A vibrant neighborhood with a good mix of housing and plenty of shopping and dining.
Commonly abbreviated as “Holland V”, Holland Village is a neighborhood located in the Central region of Singapore, between the planning areas of Bukit Timah and Queenstown. A popular destination for shoppers, diners, and bar hoppers, Holland V draws in both local and expatriate crowds.
With a unique “Bohemian” vibe to this enclave, Holland Village is home to a variety of arts and craft shops, art galleries, novelty shops, costume stores, and other independent local businesses worth exploring. Served by its own MRT station (Holland Village), several areas are located within the Holland Village neighborhood – Holland Village Proper, Chip Bee Gardens, and Holland Close.
Holland Village Proper is the most iconic area of the neighborhood, located on Holland Ave and consisting of a crescent-shaped stretch of road teeming with shophouses, restaurants, and bars. Here, you’ll find an array of eateries ranging from a local hawker center, to an Italian cucina, Japanese ramen shop, Korean BBQ house, and Mexican restaurant. Holland Village Proper attracts an after-work and weekend drinking crowd as well, with a number of sports bars and live music bars to choose from. Located just on the cusp of Holland Village Proper is Holland Village Shopping Centre which houses a number of retail shops and basic amenities such as supermarkets, pharmacies and banking services to service residents living in the neighbourhood.
On the other side of Holland Ave (opposite Holland Village Proper) is Chip Bee Gardens, a small enclave formerly developed as British military housing in the 1950s, which has now been restored as private residential housing, as well as retail spaces for businesses. At the south of Chip Bee Gardens lies Holland Close, a large public housing (HDB) estate.
Holland Village is a small area with a high concentration of entertainment and dining outlets which make it a rather lively neighborhood to be in. Much of the entertainment in this district is confined to Holland Village Proper which is adjacent to the residential pockets here, giving residents relative peace and quiet in their own homes and quick access to amenities.
Due to the location and demand for housing in this neighborhood, prices tend to be on the higher end of the spectrum. For those with a larger budget, you’ll find a range of private properties available, including landed houses as well as condominiums complexes located within walking distance to Holland Village MRT. But with a large HDB estate located at Holland Close, there are still relatively affordable housing options available. There are a couple of pre-school/kindergartens and an international school located nearby, so Holland Village is a well sought after neighbourhood by expatriate families. The liveliness and convenience of this area is also attractive for professionals, singles and young couples.
Holland Village is bordered on the north by Leedon Park, on the east by Ridout, on the south by Tanglin Halt, and on the west by Ghim Moh and Ulu Pandan.
Commute:
CBD: 8.7 km / 20-45 minutes by car / 30-40 minutes by transit
Changi Business Park: 24.4 km / 30-50 minutes by car / 80 minutes by transit
Jurong International Business Park: 7.2 km / 15-40 minutes by car / 40-45 minutes by transit
One North Buona Vista: 2.3 km / 10-20 minutes by car / 10 minutes by transit
Tuas: 25.7 km / 35-60 minutes by car / 90 minutes by transit
Holland Village LOCAL schools
Holland Village Local Flavor 
The Holland Village Market & Food Centre is a local hawker center situated on Lorong Mambong, serving up a variety of local dishes. Popular with the lunchtime crowds, a few stalls also remain open during the evenings and later in the night, servicing hungry professionals flowing into the area after work, as well as late-night drinking crowds.
Located on Holland Ave close to Holland Village MRT, Holland Village Shopping Centre is a retail shopping complex that also provides basic amenities and services to residents living nearby. You’ll find a range of shops and services here, including a supermarket, pharmacy, banks, furniture shops, clothing boutiques, handicraft stores, DIY stores, as well as hair and beauty salons.
It must be said that 2am:Dessert Bar is not just another dessert shop. This undisputed favorite of local sweet-toothed Singaporeans is helmed by Janice Wong, Asia’s Best Pastry Chef (2013). Having trained under some of the best chefs in the world, the carefully created dishes at 2am:Dessert Bar push the boundaries between sweet and savory flavors and redefine the dessert genre altogether. Open till 2am Tues – Sunday, this is a place you sugar junkies don’t want to miss.
A great casual family restaurant to fill up on Chinese cuisine, this concept by Crystal Jade was inspired by the cuisines from the JiangNan region of China. Signature dishes include the “Xiao Long Bao”, a typical Chinese dumpling filled with meat, seafood or veg, and soup (yes, you have to slurp this one), as well as the “La Mian”, a version of traditional hand-pulled noodles cooked in various soups and sauces of your choice.
Located at Chip Bee Gardens, this is a true gem for veggie lovers and those searching for a dose of healthy eating. Original Sin is the first and only Mediterranean vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. The award-winning restaurant offers top-notch Mediterranean fare with a decent wine list, set in a tranquil setting.
A favorite watering hole for residents and thirsty after-work crowds, Wala Wala is a casual bar known for their beer, bites, and live music. With both indoor and alfresco seating, the 2-story institution screens sports on the first level, with live bands performing on stage on level two.
Photo Credits: Thanks to @5__am, @leothu, @atisma_, @calvin_chrisyanto, @i_am_abigale, @lmerlina, @travelswithabackpack, @naomidang1 for your great photos of this neighborhood!
