Immersing in Local Culture: Top Things to Do in Outram Park
Are you looking for an underrated neighborhood to explore in Singapore? Then, allow me to recommend Outram Park!
Outram Park is a neighborhood in the Central Region of Singapore, and it spans the areas of Outram and Chinatown. Because of this, this neighborhood is rife with many cultural landmarks (museums, in particular, are aplenty!) and great dining spots.
If you want to explore this neighborhood, I’m here to act as your guide.
Here are some of the best things to do in Outram Park. Be sure to add them to your itinerary!
The Best Things to Do in Outram Park
Enjoy a leisurely stroll or a relaxing hike in parks
If you love to hike, jog, or relax amidst nature, then you’d be glad to know that Outram Park has several parks that you can check out.
In these parks, you can go hiking—I recommend making a trail with these parks as the destination points—or you can just sprawl down on the green. Maybe even have a picnic with your loved ones!
Here are some of the parks in Outram Park that you should visit.
Pearl’s Hill City Park
— From: timeoutsg
Address: Chin Swee Road &, Pearl’s Hill Rd, Singapore 169879
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +6518004717300
Welcome to the green paradise in Outram, also known as Pearl’s Hill City Park. This park is built around a reservoir on top of a hill, and it’s also tucked away in a corner, so tranquility is your primary companion here.
Greenery is practically all you can see in this park. If you roam around, you might also spot mature Tembusu trees, which will make you feel like you’re in a dense forest, and a pond with lotus plants that look so beautiful when they’re in full bloom.
Ann Siang Hill Park
— From: estricaiina
Address: 78 Club St, Singapore 069447
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Contact Number: +6518004717300
If you’re on the hunt for an Instagram-worthy spot, then you must check out Ann Siang Hill Park as soon as possible.
Ann Siang Hill Park is located in a quiet enclave, making it a perfect place to escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Additionally, when you reach the top of the park, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous view of the cityscape.
The best part is that both daytime and nighttime yield beautiful scenery, so you can come whenever you want. And don’t forget to bring your camera phone too!
Telok Ayer Park
— From: kaymeramen
Address: Telok Ayer St, Singapore
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Telok Ayer Park may be small, but it’s still worth checking out. It’s a nice, tree-shaded park with paved walkways, so strolling here is such a relaxing experience.
In addition to that, the park also has neat lawns and several picnics, making it a perfect spot for a picnic. And if you have children, they will enjoy playing with the colorful swings.
Hong Lim Park
— From: korea_seijin
Address: New Bridge Rd, Singapore 059299
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Contact Number: +6518004717300
Hong Lim Park is mostly known for its Speaker’s Corner, where political rallies are usually hosted and people can engage in debates and discussions. If this sounds like your cup of tea, why not stop by here and see if there are any discussions happening?
If you’re not interested in debating, you can just lie down on the lawn and enjoy the cool breeze. This park is also dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friends and let them run around the green space.
Immerse in local history and culture by visiting museums
Outram Park is right in Singapore’s Central Region—the busiest region on the island and also one that’s rich in history and culture. Because of this, it’s no surprise that you can find many interesting museums, temples, and heritage centers here.
If you’re a big fan of history, then visiting all these museums and cultural landmarks should be a priority on your to-do list. Here are a few places that you might want to check out.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
— From: ironniko85
Address: 288 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058840
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +6562200220
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum features various elements of Tang Dynasty architecture, and with its rich, bold colors, it truly is a sight to behold.
The interior is just as magnificent. Inside, you can find Buddhist art and history depicting stories that are over thousands of years old.
There are also various statues and sacred relics, such as the bones and tongues of the Buddha.
Of course, you definitely don’t want to miss out on seeing the Buddha’s left canine tooth. It’s housed in a giant stupa made from 320 kg of gold!
Sri Mariamman Temple
— From: apaulacmaia
Address: 244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6 am to 12 pm, 6 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +6562234064
Another temple that’s an architectural marvel is Sri Mariamman Temple. The entrance tower—with its spectacular and colorful sculpture of deities and mythological figures—is enough to turn heads of passersby.
