"Sing Hon Loong Bakery, Balestier by OuterEdit. Ask any local and they will remember these traditional bakeries from their childhood. 50 years on, Sing Hon Long Bakery still holds steadfast to prepping bread the way they always have. Pick off the rows and rows of freshly baked bread and choose the spread to go within. The staff will then expertly carve off the crust before slicing the bread and generously adding kaya, butter or peanut butter. Although these soft pillowy loaves do not get the same fanfare as kaya toast, they most certainly are a well-loved part of the Singaporean palette!"

"Loong Fatt Eating House & Confectionery, Balestier by OuterEdit. Nestled in the mouth of Balestier Road is Loong Fatt Eating House & Confectionary, a Chinese bakery specialising in a Teochew Bean Paste Biscuit, known more colloquially as "Tau Sar Piah". Coming in sweet and savoury versions, these freshly baked Tau Sar Piahs have a buttery, cookie-like crunch to the flaky pastry, which hides the bean paste within. Loong Fatt’s Tau Sar Piahs have established such a name locally that when someone mentions Balestier Road, they are bound to pop up as a go-to. Stepping into their premises almost feels like a trip back in time, as the bakery looks almost identical to the way it did back in the 1980s. While many bakeries specialising in the bean paste biscuit have since emerged along Balestier Road, identifying Loong Fatt is easy, look out specifically for its 3-digit unit number - 639."

"Lim Kay Khee Optical & Contact Lens Centre, Balestier by OuterEdit. Owned by Mr Lim Seah Seng, this optical shop is one of the last few "old school" optical shops left today in the highly modernised and polished Singapore. This optical shop was started by Mr Lim's father and the business, which he vows to never give up, is now in his hands. Selling spectacles frames with varying shapes and designs, to contact lenses, this optical shop with a vintage twist has everything you will need to achieve that perfect vision."

"Whampoa Hawker Centre, Balestier by OuterEdit. Whampoa Hawker Centre is a must-visit place for all foodies, as a visit to Balestier isn't complete without a stop to this hawker centre. It is known as the "Morning Market" and serves food from breakfast to lunch, whereas the Whampoa Makan Place next door at Block 90 is the "Night Market", serving food from the PM onwards. Home to some of the most famous local hawker stalls, including the sought-after "545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles". This prawn noodle stall racks up a lengthy crowd every morning thanks to its hearty broth accompanied by the savoury umami of the prawns. Another popular favourite with long queues is the fish soup stall further down on its right. Some of ubiquitous breakfast must-haves also include the "Tanglin Halt A1 Carrot Cake", Chee Kueh (steamed rice cake with heavenly salted radish) and many more. While you're at it, do pop by the wet market next door to bring back some fresh produce, or simply take in the morning market atmosphere."

"Sim Kwong Ho Shophouses, Balestier by OuterEdit. Built in 1926, this shophouse - commonly known as the "Sim Kwong Ho" shophouse due to the inscription on the front of the building - is best known for its Chinese Baroque-style motifs. The introduction of the Chinese Baroque style was due to a rubber boom, where the newly rich showed off their wealth on their new buildings by ornamenting it with European architectural styles and features, while retaining their distinct Eastern influence and local flavours. These shophouses are not only elegant aesthetically, they were also built to be incredibly functional. Since colonial times, these shophouses were built with stone and tiled roofs so the chances of the house catching fire were lower compared to houses made of wood, which were more commonplace in those days.When you're in the area, keep your eyes peeled for the combination of Western features such as glazed floral tiles and floral wreaths, with traditional Chinese motifs such as mythical beasts and carvings of bats, which are an ancient symbol of good fortune to the Chinese."

"Lam Yeo Coffee Powder, Balestier by OuterEdit. One of the few coffee traders left today, Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory has been selling coffee for over 50 years, and little has changed since it was first founded. Even though the shop still retains elements that bring to mind the old-school shops of yesteryears, owner Lam Yeo is anything but old-fashioned. Instead, his forward-looking perspective ensures that the shop continues to introduce something new to their customers, be it gourmet coffee beans from South America or Guatemala popular with the trendy cafe wave. As you marvel at the vintage grinders and tools, be sure to try their best sellers — Bali Coffee and Arabica Mendeling."

