6 sights to see in Singapore’s Marine Parade

Handily located between Singapore’s Central and East regions, Marine Parade has emerged as a vibrant investment choice in the Lion City

Famous for its proximity to key cultural touchstones, Marine Parade grew up alongside its illustrious neighbour Katong, the traditional home of Singapore’s Peranakan community. While significant vestiges of Straits Chinese culture (architecture, food, clothing) remain in nearby Joo Chiat, Marine Parade presents different kinds of attractions: its position right next to the sea (see East Coast Park, below) and near Changi airport, a sports centre, plentiful retail opportunities, and an increasing number of private condominiums. Families moving here will be further incentivised by the area’s plethora of schools and relatively low population density, and by the prospect of a local MRT station opening next year.

LIV @ MB

This sprawling complex from Bukit Sembawang Estates Limited completes in 2026, and looks tailor-made for wealthier families who enjoy plentiful living space (80 percent is dedicated to greenery and recreation) and elegant design. LIV @ MB’s central section is a huge lawn uncommon in such developments while alongside the main pool is a clubhouse comprising five pavilions inspired by seafront bungalows. The façade’s hexagonal details nod to Peranakan architectural motifs, reiterated by the clubhouse’s tiling, while themed zones contain dense planting. Spacious interiors from 2nd Edition design group emphasise adaptability, with one-bedroom units convertible as studios, a choice of open or closed kitchen, and warm or cool colour schemes. The project’s use of smart technology ups the “wow” factor with electric-vehicle charging points and a carplate recognition system.

Meyer Mansion

Another generously sized, upcoming condo (completing in 2024) from GuocoLand, this 25-storey, single-towered giant fronts a Grand Lawn, 40-metre pool, and clubhouse and beach house for entertaining friends. Within the high-end development, 80 percent of space is devoted to landscaping by COEN Design and communal amenities. Interior layouts come in eight types of 25 units each, created by Index Design to capture optimum sea views and guarantee flexibility and functionality. The architecture combines understated luxury living with tropical detail; taking its cue from seafront mansions of bygone years, the entrance recalls Meyer Road’s old bungalows. The upcoming Katong Park MRT station will be a five minutes’ walk away.

East Coast Park

Anyone living around Marine Parade will enthuse about this multi-faceted park stretching along its southern tip, whose 12.5-kilometre sprawl connects Marina Bay Sands with Bedok Jetty in the east and beyond. While distant steamers and cargo ships ply the Singapore Strait, the sea air’s freshness is a welcome tonic to the stifling humidity. Key to East Coast Park’s all-ages popularity are its versatility and shifting landscapes: The ravishing Gardens by the Bay’s famous Supertrees and Cloud Forest contrast with the Coastal PlayGrove, a children’s seaside paradise 3 kilometres east. Xtreme Skate Park headlines sporting options (beach volleyball, cycling, and cable skiing are also on offer), and nature abounds with coconut palm, casuarina, and ketapang (sea almond) trees, plus a therapeutic Wellness Garden. Barbecuing, hawkers, and campsites are also available.

i12 Katong

Marine Parade’s own mall, Parkway Parade, is consumer spending à gogo, but Singapore outdoes itself in the field of shopping, even within the same neighbourhood. A five-minute walk away, this seven-storey sanctuary (formerly Katong Mall) offers an experiential edge rather than a functional retail walkabout. Styling itself as a community centre above all, i12 feels more than ever like a place people would feel happy to spend time after re-opening last year; local gatherings have since its inception in 2011 included dog adoption events, yoga sessions, cooking workshops, and art exhibitions. Notable tenant luminaries include Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred dim sum supremo Tim Ho Wan, Chinese cuisine experts Crystal Jade, sports outfitters Lululemon, and athletic centre Climb Central while a Golden Village cinema crowns the experience.

AlibabaR The Hawker Bar

Directly across from i12 Katong, this drinking hole presents a unique proposition: Enjoy a cup of joe at the kopitiam (coffee shop) during the day, then return later to sip on select craft beers and savour bistro food from stalls including Mediterranean, burgers, and Thai and Chinese favourites. It’s a concept that clearly works since the eclectic bar dates back a decade; beers tend towards dark Teutonic or Belgian brews like Warsteiner, König Ludwig Dunkel, Leffe and Duvel, lending the joint a permanent Oktoberfest vibe. AlibabaR occupies the street level of a 1916 shophouse at the intersection of East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road, with its three distinct parts: a chi-chi southern end, a mid-section dominated by Vietnamese businesses, and an Islamic northern end leading towards Geylang Serai.

328 Katong Laksa

It would be remiss to discuss Katong without mentioning its signature dish, the laksa, a spicy vermicelli concoction with various meat toppings, drenched in a thick coconut soup flavoured with sour tamarind and sambal chilli, and eaten with a spoon rather than chopsticks. In Singapore, the dish was supposedly popularised 50 years ago when Peranakans interacted with Malays; uniquely among laksas, Katong laksa uses shrimp alongside coconut milk. One enduring result of this culinary hybridisation is this landmark restaurant owned and run since 1998 by Lucy (aka Nancy) Koh. Several complementary dim sum are also served, such as charcoal salted egg custard. 328 Katong Laksa attained its greatest renown in 2013 when celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay participated in a “cook-off”, pitting his skills against local hawkers.

The original version of this article appeared in PropertyGuru Property Report Magazine Issue No. 181 on issuu and Magzter. Write to our editors at [email protected].