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c h i k k a
d i s p a t c h
2
BUT THERE’S
ALWAYS
SOMETHING NEW
A nice, old couple once ran a convenience
store on the ground floor of the building
where I live. Every day, on my way home
from work, I’d drop by to say hello. After
the couple moved shop, a bakery took over
their spot, and the place that once sold me
fried dace and eggs is now the high-tech
kitchen of Tiong Bahru Bakery
(56 Eng
Hoon St; www.tiongbahrubakery.com)
,
owned by a French baker named Gontran
Cherrier. I’ve since become a fan of their
light, flaky and buttery Croissant Chocolat,
and the coffee that’s supplied by 40 Hands
(which has its own outlet in Yong Siak St).
3
HIP BOUTIQUES
AND COOL CAFÉS
In recent years, little boutiques and cafés
have sprung up all over Tiong Bahru. The
Orange Thimble
(56 Eng Hoon St;
www.theorangethimble.com)
was one
of the first few hip cafés to open. But
on weekend mornings, when I don’t
have to rush anywhere, I usually walk
over to 40 Hands
(78 Yong Siak St;
www.40handscoffee.com)
for brunch. I love
their strong coffee brew — strong and nutty
in flavor, it packs a serious kick. There’s
also no shortage of cool stores in Tiong
Bahru. Flea & Trees
(68 Seng Poh Lane)
,
for instance, is a little shop stacked with
lots of vintage items, from dresses, shoes,
eyewear and funky accessories, among a
tumble of other things. Strangelets
(7 Yong
Siak St; www.strangelets.sg)
, on the other
hand, sells designer items that make for
unique and thoughtful gifts. The newest kid
on this block is Po Tea To, a cozy tea shop
where the Persian Apple and Ginger Tea is
a must-try
(78 Yong Siak St)
.
4
THAT VINTAGE
VIBE
One of the things that makes an afternoon
stroll in Tiong Bahru unique is the pleasant
surprises that jump at you. I once chanced
upon two old cars given a hip new lease on
life, Vespas and combi vans that were all
the rage in the ‘70s, and bicycles that have
seen better days but still looked ready to
roll. These small retro touches add to the
neighborhood’s quaint old-school appeal.
5
THE SMALL
AND COLORFUL
DETAILS
While there are a lot of senior citizens who
live in the area, there’s also a population
of little ones who frequent the market, the
parks and the shops around the corner. And
while the neighborhood is well known for
the architecture of its low-rise residential
structures, it doesn’t lack pocket parks
or playgrounds for children to enjoy the
outdoors. I love how, in many ways, Tiong
Bahru lets the old and the new mesh well
together.
Do you live in one of Cebu Pacific’s
destinations? Then make a pitch for
your neighborhood to be featured in
Smile’s
next Chikka Dispatch. Tell us
what’s most interesting about where
you live and post it on
www.facebook.
com/smilecebupacific.
Be a
Smile
tour guide!
Flea & Trees offers one-
of-a-kind vintage dresses,
accessories and homeware
Small gardens are
given a dose of pretty
Get your caffeine fix with
the coffee at 40 Hands,
available at Tiong Bahru Bakery
Talk about vintage!
Discover a
new trinket
to display or
give away