Tanjong Pagar does not only have tall office towers, it is also filled with trendy pubs, award-wining hawkers and quaint little boutiques.
Food Scene
Tanjong Pagar is truly a foodies’ paradise. The area can boast of having nine of the Top 50 Bib Gourmand eateries for 2018.
For some affordable and delicious meals, foodies can go over to Amoy Street Food Centre where there are five award-wining hawkers. Slurp up some noodles at A Noodle Story or Hong Kee Beef Noodle. Still feeling hungry, just head over to Ho Kee Bak Chang for some rice dumplings or indulge in some heart-warming soup from Hong Kong Yummy Soup.
Curry puff lovers are in for a treat. They can check out J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff at Amoy Street Food Centre before heading over to nearby Tanjong Pagar Plaza for more curry puffs from Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puff.
Of course, a foodies’ trip to Tanjong Pagar is not complete without some mouth-watering chicken rice from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre. This unassuming stall has been in business for more than 30 years, but still attracts long queues. It has also won rave reviews from celebrity chefs such as the late Anthony Bourdain.
Looking to enjoy some local food in air-conditioned comfort, look no further than the award-wining The Blue Ginger along Tanjong Pagar Road. This restaurant serves lip-smacking Peranakan food at a shophouse beautifully furnished with typical Peranakan swing doors and tiles.
Not keen on local food, not to worry. Tanjong Pagar also has an award-wining French restaurant called Bar-Roque Grill along Tanjong Pagar Road. Or you could check out Wicket Garlic at International Plaza. This hidden gem has not won any awards but serves satisfying pizzas and pastas at prices that are easy on your wallet!
Tanjong Pagar is well-known for having numerous Korean restaurants and pub. Head down to Chicken Up for some authentic Korean food, crispy fried chicken wings and soju. Fans of Korean food should check out the rows of Korean restaurants and pubs located in shophouses in the area.
After all the delicious but sinful food, foodies might want to head to Little Farms Café at Tanjong Pagar Centre. There they can chow down on some healthy and organic sandwiches and salads.
Shopping
Ladies will love Tanjong Pagar Centre. Butterflies & Marigolds and Dressabelle offer carefully curated clothes for the fashionable woman. The mall also has a number of spas for ladies to enjoy and pamper themselves.
If the two boutiques at Tanjong Pagar Centre are unable to meet their fashion needs, ladies can go to International Plaza where more boutiques await them. Alternatively, they can go to Duxton Hill and wander around the quaint little boutiques and lifestyle stores.
100AM is another place where shoppers might want to head to. Bargain hunters will head straight to Daiso or Don Don Donki while parents of furkids will make a beeline for Pet Lovers Centre. Families can also stock up on their groceries and toiletries at FairPrice Finest and Watsons.
Shoppers looking for a touch of nostalgia can check out Tanjong Pagar Plaza where the uncles and aunties have been manning their shops there for decades. Those looking to add a touch of retro to their wardrobe can check out the watch and clock shop that sells all manner of old-school watches. There is also a shop that sells all kinds of biscuits and snacks that you used to beg your mother to buy when you were a child. At an affordable $3 per bag, you can certainly buy as many as you want now.
Search for properties for sale near Tanjong Pagar Centre and Tanjong Pagar Plaza.
Health and fitness
The ubiquitous Fitness First can be found at 100AM and Capital Tower. The gym offers one-on-one training as well as group classes. Virgin Active at Tanjong Pagar Centre offers the usual classes and gym equipment. On top of that, it has a 30m outdoor pool where members can enjoy a leisurely swim while overlooking the busy Tanjong Pagar.
Those looking for a no frills gym and some intense training can go to Gold’s Gym along Tanjong Pagar Road. The gym has friendly personal trainers who will help you achieve your desired body. Gym rats can hit the 24-hour Anytime Fitness at International Plaza to sweat it out after a long day at work.
Those working at Tanjong Pagar will also be pleased to find Pilates Bodytree at nearby Telok Ayer Street. The pilates studio offers personal training as well as group classes to ease the tension and aches in your body.
International Plaza also has a studio dedicated to easing back, shoulder, knees and neck pain for their clients. The Body Clinic has personal trainers who use stretching and exercises to help their clients manage and lessen their body aches and pains.
Parks and Nature
Many will assume that it will be hard to find a park in the middle of a busy downtown area like Tanjong Pagar. They will be wrong!
There are hidden pockets of greenery that dot the area. Duxton Plain Park in Kreta Ayer is one such hidden gem. It is a unique linear park that connects New Bridge Road and Yan Kit Road to Tanjong Pagar. Those who prefer their greenery with a view, nearby Pinnacle @ Duxton has two large sky gardens at Levels 26 and 50.
At the top of Tanjong Pagar Centre is a beautifully landscaped green oasis where office workers can enjoy some fresh air. Mass exercise classes are also conducted at the park to encourage work-life balance among the office workers in Tanjong Pagar.
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Get the Guru View
Many assume that Tanjong Pagar is a place for work with little to offer in terms of play. They will be pleasantly surprised by the wide range of available amenities, especially the vibrant food scene where affordable award-wining food can be easily found.
Families in Tanjong Pagar will have no problems getting their daily necessities with two FairPrice supermarkets. Those looking to eat more healthily can do their grocery shopping at Little Farms. Fashion conscious ladies will be pleased with the selection of boutiques at Tanjong Pagar Centre and Duxton Hill, while those looking to buy their favourite childhood snacks and biscuits can head to Tanjong Pagar Plaza.
Tanjong Pagar also has a variety of gyms. Besides the usual Fitness First and Anytime Fitness, it also has studios offering pilates and pain management. Those who prefer to exercise outdoors can head to the sky gardens at Tanjong Pagar Centre or Pinnacle @ Duxton.
Tanjong Pagar already has a wide variety of amenities, but it expected to have more with the development of the Greater Southern Waterfront. While the government has promised more green spaces and parks, the plans for other amenities have yet to be made known.
