3 Best Places to Shop in Tiong Bahru, Singapore

Wooden planks painted like piano keys mark the entrance to BooksActually, a vintage bookstore on hip Yong Siak Street. Here you can browse an excellent selection of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to the sound of light indie-pop tunes. The back room has interesting bric-a-brac, and there's selection of book-vending machines out front, where you can purchase a "mystery" book wrapped in white paper for S$10.

Owned and operated by a family whose history in the business dates back hundreds of years, Jehan Gallery specializes in exquisite, custom Oriental carpets and rugs, and also offers a good selection of indoor and outdoor home furnishings.

Funky, refurbished vintage furniture is the highlight of the fun indoor and outdoor housewares at Journey East. Such a store is best for those living in or moving to Singapore, but the staff can also arrange for purchases to be shipped worldwide.