This temple—now considered a national monument—is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, who is said to cure illnesses, so Hindu visitors usually come here to pray.
Even if you’re not Hindu, you can still come here to admire the gorgeous pieces of artwork displayed inside.
Thian Hock Keng Temple
— From: vacay.feelings
Address: 158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068613
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday—7:30 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +6564234616
Telok Ayer Street used to face the beach and sea in the past, and that’s why Thian Hock Keng Temple was built here; this temple is dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess.
Thian Hock Keng Temple is noted for its remarkable architecture that’s reminiscent of the traditional southern Chinese style. Additionally, you’ll see detailed carvings and sculptures of dragons, deities, and even phoenixes, so be on the lookout for them.
Siang Cho Keong Temple
— From: clubb28
Address: 66 Amoy St, Singapore 069886
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday—8 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +6563244171
It’s easy to overlook Siang Cho Keong Temple because it’s quite small, especially compared to the other temples within the area. But I still find it intriguing all the same because of its history.
This temple was built in 1868, making it a historical site, and it also features several statues of deities and other important figures in Taoism. A few examples include Tua Pek Kong (God of Prosperity) and Lu Fu Xian Zu (one of the Eight Immortals).
This temple usually becomes a lot more active in the afternoons because that’s when devotees come in to offer their prayers. If you prefer to stay away from the crowd, I suggest coming here in the morning.
Singapore Musical Box Museum
— From: soundpilgrim
Address: 168 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068619
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday—11 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +6598646021
Price: S$12 (adult), S$6 (children, senior citizens who are Singaporeans or permanent residents)
The Singapore Musical Box Museum is probably one of the coolest museums I’ve ever been to. As the name suggests, it specializes in music boxes, which is such a niche category, but the artifacts are endlessly fascinating.
The music boxes displayed here are centuries old, and they’re from multiple countries in Europe and Asia. It’s interesting to see how music boxes evolved over time and how much they differ depending on their origin.
Fuk Tak Chi Museum
— From: dan1969lim
Address: 76 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 048464
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6565802888
Another underrated gem in Outram Park is the Fuk Tak Chi Museum. Housed inside a temple, this museum focuses on the history of Singapore’s early migrants in the 1800s.
The exhibits of various acrylic miniatures and artifacts tell the story of how Singapore started as a nation and how it has changed over time.
You’ll also feel a much deeper appreciation for the diversity and resilience of Singaporeans.
Red Dot Design Museum
— From: thu.warrior
Address: 11 Marina Blvd, Singapore 018940
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +6565140111
Price:
- Single Ticket—S$10
- Group of Four Tickets—S$25
- Child (aged six and below)—free
While we’re on the topic of unique museums, another one that I recommend is the Red Dot Design Museum. This museum is actually named after the Red Dot Design Award, an international design competition for product design and communication design.
This museum is dedicated to the most iconic designs, most of which have won the Red Dot Award. My favorite items include the Blackout Watch (a minimalistic yet elegant timepiece) and the LUMIO lamp (which looks like a hardcover book).
Additionally, the Red Dot Museum has an in-house cafe, which is adorned with award-winning furniture and uniquely designed decorations as well.
Go on a food trip
Aside from museums and temples, Outram Park features many amazing restaurants and other eateries. Because of this, dining is one of the best things to do here.
If you’re planning a food trip around Outram Park but don’t know where to start, here are some of the dining spots in the area that I’ve tried and loved. I hope you try them out (and love them) too.
Maxwell Food Center
— From: yongweikai
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—8 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +6562255632
Hawker centers are embedded in Singaporean culture, and Maxwell Food Center is a great place to start. In fact, many locals and tourists might even say that it’s the hawker center to go to if you can only visit one during your vacation.
Just like the other hawker centers on the island, Maxwell Food Center is known for its various stalls selling affordable yet high-quality food. Some of the most popular stalls here are Jin Hua Fish Soup, Hainanese Curry Rice, and Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake.
