House of Tan Teng Niah, Singapore: Address, House of Tan Teng Niah Reviews: 4/5
House of Tan Teng Niah
House of Tan Teng Niah
4
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Read more
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience House of Tan Teng Niah and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Little India
With a strong local Indian community, this pocket of Singapore can feel like another place and time. Wander past traditional barbershops while local residents in brightly colored saris patronize retailers from decades past. Peruse streets lined with colorful shops as the aroma of curry tempts you to indulge. Listen to the Bollywood music echoing from storefronts and take in the stalls selling bright flowers, fabrics, and spices. At the 24-hour, four-level Mustafa Shopping Center, you can shop through the night and find everything from pharmacy and grocery items to Bollywood DVDs and diamond necklaces. Singapore’s Little India offers a colorful, lively taste of the subcontinent and is well worth the visit.
Best nearby
Restaurants
7,747 within 3 miles
Leo Cafe & Restaurant
483
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Asian • Singaporean
Greenleaf Cafe
170
0.2 mi$ • Indian • Asian • Healthy
Aromas of India
494
527 ft$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Gayatri Restaurant
354
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Soi Aroy
193
0.3 mi$ • Asian • Thai • Healthy
Shivam Restaurant
204
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Lagnaa...barefoot dining
1,343
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Healthy
Komala Villas Restaurant
985
404 ft$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Marmaris Restaurant
98
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Fast Food • Mediterranean • Singaporean
Wing Seong Fatty's (Albert) Restaurant
691
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Asian • Cantonese
Attractions
800 within 6 miles
Tekka Centre
281
469 ftShopping Malls
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
547
0.1 miReligious Sites
Little India
4,056
0.1 miNeighborhoods
Indian Heritage Centre
128
0.1 miSpeciality Museums • Art Museums
Tekka Temporary Market
77
330 ftFlea & Street Markets
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
6
284 ftHistoric Sites
W!ld Rice
1
287 ftTheaters
Shree Lakshminarayan Temple
11
259 ftReligious Sites
Singapore Mobility Gallery
8
0.1 miSpeciality Museums
Petain Road
21
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
36 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
20
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Grover R
Pensacola, FL16,275 contributions
Along with the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Serangoon Road, this is one of the must sees in Little India. From the pictures it is easy to think the reason is its multi color paint scheme. While that is great for pictures, the real significance is this is the last remain Chinese villa homes in Little India. It was built is a style used by many Chinese merchants who lived and operated businesses in the cattle and rattan businesses of Little India. The upstairs was the home while the downstairs the business. It has now been fully embraced as Indian with its many colors looking like a temple. Anyways this place is great to see and get a picture.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK157,761 contributions
This house used to belong to Tan Teng Niah, a Chinese businessman who lived in what is now the Little India neighbourhood. This house is also known for being the last Chinese Villa in the area. While some of the architecture of the building retains Chinese elements, the restoration has given the building a very colourful look. The mixture of bright colours seem more South Indian tha Chinese to me. Nevertheless, it’s a very photogenic building and this was pretty much the only building that was of interest to me in LIttle India.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michelle M
Fully, Switzerland54 contributions
Solo
Such a happy place to be. Colourful old houses retain their charm with vibrant paint and authentic Architecture style. Totally love it. Extremely easy to get to. Take the MRT to Little India Station n take exit E. As soon as you got to the top of the escalator, look left n you will see part of a colourful building. Just turn left and follow it. Enjoy!
Written September 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
The Travelling Ambivert
London, UK267 contributions
If you’re in the Little India area, the house of Tan Teng Niah is one of the stop-off points to take in a little piece of Singaporean history and a few cheeky snaps. Instagrammers and photographers have an affinity with this spot. As a historic location in Singapore, a guide can be hired to learn more about the location.
Written September 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dining outlets
8 contributions
Business
A historical Chinese building found in the heart of an Indian enclave. It imprints the legacy of the Chinese contributions to the Indian community more than 100 years ago.
