It's a story you've probably heard too many times - a once sleepy fishing kampung, transformed into a smart-town; state-of-the-art eco-precinct. Modern malls and sought-after HDB projects aside, today's Punggol even has a unique crown jewel: A man-made canal named the 'Waterway'.
As we kick off our intra-island road-tripping with Punggol East first, you might delight to know that the estate's relatively young age - coupled with its far-flung geographical position at the edge of Singapore - means it hides some serious gems in terms of atypical weekend activities.
Word of advice: Road conditions to take note of in Punggol East
The roads in Punggol East are mostly wide and new, but take note that they can look repetitive Unless you stay in the direct neighbouring estates of Sengkang, Hougang or Pasir Ris, there really are only two proper arteries leading into Punggol: TPE and KPE.
Unlike Punggol West - that's another adventure for the future - Punggol East is laid out mostly in a grid-like fashion. While this means that you're not going to be confused by suddenly winding roads, this does mean junctions can look quite similar to each other.
Potentially confusing, too, is the spread of similar-feeling roundabout u-turns, which denote that you have reached the literal end of the island. Make sure you turn on Waze if you're not familiar with the estate.
Also take note that Punggol is actually still work-in-progress, so expect to see a fair bit of heavy vehicles. Thankfully, narrow two-way streets are zero to none. Wherever you go, parking is almost always easy to find.
Location 1: Tebing Lane, for some bouldering, prawning, pool, and a wide spread of food (including lok lok)
Ark Bloc, a free-weights and bouldering gym, is one of the newer tenants along Tebing Lane On the eastern-most edge of Punggol at Tebing Lane sit three distinct hotspots offering up a multitude of F&B options, fun activities for any motley crew of friends, and even a farm plot.
The more active can put their fitness and core strength to the test at Ark Bloc with its open-air free-weights zone, and bouldering gym. Meanwhile, those in the mood for something slower paced (although this is also subjective) can get their hands busy with prawning at Hai Bin, or a game of pool at Punggol Billard.
Every now and then, the open space right at the end of Tebing Lane gets up and running again to host events. The newest addition is a smattering of gardening plots, which recently came under the care of local urban farm, City Sprouts.
Apart from its wide and diverse spread of F&B joints, there are even prawning pools here F&B highlights here include a lok lok joint, the recently-renovated Whisk & Paddle, and also an entire lineup of eateries along the Container Cafe stretch. This even includes a retro-themed bar with an old Volkswagen Kombi replica on its shopfront!
Where to park: There are three separate gantried carparks here. Parallel lots are also available outside along Tebing Lane - but these fill quickly. None of the parking here is sheltered.
Ease of parking: 4.5/5. Unless you're coming over during a super peak period (weekend evenings and special events), lots are not difficult to find. The carparks are open and wide, too, to put new drivers ease..Â
Parking rates: $0.70 per half hour for the gantried carparks. Parallel lots outside follow $0.60 per half hour-rates, charged by the minute.Â
Location 2: Poh Brothers Golf Driving Range, and Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop Punggol EastÂ
Even if golfing is not your thing, you can head up to Level 2 for a sumptuous Japanese meal This may come as a surprise, but Punggol actually gets its own golf course in the form of the Poh Brothers Golf Driving Range. Machines here dispense balls - in either batches of 100, 150 or 200.
Having said that, even if you just want a different sort of dining setting, two options avail themselves here.
To enjoy the breeze and hear the thwacks of golf clubs against golf balls, Tend Bistro sits on the building's second floor. Its specialty is yakitori - which you'll get to enjoy piping hot and with a nice char - but it also serves up a mean chawanmushi.
If Jap food is not up your alley, however, fret not as the casual dining joint, Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop is right beside. Take your pick from either indoor or seating as you lap up all manner of other mouthwatering and reasonably-priced food - including local delights, Western food, and dishes that straddle the line between (laksa pasta anyone?).
