Tucked in between Cantonment Road and Kampong Bahru Road, the few small streets around Everton Park are worth a stroll – not only for its preserved shophouse fronts but also for the cosy cafes and a vast choice of food. Hear it yourself from the people who live there.
Jolyn, 28, communication specialist, always lived in the neighbourhood
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
I lived here all my life. It is very quiet, but still very close to the centre of town and the CBD. You also have a lot of options to eat. Many of my friends have to travel very far to come to the centre, but for me it is almost my neighbourhood.
Q: What is your favourite café or bar?
At the moment I like Old Boys Gallery. I can just walk over, have a beer, and work with my laptop. It’s very close to my house and they have one of my favourite beers, which is a craft beer from Japan called Hitachino Nest White Ale. The food is pretty good too. I especially like their burgers, as they offer quite a big portion.
Q: What is your favourite restaurant and what do you normally order?
Tanjong Pagar is just a short walk away. There are many good Korean places that I like to go to. I also like the ramen at the Orchid Hotel. It’s a small place and you often have to queue, but it’s pretty good. It offers a more authentic experience of being in a small Japanese ramen shop, as many other ramen places in Singapore are very commercialised.
Q: Why would you recommend the neighbourhood?
Everton Park has about everything. There are small hippie cafes, but also a very good coffee shop. It has a great variety of food at different prices.
Budi, 32, project manager in the construction industry, lives in the area for about 2.5 years
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
A good thing about the area is the mix of the old and the new. There are some cafes that cater to the young, but at the same time there are still the old coffee shops.
Q: What is your favourite café or bar?
There is a Japanese café that has very good prices and good quality of food. I really like the salmon teriyaki over there.
Q: What else do you find interesting about the neighbourhood?
It’s worth visiting because you can see the preserved traditional houses. You can also find some nice murals in the streets. I hope they will continue to preserve the houses even more and maybe some of the shady pubs will move somewhere else.
Caeros, 32, just moved into the area (and Singapore) a month ago
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
I just love the vibe in the area. It’s a little bit like where I used to live in New York City – mostly because the transportation is very dependable and convenient.
Q: What is your favourite food around in Everton Park? What do you normally order?
As I am still new to Singapore, I don’t quite remember all the names of the places. But there is a lot of choice for food – everywhere you go. We need to explore this neighbourhood a bit more.
Q: What is the best part about the neighbourhood?
This area seems very accessible. I consider it a nice place to live, because it is right in between a lot of other things. You also don’t have that many cars in the streets. No matter if you want to go to Vivo City, Orchard or Marina Bay – everything is very well connected. I really like that about this area. One of the best things about living here is the diversity, as I just blend in easily.
Rachel, 20, studying life sciences, always lived in the neighbourhood
Q: What do you like about this area in general?
I have lived here ever since I was born, so I guess it is the familiarity of it all. Growing up there was quite a number of facilities for me, such as the playgrounds, the fitness corners, and the small shops. As the MRT is close by, it is very convenient too. I like this place quite a bit. It would be hard for me to move somewhere else.
Q: What is your favourite café or bar?
I don’t have a particular favourite. I actually often go to other parts of town, such as Vivo City.
Q: What is your favourite food around Everton Park? What do you normally order?
There is an ice cream stall around here that is very good. What else do you need, if you have ice cream and desserts? Everyone with a sweet tooth should come and try. I especially like their dark chocolate flavours.
Q: Why would you recommend Everton Park?
The designs of the houses are quite special and traditional. There is also the old Tanjong Pagar railway station, which is a very significant spot for Singapore.
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.
