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Everything You Need to Know about Tanjong Pagar in Singapore

| Last Updated: July 2024

Welcome to Tanjong Pagar!

Tanjong Pagar, which translates to “cape of stakes” in Malay, derives its name from its history as a fishing village where fishermen used stakes to delineate their fishing areas. 

The historic district blends old-world charm with cosmopolitan life. Locals enjoy its cocktail bars, eateries, cafes, street art, and national monuments, escaping city life for nightcaps and Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning dishes.

Where is Tanjong Pagar?

tanjong-pagar-map

Tanjong Pagar is located within the Central Business District of Singapore, just south of Chinatown, and it straddles the Downtown area and Outram Planning Area of the city. 

What is the main street in Tanjong Pagar?

On the west end of Tanjong Pagar, Everton Road and Cantonment Road are the main thoroughfares. Cantonment Road acts as a boundary between Bukit Merah, Outram, and Downtown Singapore, and is home to Lim’s Ancestral Temple.

On the north side, there’s Neil Road, Duxton Hill, and Craig Road, which are all popular streets lined with trendy bars, restaurants, and cafes. Duxton Hill is particularly known for its towering high-rise condominiums and 19th-century shophouses. 

On the southeast of Tanjong Pagar are Shenton Way, Maxwell Road, and Anson Road, home to commercial buildings, shopping malls, and hawker centres. At the centre is Tras Street, Tanjong Pagar’s nightlife hub with karaoke bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

How to Get to Tanjong Pagar

By Train: The major train station in Tanjong Pagar is the Tanjong Pagar MRT Station on the East-West Line network. You can also reach Tanjong Pagar by alighting from Maxwell MRT Station and Chinatown MRT Station. 

By Bus: While there are no bus interchange stations in Tanjong Pagar, there are multiple bus stops there, especially along Shenton Way. You can take bus number 10, 97, 100, 130, 131, or 107, then alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station or bus 970 to Shenton Way. 

By Car: By car, you can reach Tanjong Pagar from the CBD through Robinson Road, then turn right to Maxwell Road. From the East Coast Parkway, drive to Central Boulevard, then turn left to Shenton Way. 

You can park your car at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Guoco Tower, or International Plaza. 

What to Do and See in Tanjong Pagar

Go on a treasure hunt with Hidden Singapore 

Address: Starting point at Tanjong Pagar MRT (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 8875 3993

Pricing: $29.90 per person

Operating Hours: 24/7 (Online booking)

Website

If you’re a big fan of Indiana Jones, then a treasure hunt around Tanjong Pagar with Hidden Singapore might just be your thing. This immersive but self-guided hunt around the historic district puts you on a run around both iconic and hidden spots. 

First, you’ll need to purchase tickets from the website and then wait for a message on WhatsApp. From there, Hidden Singapore will send you instructions and it’s up to you to form a team or do it solo! 

An AI-generated Void Deck Cat will set a timer and guide you through the clues as you roam around the district. You can play at your own pace or try to beat the fastest time (but I highly recommend taking your time as you go through every part of the hunt!).  

Tips: 

There’s no limit as to how many members you want in your team, so long as each member has a ticket from Hidden Singapore. 

You can start the hunt at any time you want, but note that some destinations within the hunt may be closed in the evening. For a better and more immersive experience, I highly recommend doing this during the day! 

There’s no set trail map for this treasure hunt. Just follow the clues, trust your gut and your team members, and have fun exploring the district! 

Learn about Tanjong Pagar’s conservation efforts at the NUS Baba House

Address: 157 Neil Road (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 6227 5731

Pricing: $10 for tourists, free for locals

Operating Hours: By appointment only 

Website

The NUS Baba House, a 19th-century Peranakan townhouse owned by the National University of Singapore, is one of the island’s best-preserved Peranakan structures and serves as the NUS Museum’s main hub for conservation and social history research.

The Baba House is also a museum that houses over 2,000 19th to 20th-century artefacts ranging from Peranakan furniture, decorative art, documents, books, fashion, and kitchen utensils. There’s a lot to take in in this house for any history buffs out there! 

So, if you’re into learning about Tanjong Pagar’s history, architectural heritage, and more, a visit to the NUS Baba House is a must! Just make sure to set an appointment ahead of your visit, as walk-ins are not accepted. 

Tips: 

The NUS Baba House is currently temporarily closed for maintenance and restoration but will be reopened by June 2024. Make sure to check their website for further announcements about events, exhibition openings, and more. 

You can also book tours around the NUS Baba House when you inquire about an appointment. There’s the guided tour in English, which is available from Tuesdays to Fridays at 10:00 am, or the ExploreHour, a self-guided tour every Saturday. Time slots may change and vary, so turn to this page for updates. 