One exclusive aspect of the Punggol East outlet, too, is its tie-up with popular cheesecake-retailer Cat & Fiddle. If you're in the mood for other dessert, the soft-serve yoghurt is a refreshing way to end your meal!Â
Where to park: There is only one gantried, open-air carpark here, which you must enter from Punggol East Road.
Ease of parking: 4.5/5. The carpark technically stretches the entire length of the driving range, and because the space isn't as dense, finding lots is even easier.Â
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour.Â
Location 3: Dining by the Waterway with some artisan ice-cream and coffee (Sugartown Cafe, Waterway Sunrise)
Sugartown Cafe's ice-cream menu draws direct inspiration from authentic Italian gelato It's not a fantasy spun to make people move to Punggol - HDB flats actually line the estate's famed Waterway.Â
And while having shops at a HDB voiddeck isn't uncommon, the atmosphere is undeniably more special when they're next to a green canal.Â
What's even cooler is when a cafe serving up artisan ice cream and coffee is nestled among them. Specifically serving Italian-inspired gelato, Sugartown Cafe's array of ice-cream flavours includes standard favourites such as Cookies and Cream and Vanilla, but extends far beyond to more exotic types, such as White Truffle and Mascarpone Basil.
True to its roots, Sugartown also serves Bacio ice cream - a classic, authentic Italian flavour that incorporates chocolate and hazelnut in a special mix. This strong menu of flavours is nicely complemented by its offering of waffles, coffee, and iced tea.
Peek the Space Invaders machine in the background! As if that weren't enough, the cool factor of the minimally decorated cafe is amplified when you notice its Space Invaders arcade machine - which you can actually buy credits for and play on!
Where to park: Since this is a housing estate, you'll have to park at the Blk 659 Multi-Storey Carpark (S824659).Â
Ease of parking: 4/5. Parking here isn't difficult per se - it's a new MSCP with relatively wide ramps and lots - but take note that it can be quite a walk from the shops we mentioned. In the night and over the weekend, you'll also have to climb higher as Levels 1 to 3 are reserved for season parking.Â
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour, deducted by the minute (HDB parking rate).Â
Location 4 - Dining by the Waterway (Part 2), with authentic Japanese katsu (Maruhachi - Donburi & Curry)
Maruhachi Donburi and Curry is one of the tenants of a coffeeshop along the Waterway If you're still not convinced by now that Punggol plays host to a spread of good food, here's one more joint that might help change your mind.
In fact, this one's endorsed by a local mini-celebrity you might know too.
Maruhachi Donburi and Curry is one of the tenants of yet another coffeeshop situated along the Waterway, and serves up quality Japanese food in a nondescript coffeeshop (Happy Hawkers). The indisputable stars of its menu, however, are its tonkatsu dishes, with meat choices spanning chicken, standard pork, and even a higher grade 'black pig'.
The stall's katsu don and Japanese curry are fantastic finds in a nondescript neighbourhood That mini-celebrity that we mentioned, by the way, is none other than Japanese YouTuber, Ghib Ojisan, who himself gave his seal of approval to the store. (Maruhachi has also received plaudits from titles like Daniel Food Diary.) You'll be able to get a filling meal here for around just $10 - a steal, considering the quality of the food served!Â
Where to park: Likewise, this is a housing estate, so you'll have to park at the MSCP in Blk 672 Edgefield Plains.Â
Ease of parking: 4/5. The same bugbear as with Sugartown Cafe, parking isn't difficult, but it's quite a walk from the MSCP to the coffeeshop, and has reserved parking for season holders.
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour, charged by the minute (HDB parking rate).Â
Location 5 - Oasis Terraces: Smaller-scale shopping, dining and errand-running
Oasis Terraces is a quieter, but nonetheless pleasant alternative to Punggol's Waterway Point True to Punggol's eco-estate identity, Oasis Terraces is a neighbourhood mall that blends seamlessly into its section of the Waterway. Large parts of the mall are covered in greenery to reduce heat, and it's purposefully not air-conditioned down to the final square-inch, to reduce energy consumption.
