Have a good brunch and immerse yourself in the culture and history of Little India
If you don’t think there’s much to do in Singapore, you’re probably looking in the wrong places.
This weekend, head over to Little India and explore its new heritage trail, a cultural extension launched late January by the National Heritage Board (NHB) that boasts over 40 sites and 18 heritage markers.
Some interesting landmarks include the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, built by the first Prime Minister of India in 1950, and the Little India Arcade, a conserved row of vibrant shophouses that have been around for as long as a hundred years.
According to the NHB, the new trail is broken down into three thematic routes to cater to time-crunched trail-goers. Depending on what you’d prefer to get out of your trip down the trail, you can visit Serangoon in the 1900s, a 40-minute walk that will teach you much about the early communities that settled in the area; Walk of Faiths, an hour-long walk that highlights Little India’s various places of worship, and Shop Till You Drop, a 30-minute route that passes by traditional retail businesses in the district.
To while your entire Saturday away, how about covering all four kilometres in one shot while making some pit stops? There are plenty of cafes to lepak along the way so you can recharge every now and then, and we’ve listed them below for your reference.
1. The Malayan Council
Expect no less than classic Western food fused with a unique touch of Malayan flavour. Here, you will find big portions of pasta tossed in lemak cili padi sauce, chicken wings marinated in kicap cili padi and burgers garnished with spicy sambal ikan bilis—all of which are scrumptious delicacies that justify the bill you will have to foot.
If you’re here just for desserts, don’t pass up on their signature Ondeh-Ondeh cake—the pandan cake layers are of an unforgettably fluffy texture, and the gula melaka melts in your mouth with a sweet aftertaste. Those of us who have tried it are always left wanting for more!
Where: 22 Dunlop St Singapore 209350 (Opposite Abdul Gafoor Mosque)
2. Old Hen Coffee Bar
Old Hen Coffee Bar is the perfect pit stop to simultaneously quench your thirst and get your caffeine kick. The crowd finds their way here for the cold brews that come in four variations: black, white, cold dark cocoa and cold matcha milk—perhaps most famous for being smooth, tasty and totally instagram-worthy!
If you’re in need of more fuel, Old Hen Coffee Bar’s menu is encompassing. Their waffles—topped with apple compote and a side of greek yogurt—are extolled by the food-loving community on Burpple. However, if you’re craving something more savoury, their bowl of chilli crab fries can do you no wrong.
Where: 88 Rangoon Rd, Singapore 218374
3. OMB! (Oh My Bacon)
From bacon starters to bacon mains to bacon desserts, Oh My Bacon is a one-stop paradise for anyone who’s a fan of these crisp pork stripes. Their carbonara seems to be a hot favourite, creamy and crunchy all at once without overkilling it.
But you will probably go for a taste of the unconventional desserts. For one, you can try the Jekyll & Hyde, a cup of bacon that’s dipped in either dark or white chocolate; but, if you’re feeling more gastronomically adventurous, the bacon ice cream is your order. There’s no doubt that such a sweet and savoury clash will leave you feeling refreshed for the next part of the trail.
Where: 7 Dunlop St, 209337
4. Zulos Cafe
Zulos cafe is the pit stop to make to stock up on some sugar rush. Waffles and churros are on the menu, and you’d find a range of flavours—from ondeh-ondeh to Kinder Bueno—to tease your taste buds.
Often drizzled with a very generous amount of toppings in Jackson Pollock-style, every plate is an abstract piece to immortalise on Instagram.
Where: 200-1 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207733
5. Cocotte
A hip hotel houses an even more hip French restaurant. On the ground floor of Wanderlust, you’d find Cocotte, a restaurant/bar that oozes with rustic aesthetics.
If you’re dropping by, make sure you do so on an empty stomach. On weekends, they serve brunch trolleys after 12 p.m. where menu favourites and seasonal choices are wheeled to you in individual servings.
And it’s true what they say, big things come in small packages so make this your first pit stop to fully savour a spectrum of flavours in one meal; or, make it your wake-up call before you embark on the trail.
Where: 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494 (Ground level of Wanderlust Hotel)