Don’t get us wrong – we love PasarBella because we think it’s a huge boost for Singapore’s food scene. Truly! But all this hype about PasarBella has also got us thinking – what’s lacking in all the other markets?
We put on our investigative goggles and got to work comparing two of Singapore’s most talked-about markets. PasarBella vs. Tiong Bahru Market: who will win this smackdown?
Fresh Seafood
Winner: PasarBella
Oceans of Seafood (#02-K2 to 11 & 26) carries two broad categories: Japanese produce and seafood from the rest of the world. Unlike Tiong Bahru market, which is great for fresh fish and prawns, Oceans of Seafood has fish and a fantastic seafood selection of lobster and oysters (with its own shucking bar!) Our favourite part: a little cooking station for you to get your food boiled and ready for takeaway.
Fresh Flowers
Winner: Tiong Bahru Market
It might not be the prettiest place, but Tiong Bahru takes the cake with its beautiful array of flowers and competitive prices. Unfortunately Pasarbella loses this round, although their sole florist, Poppy Flora Studio (#02-K34), gains bonus points for food. Say what? The owner of Poppy also owns the bakery next door and we give their waffles two thumbs up.
Proximity to Great Coffee
Winner: Tiong Bahru Market
We’re suckers for coffee here and love the Dutch Colony Coffee Co. (#02-K67 & 68) at PasarBella. The coffee is handroasted right in front of you and the aroma is to die for. But our vote goes to Tiong Bahru for this one; they have a wider range of coffee places like Forty Hands, The Orange Thimble, Flock Cafe, and even local kopi-o.
Organic Produce
Winner: PasarBella
Freshly grown, certified organic fruit and vegetables abound at PasarBella. Tangy Tangerines (#02-K48 & 79) offers a great selection of fruit, and SG Organic (#02-K50 & 81) a fab selection of vegetables. We especially love the range of organic produce and meats from The Organic Grocer (#02-K52 to 56). Tiong Bahru Market does have an organic produce store, Nature’s Glory (Tan Boon Liat Building, #11-03), but our heart lies with the décor and ease of shopping for organic produce at Pasarbella. Mums: there’s even a play area to keep the tots busy while you shop!
Boutique Wine and Beers
Winner: Pasarbella
While Tiong Bahru Market houses a few great wine and dine stores (check out Open Door Policy’s stunning wine list , PS Petit’s incredibly affordable wines by the glass, and Coq & Balls’s tipples), Pasarbella has stores dedicated to wine. Stores like The Great Beer Experiement (#02-K46), Little Provence (#02-K42), Merchants (#02-K43 & 44), and Straits Wine Organic (#02-K64) are located next to each other, so wine shopping has never been easier. We also love that they have wine dispensers for a few of their key wines, so just purchase a glass and get tasting!
Fresh Meat
Winner: Tiong Bahru Market
We’re going with Tiong Bahru Market for fresh meat. The selection is wider and you can’t help but love the friendly uncles and aunties who run the stores! Haggling is also a viable option. For the cooks, head to the Foodie Market Place (225 Outram Road, p.62243290) for a great selection of meats. Pasarbella has an array of cold cuts from Huber’s Deli (#02-K20 & 21) but none as great as the butchers at Tiong Bahru. With James’ Butchery & Co coming soon, we suspect it might give the butchers at Tiong Bahru a run for their money!
Food Glorious Food
Winner: Tiong Bahru Market
This was a tough one. PasarBella has plenty of gourmet snacks – paella, crepes, roast chicken, English pies, gelato, fresh seafood, and (our personal soft spot) artisanal cheese. Tiong Bahru has its hugely popular hawker stalls (seriously, those lines never end), old coffeeshops with award-winning local grub, Tiong Bahru Bakery, a still-not-fizzing-out-yet café revolution, a novel pizza/tapas joint with Two Face Kopitiam, and the spanking new Plain Vanilla Bakery. What sealed the deal for Tiong Bahru was its hawker fare – because hey, a $3 bowl of noodles on a rainy day still can’t be beat.