Explore Tanjong Pagar’s street art

– From tobyato

Aside from towering housing estates and 19th-century shophouses, Tanjong Pagar is also known for its vibrant street art scene. While there aren’t as many murals in the district as compared to Kampong Gelam, there are a number worth seeing for yourself. 

The most popular one here is The Nutmeg Mural created by the duo Ripple Root, located at 21 Tanjong Pagar Road. This bright and colourful mural pays homage to Duxton Hill’s history as a nutmeg plantation back in the 19th century.

Another mural worth seeing is the Ikan Todak by Tobyato at Duxton Hill. This large, blue-and-white mural is a tribute to the Malay tale of Hang Nadim, a boy who bravely protected his village by fighting swordfish using banana stems.

Tip: 

I highly recommend using Google Maps when trying to locate murals around Tanjong Pagar. For starters, the Google Map coordinates for Ikan Todak are linked here. 

Visit Guoco Tower, Singapore’s tallest building

Address: 1 Wallich St (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 6386 8322

Pricing: Free 

Operating Hours: Open 24/7

Website

Guoco Tower is Singapore’s tallest skyscraper, towering over 290 metres tall and stands tall against a backdrop of 19th-century shophouses. While most of its highest floors are reserved for office spaces and residential units, you can visit its first six floors. 

The building’s retail area spans 6 floors and features over 45 restaurants and 19 shops. However, you don’t have to spend a dime here if you don’t want to because there are many spaces to visit here for free.

For example, you can visit Guoco Tower’s Urban Park which features a rooftop garden where you can relax and unwind while taking in the views from the city’s tallest building. If you’re not a fan of heights, then I suggest staying close to the benches in the centre! 

Tips: 

Guoco Tower offers visitors convenient access to the Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. If you need to get to Tanjong Pagar from anywhere in Singapore, your first stop and landmark to remember can be Guoco Tower (because it’s also located at the heart of the district). 

Parking is available at Guoco Tower if you’re dropping by via car. It costs about $4.10 per 30 minutes in Car Park A and $2.50 per 30 minutes at Car Park B. 

Take in scenic views from the Pinnacle@Duxton’s sky garden

– From pinnacleatduxton

Address: Cantonment Rd, #1G (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 1800 225 5432

Pricing: $6 per person

Operating Hours: Open 24/7

Website

If the Guoco tower’s towering height wasn’t enough, you can also visit the sky garden at Pinnacle@Duxton. The residential building opens the sky garden to the public for a small entrance fee of just $6 per person. 

There are two sky gardens at Pinnacle@Duxton: one on the 26th floor and another on the 50th floor. The former is only reserved for residents and non-residents are off-limits, but the latter is open to the public! 

Marvel at the city skyline from 50 storeys high or enjoy front-row views to the sunset while you’re up there. The height can be dizzying if you’re not used to it, but I recommend looking far ahead in case you feel nauseous! 

Tips: 

The management at Pinnacle@Duxton can only accept up to 1,000 guests in each sky garden for safety reasons. 

If you know someone who lives in Pinnacle@Duxton, you can register as their guest and enter the sky gardens for free! 

Don’t forget to bring your MRT card or pass with you. You’ll need this to enter the building’s elevators and pay for the entrance fee to the sky garden! 

Address: 45 Maxwell Road The URA Centre (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 6221 6666

Pricing: Free

Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Website

Previously known as the URA Gallery, the Singapore City Gallery is wholly dedicated to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s urban planning efforts. It’s a small gallery housed in a three-storey building, but it’s a must-visit for urban planning enthusiasts. 

Here, you will discover how much of Singapore’s cityscape has changed over the last 60 years, and interact with models and miniature diagrams of Singapore’s urban landscape since the 1960s. 

You’ll also learn more about Singapore’s Smart Nation plans, how the URA optimises land and resources, and what’s in store for Singapore’s cityscape in the years to come. Though it’s small, there’s a lot you can learn in a single visit here!

Tips: 

There are no private tours offered at the Singapore City Gallery, but you can, however, join in on free public guided tours hosted by the URA staff. These tours are only held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays. For more accurate schedules and timings, refer to this page. 

If you’re dropping by with a big group, do note that the Singapore City Gallery requires advanced booking for groups of 20 people or more. You can book a timeslot for your visit here. 

Explore the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station

– From ica_singapore

Address: 33 Keppel Rd (Google Maps)

Pricing: Free

Operating Hours: Open 24/7

Website

If you’ve ever traversed Singapore’s Rail Corridor before, then the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station might be familiar to you. Just like the famous Bukit Timah Railway Station, this abandoned station serves as the end point of the 24-km trail. 

