hours: Open daily, 6.15am to 10pm

Tiong Bahru Market and Hawker centre

For delicious local food, check out Tiong Bahru Food Centre; one of Singapore’s best hawker centres where you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Do take note that Tiong Bahru Market's opening hours differ from stall to stall, so it's best to check beforehand if the stall you want to visit is open. Here are some of our favourite stalls below:

Jian Bo Shui Kueh

Jian Bo Shui Kueh has been one of the biggest proponents of hawker culture in Singapore over the last two decades. But why you should really come here is for addictive servings of chwee kueh (steamed rice cake with preserved radish), a great option to have breakfast in Tiong Bahru because of the dish's light nature. Pro tip: don't skimp on the sambal belachan when putting it on top of the chye poh to give it that extra kick!

Opening hours: Open daily, 6am to 8pm

Tow Kwar Pop

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If you're thinking of what to eat at Tiong Bahru Market that's pretty much Singapore in a nutshell, go for Tow Kwar Pop's (which translates to beancurd puff) rojak, a sweet and spicy salad mix that'll keep you coming back for more. What makes the rojak here special is the sweet prawn paste sauce dolloped over the dish.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 3pm. Closed on Mondays

Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee

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For Hokkien mee (stir-fried prawn noodles), one of the most quintessential Singaporean dishes you can find, head to this stall, which often sells out by late afternoon. Fun fact: this stall was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019, and is still undeniably one of Tiong Bahru Market's good food options.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am to 2.30pm, 4.30pm to 6pm, Saturday, 10.30am to 6pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

HarriAnn’s Delights

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A list of the best Tiong Bahru Market food spots isn't complete without HarriAnn’s Delights. This nostalgic stall whips up a variety of classic Peranakan dishes - a tasty selection of Nyonya kueh (sweet and savoury bite-sized snacks), yam cake, and vegetarian glutinous rice.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 6am to 2pm. Closed on Mondays

Teck Seng Soya Bean Milk 德盛豆花水

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Soft, silken, and refreshing, the best way to beat Singapore's sweltering heat is to gulp down a bowl of tau huay chwee (bean curd). This dish is a classic favourite of most Singaporeans and Teck Seng is one of the best stalls to find it. In fact, believe it or not, making the dish is akin to molecular gastronomy. Just check out the video below to see the back-breaking effort that goes behind creating the dish:

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 4.30am to 12pm. Closed on Mondays

Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow

Tiong Bahru's lunch choices are aplenty. But if you're feeling a little bit sinful and want to indulge yourself no matter the calorie count, then fried kway teow is always a people-pleaser, especially from this stall. Expect thick, drool-worthy, wok hei-infused fried flat noodles that'll put a smile on your face.

Opening hours: Friday to Tuesday, 11am to 10pm. Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Best Tiong Bahru Cafes

There are plenty of cafes near Tiong Bahru, as well as within the area itself. It's one of the reasons why the area is the hip enclave it is. Here are some of the best cafes in Tiong Bahru to check out:

Tiong Bahru Bakery

An OG bakery of Tiong Bahru, whose name is synonymous with the area, now has chains all over Singapore, and is one of the most popular bakeries in town. What is famous at Tiong Bahru Bakery, you may ask? Go for the French pastries, especially the almond croissant.

Opening hours: Open daily, 7.30am to 8pm

Plain Vanilla

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Plain Vanilla Bakery’s Tiong Bahru outpost is a true favourite of hardcore cafe hoppers. Step inside Plain Vanilla’s cosy interior and you’ll be greeted with a mouth-watering selection of hand-made bakes, from cupcakes to brownies, and cookies to tarts.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5pm, Saturdays and Sunday, 7.30am to 7pm

Drips Bakery Cafe

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Drips Bakery Cafe is another mainstay of the Tiong Bahru cafe scene since 2010. And it has survived many cafes that have come and gone in the past decade or so. This cosy spot has a wicked selection of delish tarts to pick and choose, while you can always settle your caffeine urges here by sipping on a cuppa joe.

Opening hours: Open daily, 9am to 9pm

Merci Marcel

Forget typical, run-of-the-mill cafes that serve the same ol' items on the menu. Merci Marcel is one of those Tiong Bahru eateries that manage to stand out despite the competition. Come here for sleek French-Balinese and Bohemian vibes, and a menu that veers from pastries for breakfast to creative French platters for dinner.

Opening hours: Open daily, 8am to midnight

Caffe Pralet

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Whether it's hearty sandwiches or sweet pastries, Caffe Pralet will have you sorted. This cafe opened way back in 2006, adjacent to its sister baking academy, Creative Culinaire. So, you better believe it, these guys know what they're doing when it comes to delicious, baked goods.