"Founder Rou Gu Cha Cafeteria/ Founder Bak Ku Teh, Balestier by OuterEdit. Food enthusiasts are in for a treat at Founder Rou Gu Cha Cafeteria, a first-generation family business serving Teochew-style bak kut teh. "Bak Kut Teh", which literally translates to "meat bone tea", is a pork rib dish cooked in broth of varying styles. Teochew-style bak kut teh, compared to the stronger tasting Hokkien-style bak kut teh, is made from hours of boiling fresh pork ribs, simply seasoned with ground pepper to give it a kick.The owner, Mr. Chua, grew up in a pig farm, and his experience comes in handy when it comes to picking the freshest parts of the pig to prepare the broth. Apparently, ribs at the front of the pig turn black after cooking and thus appear less appealing, so the cafeteria prepares the soup with spare ribs from the pig’s hind, which turn white upon cooking. Apart from the aromatic bak kut teh, one would definitely be able to tell how famous this place is from the distinctive photographs of renowned celebrities from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, pasted all over the walls of the cafeteria."

"Wheeler's Yard, Balestier by OuterEdit. A bicycle-themed cafe nestled in a massive industrial warehouse off the main streets of Balestier, is definitely one-of-its-kind in Singapore. Coupled with their in-house bicycle workshop and industrial aesthetic (read: their famous blue wall), this cafe is surely a must-visit for both cycling enthusiasts and cafe-hoppers alike. Besides the picturesque interior of the cafe, you will also be able to enjoy a fragrant cup of coffee paired with dishes of your choice. Topping everything off with the cosy ambience of the place, there is every reason to visit Wheeler's Yard, from having an afternoon bite, to just having some alone time."

"Chop Wah Hin Sheet Metal Works, Balestier by OuterEdit. Chop Wah Him, a traditional metalsmith, and the only metalsmith remaining in the Balestier area, has been around since the 1970s. Only agreeing to unique, one-off orders, the owner Jimmy Chin knocks, solders and bends metal sheets by hand without the help of machines. He took over the business from his father, who started running the shop in the 1940s, and has been handling various metal services for industrial, commercial and domestic purposes. While residents in the past would shop for kettles and dustbins at Chop Wah Him, the shop now mainly caters to crafting more industrial items, such as pipe joints."

"Balestier Point, Balestier by OuterEdit. Balestier is home to some spectacular architecture. Visually striking and brings to mind the cubist structures of Pablo Picasso, Balestier Point was once declared the "The New Boy on the Block" by The Straits Times shortly after it opened in 1986. When Balestier Point first opened, the complex housed 62 retail units on the first two floors, car parks on the third and fourth levels and 13 floors of residential apartments with two or three bedrooms. The designers, RDC Architects, were in­spired by Habitat '67, a cellular housing project in Montreal, Canada, created by the renown­ed international architect Moshe Safdie, whom they had earlier collaborated with. Balestier Point was designed with privacy in mind. The ‘foot’ of the pyramid shielded the residences from the sound of traffic. The building sits on the site of the former Ruby Theatre, which opened from 1958 until the early 1980s. It's no wonder that Balestier Point received an Honourable Men­tion Award from the Singapore Institute of Architects in 1987."

"Whampoa Colour Centre, Balestier by OuterEdit. Established by owner A. K. Ong in 1983, Whampoa Colour Centre is one of the few film processing shops left in Singapore. With digital cameras and smartphones replacing film cameras in this contemporary day and age, the once thriving industry of film processing has now become nearly extinct. To stay up to date, Mr. Ong has picked up photo editing and invested in laser photo printing, and has gradually expanded his range of services to include prints in large formats, which include printing sizes up to that of a classroom whiteboard."

