The ultimate guide to Kallang

Getting messy with a saucy slab of barbecued pork ribs is best done outside, the sun in your face and grass under your feet. And you’ll have the whole hog at this out-of-the-way American BBQ joint along the Kallang River. We mean that literally: Camp Kilo Charcoal Club is famed for its boneless lechon ($12), barbecue pork ribs (from $15.50), and roast jerk chicken (from $12) that come fresh off the grill.

At some point, you have to take your kids out for a meal, so why not order comforting treats at this Aussie-inspired restaurant located at Goodman Arts Centre? The young ’uns can dig into stacks of pancakes with fresh berries and maple syrup, or French toast with honey at this cosy nook. Kids eat free with every main course ordered on Mondays. But first: let them jump around the bouncy castle (from 3pm on weekdays, and 8am on weekends).

For starters, Banchong is "a gathering call for the neighbourhood." So gather the gang and start the day with a good ol' breakfast set – freshly made kaya toasts, soft-boiled eggs, and hot kopi or teh – which only sets you back $6 altogether. And if it's past the brekkie hour, satiate your hunger with local dishes like mee siam ($5.60), laksa ($6.90) and curry chicken ($6.90) which comes with either prata or French loaf. What sets this apart from your regular kopitiam, however, is its modern, minimalist setting.  

If it's any indication, the countless snaking lines at the stalls will tell you that this is possibly the most renowned hawker centre on the island. Good food can be had even if you hate standing in queues. Start with the soft, smooth handmade rice rolls from Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun or chewy pork-stuffed fishballs at Meng Kee Minced Meat Noodle & Foo Chow Fish Ball’s. Be sure to save space for Toa Payoh Rojak, Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee and Mattar Road Seafood Barbecue too.

What sets Crown Coffee apart from other cafés in the city is its robotic barista named Ella. Order a latte, flat white or cappuccino (from $4.50) and watch Singapore's first fully automated barista prepare it with premium Buscaglione coffee beans – that are ground-to-order – and freshly frothed milk at the small kiosk within the café grounds. While waiting, you can also have a go at the augmented reality photo booth or the quick and easy games on its interactive transparent OLED screen. For a boozy sesh, check out its Happy Hour from 5pm to 9pm (p.s. gal pals can enjoy one-for-one housepours and Heineken on tap on Ladies' Night every Wednesday).

Karaoke is a communal activity that's usually done in a private room with some of your close friends and family but not at this joint. At Good Cheer 2, you can have a drink or two (about $12 for a bottle of beer), play a friendly game on any one of its 24 electronic dart machines, and then belt out your favourite tunes at the karaoke corner. The bar is also proud to serve zero degrees premium Sapporo beer.

It's criminal to not stop by Al Capone's when you're in Kallang. Drinks here are relatively cheaper than other sports bar – a three-litre tower of Heineken, Monkey Shoulder, and Glenfiddich sets you back $39, $85, and $105 respectively. But if it's a pint of Guinness draught you're after, it's only going to cost you $8.80. Grub-wise, it dishes out Italian favourites like pizza and pasta. And what's a sports bar without live screenings of football and rugby matches? Support your favourite team with a drink in hand at Al Capone's.

Decathlon Singapore Lab is the biggest one yet. At 5,000 square metres, the sporting goods store packs more than just equipment, gear, and everything you need to be living your best active life. The best part of this sprawling store is the active stations located around the store, allowing visitors to try the products out themselves (and squeeze in some fun and exercise) before making the purchase. It's also open 24 hours (shorter opening times during Phase 2) if you ever need a wholesome place to practise archery, skating or shooting some hoops. 

Second Charm takes you down memory lane with its vintage furniture and homeware that range from mid-century modern, art deco, Scandinavian, and decorative French styles. Most of its vintage chairs, ottomans, coffee tables, and chests (from about $150) have been refurbished – some have even been re-upholstered – as have its home accessories such as lamps, doors, windows, and other salvages. Second Charm takes custom orders, too, perfect for if you want a reproduction done.

It doesn’t matter which football club you’re rooting for – Weston Corp does not discriminate. The homegrown brand has seven stores across Singapore, but Kallang Wave Mall houses its biggest, with crowds swarming in ahead of the big European and local matches to snap up their team's jerseys. It's also loaded with Nike, Adidas, and Puma football boots as well as accessories, so you can get kitted out under one roof.

Adjoining the Singapore Sports Hub is this three-storey mall named after the classic crowd gesture seen at football matches during Singapore’s footballing heydays. Kallang Wave is a one-stop destination to shop, dine, and play. It's home to Singapore’s first sports-themed hypermart FairPrice Xtra, fashion icons H&M and Cotton On, halal foodcourt run My Kampung, Japanese onsen and spa Yunomori Onsen & Spa, as well as water park Splash-N-Surf, and the city's the tallest indoor air-conditioned rock face Climb Central.