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station used to be a bustling station before it ceased operations in 2011. Today, the abandoned building is now a national monument and stands as an intangible reminder of Malaysia and Singapore’s cooperation in its railway networks. 

My recommendation is to visit the station to admire its architecture. It’s one of the few structures in Singapore that was built in the Art Deco style, and while conservation efforts are well underway, you’re still allowed to take some Instagram-worthy shots there! 

Tip: 

Use the Tanjong Pagar Railway station as either your starting or ending point if you’re traversing the Rail Corridor. I suggest doing the trail during the day, even if the railway station is open 24/7 because there are no lights in the Rail Corridor past 7:00 pm. 

Where to Eat and Drink in Tanjong Pagar

Maxwell Food Centre

– From eatlondonfoodie

Address: 1 Kadayanallur St (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 6225 5632

Pricing: $ to $$

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 2:00 am

Good to know: Best for affordable meals and a variety of cuisines

Maxwell Food Centre is one of the most popular hawker centres in Singapore, and if you’re around Tanjong Pagar for a day, I highly recommend taking your breakfast, lunch, or dinner here. When it comes to cuisine, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

This hawker centre is also one of the best places to try Singapore’s unofficial national dish: the Hainanese chicken rice. Get a serving from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, a stall that earned the approval of Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain.

Aside from chicken rice, other must-try dishes at Maxwell Food Centre are nasi lemak (coconut rice), porridge, satay, dim sum, and more. Do expect to be in a queue for famous dishes like chicken rice at Tian Tian, though! 

Tips: 

Is the thought of a crowded hawker centre stressing you out? I recommend dropping by Maxwell Food Centre on a weekday afternoon, around 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, to avoid hoards of hungry diners and long queues. 

Save a free table by chope-ing. Chope-ing is the Singaporean way of reserving a table, and all you need to do is leave a packet of tissue or an umbrella on a table to reserve it. The locals will understand instantly! 

Papi’s Tacos

Address: 33 Tg Pagar Rd, #01-01 (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 9127 4922

Pricing: $$

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Good to know: Best for juicy, pulled pork and prawn tacos

Website

If there’s one place to get good Mexican food in Singapore, it’s Papi’s Tacos at Tanjong Pagar. This Mexican joint was founded by Mexican native Mauricio Espinoza, so the tacos you’ll try here are as authentic as it gets. 

There are two other branches of Papi’s Tacos in Singapore, but I prefer the one in Tanjong Pagar. One reason is that the service here is super friendly and fun (they’ll cheer you on if you order more rounds of tacos and margaritas!). 

Aside from the famous pulled pork tacos, you should try the prawn tacos, the chicken quesadillas, and Mama’s Pancakes (which they only serve as a brunch special). Meals are made hot and fresh, which is why I love coming back when I’m in town. 

Tips: 

Papi’s Tacos hosts Happy Hour every day from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Margaritas are discounted and at just $10 a pop! Plus, they also host Taco Tuesday where you get three tacos for the price of two.

It’s a popular spot along Tanjong Pagar Road’s strip of bars and restaurants, so it’s best to book a table in advance! You can book here or give them a call. 

Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh

Address: 43 Craig Rd (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 9654 4351

Pricing: $$$

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Friday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm

Good to know: Best for Indian food and spicy dishes

Website

A go-to food spot Tanjong Pagar for people who love Indian cuisine and spicy dishes is Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh along Craig Road. This award-winning restaurant bagged the 33rd spot in Travel + Leisure’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, and they’re proud of it!

Born out of love by a Mexican small-town girl and an Indian city boy, Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh pays tribute to both Mexican and Indian cuisines in every menu item. If there’s anything in common between these two cuisines, it’s that they love spice! 

A definite must-try here is the Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These Tasting Menu at $98 per person. The whole set features their bestselling Papdi chaat (fried flour crackers), scallop ceviche, tuna tostada, pork tacos, chicken tikka masala, and dulce de leche. 

Tips: 

The concept at Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh leans towards fine dining but with a fun and casual twist. There’s no strict dress code to dine here, but do prepare for at least 5 courses in their tasting menus. They change often, so check out their Instagram page for updates about any menu changes!

Stick around a little longer after your last course and the staff might surprise you with a free boozy drink! 

Equate Coffee

Address: 1 Tanjong Pagar Plz, #02-25 (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 9654 4351

Pricing: $$

Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Friday, 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Good to know: Best for iced coffee and teas

Website

Need a little caffeine kick after exploring Tanjong Pagar? Head over to Tanjong Pagar Plaza and get yourself an iced coffee from Equate Coffee, a trendy cafe and roastery that specialises in espresso-based drinks and all-day breakfast platters. 