"The Theatre Practice, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. "The Theatre Practice (TTP) is the longest-standing professional bilingual theatre group in Singapore. In 1965, theatre doyen Kuo Pao Kun and dancer/choreographer Goh Lay Kuan founded Singapore Performing Arts School, The Theatre Practice’s earliest incarnation.Over the years, TTP continues to dedicate itself to critique life objectively; to entertain the audience respectfully; to explore new frontiers in art unceasingly through its strong repertoire of local productions and overseas works. Over the last 50 years, TTP has presented and collaborated in over 300 productions ranging from classics embodying Singapore’s diverse cultural backgrounds, to lauded Chinese musicals and experimental works focused on exploring an alternative voice in theatre. TTP also produces the Chinese Theatre Festival which showcases local and overseas black box theatre works, playing an active role in strengthening the foothold of Chinese theatre on an international arena."

"Substation, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. "Founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun, The Substation is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre.Over the years, The Substation has worked with some of Singapore’s most critically acclaimed artists, writers and intellectuals; currently we are working closely with our Associate Artists. Just as importantly, younger and emerging artists are constantly approaching us to use our venues, and to get our support.The Substation is a recipient of the National Arts Council’s Major Grant 2014 – 2017"

"Singapore Art Museum, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. The Singapore Art Museum focuses on international contemporary art practices, specialising in Singapore and Southeast Asia.SAM has built one of the world's most important public collections of Southeast Asian contemporary artworks, with a growing component in international contemporary art. SAM draws from its collection and collaborates with international contemporary art museums to co-curate and present contemporary art exhibitions.Contemporary art of the region is also given international exposure through SAM's traveling exhibition program and collection loans."

"Peranakan Museum, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. "Preparations for the inaugural exhibition of the Asian Civilisations Museum began in 1994. Storylines and themes were discussed, designers and construction companies appointed, artifacts selected and labels written.Appropriately, for a building that was once converted from a Chinese school, the permanent exhibition of the Museum began with a focus on different aspects of Chinese culture and civilisation, ranging from architecture to the connoisseurship of the literati. Later, the permanent exhibition at ACM, Armenian Street focused on showcasing the rich material and cultural heritage of the Peranakans. The ACM closed at the end of 2005 to be redeveloped as a new museum to showcase the eclectic Peranakan culture.Today, the old Tao Nan School has entered the latest and most colourful phase in its history – as the Peranakan Museum.Over the 70-year occupation of the place, several changes were made to the building. Space was differently employed and some structures were added while others demolished. The biggest transformation is the conversion from a school to a museum."

"National Design Center, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. The National Design Centre (NDC) is the nexus for all things design. This is where designers and businesses congregate to exchange ideas, conduct business, use its facilities and obtain assistance from the national agency for design, the DesignSingapore Council. Centrally located in the arts, cultural, learning and entertainment district in the Bras Basah-Bugis area, it is well placed to invite the public to learn about design through its exhibitions and programmes."

"Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple (Chinese: 观音堂佛祖庙; pinyin: Guānyīn Táng Fózǔ Miào) is a traditional Chinese temple situated at 178 Waterloo Street in Singapore. The temple is of significance to the Chinese in Singapore, and is believed to bring worshippers good luck after praying to the Kuan Yin (观音), or Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva associated with compassion. The temple is also involved in charity work, contributing to several health and educational organisations.[1]"

"Basheer, Bras Basah Bugis by Fable. "Basheer Graphic Books has been around longer than quite a few international advertising agencies.It was started 25 years ago, strictly a one-man show, with Basheer playing his books by hand to his customers. (This in part explains the sheer size of his biceps, before the Planet Fitness craze.) Always a welcomed sight, a source of inspiration, a wealth of magazines and gift ideas and sometimes even a channel of the latest development), Basheer soon had an office in Magazine Road. (The choice of street name is entirely coincidental.) The one-stop shop for all art, graphic, and creativity books and magazines: Basheer Graphic Books offers the best specialized titles of graphics, cartooning, animation, illustration, architecture, interior design, landscape design, fashion design, product design, graphic design, typography, photography, art & craft, picture books, drawing books, sketching books, copywriting books, and inspirational books."