While there admittedly isn't much here in the name of shopping, this is a mall after a Singaporean's heart by a different token. F&B outlets include Japanese restaurant Tampopo, Maki-San, Lao Jian Superior Soup, Rise & Grind Coffee Co, and Baskin Robbins.
If you're not familiar with Punggol's roads, remember to use Waze wherever you head! It's very functional, too. Punggol Polyclinic is neatly integrated into one of the wings across three floors, a well-sized NTUC Fairprice outlet anchors the basement floor, and Popular Bookstore is on Level 3 for stationery runs. Fancy a workout? Anytime Fitness is also a tenant.
Sure - Waterway Point may be the flagship mall of Punggol, but if a more leisurely stroll after dinner and grocery-replenishing is what you seek, Oasis Terraces is a quieter, less intense alternative.
Where to park:Â Basement 1 has a single floor of parking. In the very rare case that it becomes too crowded, there will be no shortage of MSCPs from the blocks of flats around.
Ease of parking: 5/5. As long as you're not picky (read: insistent on being close to the entrance), lots are not difficult to find, and easy to navigate round and slot into considering the carpark's young age.
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour, charged by the minute (HDB parking rate).Â
Interested in more island-hopping? Be sure to check these stories out too!
Escape the hustle and bustle at these 5 locations in Singapore!
Going (in) green: We hop into a special MINI for an afternoon out... making deodorant bars from scratch
We swung by Dempsey Hill on Good Friday morning and spotted these cars at the local Cars and Kopi meet
As we kick off our intra-island road-tripping with Punggol East first, you might delight to know that the estate's relatively young age - coupled with its far-flung geographical position at the edge of Singapore - means it hides some serious gems in terms of atypical weekend activities.
Word of advice: Road conditions to take note of in Punggol East
Unlike Punggol West - that's another adventure for the future - Punggol East is laid out mostly in a grid-like fashion. While this means that you're not going to be confused by suddenly winding roads, this does mean junctions can look quite similar to each other.
Potentially confusing, too, is the spread of similar-feeling roundabout u-turns, which denote that you have reached the literal end of the island. Make sure you turn on Waze if you're not familiar with the estate.
Also take note that Punggol is actually still work-in-progress, so expect to see a fair bit of heavy vehicles. Thankfully, narrow two-way streets are zero to none. Wherever you go, parking is almost always easy to find.
Location 1: Tebing Lane, for some bouldering, prawning, pool, and a wide spread of food (including lok lok)
The more active can put their fitness and core strength to the test at Ark Bloc with its open-air free-weights zone, and bouldering gym. Meanwhile, those in the mood for something slower paced (although this is also subjective) can get their hands busy with prawning at Hai Bin, or a game of pool at Punggol Billard.
Every now and then, the open space right at the end of Tebing Lane gets up and running again to host events. The newest addition is a smattering of gardening plots, which recently came under the care of local urban farm, City Sprouts.
Where to park: There are three separate gantried carparks here. Parallel lots are also available outside along Tebing Lane - but these fill quickly. None of the parking here is sheltered.
Ease of parking: 4.5/5. Unless you're coming over during a super peak period (weekend evenings and special events), lots are not difficult to find. The carparks are open and wide, too, to put new drivers ease..Â
Parking rates: $0.70 per half hour for the gantried carparks. Parallel lots outside follow $0.60 per half hour-rates, charged by the minute.Â
Location 2: Poh Brothers Golf Driving Range, and Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop Punggol EastÂ
Having said that, even if you just want a different sort of dining setting, two options avail themselves here.
To enjoy the breeze and hear the thwacks of golf clubs against golf balls, Tend Bistro sits on the building's second floor. Its specialty is yakitori - which you'll get to enjoy piping hot and with a nice char - but it also serves up a mean chawanmushi.
If Jap food is not up your alley, however, fret not as the casual dining joint, Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop is right beside. Take your pick from either indoor or seating as you lap up all manner of other mouthwatering and reasonably-priced food - including local delights, Western food, and dishes that straddle the line between (laksa pasta anyone?).
