The ultimate guide to Woodlands

Have your seafood fix on the water – sort of. Located at Woodlands Waterfront Park, this family-oriented restaurant prides itself for its mouth-watering plates of barbecue seafood, satay, local favourites, and Western dishes at reasonable prices. The restaurant recently had a makeover complete with partial glasses so that you can enjoy the stunning waterfront views and the cool breeze while digging into signature dishes like barbecue stingray ($14/$22), cuttlefish ($16/22), chilli crab, and black pepper crab (seasonal prices).  

On any given night (or morning) this popular coffee shop chain is packed to the rafters – it's a favourite spot to swing by for supper or post-clubbing-slash-pre-dawn fuel. Happy and hungry punters tuck into favourites like the perfectly crisp thosai, plates of tasty nasi goreng or prata, before finishing it all off with a super-sized Milo dinosaur or teh cino.

Forget your green salad and avocados – here's a local salad we can't resist. The rojak is a mix of crunchy fruits and veggies as well as fried tofu smothered in a sticky dressing topped with roasted peanuts. Over here, you not only get black rojak but also white rojak ($3). The difference? The former is served with shrimp paste while the latter is served with sweet-sour plum dressing.

Just around the corner from Woodlands, Sembawang also has some places worth seeing. Located in HomeTeamNS@Sembawang, a club specifically for Police and Civil Defence NSmen and their families, DuitSg is a family-friendly eatery where you can dine seafood-in-a-bag style (prepare to get very messy), opt for a buffet section where you can eat all you want or order a la carte off the menu. The vibes are cheery, it's sure to be someone's birthday any night you dine in, and the cempedak creme brulee is worth trying.

Housed in the Woodlands industrial area, this restaurant-bar offers steamboat with a plethora of ingredients. Choose from three types of soup base and pile on your favourites – perfect if you’re feeling a heavy meal. If you want something light, you can always opt for bar snacks like the mala chicken wings ($12). This spot also offers different activities like karaoke, darts, pool and card games to let loose and chill after a day of work.

Nestled between Woodlands and Marsiling, make your way to Citrus for milkshakes if you’re hanging around the north. This café restaurant has got all the basic flavours covered – from the classic vanilla, chocolate and strawberry to cookies ‘n’ cream and caramel. Its Snickerhead ($10.90), a blend of the Snickers caramel and peanut chocolate bar and chocolate milk and ice cream, as well as the Cookie Crush ($9.90) and Caramel Popcorn ($9.90) are the popular choices.

Named because of its proximity to the bridge that links Singapore to Malaysia, Causeway Point is a suburban shopping mall. Expect the usual suspects: a cineplex, gaming arcades, fashion stores, knick-knack shops, a well-stocked supermarket, and at least two food courts. It's also home to the popular beauty store chain Sephora. We don't know about you but this makes Causeway Point so much cooler. I mean not many suburban malls can say they stock up on Fenty Beauty, right?

If you're new to the world of plants, it's best to stick to a plant that doesn't require much care. Pick succulents, cacti and the easiest of all – air plants. Rabbit Island has a wide selection of these plants online and available at the showroom in Woodlands. Look out for them at selected flea markets and pop-up events around town – it's usually the stall with the most people because of their affordable prices and lush set up. 

Foodies in the know will be familiar with Fassler Gourmet and its affordably priced smoked salmon. Over at its factory outlet, you’ll find an extensive range of frozen, fresh, and smoked seafood and other read-to-cook items. Equally popular is its range of soups – from creamy mushroom to lobster bisque – that can easily be picked up and whipped up at home. It’s a little far out as compared to its Tiong Bahru outlet, but the variety here is much more extensive.