A Local's Guide To Holland Village In Singapore

Holland Village, located near the Botanic Gardens and just outside Orchard, is an expat neighborhood that has slowly gained popularity with young Singaporeans. Once a Dutch community, many businesses opened along Lorong Liput and Lorong Mambong with the specific purpose of catering to these European families. The neighborhood is still largely populated by upper-class expats, with shops transforming into restaurants and bars that cater to that market. Here’s our guide to spending a relaxing day in Holland Village.

A Brief History

Holland Village started out as the location for several plantations and nurseries located along present-day Lorong Mambong. Although it is unsurprising that the Dutch were early settlers in the area, it may come as a surprise that the neighborhood was named after architect and amateur actor, Hugh Holland. Later on, it became an enclave for members of the British army and their families who lived in the area that is present-day Chip Bee Gardens. During this time, Holland Village (around Lor Liput and Lorong Mambong) flourished as businesses opened with the express purpose of catering to these well-heeled foreigners.

Over time, the increase in upper-class expat families led to developers building more bungalows and semi-detached houses – these were the preferred styles for expats who wanted to have a bit of privacy and land around their homes. Today, Holland Village continues to be the domicile of mostly expats and Lor Liput and Lorong Mambong have seen many of the original trade shops transform into a myriad of cafés and restaurants to cater to the tastes of the current expat population.

Getting to Holland Village is very easy. The fastest way to get there from anywhere in the city is by taking the subway to the Holland Village station on the Circle Line. If you’re coming from the city, that will either involve a transfer from the Downtown Line at Botanic Gardens (recommended) or the EastWest Line at Buono Vista (not recommended, the transfer is very long). When you reach the station, get out at Exit C and you’ll be on the edge of the neighborhood.

The Food Scene?

There are many restaurants here that cater to every palate and budget. Try out La Nonna for traditional Tuscan Italian food like your Italian grandmother used to make, or visit Bar Bar Black Sheep for classic international pub grub. If you’re eating on a budget, visit the Holland Village Food Centre where you can get a meal for under $10. Where Holland Village really shines is with its selection of dessert offerings. Janice Wong, named ‘Asia’s Best Pastry Chef’ by Restaurant magazine in 2013 and 2014, owns and operates 2am Dessert Bar which serves delicious, Asian-inspired Instagram-worthy desserts like the Cassis Plum Yogurt Bamboo Shoot and the adventurous concoction of Miso Caramel Mustard Yuzu Kosho. For a European style dessert café that chocolate lovers will be dreaming about, go to Awfully Chocolate and prepare to be wowed by their signature dishes like the Dark Chocolate S’more which is torched at the table to the delight of patrons, and the Chocolate Vanilla Profiteroles, a flaky pastry filled with vanilla custard with hot chocolate sauce drizzled over top.

📍Bar Bar Black Sheep, 17 Lor Liput, Singapore, +65 6463 2161

📍Holland Village Food Centre, 1 Lorong Mambong, Singapore

📍2am:Dessert Bar, 21A Lorong Liput, Holland Village, Singapore, +65 6291 9727

📍Awfully Chocolate, 40 Lor Mambong, Singapore, +65 6463 3741

Where To Shop

These days, there are significantly fewer places to shop in Holland Village than there once was, however, a few gems still remain. Visit Holland Village Shopping Center for a feel of what the neighborhood was like a few decades ago. This is a great place to get souvenirs that are more interesting than ‘Singapore is a fine city’ and the other things that you commonly find in Chinatown. Head to Thambi Magazine Store & Money Changer where you will find a surprisingly extensive collection of international magazines that far surpasses the meagre collection at Kinokuniya and the like. For something more luxurious, check out Bynd Artisan. The family run company has been around since the 1940s and are passionate about their craftsmanship. Focusing mainly on leather goods and stationery, the shop is dedicated to artistic elegance.

📍Holland Village Shopping Centre, 211 Holland Ave, Singapore

📍Bynd Artisan, 44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-54, Singapore, +65 6475 1680

The Bar Scene?

As popular as Holland Village is during the day with expat families, it is an equally popular destination at night. Whereas Club Street and Clarke Quay are the party hotspots, Holland Village is known for its laidback atmosphere and unpretentious bars. Visit Singapore stalwart, Harry’s Bar during the week from Sunday to Thursday until 9pm and drinks are just $10 for draught beers and house wines. For a unique bar concept, go to Park HV, unmissable in its retrofit shipping container, providing patrons almost exclusively with alfresco space to enjoy a drink or two under the stars.

📍Harry’s Bar, 27 Lor Mambong, Singapore, +65 6467 4222

📍Park HV, 281 Holland Rd, Singapore, +65 9721 3815

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.