Singapore Expats

Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Compilation of interesting and useful articles for Singapore Expats readers.
Post Reply
Pal
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1677
Joined: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 2:44 am
Answers: 2
Location: Singapore
Contact:

Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Post by Pal » Wed, 01 Jun 2016 11:44 pm

146479531220160326_224557oOmgW.jpg
Often described as a country where ‘East meets West’, Singapore is well known for its ability to bridge Asian and Western cultures in spite of its small geographic size. The size of the country is no sure sign of homogeneity throughout the island however, as each individual pocket with its mixed demographic and varying landscape bears a different charm.

An expatriate-friendly neighbourhood could provide a way for a wary visitor to dip his toe into local waters without straying too far from his comfort zone. When you’re homesick for that familiar taste of steak and frites from back home, or yearning to grab a pint and watch rugby with your mates, the siren call of these neighbourhoods may soon become irresistible. If you’re keen to live in an expatriate community, here are five neighbourhoods which might be of particular interest to you.

Robertson Quay

Of the three quays in Singapore, the other two being Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay occupies the largest area and possesses the most relaxed riverside atmosphere. This is a popular area with expatriates, and the area is chock-a-bloc with family-friendly restaurants, bars and cafés. Even after the sun goes down, it’s not uncommon to see young children riding their bicycles or playing with the dog, while their parents sip their drinks at an alfresco restaurant nearby. The laid-back atmosphere that underpins the Robertson Quay area provides its residents with an oasis of calm in a frenetic city.

Katong

If you’re the sort who loves keeping up with the Jones, you might find yourself bang out of luck in Katong unless you’re intending to run for Prime Minister. Did you know that Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, as well as the family of the founding father of the nation, Lee Kuan Yew, both lived in this illustrious area? Today, Katong remains a popular haunt of both the expatriate and local crowd for its innumerable eateries. Chic cafés abound in the area but the savoury street food is what draws the crowd. Everything from the internationally-famous Katong Laksa, to Nasi Lemak and prawn noodles can be found in this neighbourhood. If you love the sea, you’d adore Katong as it’s only a ten minute drive away from East Coast Park.

Bukit Timah

One of the most attractive areas for expatriates is the centrally-located Bukit Timah neighbourhood. This area is famous for having more private housing than public housing, and it also has an especially high density of colonial-style terrace houses and bungalows. Some of the best public schools in Singapore are located in the area, making it an incredibly popular choice for parents as well. As it is located near reservoirs, nature reserves and other forested areas, many species of birds and animals such as the greater racket-tailed drongo, the crested serpent eagle and the long-tailed macaque can be spotted in the neighbourhood, making it a great choice for nature lovers.

Holland Village

When the Holland Village MRT station opened in 2011, long-time fans of this bohemian enclave were torn between gratitude at having their travel time cut in half, and dismay in the knowledge that visitor numbers were sure to rocket. In the Holland Village neighbourhood, clothing and shoe tailors, organic produce grocers, craft specialists, New Age spiritualists, and art galleries abound. Known for their individuality, the trendy establishments here are far more likely to set the trends than follow them. It’s not just a place for those in search of kindred spirits on their quest for well-being, but also a popular hangout for locals and fellow expatriates due to its numerous eateries and watering holes that open till late.

Sentosa

Perhaps the most expensive and prestigious of all neighbourhoods, the residential enclave on this offshore island is particularly attractive to those with a strong desire for privacy and a love of the sea.

Known as Sentosa Cove, the resort-style residential area is monopolised by private property, with condominium units forming the bulk of it, and includes a yacht club and marina. Clinics, salons, grocery stores, retail stores, and restaurants are easily accessible as well. For those who drive, the Central Business District is only 10 minutes away, thereby allowing homeowners to have the best of both worlds—an engaging day at work in the busy city, and the quiet and peace of a seaside apartment at the end of the day.

By Rayne
Singapore Expats

Home | Classifieds | Condo | Forum | Property
Image

User avatar
kaseyma
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 214
Joined: Sat, 05 Apr 2008 6:15 pm
Location: in question

Re: Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Post by kaseyma » Thu, 02 Jun 2016 2:48 am

Pal wrote:For those who drive, the Central Business District is only 10 minutes away . . . .
It can take 10 minutes just to get off the island, so the CBD is more like 15 minutes away, but this is still quite convenient.

User avatar
rajagainstthemachine
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2872
Joined: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:45 am
Location: Singapore

Re: Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Post by rajagainstthemachine » Thu, 02 Jun 2016 5:20 pm

..and for the rest there is always Housing Development Board.
To get there early is on time and showing up on time is late

User avatar
Barnsley
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2319
Joined: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 5:22 pm
Location: Pasir Ris
Contact:

Re: Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Post by Barnsley » Thu, 02 Jun 2016 6:28 pm

rajagainstthemachine wrote:..and for the rest there is always Housing Development Board.
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: \:D/ \:D/ \:D/
Life is short, paddle harder!!

User avatar
Barnsley
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2319
Joined: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 5:22 pm
Location: Pasir Ris
Contact:

Re: Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Post by Barnsley » Thu, 02 Jun 2016 6:29 pm

There are a ton of Ang Mohs in Pasir Ris now.

I have always seen minimal ang moh when in Holland Village .... maybe I going at the wrong time.
Life is short, paddle harder!!

lessthanjay13
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon, 25 Jul 2016 3:14 pm

Re: Top Expatriate Enclaves in Singapore

Post by lessthanjay13 » Mon, 25 Jul 2016 3:59 pm

We moved out to Sentosa and love it so far. True you'll almost definitely need to get a car, but the rentals are significantly lower when compared to a similar place in the CBD or Orchard so you have to take that into account as well (make sure you compare the sqft-age and not just the number of bedrooms as the places on Sentosa tend to have much more living space). We got a 2BR 1200sqft place for S$5.4k/month.

You can get a 5 year old used car in good condition for $500-900/month (depending on your taste ;) ) which is still substantially less than the difference in rent for a similar sized place and you get the day-to-day mobility with it to make it easier to get out of the CBD bubble and explore the rest of the country on the weekends.

There are definitely some cons, like when I want to go for a few drinks after work, it can be difficult as I am always responsible and have to make a decision to either leave the car at work and take a taxi home and back to work the next day or drive home first and take a taxi back out which can be a bit of a downer.

Taxis can also be a bit of a problem if you need one during morning rush hour, so if you know you'll need one best to book in advance. In the evenings though it's usually pretty easy as there are a lot of people being dropped off and the taxis tend not to have customers on their way out.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions about living in Sentosa, but so far we love it.


Cheers,
J

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Articles”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests