Quiet and a little forgotten, the peaceful streets around Old Airport Road and Dakota MRT are not on everybody’s radar. However, talking to the people who live in the neighbourhood, the appeal of the area shines through.
Anita Kapoor, TV travel host, MC, and writer, lived in the east for many years
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
I love the mix of the old and the new in this particular neighbourhood. Some of the old HDBs on Old Airport Road are from about the 1960s. Interestingly enough, people are fighting to keep the area as it is, as there are plans to remove a lot of it. Which would be a pity.
Q: What is your favourite place for food and what do you normally order?
I really love the hawker centre here, because it is amazing and an institution. It represents a little bit of everything that we are as Singaporeans.
There is also a wonderful café on Dakota Crescent called Tian Kee, which we are going to right now. There is also Café Melba at the Goodman Arts Centre. It is a perfect place for breakfast. Generally I love places that have all-day breakfast.
Meals are just perfect to meet people. No matter whether coffee shop or café, in Singapore you will always find people who want to talk to you.
Unfortunately, the old coffee shops are more and more being replaced by ugly food courts. I really don’t like them.
Q: Why would you recommend the neighbourhood?
I really love Dakota, because there are some young smart people who have moved into the old shops and made them new again (Tian Kee). That’s what Singapore is about. We are continuously changing things up, taking old things and making them new. But in this area they are less intrusive.
Alvis Chung, 30, lived in the neighbourhood for 5 years
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
It is near to the city and very centralised as well as close to the Eat Coast Park. It’s perfectly located.
Q: What is your favourite shop and why?
I would go to Suntec City, as it is only a few stops with the MRT. There are also not many shops here. It is a neighbourhood to live.
Q: What is your favourite place to eat? What do you normally order?
I love the hawker centre. There is very good Italian pasta made by a Chinese guy. I have been eating there for more than 10 years. Otherwise there is a nice little café that I like (Tian Kee).
Q: What else do you find interesting about the neighbourhood?
It is a very good place to live, as you cut down on travelling time to the city. But although it is so close, the neighbourhood is very quiet and peaceful. They have plans though to tear down this neighbourhood in the end of next year in order to build condominiums. It will be a loss.
Andrew, 24, lives in the neighbourhood for 10 months, commodity trader
Joe, 28, lives in the neighbourhood for 10 months, commodity trader
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
It’s quite, green, and close to the water.
Q: What is your favourite food around in Dakota? What do you normally order?
We generally eat at the food centre on Old Airport Road, as there aren’t too many other places. If we want to go for a coffee, we would definitely go to Tian Kee, which is a small neighbourhood café. It’s actually very good.
Q: What is the best part about the neighbourhood?
It’s ideal to live. I don’t think many come here unless they live in the area. Obviously the food options are good, as Geylang is also just a 10-minute walk away.
Rugayah, confidential assistant at MBS, lives in the neighbourhood for almost 20 years
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
It’s very peaceful and convenient. The neighbours are all very friendly around here.
Q: What is your favourite shop and why?
Everything you really need you can get in the Kallang Wave, which is very close by, making it very accessible and convenient.
Q: What is your favourite food around Dakota? What do you normally order?
The food court on Old Airport Road has very good food. Otherwise we also like to go to cafes, such as the Coffee Bean in the Kallang Wave. In general, some of my favourite dishes are pasta Bolognese or a good lasagne.
Q: Why would you recommend Dakota?
As the town is very accessible from here, the Dakota area is good to be located at. There are also good schools around here, making it perfect for families.
Richard, 35, business owner, used to live in the neighbourhood for over 7 years
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
It’s quite cosy and remote, but then also very close to the city and East Coast Park. Also some of the foods you find here, you won’t find anywhere else. Some people still cook the old-fashioned way. I also like walking around here, as for example my primary school was here. It brings back some memories.
Q: What is your favourite shop and why?
There are not many shops. You can only find a few that are dedicated to elderly people that live in the neighbourhood.
Q: What is your favourite food around Dakota? What do you normally order?
The hawkers around here are really good, as they cook by themselves, maintaining their unique recipes, as opposed to other food courts where people are employed to cook. The way the food is made and delivered is different.
One of my favourites at the local hawker is the Wantan Noodles. I think the stall that sells them is about 60 years old, being passed on over generations.
You also have Geylang close by, but over there you will find more Chinese dishes, while around Dakota it is more about local Singaporean food.
Q: Why would you recommend Dakota?
I think the main attraction is the food, as the neighbourhood isn’t really part of a shopping belt or anything like it.
Travelling, eating, and drinking his way through life, Peter is continuously hungry for more. Always looking something new and exciting every single day, his day starts before the sunrise and ends longer after the sunset.
