Overview of Telok Kurau
It is not surprising to notice a stark difference between the layouts on the left and on the right while you’re driving along Still Road after heading down from Eunos MRT Station. On the right, you’ll notice the haphazardness, but lively, view of Joo Chiat and Geylang. On the left, however, the view becomes a nice, quiet suburban mirage of houses neatly stacked street by street.
Originally named after a fishing village ‘Telok Kurau’ on East Coast Road, which means “mango fish bay” in Malay, the area is the connector of Changi Road and Marine Parade Road. This peaceful part of town once had its share of history. During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese occupied the Telok Kurau English School (now defunct) and made it one of their screening centres where those suspected of being anti-Japanese were massacred in Operation Sook Ching. After the war, in the late 1950s, violence also took place on the streets of Telok Kurau in the Maria Hertogh riots.
All along history, Telok Kurau was an area that housed the middle-to-upper class in Singapore. It is for this reason that you’ll find many small condominiums, many bungalows, terraces and semi-Ds in this part of town. As mentioned briefly, Telok Kurau’s streets are organized to near perfection. Roads are either parallel or joined to a T, and are labelled in alphabetical order – from Lorong G to N.
Besides houses, Telok Kurau is also home to many schools, hospices and religious places. Come explore the pleasantness of Telok Kurau, you’ll enjoy it!
Amenities Nearby Telok Kurau
Telok Kurau Park
The Telok Kurau Park is a central park where residents of the area can enjoy a nice jog, play some basketball, and feel the breeze as they cycle on the bicycle stretch of the park. The park is apparently the biggest in all of Joo Chiat’s Single Member Constituency, besides East Coast Park.
Located at the close of Joo Chiat Place, Telok Kurau is buzzing with activity every day, as children interact on the playground and older residents work out at the fitness stations. The park is also a favourite place to hang out for families. It is not uncommon to see people strolling along the park and taking in some of nature’s glorious sights.
Kembangan Plaza
Visitors of Telok Kurau will be delighted to know that there is a shopping mall nearby. Shared with residents of Kembangan, the mall is a mere distance’s walk from Kembangan MRT Station. Albeit its lack in modernity and interesting retail outlets, it still houses quite a number of shops including learning centres, medical specialists, computer repair shops as well as beauty houses.
East Lodge Student Hostel
East Lodge Hostel is located near Telok Kurau at 408 Joo Chiat Place. The student hostel is an ideal choice for students who prefer independent living near to their place of study. Situated near residential shophouses, both local and non-local students can enjoy the convenience of being near amenities such as hospitals and kopitiams while traveling only a short distance to their schools.
The hostel can occupy up to 600 students, and houses many foreign students from China, India and Vietnam. Rooms can be shared or individual. There are also “Superior” and “Deluxe” rooms to suit the student’s individual preference. Each room has a private toilet (with shower) and air-conditioning.
Nearby Schools in Telok Kurau
Ping Yi Secondary School
Ping Yi Secondary is a school that takes pride in innovative learning and service to the community. Guided by its core values, “Integrity, Respect and Care”, it strives to inculcate in its students not only academic excellence, but also lifelong skills that students can seek to build upon when they graduate.
Ping Yi Secondary has a relatively short history of 30 years. But, its achievements have not been short of spectacular. According to its website, in 2013, it had achieved the Lee Hsien Loong Award for Innovations in the Normal Course, two Best Practices Awards and Sustained Achievement Awards for Aesthetics, National Education and Character Development. In its CCAs, Ping Yi charted up a Gold for Girl Guides, 1st for East Zone Sepak Takraw C Boys, represented Singapore at the 5th ASEAN Schools Games, 2nd World Youth Tchoukball Championships and Under 16 Men National Squad for Basketball SEABA Qualifiers.
Ping Yi students are given an all-rounded education here, excelling not only in their studies, but also in other critical areas such as relationship-building, teamwork, creativity, and service. One shining example of a student who has achieved success in these areas is Adam Khoo, a self-made millionaire by the age of 26, who is in turn, serving the community with his learning centres around Singapore. To find out more about Ping Yi Secondary, visit: http://www.pingyisec.moe.edu.sg/
Getting to Ping Yi Secondary School
Bus Services:
- 222
Nearest MRT Station:
- Bedok MRT, Bedok North MRT (Under Construction)
Tao Nan School
Tao Nan School is one of the most popular and well-known Primary schools in Singapore. Originally founded as an all-Chinese school, Tao Nan has a distinctive Chinese culture and upholds moral values that are of the Chinese culture. Its school core values are “Love, Respect, Integrity, Sincerity, Perseverance and Responsibility” and the school inculcates in its students the awareness of “loving to learn and learning to love”. In this respect, Tao Nan School is exemplary of a school that builds character and positive values in their students.