"Hatched, Holland Village by Superhap. Hatched is a restaurant specialising in breakfast and brunch that revolves around the main ingredient, eggs. If you are an egg lover, this is definitely the place for you. They have an extensive range of food items with different methods of egg preparation that you can choose from. From poached egg to eggs benedict to scrambled eggs, you would find yourself spoilt for choice when you realise that something as simple and as common as an egg can have so many exquisite ways of preparation. And yes, the décor outside was not the be missed out as well, with potted plants covering most of its shop front creating a cosy ambient for diners to have their meals outside."

"Full of Luck Club, Holland Village by Superhap. What attracts me is the shop front design, which is a retro-looking feel with pale soothing colors, the typography of the logo are enough for one to give a second look at this place. The decor is consistent with the vibe, with fun illustration the fills up the walls and a two-metre tall Fortune Cat will make every meal exciting. Full of Luck Club serves Catonese cuisine and known for their famous Baos such as, Braised Pork Bao, Salted Egg Yolk Prawn Bao and Smoked Duck Bao with 97seats capacity and including 1 private dining room for special occasions."

"Holland Road Shopping Centre, Holland Village by Superhap. Holland Road Shopping Centre remains an icon for Holland Village. For expats seeking art and craft shops, art galleries, art framing specialists, street cobblers, gift shops, novelty shops, gourmet takeaway outlets, wine cellars, organic food outlets, custom-made shoes shop, imported kitchenware store, body waxing specialists, international school uniform tailors, master tailors, theme party clothing store, tarot card readers, ethnic home decor articles, fine dining restaurants and many other interesting shops. Holland Road Shopping Centre are often casually referred to by locals as Holland Village Shopping Centre, which is a non-existent building."

"Khiam Teck, Holland Village by Superhap. Khiam Teck in Holland Village has been around since the 60’s and little has changed since. The classic greenish tiles on the floor, the wooden shelf and some of the toy we use to played when we are young can still be found there. Despite all the banks, hospital and hipster cafes and shops opening up around it, Khiam Teck still stand out with that touch of friendliness & that familiarity we all have."

"The Tiramisu Hero, Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. Named after the owners personal favorite dessert, this cafe sets out to be a fun and unpretentious space for you to indulge, relax, and be happy. Customize your Tiramisu to exactly how you like it."

"Flaneur Gallery, Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. Enjoy contemporary art pieces created by local artists at this gallery which is located in a beautifully restored conservation shophouse. This is a space that aims to provide a platform for local artists to showcase their creation and promote patronage of local artists throughout the community and beyond."

"Floral Magic, Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. A family business that has been around since 2000, this is a charming florist shop that adopts a fresh, moving, and organic aesthetic that takes its cues from nature. Be sure to join in their hobbyist workshops and hand make your own flower creations."

"The Half Half Studio, Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. Half shop, half studio - the Half Half Studio aims to share their passion about making things with everyone. This studio have a great selection of minimalistic products made from concrete where every piece is unique and holds their own story."

"Butter Studio, Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. At this halal-certified bakery, all food is prepared from scratch daily with fresh ingredients. This is a place created to honor time-tested recipes passed down through the generations from the founder's grandmothers,and where one can taste handmade goodness infused with a uniquely local and playful spin on familiar home-style bakes."

"The Bravery, Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. This café which was featured in The New York Times, serves wonderful coffee and food, preared by friendly and awesome folks behind the counter. In their words, they help you to "brave the days; every day, except Tuesdays."

"Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH), Jalan Besar by Shophouse & Co. One of the pioneering cafes in the neighbourhood, CSHH which means to ‘flourish again’, is a tribute to the hardware heritage of the site. Expect good food, good coffee and good ambience here. With the unique island bar, customers also get to enjoy a pleasant 360 degree view of the baristas brewing craft."