Did you know Katong made it to the list as one of coolest neighborhood in the world by Time Out (global magazine that serves as a guide to the best art, entertainment, food & drinks, attractions, hotels and things to do in the world’s greatest cities) in 2021?
And have you ever wondered why projects in the East are often well received even though it lacks accessibility to MRT for the longest time, until recently (TEL opens June 2024). Why are locals and even expats attracted to the East side?
Perhaps its the “East Coast lifestyle” that many find charming. Even though its one of the last few neighborhoods in Singapore to be served by MRT, its wide array of amenities more than makes up for its lack and perhaps why homeowners were willing to overlook it. Nestled in a sweet spot where one can easily drive to the CBD & Changi Airport (via ECP) in about 15mins and buses are also well connected to most parts of Singapore.
East-siders love their beaches, buzzy eateries, hipster bistros, unique shops and the thing that really sets this neighborhood apart from the others is the strong and vibrant Peranakan culture. You’ll find colored shophouses and Peranakan eateries peppered all around Katong that lends its unique Peranakan culture and heritage vibe to this beloved precinct.
East Coast is often perceived to be an “atas” (upscale) neighborhood. Meyer Road (sometimes affectionally known as Nassim of the East), Amber Road, Bayshore amongst others, is lined with condos. Units overlooking the sea command a premium and premiums for top floor unblocked sea view units can be as high as 20 percent. Still, there are buyers as well as tenants who are willing to fork out the extra dollars for the sea view.
East Coast is also a popular landed enclave. Mountbatten and Katong are homes to diverse types of landed properties, including bungalows, semi-detached homes and terrace houses.
Although HDBs in Marine Parade are amongst the oldest in Singapore, it still rivals many of the younger more popular estates, especially those with million dollar sea views and those that are within 1km to elite schools such as Tao Nan, CHIJ Katong, just to name a few.
So is East side really the best side? With the perfect balance of being close to the sea yet just far enough from the urban concrete jungle, a foodie’s paradise, the vibrant Peranakan culture, homes to sea front living, elite schools and upcoming TEL MRT line, its easy to see why many consider the East side as the best side.
