See a complete new aspect to this quaint city alongside the Toa Payoh Heritage Path — that includes iconic sights and good meals!
I’ve at all times recognized Toa Payoh to be one of many oldest cities in Singapore with good hawker meals and aesthetic cafes. However after embarking on the refreshed Toa Payoh Heritage Path, I found that there’s extra to this pioneer HDB city.
For example, do you know it as soon as performed host to the late Queen Elizabeth II?!
Photograph credit score: Nationwide Heritage Board
Whereas the heritage path was beforehand launched by the Nationwide Heritage Board (NHB) again in 2014, it was lately up to date to incorporate three new self-guided thematic routes.
Now, the path options 29 heritage websites together with 10 path markers — with newly marked websites such because the Dragon Playground and Blk 53 the “VIP Block”!
Really useful Toa Payoh Heritage Path Route
Route: 1) Toa Payoh City Park — 2) Dragon Playground — 3) Dinosaur Playground — 4) Mong Cha Cha Cafe — 5) Blk 53 the “VIP Block” — 6) Bugs Bunny Barber Store — 7) Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre — 8) Masjid Muhajirin — 9) Creamier
In our opinion, one of the best trails are these with good meals alongside the way in which. So on this information, we designed a shortened model of the path — together with 4 heritage websites, a couple of notable landmarks and meals stops!
This improvised 7km path takes round 3.5 to 4 hours to finish after factoring in time for strolling, exploring and consuming.
1) Toa Payoh City Park
Begin the Heritage Path at Toa Payoh City Park, only a 5-minute stroll from Toa Payoh MRT Station.
Accomplished in 1973, the park was as soon as a preferred place for wedding ceremony shoots resulting from its scenic panorama of bamboo and willow bushes. Enjoyable truth: Its recognition supplied a blueprint for HDB to incorporate inexperienced areas within the public housing estates we see as we speak!
Photograph credit score: Nationwide Heritage Board
You’ll discover the enduring 25m-tall commentary tower right here, which supplied guests a panoramic view of Singapore again within the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties. Whereas we will now not entry the tower, the park isn’t wanting different sights.
We loved exploring the distinctive hexagonal motifs, charming bridges and rustic-looking gazebos within the neighborhood of the pond — it was simple to know why this place was standard amongst Singaporeans prior to now.
Entrance charge: Free
The best way to get there: Stroll 5mins from Toa Payoh MRT Station
2) Dragon Playground
Subsequent, relive your childhood with a visit to the Dragon Playground — one of the crucial beloved landmarks amongst locals.
Impressed by the Oriental dragon seen in Singapore’s Chinese language tradition, the distinctive design was an on the spot hit amongst children again then. These children are actually fully-grown adults, however the iconic construction stays a shared nostalgic reminiscence for the earlier era!
Inbuilt 1979, the Dragon Playground can be one in every of two full-sized dragon playgrounds on the Little Crimson Dot. You’ll find it alongside Toa Payoh Lorong 6 on a sand pit whereas the opposite is positioned at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 on padded floor.
The best way to get there: Stroll 8mins from Toa Payoh City Park
3) Dinosaur Playground
If one animal-themed playground isn’t sufficient to fulfill your internal youngster, then you must positively take a look at the Dinosaur Playground.
Only a quick stroll from the Dragon Playground, this prehistoric playground includes a 3m-tall grownup T-rex guarding its eggs along with a child dinosaur.
We could now not be children however we’ll at all times be younger at coronary heart — these footage are ample proof. So bask in some enjoyable and snap many footage for reminiscence’s sake!
The best way to get there: Stroll 6mins from Dragon Playground
4) Mong Cha Cha Cafe
Drop by Mong Cha Cha Cafe for a well-deserved break! This vegan cafe serves bubble tea, desserts akin to waffles and ice cream, and correct meals like pizza and pasta.
If the concept of vegan bubble tea is unfamiliar, it principally means plant-based alternate options like soy or oat milk!
The store additionally affords customisable drinks the place you may select your personal tea base, flavour, and toppings — we wished one thing refreshing so we DIY-ed our personal passionfruit strawberry tea to chill off from the warmth after all of the strolling 😋.
