As the name suggests, Holland Village is an enclave with a village-like atmosphere. An interesting merge of old and new provide older residents with traditional coffee shops and wet markets, while swank wine bars and high-end restaurants serve a congregation of local hipsters and expatriates alike. Asian arts, crafts, antiques and handicrafts can be found in the malls and street-level stores. Many families enjoy life in Holland Village for its location, scene and diverse offerings.
Emerald Hill in the Orchard Area is a lovely street with well-kept shop houses--many in their original colorful ceramic exterior details. The homes along Emerald Hill resemble an Oriental terrace house or brownstone minus the stoop. They are slightly more expensive, but you're playing for location here--right in the center of it all. A short walk in any direction will lead you to the finest boutiques on par with New York's Fifth Avenue and some of the better restaurants as well as all the shopping malls, cinemas, museums and major five-star hotels. There's also the America Club for that country-club feel and a very short cab ride to the city's waterfront. Families, couples and singles reside in this neighborhood.
If you're single or married but without children, then the CBD might be just the place for you. It is within walking distance of the nightlife and restaurants of Mohamed Sultan, Riverside Point, Clark Quay and Boat Quay, and The Esplanade Theatre. Its also an area to view the Formula One Grand Prix. A few minutes' walk away, the Somerset MRT station and major expressways (CTE and PIE) can take you just about anywhere fairly quickly. The Cavenagh Bridge, now a pedestrian walkway across the mouth of the Singapore River, is the gateway to the city's business area.