One exclusive aspect of the Punggol East outlet, too, is its tie-up with popular cheesecake-retailer Cat & Fiddle. If you're in the mood for other dessert, the soft-serve yoghurt is a refreshing way to end your meal!Â
Where to park: There is only one gantried, open-air carpark here, which you must enter from Punggol East Road.
Ease of parking: 4.5/5. The carpark technically stretches the entire length of the driving range, and because the space isn't as dense, finding lots is even easier.Â
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour.Â
Location 3: Dining by the Waterway with some artisan ice-cream and coffee (Sugartown Cafe, Waterway Sunrise)
And while having shops at a HDB voiddeck isn't uncommon, the atmosphere is undeniably more special when they're next to a green canal.Â
What's even cooler is when a cafe serving up artisan ice cream and coffee is nestled among them. Specifically serving Italian-inspired gelato, Sugartown Cafe's array of ice-cream flavours includes standard favourites such as Cookies and Cream and Vanilla, but extends far beyond to more exotic types, such as White Truffle and Mascarpone Basil.
True to its roots, Sugartown also serves Bacio ice cream - a classic, authentic Italian flavour that incorporates chocolate and hazelnut in a special mix. This strong menu of flavours is nicely complemented by its offering of waffles, coffee, and iced tea.
Where to park: Since this is a housing estate, you'll have to park at the Blk 659 Multi-Storey Carpark (S824659).Â
Ease of parking: 4/5. Parking here isn't difficult per se - it's a new MSCP with relatively wide ramps and lots - but take note that it can be quite a walk from the shops we mentioned. In the night and over the weekend, you'll also have to climb higher as Levels 1 to 3 are reserved for season parking.Â
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour, deducted by the minute (HDB parking rate).Â
Location 4 - Dining by the Waterway (Part 2), with authentic Japanese katsu (Maruhachi - Donburi & Curry)
In fact, this one's endorsed by a local mini-celebrity you might know too.
Maruhachi Donburi and Curry is one of the tenants of yet another coffeeshop situated along the Waterway, and serves up quality Japanese food in a nondescript coffeeshop (Happy Hawkers). The indisputable stars of its menu, however, are its tonkatsu dishes, with meat choices spanning chicken, standard pork, and even a higher grade 'black pig'.
Where to park: Likewise, this is a housing estate, so you'll have to park at the MSCP in Blk 672 Edgefield Plains.Â
Ease of parking: 4/5. The same bugbear as with Sugartown Cafe, parking isn't difficult, but it's quite a walk from the MSCP to the coffeeshop, and has reserved parking for season holders.
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour, charged by the minute (HDB parking rate).Â
Location 5 - Oasis Terraces: Smaller-scale shopping, dining and errand-running
While there admittedly isn't much here in the name of shopping, this is a mall after a Singaporean's heart by a different token. F&B outlets include Japanese restaurant Tampopo, Maki-San, Lao Jian Superior Soup, Rise & Grind Coffee Co, and Baskin Robbins.
Sure - Waterway Point may be the flagship mall of Punggol, but if a more leisurely stroll after dinner and grocery-replenishing is what you seek, Oasis Terraces is a quieter, less intense alternative.
Where to park:Â Basement 1 has a single floor of parking. In the very rare case that it becomes too crowded, there will be no shortage of MSCPs from the blocks of flats around.
Ease of parking: 5/5. As long as you're not picky (read: insistent on being close to the entrance), lots are not difficult to find, and easy to navigate round and slot into considering the carpark's young age.
Parking rates: $0.60 per half hour, charged by the minute (HDB parking rate).Â
Interested in more island-hopping? Be sure to check these stories out too!
Escape the hustle and bustle at these 5 locations in Singapore!
Going (in) green: We hop into a special MINI for an afternoon out... making deodorant bars from scratch
We swung by Dempsey Hill on Good Friday morning and spotted these cars at the local Cars and Kopi meet
