Explore Singapore: Accela’s Guide To Kallang
Centred around Singapore’s longest river, Kallang was originally inhabited by the Orang Kallang, a mobile community that was indigenous to the region who were living in Singapore before the British first arrived. This group lived along the river, fishing, providing water transportation, and gathering and selling wood for fuel.
The neighbourhood has a history of pioneering developments in Singapore, with many essential symbols of the country originating there – the Kallang River, the former National Stadium, and the Kallang Wave. In 1937, the Kallang Airport was established as Singapore’s first commercial international airport building – one of the high points of Singapore’s development in the 20th century.
Now a vibrant residential and commercial area, Kallang offers everything from parks and walking trails to cosy cafes and restaurants – with our favourite picks below.
Kallang Riverside Park
Built on both sides of the Kallang River, Kallang Riverside Park is an excellent destination for walking, running or biking in the neighborhood. The park is also a quick walk from the Lavender or Kallang MRT stations, for anyone coming to visit the area from elsewhere.
Want to explore a bit? Head to the western section of the park (on the western bank of the Rochor River), which is linked directly to the Marina Promenade and Marina Centre. On the other side of the river, head east towards the Singapore Sports Hub for a variety of activities – or keep following the path over the Tanjong Rhu Suspension Bridge, along Marina Bay and the Bay East Garden to the Marina Barrage.
Address: Cnr Kallang Road and, Crawford St, 397732
North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre
It may not be one of the most well-known hawker centers in Singapore, but the North Bridge Road market boasts some hidden gems for those lucky enough to visit. For a relatively small market, a variety of dishes are available – from excellent chicken rice (check out stall #01-101 for our top pick) to hokkien mee (at Hoe Hokkien Mee, #01-93), bak chor mee (stall #01-104, Ke Shuang Xing) and curry rice (at Ah Lock Curry Rice, #01-109).
If you’re prepared for a long wait, head over late at night for Koka Wanton Mee (#01-99), which is only open on select evenings for four hours.
Address: 861 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198783
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
Nearby Jalan Besar is known for its trendy cafes, restaurants and bars – and Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) is one of our go-to spots. Home to several metal and hardware companies of the past, the name of the building means “to flourish again”.
With plentiful indoor and outdoor seating, CSHH is a popular spot for meetings or getting some work done. Food is available from breakfast to lunch and dinner, with Western-style dishes infused with local flair, like the Pandan Gula Melaka Pancakes and Samsui Chicken Soba. Food is accompanied by coffee and tea to start the day, or beer and cider to wind down in the evening.
Address: 150 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207563
Opening hours: 9am – 9pm daily
Contact: 6396 0609
With a variety of cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and more, Kallang is a great under-the-radar part of Singapore to explore.
