Holland Village and Dempsey sit ten minutes apart and feel nothing alike. One is a residents' village of cafes and a wet market, the other a hill of old army barracks turned into restaurants and shops. This plan eats breakfast where the neighbours do, strolls the village while the bars are still shut, then rides up to Dempsey for chocolate and ice cream.
Book the chocolate tour and a Museum of Ice Cream slot before you set out, since both take reservations. The museum closes earlier on Mondays and Fridays, so choose another day if you'd like the afternoon to be unhurried.
Where to start
Holland Village MRT (CC21)
When to go
Morning, start by 8:30am
Stop by stop
We'd do these in order, and each linked stop has its price and directions.
8:30 AM
Breakfast at Ghim Moh
Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre is at Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road, a short walk from Buona Vista or Holland Village MRT. Each stall keeps its own hours, so check the stall you're after, then join the queue of people who live nearby. Give it an hour.
9:45 AM
Lorong Mambong
Holland Village is cafes along Lorong Mambong and Lorong Liput, and the bars wake up after 6pm. At this hour, walk both streets, have a second coffee and look in at Holland Village Market & Food Centre at 1 Lorong Mambong, with its wet market downstairs and hawker stalls upstairs. Give it 75 minutes.
11:00 AM
Up to Dempsey Hill
Dempsey Hill is a cluster of old British army barracks off Holland Road, now antique shops and restaurants. Shuttle buses run from set pick-up points, and Holland Village MRT is one of them, so check the timetable on Dempsey Hill's own page. Walk Dempsey Road for about 45 minutes.
12:00 PM
Chocolate at Mr Bucket
Mr Bucket Chocolate Tour and Tasting runs about an hour at 13 Dempsey Road: where cacao comes from, couverture against compound chocolate, and a single-origin tasting. It's S$20 a person, for ages 12 and over, and you pick a session when you book online.
1:15 PM
Sprinkles at the museum
Museum of Ice Cream is at 100 Loewen Road, and you need a prior reservation for a timed slot. General admission starts from S$38, children aged two and under go free, and payment is cashless only. Give it an hour and a half.
Save for another day
- The Artground at One Holland Village, a pre-booked play space for children that needs grip socks
- Burnt Ends, a booked dinner at 7 Dempsey Road that deserves its own evening
- Museum of Ice Cream on a Monday or Friday afternoon, when it closes earlier
Before you go
Book ahead where you need to, and turn up for the rest.
Ghim Moh Market & Food CentreHolland Village · FreeGo
Holland VillageHolland Village · FreeGo
Holland Village Market & Food CentreHolland Village · FreeGo
Dempsey HillDempsey · FreeGoMr Bucket Chocolate Tour and TastingDempsey · From S$20Tickets Museum of Ice Cream SingaporeDempsey · From S$38Tickets The Artground at One Holland VillageHolland Village · From S$8Tickets Burnt EndsDempsey · From S$180Tickets Ghim Moh to Dempsey questions
How do I get to Dempsey Hill from Holland Village MRT?
Take Dempsey Hill's shuttle bus from its Holland Village MRT pick-up point. The same service also stops at Wheelock Place and two gates of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Holland Village pick-up point moves on Friday and weekend evenings, so check the timetable on Dempsey Hill's own page before you go.
How much is the Mr Bucket chocolate tour?
The Dempsey factory tour is S$20 for one participant, and it is for ages 12 and over. Mr Bucket takes bookings through its own website, where you choose a session, so reserve before you travel. The factory is at 13 Dempsey Road, and Napier MRT is the nearest station Mr Bucket lists.
Do I need to book the Museum of Ice Cream?
Yes, the museum requires a prior reservation and takes cashless payment only. General admission starts from S$38, Premium from S$48, and children aged two and under go free. It closes earlier on Mondays and Fridays than on other days, so book a morning slot if you're going on one of them.
Is The Artground near Holland Village MRT?
Yes, it is inside One Holland Village at 7 Holland Village Way, a short walk from the station. The Artground asks you to pre-book a slot, and it closes to the public on some weekday mornings during school visits. Everyone needs non-slip grip socks, which it sells for S$3 a pair.
Stories from along the way
Longer reads on the places you'll pass through.
