Unlike the rest of Singapore, which primarily consists of carefully planned high-rises, the neighborhood of Tiong Bahru is a historic community that still retains some of its ramshackle charm.
With its Art Deco-style architecture and its small quiet, lanes, Tiong Bahru feels like a quiet respite from the dizzying skyscrapers and frenetic pace of city life.
It was built in the 1930s as the first housing estate in Singapore, but recently it has become the hottest neighborhood in the city.
Today, yuppies, designers, expats, and creative types linger over cappuccinos at hip cafes or peruse boutiques for one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing, or furnishings.
Meanwhile, vestiges of the old neighborhood persist. There are a few traditional coffee shops where older people gather over kopi (coffee in Malay). And on Sunday mornings, the Tiong Bahru wet market is the place to be.
It's a study in contrasts, and a combination that adds up to one of the most dynamic and vibrant neighborhoods in the city.
Disclosure: Our trip to Singapore, including travel and lodging expenses, was sponsored by the Singapore Tourism Board.
Tiong Bahru is defined by its curved Art Deco-style architecture. Most buildings here date back to the 1930s.
Over the last few years, there's been an explosion in hip Western-style cafes, like Drips.
The cafes aren't cheap. At Drips, a cup of coffee costs S$5 (about US$4).
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