New SingPost Centre boasts classy post office, philatelic store and innovative food places
The new SingPost Centre located just beside Paya Lebar MRT station is set to become a new hangout place for those working or living in the area.
Boasting sleek modern architecture, the four-storey complex is a one-stop lifestyle destination housing a post office, a retail shop dedicated to philately and new eateries offering fresh dining concepts and dishes.
1. Classy post office that takes you back to the colonial era
Singapore’s former General Post Office (GPO) was located at the historic Fullerton Building, which is now the posh Fullerton Hotel.
The interior design of its successor at SingPost Centre pays homage to its heritage with walls that mimic the grey concrete buildings of the civil district and pendant lights inspired by the colonial era. There is also a clock which was designed to emulate the original one from the old GPO.
A row of posting boxes lining the entrance of the new GPO evokes a sense of nostalgia, showcasing the evolution of the design of posting boxes since Singapore’s independence. Right next to it, you can catch a video screening of scenes of Singapore Post in the past – from its venerable buildings to old postman uniforms – on a wall adjacent to it.
Besides regular mailing services, the GPO also houses a self-service area, where you’ll find a 143-locker POPStation, a registered article self-drop box as well as SAM Machines, which now offer remittance services.
2. Special date stamps for mails dropped into posting box at the Philatelic Store
Just across from the GPO, you’ll find a retail store dedicated to philately as well as a red pillar posting box that makes for a good photo opportunity.
At a media event on Monday (9 October), Singapore Post revealed that the posting box dated back to the 1960s and was only recently recovered after it was found at one of the post offices in Singapore. Mails that are dropped into this posting box will get a special date stamp in red ink.
The Philatelic Store also offers exclusive stamps, stamp albums and local souvenirs. Some of these include a series of GPO stamps designed by local designer Wong Wui Kong.
3. Hotpot from a conveyor belt? There’s a slew of innovative dining concepts to explore at SingPost Centre
Many of us may have read about the upcoming Gong Cha flagship outlet and a cinema boasting laser movie projections at SingPost Centre. Besides these attractions, the centre also offers a slew of fresh dining concepts, ranging from hotpot dishes from a conveyor belt to a foodcourt designed after the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Taiwan’s UPOT has just opened its first overseas outlet on the ground level of SingPost Centre. Unlike other hotpot restaurants in Singapore, diners at UPOT get to enjoy their side dishes served from conveyor belts placed right in front of them. This gives diners plenty of space on the table and the ingredients that they dip in their hotpots are guaranteed to be fresh.
There are six soup bases to choose from: Xiaolongkan old hotpot, Thai tom yum, Taiwanese herbal pork rib, Japanese kombu and bonito, tomato, and wild mushroom.
Located right next to UPOT is NUODLE, which is also its first overseas outlet outside of China. If you’ve always wanted to try mouthwatering Lanzhou beef noodles, here’s your chance. The head chefs of the restaurant are from China so you’re guaranteed an authentic culinary experience.
The 31-year-old franchise owner, known as Jerry, told Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore that the restaurant has been attracting long queues and 1,000 customers on average daily since it opened on 3 October.
Other interesting dining concepts to try include restaurant Hawkerman and the foodcourt Platform M.
Hawkerman is a modern hawker restaurant backed by the guys from Tenderfresh, a long-time DIY popiah stall owner and Warong Kim’s Seafood. Here, you’ll find innovative dishes such as Maki Popiah filled with nori, chicken floss and mayo as well as a funky Durian ’N Jack Popiah, which consists of durian, jackfruit, peanut, gula melaka, chilli and coconut ice cream.
Platform M, located on the second floor of the mall, is run by anchor F&B tenant Ministry of Food and has designs inspired by the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. There are 10 different stalls at the foodcourt, including Hong Kong roast duck and dim sum, Northern Chinese steamed dumplings, Korean street food and Western-style beef steaks.
Related stories:
New Golden Village cineplex at SingPost Centre debuts laser projection technology
Taiwan’s PlayMade bubble tea comes to Singapore with unique flavoured pearls
Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook.