I’m barely scratching the surface here since the food center has many stalls. So, don’t hesitate to roam the area to find ones that call your name.
Potato Head Singapore
— From: ngammoi
Address: 36 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089143
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +6563271939
The interesting thing about Potato Head Singapore is that it has various floors, each having its own theme. The first is the Dining Hall where you eat your dishes, and then the remaining two are bars—one intimate and moody and the other a rooftop bar.
So, whether you just want to enjoy a meal with your family or chill with a good drink on hand at the end of the night, Potato Head Singapore is a great place to be. I personally love the rooftop bar because I get to enjoy the view of the city while relaxing.
Tong Ah Eating House
— From: goodfomood
Address: 35 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089142
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 2 pm
Contact Number: +6562235083
Do you want to try the famous Singaporean kopi paired with the equally famous kaya toast? Tong Ah Eating House is here to deliver.
This coffeehouse offers four types of toast, and each includes half-boiled eggs and a cup of kopi or tea.
The bestselling dish is the traditional kaya toast, but my personal favorite is the French toast with kaya; it’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Lime House Jiak Chuan
— From: moonandmusk
Address: 2 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089260
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—5 pm to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 12 am
- Sunday—12 to 11 pm
- Closed on Monday
Contact Number: +6562223130
Lime House Jiak Chuan is the best restaurant to go to if you’re craving Caribbean cuisine.
Its all-day menu is pretty extensive. I recommend trying out the smoked fish and crab dip (appetizer) and the spiced rack of lamb (main course).
If you love a glass of good rum, this place has you covered as well. They also sell a varied selection of bottled rums—over 300 labels!—so if you like what you’ve tasted, buy a bottle (or two) to take home as a souvenir.
Humpback
— From: sharefatinfood
Address: 18-20 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089834
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday to Friday—5 to 11 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—12 to 11 pm
- Closed on Tuesday
Contact Number: +6597729896
If you’re in the mood to splurge for a fancy meal, you might want to go to Humpback. This restaurant specializes in gourmet seafood dishes, so you’re really in for a treat.
The bestselling dish here is undoubtedly the oysters. There are different kinds you can order, and each comes with mignonette and citrus.
If oysters aren’t your thing, they have other options as well, such as the sea scallop and king crab donabe.
To round out your meal, order a bottle of wine!
The Guild by Young Master
— From: fatpigdiary
Address: 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-01, Singapore 089158
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—4 to 11:30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—3 to 10:30 pm
Contact Number: +6590423900
Another great dining spot is The Guild by Young Master. This craft beer taproom has an impressive drinks menu, with boozy cocktails, all-natural wines, and independent craft beer.
But the drinks aren’t the only ones impressive here; the meals deserve some recognition too. My recommendations would be mac and cheese, Alton’s fried chicken, and fish and chips.
Don’t miss out on the chocolate dessert as well. It’s made from selected cocoa pods from the Philippines and paired really well with salted caramel, hazelnut Crémeux, and raspberries.
Taratata Brasserie
Address: 35A Keong Saik Road Ground Floor, Singapore 089142
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11:30 am to 3 pm, 5:30 to 10 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +6562214506
Taratata Brasserie is a restaurant that specializes in authentic regional French classics. So, whenever you come and dine here, you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to France for a little while.
The bestsellers here are the French onion soup, escargot, steak tartare, duck confit, and boeuf bourguignon. If you’re fond of sweet treats, try the creme brûlée and chocolate fondant.
Get your adrenaline pumping in Virtual Room Singapore
— From: ssewsg
Address: 211 New Bridge Rd, Level B3 Lucky Chinatown, Singapore 059432
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6569668060
Price: S$45 (off-peak days), S$55 (peak days)
Discover a new world in virtual reality! You can do so in Virtual Room Singapore.
The Virtual Room blends the concept of an escape room with a full 3D cinematic experience, so you’ll really be immersed in a unique and mind-blowing adventure.
To make things even more fun, I suggest playing with a group. It’s just exhilarating to embark on an out-of-this-world adventure with friends and family in a virtual reality.