From epic lookout points to cute cat cafes, we’ve shortlisted places to check out along the new Thomson-East Coast Line!
With seven new TEL 4 Stations opening on 23 June 2024, the Thomson-East Coast Line is almost completed! Making it easier and faster for Easties like myself to travel to the West and vice versa.
We’ve already covered the best places to visit along the TEL 1, 2 and 3 Stations so here’s what you can explore at the upcoming ones with your friends — including scenic photo spots and yummy food options.
Psst, you can also catch the special public preview event on 21 June 2024 to see the new stations before they officially open for service!
Read also: Thomson-East Coast MRT Line’s 6 New Stations — 15 Cool Things to Eat, See, Do
1) Tanjong Rhu Lookout Tower (Tanjong Rhu MRT)
Photo credit: @yean_to_travel via Instagram
Visit one of Singapore’s best sunset spots at Tanjong Rhu Lookout Tower! Here, you get panoramic views of the Kallang Basin and the city skyline against a sky bursting with warm hues of pink and orange 🌅
This place is also right across from the National Stadium, where you can enjoy free concerts — all you need are some camping chairs!
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 2min walk from Tanjong Rhu Station (Google Maps)
2) 328 Katong Laksa & Janggut Laksa (Marine Parade MRT)
When people think of “Katong”, they often think of the rich Peranakan heritage, the colourful shophouses, and Katong laksa.
If you’re not an Eastie, this might be new info to you: “Katong laksa” is not the name of one particular laksa store but a variant of laksa which originated from and was later popularised in the Marine Parade and Katong area.
Unlike laksas of other names in the country or region, Katong laksa’s defining characteristic is that it’s to be eaten only with a spoon. Some notable stores include 328 Katong Laksa and Janggut Laksa!
328 Katong Laksa
328 Katong Laksa was already quite an icon for years, but it rose to even higher fame in 2013 after beating celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in the Singtel Hawker Hero challenge!
The broth is made of coconut milk and ground-dried shrimp, making it rich and flavourful. If you’re a fan of spice, add the sambal chilli to your dish as the heat really packs a punch.
The outlet at East Coast Road is hard to miss — it’s a corner store with a vibrant red signboard and many photographs of celebrity customers on display like Tony Leung and Ekin Cheng.
Cost: From S$7/bowl
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 9:30PM
How to get there: 9min walk from Marine Parade Station (Google Maps)
Janggut Laksa
Just across the road from 328 Katong Laksa is Janggut Laksa. Compared to its flashy competitor, this store is located in a small food court within Roxy Square Mall. Despite being rather hidden, the snaking long queue proves just how loved it is by locals and tourists alike.
Janggut’s laksa recipe is also said to be the closest to the original “Katong Laksa” from the 1960s. Its rice noodles are on the softer side and its broth is tasty but not heavy, making it very palatable.
You’ll need to be early if you want a bowl of Janggut Laksa though, as it’s only open from 10:30AM to 4:30PM or till sold out.
Cost: From S$5.50/bowl
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 4:30PM
How to get there: 6min walk from Marine Parade Station (Google Maps)
3) Coastal Playgrove (Tanjong Katong MRT)
Unleash your inner child at Coastal PlayGrove, Singapore’s tallest outdoor play feature at 16m high!
Previously you’d have to take a bus from either Mountbatten or Paya Lebar MRT Stations to get there but now it’s within walking distance from the new Tanjong Katong Station 🥳
This cool playground consists of a Play Tower with colourful climbing nets and various obstacles spanning four levels. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a 360° view of East Coast Park.
Then, make your way to the bottom by zooming down the slides on the third and fourth storeys — the latter is the tallest outdoor slide in Singapore!
Opening hours: 8AM – 8PM, closed on Mon
How to get there: 20min walk from Tanjong Katong Station (Google Maps)
4) Pat-A-Cat (Marine Parade MRT)
Photo credit: @patacatsg via Instagram
Spend an afternoon with the friendly felines from Pat-A Cat, and for a good cause 🐱
Pat-A-Cat isn’t your usual cat cafe — it’s also a rescue shelter and all their cats are up for adoption! The cosy space is run by Connie, who dedicates her time to rescuing, caring for and rehoming rescues.
