Want to relieve precious childhood memories? These places in Singapore are perfect for the nostalgia-seeker in each person, filled with old-school gems and charm. From Singapore's last surviving kampong (!) to an antique store full of old-world charm, these places are sure to take one on a trip down memory lane.
British Hainan
Tucked away in one of Joo Chiat’s residential estates, a meal at British Hainan is sure to involve reminiscing about the good ol’ days. Almost akin to a museum, the restaurant is filled with vintage collectibles, from old gramophones, mixers… to even the public pay phone that was used in the not-so-distant past, a result of owner, Frederick’s penchant for collecting nostalgic items.
Beyond all these collectibles, British Hainan also serves up generous portions of British-inspired comfort food. Think beef stew, lamb shank and oxtail stew – all cooked for hours until soft and tender and served in a sweet potato-based stew. A must-order here is definitely the Oxtail Stew, which is full-bodied, tender and filling. A meal here is always a pleasant experience with the warm and friendly owners making you feel at home from the get-go.
British Hainan
Address: 75 Carpmael Rd 429812
Contact: +65 6336 8122
Opening Hours:
Monday, Wed - Sat, 11.30 am - 10 pm;
Sun 6 pm - 10 pm;
Closed on Tuesdays
Kampong Lorong Buangkok
Singapore’s last surviving kampong, Kampong Lorong Buangkok is a living relic of a bygone era – a traditional hamlet that has survived and remains untouched amidst rapid redevelopment and urbanisation. Standing as the country’s last surviving link to its past, a trip to Kampong Lorong Buangkok provides one not simply with an opportunity to relieve childhood memories, but also provides a sense of the massive transformation our country has undergone in the last few decades.
Currently home to 30 families, the kampong remains relatively untouched by modernity, and there is a strong sense of community that has survived through the years, what we often call the kampong spirit. A quiet enclave amidst the bustling city, this is surely a place that beckons one to reminisce about simpler times. Just be sure to be respectful of the residents as you explore this kampong.
Kampong Lorong Buangkok
Address: 7 Lor Buangkok, Singapore 547557
Sing Hon Loong Bakery
50 years on, Sing Hon Long Bakery still holds steadfast to prepping bread the way they always have. To achieve their characteristically light and fluffy traditional bread, Sing Hon Long continues to bake each loave by hand, making everything from scratch to maintain their quality.
Pick off the rows and rows of freshly baked bread and choose the spread to go within. The staff will then expertly carve off the crust before slicing the bread and generously adding kaya, butter or peanut butter. Although these soft pillowy loaves do not get the same fanfare as kaya toast, they most certainly are a well-loved part of the Singaporean palette!
Sing Hon Loong Bakery
Address: 4 Whampoa Dr, Singapore 327715
Contact: +65 6256 0878
Opening Hours:
24 Hours Daily
Lam Yeo Coffee Powder
Lam Yeo Coffee Powder, a family-run shop located on Balestier Road is one of the “hipster” pioneers introducing coffee culture in Singapore as early as 1959. One of the blends of traditional kopi purveyed at this store is a Nanyang-style combination that is uniquely Singaporean – coffee beans roasted with sugar and margarine.
The store remains almost unchanged except for a few tweaks here and there – with huge coffee bean sacks and vintage coffee grinders embedded in the background. In an effort to progress with the times, Lam Yeo also sources for coffee beans from countries like South Africa, Colombia, Ethiopia and Brazil. Coffee connoisseurs should definitely give this place a visit!
Lam Yeo Coffee Powder
Address: 328 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329760
Contact: +65 6256 2239
Opening Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm
Saturday: 9-5pm
Closed: Sunday
Biscuit King
Relieve your childhood at Biscuit King where you will find familiar childhood biscuits, savoury snacks and sweet treats stacked up in shelves all around you. From butterfly biscuits, iced gems biscuits, haw flakes, Pola snack biscuits, Tasty biscuit sticks, Ding Dang chocolate-coated biscuit balls, Apollo chocolate wafers and hundreds more, you will definitely be able to find your favourite childhood snacks here. You can even take home a massive 4kg biscuit tin filled with all the goodies of your choice!
Biscuit King not only sells childhood snacks but also timeless childhood toys, games and collectibles. Think inflatable paper balls, Old Maid and Snap cards and tiny priceless trinkets that you won’t be able to find at most contemporary toy stores.
Biscuit King
Address: 130 Casuarina Road, Singapore 579518
Contact: +65 6458 0925
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 11am – 10pm
Closed on Mondays
Redpoint Record Warehouse
The Redpoint Record Warehouse located inside the Kapo Factory Building is an old-school haven that stocks and sells vintage vinyl records of rare original prints of nineties’ pop or original classics. With ten thousand vinyls housed in this warehouse, some of which were donated by people and majority of which belong to the owner’s personal collection, you can while the entire day away in this shop. Don’t be intimidated by the volume though as all the vinyl is organised according to genre or the year of release, making for straightforward navigation. You can even test the vinyl with a vinyl player that’s available to. With hits of yesteryear available here, experience a rush of nostalgia when your favourite tunes by the Spice Girls, Teresa Teng, P. Ramlee or Jagjit Singh starts spinning!
Redpoint Record Warehouse
Address: Kapo Factory Building Block B #06-11, 80 Playfair Road, Singapore 367998
Contact: +65 6383 3955
Opening Hours:
Thursday, Friday, Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm;
Saturday: 11 am – 8 pm;
Closed Monday to Wednesday
Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Craft
If you enjoy collecting antiques, porcelain plates, china tea sets, paintings and many other priceless knickknacks, then you should definitely stop by Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Crafts store. Located in a pre-war shophouse on Craig Road, this shop is unmissable with its iconic yellow banner hanging outside its entrance. An epic one-of-a-kind treasure trove, this place is filled with all kinds of Instagram-worthy objects that would be perfect for that ultimate #throwbackthursday shot.
Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Craft
Address: 51 Craig Road, Singapore 089689
Contact: +65 6223 1037
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday, 9.30 am – 5.30 pm ;
Sunday, 1.30 pm – 5.30 pm