*Professional-tip: Come on weekdays or earlier than midday on weekends to keep away from lunch crowds!
Opening hours: 12PM – 10PM
Tackle: 79E Toa Payoh Central, #01-75, Singapore 315079
5) Blk 53 the “VIP Block”
Transferring on, go to the distinguished Blk 53 at Lorong 5 — it’s dubbed the “VIP Block” for having hosted many native and overseas dignitaries, together with the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1972!
Their visits to the 19-storey block included entry to the rooftop viewing gallery with a chicken’s eye view of Toa Payoh city.
Sadly, the gallery is now not accessible to the general public however we might nonetheless catch an awesome view of the advanced from the highest ground!
Tackle: 53 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310053
6) Bugs Bunny Barber Store
Photograph credit score: Google Images
Positioned simply 5 minutes by foot from Blk 53, make a fast cease on the Bugs Bunny Barber Store.
Though the barber store opened in 1971, it solely grew to become well-known after Minister Ng Eng Hen shared an image on Fb praising its high quality haircut and reasonably priced pricing (lower than S$10) again in 2015.
Enjoyable Truth: The store was once known as Abu Nawas Barber Store however modified its identify after a baby painted an enormous Bugs Bunny on the outside partitions! So even should you’re not right here for a haircut, you may nonetheless snap some pictures right here.
Opening hours: 8AM – 7PM, closed on Fri
Tackle: 94 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-46, Singapore 310094
7) Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre
Photograph credit score: The Straits Occasions
Toa Payoh has at all times been synonymous with scrumptious hawker meals, so we’d advocate stopping by the Lorong 8 Market & Hawker Centre for a meal whereas exploring the world!
There’s a wide range of meals choices on the hawker centre, making it a really perfect place for teams with totally different meals preferences. For starters, we’ve heard the Seletar Sheng Mian and 4 Seasons Cendol are crowd favourites right here.
Opening hours: 12PM – 9PM, closed on Tue
Tackle: 210 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310210
8) Masjid Muhajirin
Photograph credit score: The Straits Occasions
Afterwards, drop by the enduring Masjid Muhajirin. It was the primary mosque in-built Toa Payoh and likewise the primary mosque in Singapore constructed utilizing the Mosque Constructing Fund (MBF) — whereby Muslim staff contributed S$0.50 from their wage every month.
Photograph credit score: Avenue Listing
That includes geometric motifs, excessive archways and a roof clad with ochre tiles, it’s a logo of the Muslim group’s self-sufficiency and continues to be an essential place for Islamic schooling and gatherings.
Entrance charge: Free
Opening hours: 5:30AM – 10PM
Tackle: 275 Braddell Rd, Singapore 579704
9) Creamier
Photograph credit score: Creamier
Finish the path with a candy deal with at Creamier, it could be barely out of the way in which however it’s price it.
The cafe is finest recognized for its beneficiant portion of creamy ice cream served on crispy waffles. Finest sellers right here embrace Earl Gray Lavender and Black Charchol Sesame — simply occupied with it makes me hungry!
Opening hours: 12PM – 10PM
Tackle: 131 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-02, Singapore 310131
Rediscover the once-forgotten gems of Toa Payoh
We could not have skilled the historical past and charms of Toa Payoh again within the day, however the refreshed Toa Payoh Heritage Path supplied the proper alternative for us to rediscover its misplaced gems. For instance, it was so attention-grabbing to learn the way Blk 53 used to host VIPs!
Generally one of the best secrets and techniques are present in our personal yard, so share this text with your folks and encourage them to discover this charming heritage hood in Singapore!
Should you’d prefer to discover extra of Singapore, take a look at our different heritage path and neighbourhood guides:
– Sembawang Heritage Path Information — Remnants of a Forgotten Naval Base
– Katong Neighbourhood Information — Hidden Gems solely True Easties Know About
– Jalan Besar Neighbourhood Information — 7 Thrilling Issues to Eat, See and do
– Tiong Bahru Neighbourhood Information — 9 Fashionable Issues to do Different Than Visiting Cafes
What else ought to we add to this Toa Payoh Heritage Path route? Tell us within the feedback under!
