Have you heard of Toa Payoh? If you’re a Singaporean and you haven’t heard of it, you must have been living under a rock! Toa Payoh is one of Singapore’s hidden places to unlock the rich heritage of Singapore.
Are you looking to learn more about the history and nostalgic landmarks of Singapore? Today, you can join us on a journey to uncover the past stories of the neighbourhood.
Here are a few places you can consider exploring while you’re in Toa Payoh! You can’t say you’ve truly experienced Singapore without visiting these hidden gems!
Toa Payoh Dragon Playground
Source: https://www.google.com/streetview
Just as the name suggests, the playground is shaped like a dragon. An iconic representation of Singapore’s nostalgic playground culture. Why is it so special, you might ask? Well, this is the last remaining dragon-shaped playground in Singapore.
This place serves as a playful haven for children to hang around and for visitors to capture the essence of Singapore’s history.
Location: 28 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310028
Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre
Source: https://www.google.com/streetview
The Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre offers a variety of local delights such as Chicken rice, Briyani, Yong Tau Fu, and Rojak — you name it, they’ve got it! 🙂
It’s a hot spot for students, office workers, and nearby residents as the food is prepared by skilled hawkers who have had years of experience in perfecting their recipes.
Location: 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310210
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, Closed on Tuesdays 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
SAFRA Toa Payoh
Source: SAFRA Toa Payoh
SAFRA Toa Payoh is a family-friendly club that offers a wide range of recreational amenities for SAFRA members, including a Swimming pool, Bowling Alley, Karaoke room, and more!
The club hosts events year-round, from cultural performances to sports tournaments. They also offer various interest groups like badminton and content-creating clubs, connecting people who share similar interests and passions.
With the number of amenities and events available, it is a great place to unwind after a hectic work schedule with your family and friends.
Location: 293 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319387
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Cafe Hopping
Source: https://www.pexels.com/
While you’re in the Toa Payoh neighbourhoods, be sure to check out some of the cafes available around the area. These cafes are also situated near each other so they’re great for cafe hoppers.
Shrove Tuesdays
This cafe offers freshly brewed coffee, artisan drinks, ice creams, and waffles. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth and those looking to capture insta-worthy photos!
Location: 94 Lor 4 Toa Payoh #01-32, Singapore 310094
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Friday to Sunday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The Dream Cafe
Located within an HDB flat, The Dream Cafe is a popular hang-out spot among students as they have student deals available.
Location: 163 Lor 1 Toa Payoh #01-1016, Singapore 310163
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 1:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Creamier
For those who enjoy great dessert, headead over to Creamier to enjoy premium handcrafted ice cream and sorbets!
Location: 131 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 #01-02, Singapore 310131
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
HDB Living Space Gallery
Source: File:2023-07-10-L1000712.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
Next, discover the evolution of Singapore’s public housing at the HDB Living Space Gallery! For most Singaporeans, getting our own HDB unit is a major life milestone so here’s a place where you can learn more about them.
There are 8 different areas of the gallery, showcasing the planning process and technology behind designing and building HDB homes, providing visitors with insight into Singapore’s housing landscape.
Location: 480 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310480
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery
Source: File:Temple-Shuang Lin Monastery.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
A National monument, one of Singapore’s oldest Buddhist temples located in the Toa Payoh neighbourhood.
Also known as Siong Lim Temple, this Monastery has traditional craftworks of figures and reliefs made with colourful ceramics.
Be sure to visit this temple to pray for good health and a smooth sailing year ahead!
Location: 184 Jalan Toa Payoh, Singapore 319944
Recommendations
If you’d like to make the most out of your visit by spending a day visiting the various places in Toa Payoh, here’s what we recommend you to do:
Begin your day by walking around Toa Payoh’s heritage lane, which features the Dragon Playground, and enjoy the scenic paths.
Just in time for lunch, head down to the Hawker centres to enjoy some local food. If you are coming in a big group, one tip is to order different kinds of food to share!
After stuffing yourselves with some good food, you can then visit the HDB Living Space Gallery to learn more about the evolution of HDB housing in Singapore.
Finally, you can end your day by indulging in some ice cream and sweet pastries to unwind after a long day.
Toa Payoh embodies the Kampung spirit of Singapore and is a must-visit destination to experience the rich heritage and culture of the country. If you’d like to visit more heartlands in Singapore, take a look at our guide for places to visit in Bukit Panjang.
