Known as the bohemian enclave of Singapore, this seemingly sleepy neighborhood is full of casual restaurants, bars and cafes. Here are the best ones to hit up on your next visit. 

2am:dessertbar

The ultimate sweet tooth retreat, this late night dessert haunt has made waves islandwide. Chef-owner Janice Wong's signature edible art displays include marshmallow walls to chocolate tables, and everything that comes out on a plate is equally decadent. There are dishes like matcha lava cake and pistachio sponge with coco mousse, as well as recently introduced savory items like beef cheek rendang and tacos.

CRAFT Bakery

For those who like a spot of people watching with a good lava cake and coffee, this is the cafe for you. The menu's pretty simple and the attention is focused on 3 Inch Sin's signature chocolate cakes, as well as a some savory options like  bacon mac n' cheese. There's also Papa Palheta coffee that's perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon.

Da Paolo Pizza Bar

As one of Da Paolo's remaining Chip Bee establishments, this pizza bar still draws the crowds with its cow print ceilings, wooden tables and huge wine racks. The thin-crusted pizza is the star of the show with options like tomato, mozzarella, pink peppercorns, avocado and chicken, as well as calzones (folded pizzas). If you're not in the mood for pizza, they've also got salads, meatballs and sandwiches on offer.

Hatched

If you love eggs, this is the place to go. The easy-to-miss cafe nestled amongst a stretch of banks and big corporations specializes in everything eggy. There are favorites like eggs benedict with streaky bacon and ham; wagyu burgers with fried eggs; breakfast burritos and baked eggs, too. 

Original Sin

An institution in Chip Bee Gardens, this Mediterranean restaurant is known for its vegetarian offerings. It's cozy and quiet, which is a welcome change from the raucous weekend atmosphere across the road, with dishes like pan-fried haloumi salad with roasted capsicum and lentils, creamy porcini pasta and great mezze platters to share. Don't miss their ever-changing risotto dish, too.

PARK

Housed in a converted cargo shipping container, this place has a casual vibe with food like spam chips, smoked duck tacos and burgers. If you're looking for casual drinks, they've got a pretty extensive list of beers and wines like Kronenbourg Blanc, Zonin prosecco and Blaissac Bordeaux AOC. Plus, they've got pretty good happy hour and ladies night deals.

The Pit

Tucked away in a corner of Lorong Liput next to some tech stores, this no-frills pub is right below 2am:dessertbar. Frequented by lots of regulars and soccer fans, it's got a convivial atmosphere fuelled by local craft brews by Archipelago. Plus, they've got some pretty decent bar bites like buffalo chicken wings and ribs.

Sanpoutei Ramen

This Niigata ramen restaurant has something a little different to offer: it uses fish stock as its soup base, rather than the usual blend of tonkotsu (pork bone) and shoyu bases. On offer are bowls of tori and miso-based noodles with chasiu, bamboo shoots and, of course, Japanese soy-flavored eggs.

Sunday Folks

Another dessert-centric place, this one specializes in more down-to-earth favorites like waffles and soft serve ice cream. Their ice cream swirling skills are pretty impressive, piled high atop waffles by the Creamier folks. They've also got other sweet treats like yuzu cheesecake, sticky toffee cake, chocolate peppermint marshmallows and takeaway ice cream cones.

Wala Wala

Who doesn't love a casual night out in the open air drinking with friends? This Holland Village stalwart pub has nailed the atmosphere with their approachable list of drinks, pub snacks, sports telecasts and live music. Think drinks like beers on tap, bottles of wine, rudimentary cocktails and bottles of spirits. Don't forget to order jugs of frozen margaritas on that next balmy night out.

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For those times you're looking for something specific and don't want to visit 20 stores tracking it down.

Batch

What it is: Due to launch sometime in November, this place is an advocate for small-batch food producers, homecooks and chefs. Expect everything artisanal here, from cookware and kitchen utensils to artisanal spirits and food. There's also a section dedicated to recipes and tutorials with tips on how to cold brew coffee, cook with Himalayan salt slabs or even barrel-age your own cocktails at home.
The catch: Delivery starts at $5 for anything below 5kg and goes up to $9 for up to 20kg.
What to get: Hand-crafted ceramic mugs from NAFA artist Zestro Leow (from $30), Chef Ryan Clift's (Tippling Club) Blade of the Gods knife series ($450) and Chef Shen Tan's Madam Tan's sambals ($12-14).

Crateful

What it is: A marketplace for everything locally-made, it has six different categories ranging from Quenchers with teas, juices and sodas; Spreads that has jams and butters; and Accessories and Others with ceramic ware and kitchen tools. Local brands like Eastern Granola, Hic Juice, Cupplets and The Wholesome Co. are featured and they've also got a pop-up in Tiong Bahru where you can sample the products.
The catch: Free delivery for orders of more than $120, with a flat fee of $10 for all orders below that.
What to get: Chi-chi home party essentials like disposable China-esque plates ($15) and local produce like Brew's wine-inspired teas ($11-22) and Mofo Chili's Dodge The Bullet ($10). 

Hamperly

What it is: Specializing in all kinds of Italian produce, choose from 11 hampers that have a range of products like breads, pastas, spices, olive oils, vinegars, herbs and wines. They've roped in over 30 Italian producers in order to curate each hamper. Think wild Calabrian artichoke, Sicilian olives, handmade pasta and wines from wineries like Tedeschi, Tenuta Moraia and Vallebelbo.
The catch: Hamper prices range from $128 to $588, with an option for two-hour express delivery for $15. 
What to get: Hampers are hand-picked and assembled in Italy, so pick one based on your needs and budget.

Simply Fresh

What it is: A fruit and vegetable subscription service specializing in fresh organic-certified produce from Europe. Delivered to subscribers weekly, each box of fruits and veg weighs between 5-7kg and contains treats hard to find in Singapore like black salsify, root parsley and seasonal fruits. There are nine types of boxes from Office and School Box, meant to be consumed with minimal prep time, to Smoothie with ingredients that are ideal for juicing and blending.
The catch: Subscriptions can be purchased weekly, monthly or per half year. Boxes cost $138 each, while a surprise box costs $120. Seasonal boxes also include recipes and tips from chefs like Bruno Menard and Stephan Zoisl.
What to get: Opt for the Office Box ($138) to get out of that unhealthy work rut and get that daily dose of vitamins straight from Europe.

Zairyo

What it is: Specializing in restaurant-quality Japanese produce and cooking products, everything's sourced from markets in Japan and flown in fresh twice a week. They've got with items like Ito wagyu ribeye (from $347), inaniwa udon (from $5.50), sauces and seasonings (from $3), as well as tons of seafood like chutoro (medium fatty tuna, $155) and ikura (salmon roe, $72).
The catch: Free delivery for orders of more than $100, anything below has a $30 delivery charge.
What to get: Co-founder Amanda Tan can't get enough of their uni trays ($80) and ikura ($72) and she tops almost all her dishes with these fresh ingredients. 

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