Opening hours: Open daily, 9am to 6pm

PS.Cafe Petit Tiong Bahru

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Why is PS.Cafe so popular? Well, it was originally one of the indie cafes before cafe hopping was a thing in Singapore. And it certainly has come a long way since it was a "hidden" spot within the Projectshop clothing store back in 1999. Today, with chains all over Singapore, PS.Cafe is synonymous with cafe classics and a chill vibe. And Tiong Bahru's outlet is no different.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 10.30pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 10.30pm

Flock Cafe

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Another cafe that's been around for over 10 years, Flock Cafe is a family-run spot in Tiong Bahru. It's a great place for brunch, and here you can get all sorts of comfort food like pasta, pancakes, and waffles. Plus, it is one of the best Tiong Bahru coffee spots around, with the owners big on coffee culture.

Opening hours: Open daily, 8am to 8.30pm

Creamier

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Creamier is an iconic, household name in Singapore, with its first locale at the old-school hood of Toa Payoh regularly drawing crowds. The cafe has carried on its great work in Tiong Bahru, serving up handcrafted local ice cream flavours like Sea Salt Gula Melaka, Blue Pea Vanilla, and Thai Milk Tea.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 10pm. Closed on Mondays

Foodie Market Place

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While technically not a cafe (and technically not in Tiong Bahru), the Foodie Market Place deserves a mention nevertheless. Plus, it is a great spot to shop for gourmet food near Tiong Bahru. Come here to stock up on epicurean goodies like meats, cheeses, yogurt, and ready-to-cook frozen products.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 8pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays

Best Restaurants in Tiong Bahru

There are many great restaurants in the Tiong Bahru area, whether you are looking for resto-bars that are great for eating and drinking or that slick spot that'll immediately impress a date and up your social credits. Here's a list of the best Tiong Bahru restaurants around:

Bincho at Hua Bee

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A 70-year-old coffee shop by day and hidden restaurant by night, Bincho at Hua Bee is a modern Japanese restaurant inspired by yakitori-ya’s (traditional small grilling stalls) in Osaka. Enter this sleek establishment through the backdoor and you'll stumble upon one of Singapore's coolest spots.

Opening hours: Wednesday, 6pm to 12am. Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm, 6pm to 12am. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Prive

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Be it happy hour or all-day breakfast, or sandwiches and burgers that will keep your tummy satisfied, Prive has something for everyone. But what is probably this restaurant's biggest draw is that it is family-friendly and pet-friendly. And as a plus, kids eat for free from 11.30am to 3pm on Monday to Friday.

Opening hours: Open daily, 8am to 10.30pm

House of Peranakan Petit

If you're thinking of what to eat at Tiong Bahru at night, a fabulous Tiong Bahru dinner option is the House of Peranakan Petit. After all, what beats hearty Nyonya fare to fill the belly after a long day? Chow down on dishes like ayam buah keluak (chicken, tamarind gravy, and nuts) and curry fish head.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm. Closed on Tuesdays

The Butcher’s Wife

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Rejoice, gluten-free folks. The Butcher's Wife is here to save you from your gluten woes. This snazzy restaurant brands itself as a gluten-free, contemporary European restaurant. Expect an elegant take on food commonly found in neighbourhood bistros in Europe, and a selection of natural wine and cocktails.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 12pm to 3.30pm, 6pm to 11.30pm. Saturday and Sunday, 11.30am to 3.30pm, 6pm to 11.30pm. Closed on Mondays

Coq & Balls

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With its cheeky name, you'd expect Coq & Balls to be loads of fun. And it is, ditching fancy cafe food for unpretentious pub grub. One of the restaurant's signature dishes is funnily enough, called the Coq & Balls dish - chicken lollipops and homemade seafood croquettes. Wash it down with locally house brewed beer and you're good to go.

Opening hours: Sunday to Tuesday, 3pm to 10.30pm. Wednesday to Saturday, 3pm to 12am

How you can explore Tiong Bahru like a pro!

Hit the streets like a cool kid with a Vespa

Nothing beats snapping photos in front of Tiong Bahru's highly Instagrammable Art Deco buildings. Except, well, maybe being ferried around in a vintage Vespa sidecar. There's no better way to check out this heritage hood, and you can take the time to chill at the cafes and check out some indie boutique stores after you get off the Vespa like a rockstar.

Learn the culture of wrapped food at Tiong Bahru Market

Fun fact: Singapore actually has a rich culture of wrapped food if you didn't know already. And you can learn why people used leaves or plants to wrap food with a tour of Tiong Bahru Market. On the tour, sample popular wrapped dishes like otak otak (grilled fish cake), lotus leaf rice, dumplings, and Nyonya kueh.

Settle your data needs with a 5G SIM card

Data is king, enough said. For your next trip to Tiong Bahru, stay connected the best way possible with Singtel's prepaid cards. And enjoy 100GB of data and more as you roam around Singapore.

Get an EZ-Link card to travel Singapore easily

Sure, you can just hop on a Grab or Gojek for ease of transport. But if you want to experience Singapore's world-class public transportation, and take in the sights and sounds at your own pace, it's highly recommended to get an EZ-Link card to save money and time.