Unlike other cat cafes, most of the kitties here love human interaction — whether it’s the senior cats or kittens, they love playing around and might even curl up in your lap for a nap! A one-hour session (S$15 per pax) comes with a soft drink and all proceeds go to keeping this lovely place up and running.
*Pro-tip: Make reservations in advance to secure your slots!
Cost: S$15/pax for 1hr (additional S$5/hr after)
Opening hours: 1PM – 8PM (Wed – Sat), 1PM – 6PM (Sun), closed on Mon and Tue
How to get there: 7min walk from Marine Parade Station (Google Maps)
5) Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant (Bayshore MRT)
If you’ve never been to Hua Yu Wee, chances are you’re not an Eastie or aren’t related to one. But that can all change thanks to the TEL 4!
Established in the 1950s, Hua Yu Wee is practically an institution for those who’ve dined there on special occasions since they were kids. It’s a toss-up between what’s more iconic — the colonial bungalow-turned-restaurant or the SIA kebaya tops worn by the service staff manoeuvring between crowded tables of diners.
Photo credit: Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant
For the newbies, you won’t go wrong with the Black Pepper Crab or Crab with Ketchup and Chilli Sauce, although we’d also suggest the Steamed Crab to balance things out. Other crowd favourites include the Deep Fried Baby Squid, Drunken Prawns, and Coffee Ribs.
Reservations are essential as the place can get packed. There’s both air-conditioned seating and a larger al-fresco area, and valet parking is available. But we say save the hassle and hop on a train — cos did we mention that it gets packed?
Opening hours: 5PM – 11PM
How to get there: 7min walk from Bayshore Station (Google Maps)
6) GoCyling @ East Coast Park (Marine Terrace MRT)
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Now that it’s more convenient to get to East Coast Park via the MRT, grab your friends and go cycling!
The nearest bike rental to Marine Terrace Station is the GoCycling East Coast Park Carpark 4 (ECP C4) outlet. Rates start from ~S$10 per hour for an adult single bike and you’ll even get the second and third hour free on weekdays and weekends respectively.
The good thing about GoCycling is that you can rent and return the bikes at any outlet islandwide. Popular routes include cycling from ECP to Changi Airport and Marina Bay so you’ll get to explore some of Singapore’s iconic attractions en route too 😉
*Note: A S$50 cash deposit is required when renting the bikes but you can collect it upon return.
Cost: From ~S$10/hr for adult single bike, 2nd hr free (Weekdays), 3rd hr free (Weekends)
Opening hours: 8AM – 10PM
How to get there: 18min walk from Marine Terrace Station (Google Maps)
7) Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee (Marine Parade MRT)
Photo credit: @choicecutsgoods via Instagram
Choice Cuts’ unassuming storefront is easy to miss, but step in and you’ll be greeted by the aroma of freshly baked pizza and coffee. Bagels and other baked goods are also on the menu, but they’re best known for their thin-crust pizzas. The Pepperoni Homie slice is a personal fave!
There are actually two floors to Choice Cuts — F&B is on level one, where customers usually pop in and get their orders to go due to limited bar-style seating. Come Friday to Sunday, the record store on level two opens up, and table seating is available from 11AM to 7PM. There’s a DJ spinning old-school hip-hop and R&B tunes even in the daytime, transforming this into a great chillout spot on weekends.
Choice Cuts also occasionally hosts music-themed events with live bands and DJs — follow them on Instagram to get notified of the next one!
Opening hours: Varies
How to get there: 7min from Marine Parade Station (Google Maps)
Read also: 9 Cool Places I Discovered Along the New Thomson-East Coast Line in Singapore
Explore local gems along the Thomson-East Coast Line with friends
We love to explore new and underrated gems around our neighbourhood and now thanks to the newly opened stations, most of these places are pretty convenient to get to!
So grab your friends and hop on the Thomson-East Coast Line, who knows what other local gems you might find? 🙂
Know any other fun hangout spots along the Thomson-East Coast Line? Let us know in the comments below!