Over the years, Tao Nan has garnered Sustained Achievement Awards for Aesthetics, Sports and Physical Fitness, three Best Practices Awards and many more. In 2014, Tao Nan took home the title as Champions in the Primary East Zone Badminton Championships for Senior Boys, Junior Boys and Junior Girls. To find out more about Tao Nan School, visit: www.taonan.moe.edu.sg/
Getting to Tao Nan School
Bus Services:
- 16, 31, 38, 196, 197, 229
Nearest MRT Station:
- Bedok Station
NOTE: Due to school upgrading, Tao Nan School has been temporarily relocated to:
2 Bedok South Road (temporary holding site from Jan 2014 to Dec 2015)
Singapore 469268
Full list of Nearby Schools (within 2 km):
Primary Schools
- Tao Nan School
- CHIJ Primary School (Katong)
- Ngee Ann Primary School
- Eunos Primary School
- Haig Girl’s School
- St Stephen’s School
- Opera Estate Primary School
- Tanjong Katong Primary School
- Telok Kurau Primary School
- East Coast Primary School
- Maha Bodhi School
Secondary Schools
- St Patrick’s Secondary School
- Chij Katong Convent School
- Ping Yi Secondary School
- Tanjong Katong Secondary School
- Manjusri Secondary School
- Tanjong Katong Girls School
- Victoria School
Tertiary Institutions
- Victoria Junior College
Food Options Nearby
Bruno’s Bistrot (Telok Kurau)
If you love Italian-French fusion cuisine, you’ve got to try Bruno’s Bistrot. Bruno’s Bistrot is an European fusion restaurant that not only serves traditional, authentic Italian food, but includes innovative food ideas in their menus. Enjoy exciting Italian delights at Bruno’s Bistrot besides the already wide gamut of salads and soups to pastas, pizzas and meats! Guests who have been there have commented that some of their specialties include the Linguine with Lobster Sauce as well as the Fried Cheese with Parma Ham and Arugula Salad.
The restaurant offers a casual dining experience to allow guests to feel at ease when enjoying their meals. At the Telok Kurau outlet, the friendly service crew and quaint surroundings give the restaurant an inviting atmosphere. Moreover, customers have praised the price being reasonable and of great value.
Bruno’s Bistrot offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm.
The Garden Slug
Don’t be fooled by its name. The Garden Slug is actually a cosy little restaurant that serves hearty and mouth-watering food that is easy to understand. Located right at Bright Centre in the heart of Telok Kurau, The Garden Slug offers on its menu Western-style dishes that are not too greasy and over-the-top, but flavourful.
According to many review sites we’ve found, many customers who have been to The Garden Slug commented that the food was tasty, the portions were big and the atmosphere was really cozy. If you feel like popping by the diner, make sure you try out their ‘Ugly Salmon Cakes’ and ‘Ribeye Steak’, as recommended by reviewers. If you’re still uncertain about the quality of the food, glance over some reviews at sg.openrice.com or yelp.com.sg. Not only do the photos of the food look appetizing, but you’ll leave the site with an idea to visit their restaurant this weekend.
Entertainment Venues
Breez Bistro.Bar
Fancy chilling out by the pool with a glass of blue lagoon in one hand while curling up with a favourite novel? Breez Bistro.Bar is the perfect place to indulge in your desires. Located on the 4th level of Roxy Square, Breez Bistro .Bar faces a cool view of the swimming pool and offers many enticing selections of food and wine.
Breez Bistro.Bar offers both local cuisines as well as an international menu for you to choose from. The place is relaxingly casual, and is open from morning 11am till midnight. If you are going there, be sure to try out the popular steaks and ribs there! Happy Hour starts from 5pm to 8pm daily, and for all of Sunday.
Vie Bar
The wine connoisseur is spoilt for options in Telok Kurau. Located at the busy corner of East Coast Orad and Siglap, Vie Bar is a contemporary bar which attracts the avid wine consumer as well as soccer fans. During the weekends, soccer fans settle into Vie Bar to watch their favourite matches on wide screen panels installed in the bar. Hence, it is no surprise if you hear loud screams of “Goal!!!” reverberating from across the hall!
Vie Bar offers a wide range of wines, whiskeys, spirits and cognacs to complement your night. They even offer signature cocktails and margaritas for whatever occasion. Vie Bar is an open and inviting bar. Besides gulping down great selections of wine and spirits, Vie Bar also offers al-fresco dining options. The bar offers delectable Asian and Western bar foods to go along with the beverage.
Telok Kurau Studios
Telok Kurau Studios is an arts housing founded by the National Arts Council (NAC) in 1997. The buildings house around 30 artists and 2 societies – the Singapore Colour Photographic Society and Singapore Watercolour Society.
Open for public viewing, Telok Kurau Studios frequently host arts exhibitions and competitions, especially to showcase artwork done by children and students. Over the years, Telok Kurau Studios has developed into a centre where fresh and interesting artwork is created. The place still continues to hold as an alternative pivotal art space for new ideas and art development.
The studios opens from 11am to 6.30pm daily, except Public Holidays.
Transport Options
Telok Kurau is a very organized area in that the estates are “packed” neatly and the streets are aligned with each other almost exactly parallel to each other. The whole area of Telok Kurau also seems to be encompassed in a perfect rectangular boundary. With such neat planning, it makes it especially comfortable for people who have OCD to come here.
Jokes aside, this quaint part of town is accessible through two main MRT Stations, mainly Kembangan MRT and Eunos MRT. For those travelling by car, Telok Kurau is accessible via the East Coast Parkway (ECP). Travellers coming in from the town or Changi Airport will have to exit at Exit 10B and head along Still Road. Besides ECP, you may use the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and take Exit 9. Remember to turn right into Jalan Eunos and then straight to Still Road. Parking at Telok Kurau Road is available at $1 per hour (or part thereof) from 8am to 5pm, while it’s at $1.80 per entry after 5pm and on Sundays and Public Holidays.
For visitors or residents who wish to travel by bus, SBS offers primarily Bus services 15, 33, 155 that enter into the Telok Kurau estates, while there are several bus services that stop outside the Telok Kurau area. These include (but are not exhaustive) 2, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 24, 26, 28, 55,155, 966.