The Thomson-East Coast Line has 20 stations up and working so we determined to be a vacationer in our personal nation — listed here are cool finds we found!
Picture credit score: Land Transport Authority
As an Eastie that doesn’t reside alongside the Thomson-East Coast Line, the opening of Stage One and Two wasn’t thrilling. However Stage three meant that it now intersects Outram Park MRT on the inexperienced line. This was my probability to be a vacationer in my very own nation.
From the quirky Jurassic Nest Foodhall to the uncommon tropical wildlife in Napier, listed here are 9 cool locations I found alongside the Thomson-East Coast Line 🚉
1) Jurassic Nest FoodHall (Gardens by The Bay MRT)
Jurassic Nest FoodHall is Singapore’s first dinosaur-themed meals corridor serving solely Michelin-rated meals!
Situated in Supertree Grove at Gardens by The Bay, this prehistoric meals courtroom has a wide range of cuisines. Order from icons like Tsuta to Bismillah Briyani — the world’s first Michelin-starred ramen and the world’s solely Michelin-awarded briyani respectively.
Different Michelin-rated meals we tried was the Soya Hen Hor Enjoyable (S$9.80) from Hawker Chan and Nasi Lemak Cabe Ijo (S$12.90) from Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang for a Halal possibility.
The hor enjoyable packed a punch with its candy and umami sauce whereas the mega-saurusly portioned nasi lemak had aromatic rice, juicy hen and cabe ijo (inexperienced chili sauce) which labored up fairly a warmth!
Enjoyable truth: The T-rex and Brachiosaurus within the indoor part of the meals corridor involves life hourly between 12PM – 8PM whereas the Oviraptor exterior does so hourly from 11:30AM – 7:30PM.
Value: From S$9.80
Opening hours: 11AM – 9:30PM
Handle: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, #01-19, Singapore 018953
How you can get there: Alight at Gardens by The Bay MRT Exit 1 and stroll 20 minutes to Supertree Grove
2) Market Blue (Orchard Boulevard MRT)
A Korean grocer, meals corridor and market packed into one house, Market Blue is a one-stop life-style mart for a fast Korean repair.
Beforehand often known as the net retailer Blue Basket, Market Blue is the place you’ll discover direct-from-Korea objects with out having to attend or pay for transport!
This bodily retailer is stuffed with Korean snacks like Honey Butter Chips and Corn Cho (corn snacks coated in chocolate). You too can discover conventional Korean homeware, attire, toiletries and trinkets out there on cabinets.
Our favorite part of the retail retailer is the Ramyeon Library the place you’ll be able to decide and blend totally different flavours of Korean ramyeon — even these not often present in Singapore resembling Chapaghetti (black bean sauce), Baehongdong Bibim Ramen (candy pear, spicy and bitter), Ottogi Jin Jjambbong Ramen (spicy seafood soup).
Market Blue additionally has a hawker part promoting Korean-style avenue meals like Rose tteokbokki and baekban (Korean home-cooked-style dishes with rice, soup and aspect dishes) so you’ll be able to seize a grub after purchasing.
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 5PM (meals corridor closes at 3PM, closed on Mon)
Handle: 163 Tanglin Rd, Tanglin Mall, B1-122 123,124, Singapore 247933
How you can get there: Alight at Orchard Boulevard MRT Exit 1 and stroll in direction of Tanglin Mall
3) Woodlands Sourdough (Maxwell MRT)
Only a 5-minute stroll away from Maxwell MRT, CBD people can get a fast sourdough repair from Woodlands Sourdough on their method to work!
This second outlet is a smaller model of the Muslim-owned bakery — so that you now not need to journey all the best way to Higher Thomson to get your arms on these naturally-leavened bakes!
We advocate the Mushroom or Potato Bialy (sourdough bread roll with sauteed onions and mushroom/potato, S$5) for savoury lovers and a Kardemummabullar (sourdough cardamom bun, S$4) when you’re on the lookout for a heat spice kick.
Value: From S$3
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 3PM (Thu – Solar)
Handle: Emerald Backyard, 31 Membership St, #01-02, Singapore 069468
How you can get there: Alight at Maxwell MRT Exit 1 and stroll 5 minutes in direction of Membership Road
4) Sembcorp Coolhouse (Napier MRT)
As somebody who likes scenic walks however hates the warmth, the Sembcorp Cool Home was a cold respite from the very heat Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The Sembcorp Cool Home within the Nationwide Orchid Backyard is a part of three show homes on the Tropical Montane Orchidetum — a set of greenhouses stuffed with tropical wildlife like begonia and a number of other orchid varieties.
There’s actually no must tough it out in an precise forest to see these uncommon and hybrid species.
Value: From S$1 for entry into the Nationwide Orchid Backyard (free til 2 Jan 2023)
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 7PM
Handle: 1 Cluny Highway, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 259569
How you can get there: Alight at Napier Station Exit 1 and stroll 15mins in direction of Nationwide Orchid Backyard
5) Meals Junction With Al Fresco Rooftop Eating (Nice World MRT)
Cease by Nice World for a chew at Meals Junction. The meals courtroom was not too long ago renovated following a railway theme — a nod to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the previous Nice World Amusement Park’s Ghost Practice experience.
