City: Balestier
Top Things to do in Balestier
Countries
5 Sights & Landmarks in Balestier That You Shouldn't Miss
The Singapore cityscape looks like it was ripped from the pages of a science fiction comic book. If you’re hungry for a true Singapore experience, sample the myriad street foods or take a cultural cooking class. The Botanic Gardens and the Gardens By the Bay offer a slice of horticultural heaven, and the observation deck of the Sands SkyPark makes you feel like you’re high above the clouds. The banks and walkways along the Singapore River bustle with local activity.
Restaurants in Singapore
1. Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Kim025Singapore - Singapore, Singapore
I visited this Memorial Hall as part of a self-guided Balestier Heritage Trail. The Balestier precinct is named after Joseph Balestier, the first American Consul to Singapore, who owned a sugarcane plantation there. Hence along the street there are decorative signs showing the sugar cane motifs indicating the past history of this area. 1) I started my walk at 639 Balestier Road which is the site of the famous loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah(the oldest surviving kopitiam in Balestier). 601 to 639 is quite unique it is a single storey shophouses where double storey shophouses are more common. 2) Next stop is the Sun Yat Sun Nanyang Memorial Hall and the Maha Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple which are next to each other. At Zhongshan Park , there are some inscriptions detailing the story of Sun Yat Sun on the floor. This Memorial is opened at 10 am. The Buddhist temple has the largest marble Buddha Statue outside Myanmar. 3) Boon Teck Road Water Kiosk no longer offer free tea and water due to the Covid-19 situation, 4) Kwan Yow Luen Shophouse at 412-418 Balestier Road was built in 1928. These richly ornamented shophouses feature detailed plaster stucco figures including two symbolic Sikh guards on their facades. The main pediment features two lions flanked by buffalo figurines. 5) Crossing over to the Balestier Market which was conserved as it is the only rural market left in Singapore. 6) Pre-war Terrace houses which are double storey residential shophouses along Martaban Road. The front doors of these houses are separated from the street by small forecourts, which provide residents with privacy from passers-by. No 13 once housed male nurses who worked at Tan Tock Seng Hospital but it is now a private home. It won the Architectural Heritage Award from URA for the quality of its restoration. 7) Sim Kwong Ho shophouses at 292-312 Balestier Road is more colourful and was built in 1926. It offers outstanding examples of Chinese baroque ( or Singapore eclectic) architecture with colourful tiles and elaborate plaster stucco work of animals such as bats and peacocks. There are elaborate wreaths and garlands placed above French style windows. 8) Balestier Point was completed in 1986 and was inspired by the work of Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. 9) Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple was established in 1847 by Hokkien workers of Joseph Balestier's sugarcane estate. This temple is the oldest surviving landmark from that era. The adorable, free-standing wayang stage is the only one in mainland Singapore. 10) Art Deco Apartment block at 230 and 246 Balestier Road have corner facades with bold vertical fins to convey a sense of height and stature. A good place for refreshment would be the Whampoa makan Place with its wide choice of local and affordable food. There are also two old-school bakeries nearby which are opened 24 hours, They are Sing Hon Loong at 4 Whampoa Drive and Sweetlands at 10 Kim Keat Lane. I also bought some arabica coffee bean from Lam Yeo Powder factory at 328 Balestier Road.
2. Church of St. Alphonsus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Mercy_Mike - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Prayer, serene, definitely a house of god.... come see the devoted pilgrims at mass... very touching. The Church of Saint Alphonsus, or Novena Church as it is more popularly known, is a Catholic church in Singapore located at 300 Thomson ... Completed: 1950 (Current Building) Location: 300 Thomson Road, Novena, Singapore Patron: Saint Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori
3. Sasanaransi Buddhist Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By WongHY17 - Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Maha Sasana Ramsi Temple houses the largest pure white marble statue of Buddha outside of Burma. Be wowed by its beauty and size! Devotees in colorful traditional dresses flock here every Sunday morning, bearing flowers and offerings. To the local Burmese population, this temple is not just a place of worship but also for social gatherings. The main prayer hall is located at the ground floor, but you can walk upstairs to the second and third floor for some quiet meditation. Remember to show respect and take off your shoes before entering.
4. Kuan Im Tng Temple
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