My go-to order here is an iced matcha latte with oat milk, plus a buttery almond croissant. The cafe is spacious and airy, giving customers a space to relax and beat the heat after exploring Tanjong Pagar. 

Aside from coffee, they also sell specialty tea brewed by Antea Social. Popular tea flavours include sencha, lavender, chamomile, and Earl Grey (but if you want iced tea with a caffeine kick, you get the 50s Brew that blends cold brew with Earl Grey tea). 

Tips: 

Sadly, the Equate Coffee branch at Tanjong Pagar doesn’t offer their famous all-day breakfast platters (only at the Orchard Central branch), but they do sometimes offer special pastries like ondeh-ondeh or pandan-infused cakes if you’re sick of croissants! 

There are no decaffeinated options at Equate Coffee except for their chamomile, lavender, and passion berry teas. 

Junior The Pocket Bar 

Address: 6 Ann Siang Hill (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 8121 1462

Pricing: $$

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 5:00 pm to 12:00 am, Saturday, 6:00 pm to 12:00 am

Good to know: Best for experimental cocktails and people with a unique palate

Website

As the name suggests, Junior The Pocket Bar is a tiny bar hidden within the alleyways of Tanjong Pagar. There are only 10 seats inside this trendy bar, and if you want to get first dibs on their experimental cocktail menu, you’ll need to get in line ASAP!

The bar specialises in experimental cocktails that blend different kinds of liquor with ingredients that you won’t expect will pair well in a drink. Some cocktails contain soy sauce, mushrooms, clarified milk, and vinegar, for example. 

However, their menu constantly changes, so a strange cocktail you may have tried here in the past may not show up on your next visit. One thing is for sure, though: there will always be a new concoction with bizarre ingredients awaiting your return! 

Tips: 

Junior The Pocket Bar mostly accepts walk-ins, so I highly recommend dropping by as soon as they open at 5:00 pm. You can, however, book the whole 10-seater bar if you’re coming with a big group or want to celebrate a small gathering. 

If you’re not a fan of their experimental cocktails, you can still order classic cocktails. Just ask the bartender for what’s available! 

Where to Stay in Tanjong Pagar

Carlton City Hotel 

Address: Gopeng St, 1 (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 6632 8888

Pricing: $$$

Check In: 2:00 pm

Check Out: 12:00 pm

Book Now

Staying at the Carlton City Hotel makes me feel like I’m a VIP on a business trip. The hotel has been a go-to choice for my dad’s company for many years because of its strategic location in the Central Business District. 

The hotel rooms are comfy, spacious, and clean, and give awesome views of the Singapore skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows. There are a total of four room types: Deluxe, Executive, Carlton Club, and Carlton Suites. 

If you’re booking a night or two for a staycation, I recommend getting the Executive Suite, especially if you’re staying with children. The rooms are spacious enough to fit four and include free minibar snacks, ergonomic desk chairs, and unlimited Wi-Fi. 

Tips: 

If you book a room at the Carlton City Hotel for four nights or more, you can get a 25% discount on your overall bill. Learn more about the stay package and promo here.

The Carlton City Hotel management aims to be more eco-conscious, so certain electric amenities may be optimised for minimal energy consumption. 

Hotel Soloha 

Address: 12 Teck Lim Road (Google Maps)

Contact Details: +65 6632 8888

Pricing: $$

Check In: 2:00 pm

Check Out: 12:00 pm

Book Now

Hotel Soloha’s 45-room boutique accommodations may be just the right fit if you’re travelling solo or want to book a staycation for a small group. This small hotel looks unassuming from the outside but offers lots of tropical vibes on the inside. 

With the hotel strategically located between Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar, some of Singapore’s hippest shopping and dining destinations are just a short walk away. The interiors are also tastefully decorated, appealing to guests with a penchant for art. 

My favourite feature about the hotel, however, is the comfy rooms. They’re not the largest in town, but they feature everything you may need for a comfortable stay at one of Tanjong Pagar’s trendiest roads. 

Tips: 

Hotel Soloha has a loft-type room for bigger groups travelling in Singapore. These rooms are not the most disability-friendly, though, because you’ll need to climb a ladder to get to the extra bed on the loft floor. 

Hotel Soloha’s bar has a Happy Hour every day from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Selected drinks and beers only cost $10 a pop.

I think it’s a steal, considering you’re getting drinks at a hotel!If you book a room at Hotel Soloha for more than two nights, you’ll get a free bottle of wine, a free single serving of garlic fries, a 1-for-1 beer promo all day, and 10% off on your total bill at Takeshi Noodle Bar. 

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