Similar to some other Meals Junction, take pleasure in a variety of choices like Mala and Nuodle 牛嘴 一 each halal-certified.
For a change of surroundings out of your standard meals courtroom eating, head out to Al Fresco Rooftop Backyard for a meal within the breezy outdoor!
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Handle: 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #03-116, Nice World, Singapore 237994
How you can get there: Alight at Nice World MRT Exit 1 and stroll 5 minutes in direction of Nice World
6) Singapore Chinese language Cultural Centre (Shenton Means MRT)
Get cultured on the Singapore Chinese language Cultural Centre.
The second flooring at the moment homes SINGAPO人 (pronounced Singapo-ren) — an exhibition exploring the Singaporean Chinese language id. The exhibition is very interactive with video games, movies and polls. Outcomes are recorded via an RFID bracelet registered to your identify earlier than coming into the exhibition!
Total, it’s a digestible introduction to understanding native Chinese language tradition resembling habits, dialects and ancestry.
Don’t simply cease at only one exhibition, although. Discover the opposite ranges of the centre for extra exhibitions like 兔gether (pronounced Tu-gether) — a rabbit-themed artwork set up on the rooftop backyard, to welcome the Yr of the Rabbit!
Entrance price: Free
Opening hours: 10AM – 8PM (opens 2PM on Mon)
Handle: 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906
How you can get there: Alight at Shenton Means MRT Exit 2 and stroll 4 minutes on Park Road in direction of Shenton Lane to get to Union Road
7) Keong Saik Bakery (Outram Park MRT)
An ideal mix of old-school kopi tradition and modern-day boulangeries, Keong Saik Bakery presents an elevated espresso store expertise.
You’ll discover traditional viennoiseries (laminated pastries) and people with conventional flavours right here. We tried the Kouign-amann ($3.90) which was flaky and candy from the caramelised sugar crust and the Otak Danish (S$4.80) — they have been very beneficiant with the otak-otak!
Keong Saik Bakery additionally serves up your standard Kaya Toast and Mushy Boiled Eggs when you’re on the lookout for a traditional Singaporean breakfast.
Value: From $3.50
Opening hours: 8AM – 8:30PM
Handle: 33 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089140
How you can get there: Alight at Outram Park MRT Exit 4 and stroll 5mins in direction of Keong Saik Highway
8) Gyūnion (Shenton Means MRT)
Gyūnion is a well-liked Muslim-owned lunch spot within the coronary heart of the CBD promoting inexpensive Japanese-inspired donburi and ramen.
Tucked within the nook of Oxley Tower’s second flooring, the institution’s tiny — however the meal is hearty.
Picture credit score: Gyūnion through Fb
We had the Spicy Gyu-men (S$9.90) and Gyu-don (S$7.90), however our favorite was the Tacky Gyu-don (S$8.90). The fluffy rice, melty cheese and sweet-tasting tender beef actually hit the spot.
Dine-ins are restricted to solely eight seats. It’s a one-man-show — actually one singular man cashiering and prepping the meals — however don’t fear, it strikes quick. In the event you’re speeding for time, go for takeaway.
Value: From S$7.90
Opening hours: 12PM – 6:30PM (closes 8PM on Thu and Fri, closed on Sat and Solar)
Handle: Oxley Tower, 138 Robinson Rd, #02-03 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906
How you can get there: Alight at Shenton Means MRT Exit 6, take the elevator to degree 2 of OUE Downtown and stroll straight following the bridge to Oxley Tower
9) Sustainable Singapore Gallery (Gardens by The Bay MRT)
Previous to the opening of the Thomson-East Coast line, attending to Marina Barrage concerned a 30-minute stroll from Bayfront MRT. It’s now only a 5-minute stroll from Gardens By The Bay MRT!
Aside from having picnics and flying kites at Marina Barrage, the Sustainable Singapore Gallery is price a go to.
Picture credit score: Sustainable Singapore Gallery
Stroll via the totally different zones to find out about local weather change in Singapore. We had enjoyable understanding Singapore’s sustainability efforts in interactive methods resembling doing quizzes on carbon footprint, pedalling on stationary bikes to find out about car-lite roads and utilizing contact screens to check which varieties of waste can or can’t be recycled.
Entrance price: Free
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM (closed on Tues)
Handle: Degree 2, Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018951
How you can get there: Alight at Gardens By The Bay MRT Exit 2 and stroll 5 minutes
Discover new experiences alongside the Thomson-East Coast Line
As an area, it’s straightforward to neglect that there are nonetheless new experiences and sights but to be found in Singapore. I’m one to restrict myself to acquainted locations so I used to be giddy with pleasure once I noticed a T-rex in a meals courtroom and a complete wall of ramyeon.
Regardless of being a small nation, it appears that evidently Singapore all the time comes up with new issues for us to discover. It was good to expertise this — as soon as thought of — ulu aspect of Singapore with contemporary eyes.
These areas of Singapore have been beforehand inconvenient for me to get to — however it’s now a lot simpler with the brand new stations alongside the Thomson-East Coast line.
Although it’ll nonetheless take a while for the Thomson-East Coast line to open absolutely, there are already 20 stations up and working!
Know some other cool locations alongside the Thomson-East Coast Line? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
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