The town of Toa Payoh has many great things to offer visitors and locals alike. Over the years, it had several recognitions; from being the first town with an MRT station in Singapore to the iconic ‘Y-building’ Block 53 that was visited by the British monarchy, the town continues to have a list of unique locations for little adventures and gems that are just waiting to be discovered. If you’re ever stopping by, here is a guide for things to do in Toa Payoh!
Things to Do in Toa Payoh
Contents
- Things to Do in Toa Payoh
- 1. Sensory Park
- 2. Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery
- 3. Dragon Playground
- 4. Tims Restaurant & Cafe
- 5. Bugs Bunny Barber Shop
- 6. Toa Payoh Town Park
- 7. Toa Payoh Market and Food Centre
- 8. ‘Ci Ern Ge’ Tree Shrine in Toa Payoh Central
- 9. Bricks Play
- 10. HBD Living Space Gallery
- 11. Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
- 12. Chef Kang’s Noodle House
1. Sensory Park
There’s always an adventure to be discovered in Toa Payoh Sensory Park. It caters to not only children but also adults as the park itself is built to stimulates the five senses; sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. The park has a playground, exercises equipment and interactive puzzles and mazes to be explored. If you’re feeling tired, the park also have some shaddy for you to sit and chill after a long day of adventure.
| Address: | Lor. 5 Toa Payoh, Singapore |
| Opening Hours: | Open 24 hours |
| Contact Details: | N/A |
2. Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery
The Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery is regarded as a national monument by locals due to its beautiful architecture, statues, and atmosphere. The temple’s designs take inspiration from the ancient cities of Fujian and Guangdong province in China, transporting locals and tourists alike to the ancient civilizations. Their main attraction are the seven-storey Dragon Light pagoda which adorned with Buddhist motifs and cravings, standing at 29 metres tall and the wishing well to toss some spare coins for a wish or two.
For more information, click here.
| Address: | 184 Jalan Toa Payoh, Singapore 319944 |
| Opening Hours: | Everyday, 8 am until 5 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 6259 6924 |
3. Dragon Playground
This retro playground is a trip to nostalgia for many Toa Payoh’s residence. Designed by Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HBD) in 1979, the vintage playground features a large dragon head which is meant to represent Singapore’s culture and identity. Colourful steel rings for children to climb or slide on is meant to be the body of the dragon. The mosaic-clad structure is still maintained to this day and holds a special place for many, being the only dragon playground with a sandpit in Singapore.
| Address: | 28 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310028 |
| Opening Hours: | Open 24 hours |
| Contact Details: | N/A |
4. Tims Restaurant & Cafe
For an hearty meal, locals love to visit Tims Restaurant & Cafe. This eatery serves a fusion of Western and Nepalese cuisine with generous portions at an affordable price. If you’re looking to fill up your tummy, try their mouth-watering Tomahawk Ribeye Steak which is cooked to the right doneness, leaving it pink and tender. It is accompanied by roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables, and two sauces; black pepper and mushroom.
For more information, click here.
| Address: | 95 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, #01-52, Singapore 310095 |
| Opening Hours: | Everyday, 11.30 am until 10 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 6250 5246 |
5. Bugs Bunny Barber Shop
Fancy a haircut? Visit the famous Bugs Bunny Barber Shop for a fresh trim and a trip to nostalgic city! This barber shop first opened in 1974 with a tavern-like bricked exterior. Keeping to a retro feel, the interior of the barber remains from the 90’s and it became a popular spot for adults and children alike for a professionally done haircut.
| Address: | 94 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, Block 94, Singapore 310094 |
| Opening Hours: | Saturday – Thursday, 8 am until 7 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 6254 2457 |
6. Toa Payoh Town Park
Located opposite of HBD Hub, Toa Payoh Town Park was completed in 1972 and became a popular location for everyday leisure and photo shoot location due to its beautiful stone bridges and ponds. The lush green park is a must-visit if you’re in need to reconnect with nature or a light stroll after a stressful day at work.
| Address: | Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319393 |
| Opening Hours: | Everyday, 24 hours |
| Contact Details: | N/A |
7. Toa Payoh Market and Food Centre
Singapore is known for its food stalls and hawkers. At Toa Payoh market and food centre, you can enjoy a variety of local delights with 40 stalls. The most popular stalls would be Chey Sua Carrot Cake, Come Daily Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, Hong Kong Lung Hwa Roast Duck which usually have a long line of wait but it’s always worth it!
| Address: | 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310127 |
| Opening Hours: | Everyday, 6 am until 4 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 6225 5632 |
8. ‘Ci Ern Ge’ Tree Shrine in Toa Payoh Central
The locals in Toa Payoh Central believe that they’re protected by a spirit, known to be the “Goddess of Mercy”. The statue of the deity can be found in the shrine located at the foot of a tall tree which unfortunately collapsed after a thunderstorm in 2013. However, the shrine was rebuilt and remained a popular location for locals and tourist to pay their respect to the deities.
| Address: | 177 Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 310177 |
| Opening Hours: | Open 24 hours |
| Contact Details: | N/A |
9. Bricks Play
If you’re a huge card collector, then you might not want to miss Bricks Play the next time you’re in Toa Payoh. This shop is a destination for many who are looking to find all sort of trading cards from their favourite animes, video games, or cartoon series.
For more information, click here.
| Address: | 183 Toa Payoh Central, #02-278, Singapore 310183 |
| Opening Hours: | Wednesday until Monday, 1 pm until 8 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 6255 5928 |
10. HBD Living Space Gallery
To see Singapore’s unique architecture wonders and public housing available, take a visit HBD Living Space Gallery. The gallery offers interactive exhibits and a model of a typical HBD flat to give visitors an understanding of the layout and designs of the homes. If you’re interested in public housing within Singapore, this gallery can be a good start for you to gain some insights with the array of information and guides available.
For more information, click here.
| Address: | 480 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310480 |
| Opening Hours: | Monday – Saturday, 8.30 am until 5 pm |
| Contact Details: | N/A |
11. Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a Chinese revolutionary and founding father of Republic of China, this memorial hall features interactive exhibits and multimedia to showcase the life and achievements of Dr. Sun. The gallery also displays the history of the Chinese revolutionary movement in Southeast Asia. Occasionally, it hosts other exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events.
For more information, click here.
| Address: | 12 Tai Gin Rd, Singapore 327874 |
| Opening Hours: | Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am until 5 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 6256 7377 |
12. Chef Kang’s Noodle House
After a day of exploring, it’s not good to leave your belly empty. So hop on by to Chef’s Kang Noodle House which opened in 2018 and won’t overwhelm you with its three items; Noodles with Char Siew & Wanton, Noodle with Shredded Abalone, Char Siew & Wanton, and Pork Belly Char Siew. Despite its simplicity, the restaurant had awarded and listed on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list.
For more information, click here.
| Address: | 11 Lor 3 Toa Payoh, Block B Jackson Square, Singapore 319579 |
| Opening Hours: | Tuesday – Friday, 8 am until 4 pm Saturday and Sunday, 8 am until 2 pm |
| Contact Details: | +65 8280 2782 |
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