• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • America Mortgages happy family in front of real estate in the us propertyLooking to buy property in USA?
        • Moving house? Get your Wi-Fi connection right!
        • earth hour festival earth hour Singapore WWF SingaporeSwitch Off for Earth Hour by WWF Singapore
        • real estate in united states owning property in USOwning Real Estate in the United States
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Elke & man k9 empawer walkWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
        • What to watch (or not!) on Netflix, TV and Movies
        • Virtual room fun things to do55 Best Things To Do In Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
        • Mental health support for toddlers to teens
        • Fun obstacle course in Singapore for kids and adultsHomeTeamNS challenges you to the ultimate obstacle course!
        • education system in Singapore Astor international schoolAstor: Small Singapore school with big impact
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Beautiful interior design by Arete CultureNeed decorators, home stylists or an interior designer?
        • Bedrooms: Bed frames, bedding & bedside tables!
        • Affordable art in SingaporeBuying affordable art in Singapore – it is possible!
        • Where to buy a really good bed and mattress in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • property in sydneyBuying property in Sydney
        • international health insurance for singapore expatsHealth insurance for Singapore expats
        • Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • Chloe from E&A InteriorsBuilding a holiday villa in Sri Lanka from start to finish!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • crab bee hoon singapore recipeAll you need to know about crab bee hoon in Singapore
        • local desserts in singapore - Rainbow ice cream breadMust-try local desserts in Singapore
        • Best Restaurants in Singapore – Where to eat for foodies!
        • 3 Greek restaurants for your Mediterranean food fix!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • yun nam hair care abd scalp treatmentYun Nam Hair Care Reviews DIY Treatments
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
        • ear piercing in SingaporeEar piercing in Singapore: types & how to avoid infection!
        • hairdressers in singaporeBest Hair Salons in Singapore for Haircut & Style
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
        • Here’s why sleep is so important
        • core exercises in singapore7 Singapore Pilates studios for core exercises & more!
        • at-home personal training yoga in singaporeYoga classes in Singapore, and the benefits!
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Guide to living in Tanjong Katong

11th April 2022 by Amy Brook-Partridge 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/tanjong-katong-expat-review/

British expat CLAIRE SALARIA is a designer in Singapore. She lives in a house in Tanjong Katong on the East Coast. Here’s what she thinks of the area!

The Specifics of Tanjong Katong

What’s the name of your street?

Branksome Road.

Do you know how it got its name?

Tanjong Katong (which means “turtle point” in Malay) used to be a seaside retreat for wealthy Chinese and Europeans. All the streets are named after English coastal towns – for example, Swanage, Wareham, Poole and Branksome. The original shoreline is now reclaimed land, but you can still see a lot of old villas with names like Ocean View and Sea Breeze; it seems quite incongruous now, but I find it fascinating. Some are quite “Gatsby-esque”; I can imagine the glamorous parties that went on back in the day!

tanjong katong

What’s a common myth about Tanjong Katong?

That it’s “way out East”. It’s actually really close and convenient for the CBD, Marina Bay and Chinatown as well as the beach; the best of both worlds.

Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home?

“Branksome Road please, off Crescent Road, off Old Airport Road/ Dunman Road.”

Closest MRT station?

Either Dakota (yellow Circle Line) or Paya Lebar (Circle Line and green East West Line).

How long have you lived in Tanjong Katong?

On this particular road for one and a half years, and previously a few streets away for nine years. We love this area! It’s really convenient for my husband’s work in the MBFC, has great cycling routes to Gardens by the Bay and East Coast Park, and lots of great local restaurants and shops. Above all, we just feel this area has some soul.

tanjong katong

The Scene

When you walk out of your place, what’s the first thing you see?

The old uncle sitting on the kerb with his tricycle collecting recycling. He must have been sitting in exactly the same spot for years and is a neighbourhood fixture.

What’s the closest store to your front door?

At the end of Tanjong Katong Road, we are spoilt for choice. Amongst other things, we have a great greengrocer, a butcher and an old school stationer that literally has anything you could possibly need.

Is there anything you wouldn’t mind a little less of?

Construction.

What’s the unofficial uniform of your street?

Yellow workers’ helmets and a dog lead.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street?

Roosters and chickens seem to roam free; I’m really not sure where they come from.

tanjong katong

The Superlatives

What are your three favourite places to eat or drink in Tanjong Katong?

Trattoria l’Operetta for the best pizza and family-friendly vibe. We’ve been going there since our kids were little, and they put dough balls on the menu at our request. Ponggol Nasi Lemak for high-quality, great value and delicious nasi lemak. (Be prepared to queue!) A bit further away in Joo Chiat Place is a new find – The Brewing Ground. It’s a really unique and contemporary spot for brunch or lunch.

What are the best places to shop around Tanjong Katong?

Greenmart is great for fresh produce, plus Foodie Market Place for specialities and Meat Collective for, well, meat. The previously mentioned old stationer, Katong News Agency, is a local gem, then of course Joo Chiat is a short stroll away for the best cheese shop, and La Tienda is fabulous for fashion and homeware.

tanjong katong

What are some fun or interesting things to do in Tanjong Katong?

Shopping, eating, cycling and just generally walking the streets and spotting the pockets of history is pretty fascinating.

What’s one thing you’d never change?

The peace and quiet, the beautiful birds and the friendly neighbours.

How about one thing you would change?

The construction – every old house seems sadly to be demolished.

If the city gave you a million dollars to soup up your street, how would you use it?

A million wouldn’t be enough to whack conservation orders on the few remaining beautiful old houses, unfortunately.

tanjong katong east coast

Beyond the Tanjong Katong ’Hood

What are your favourite Singapore spots for taking out-of-town guests?

Joo Chiat, Haji Lane, Gardens by the Bay and a day trip to Lazarus Island. Also, although it’s a cliché, I love any excuse to head to Raffles Hotel, so I always grab the opportunity to take guests whether they want to go or not!

When you’re in need of a dose of culture, where do you go?

I love the National Gallery, obviously for the art and exhibitions, but it’s also a beautiful building and so calm and peaceful.

If you’re missing home, what do you do?

Go shopping in Marks & Spencer!

Fact File: The Bournemouth Connection with Tanjong Katong

In the mid-1800s, Tanjong Katong was home to a 400-acre coconut plantation belonging to Thomas Dunman (pictured, below). Dunman was Singapore’s first Police Commissioner; he retired to Bournemouth, England in 1875. His son William remained in Singapore and became Municipal Commissioner; it was he who named a number of the roads in Tanjong Katong after coastal towns around Bournemouth – including Branksome Road. (Others are Poole and Wareham, as Claire has mentioned above, along with Parkstone and Ringwood.)

Hong Lim Park in Chinatown – home to “Speakers’ Corner” – used to be called Dunman’s Green, named after Thomas. It was one of Singapore’s earliest public parks.


This article first appeared in the April 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

Read more on neighbourhoods in Singapore.

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Living here Living in Singapore Neighbourhood Guides Tags: East Coast Street Talk Tanjong Katong Where to live

Amy Brook-Partridge

Amy has two kids, one dog and one husband - although she'd love to have more than one (dog, that is). She's mad about F45 training, running and playing Gaelic football, when she isn't injured or drinking a little too much wine.

You May Also Like

shophouse near lavendar MRT

A mix of shophouse & condo in Kallang

east coast brunch cafe the whole kitchen healthy

East Coast Food: Cafes, restaurants and more!

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.