A great reference point for students and tourist alike to learn about inter-racial harmony in Singapore
A great reference point for students and tourist alike to learn about inter-racial harmony in Singapore
Written July 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SurfingWild
Bandung, Indonesia39,851 contributions
Solo
I would only really recommend visiting this place if you are in the vicinity of Little India at the Bukit Timah road end. The house was built in 1900 and is historically interesting in that it belonged to Tan Teng Niah, a Chinese merchant who made sweets and sold them in stores along nearby Serangoon Road. It is apparently the last Chinese villa left in the Little India area.
The house is very brightly painted so you cannot miss it, and there is a small hawker food area just in front of it. I noticed that the main front door was locked and at a side door entrance there was a sign saying "no entry". So, visitors are clearly not allowed to enter the house which is quite a shame.
The place is good for taking photos or as I saw many tourists doing, taking selfies against the colourful exterior of the house.
The house is very brightly painted so you cannot miss it, and there is a small hawker food area just in front of it. I noticed that the main front door was locked and at a side door entrance there was a sign saying "no entry". So, visitors are clearly not allowed to enter the house which is quite a shame.
The place is good for taking photos or as I saw many tourists doing, taking selfies against the colourful exterior of the house.
Written June 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Oylin65
Singapore, Singapore76 contributions
Family
A visit to Singapore's Little India is a sensory experience of culture and heritage. A house owned by a Chinese businessman in an India enclave is an interesting cultural phenomena but being so colourful makes it an interesting place for photo. The house of Tan Teng Niah is located a short walk from the Little India MRT station. Tan Teng Niah had built the house in the 1900s for his wife. Besides a southern China architectural style, there are Chinese characters on the main door. It was evident that the colourful house was greatly influenced by the colours found in Indian temples.
The best time to visit to capture the vibrant colours is around noon (no shadow casted) but it can be extremely hot and scorching, If photography is not critical, visit during the cooler part of the day in the morning or early evening. If you visit in the evening, you can also dine alfresco and order from a restaurant that now occupies the building or from a hawker across the street.
As the premises house several business, it is not possible to visit the interior of the house, it is definitely a colourful visit.
The best time to visit to capture the vibrant colours is around noon (no shadow casted) but it can be extremely hot and scorching, If photography is not critical, visit during the cooler part of the day in the morning or early evening. If you visit in the evening, you can also dine alfresco and order from a restaurant that now occupies the building or from a hawker across the street.
As the premises house several business, it is not possible to visit the interior of the house, it is definitely a colourful visit.
Written November 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
John Jackson
Singapore, Singapore919 contributions
Always a good vibes and memories are coming from there!
IF you are fan of street photography graffiti or history of Singapore then you are going to love it! remember it!
Cheers!
IF you are fan of street photography graffiti or history of Singapore then you are going to love it! remember it!
Cheers!
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ujang Sapri
132 contributions
Couples
Colorful historical land mark. It's a good place to stop by and take picture. If you happen to be around the place, it's worth a visit.
Written June 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Itzik A
Tel Aviv District, Israel7 contributions
It is a very nice place to visit, colorful and pleasant. walking in the streets around is nice and there are many places to eat.
Written August 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Frequently Asked Questions about House of Tan Teng Niah
- We recommend booking House of Tan Teng Niah tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 5 House of Tan Teng Niah tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience House of Tan Teng Niah:
- Singapore Private Food and Culture Tour (From $135.91)
- Eat Pray Love - Singapore Food Tour With A Difference (From $102.85)
- Singapore Instagram Tour (Private & All-Inclusive) (From $309.00)
- Little India Heritage Walking Tour (From $7.35)
- Singapore's Little India Self-Guided Audio Tour (From $7.50)
- Hotels near House of Tan Teng Niah:
- (0.03 mi) Check-Inn @Little India
- (0.03 mi) Kerbau Hotel
- (0.10 mi) Vintage Inn
- (0.11 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Singapore Serangoon
- (0.08 mi) Aqueen Heritage Hotel Little India
- Restaurants near House of Tan Teng Niah:
- (0.02 mi) Andhra Curry
- (0.02 mi) Abirami Restaurant
- (0.02 mi) Amaravati
- (0.03 mi) Blue Diamond
- (0.03 mi) Temasek Indian Rojak