Holland Village

We were at Holland Village this afternoon. It’s the only place in Singapore where you can find a windmill! It’s not a real one of course.

Dubbed the “bohemian enclave” of Singapore, Holland V is an eclectic mix of old and new. Traditional coffee shops and a wet market jostle for space aside ritzy wine bars and fine dining restaurants.

We arrived at 3.30pm and parked behind a row of popular restaurants along Chip Bee Gardens. The chefs and cooks of Michelangelo's, Original Sin, Da Paolo and other restaurants were out in the backyard having a late lunch.

We couldn’t resist going into Phoon Huat Bakery Supplies to look at the fascinating array of baking and confectionery goodies. Several new eateries, a couple of cooking schools and some interesting shops have sprouted nearby.

The sun was beating down mercilessly. We found some reprieve from the heat inside Holland Shopping Mall. A favourite haunt among expatriates, the shops here are well-stocked with an interesting array of ethnic clothes, Asian arts, antiques and handicrafts. Even the newsstands here carry all sorts of titles and newspapers from around the world.

Feeling peckish, we went up for pizza and drinks at the 211 Rooftop Café. Despite the heat, we sat out in the alfresco area to catch a bird’s eye view of Holland Village.

Then we strolled to the pet shop to look at puppies for sale (nope, we don’t need any more dogs) but we can always admire them for free. The old Holland food centre had undergone a major revamp and is looking bright and clean. It even has shops selling clothes, shoes and lifestyle products.

We sat down at Ya Kun Kaya Toast for a cup of coffee and watched the world go by. Finally we stopped by Da Paolo to pick up some cakes before heading home for dinner.