Tantallon Capital’s neighbourhood

Tantallon Capital’s office in Telok Ayer Street sits in the historic heart of Singapore. 

We count no less than five places of worship built in the 19th century – including Buddhist and Taoist temples of early immigrants from China, an Indian Muslim shrine, an early Malay mosque.  Directly opposite stands Thian Hock Keng, a temple built by the Hokkiens to thank the goddess of the sea Mazu for their safe delivery to these shores. 

Brand new modern world skyscrapers housing global financial institutions run shoulders with historic terrace shop-houses. The food scene is vibrant and covers traditional cuisine offerings and innovative, cutting-edge gastronomic experiences. 

A short walk away, another stunning old temple to Mazu stands. This one was built by the Teochews – a neighbouring dialect group to the Hokkiens from southern China. Opposite the temple stands Chao Shan, one of the best Teochew restaurants in Singapore. Nicholas Lander of the Financial Times reviewed it enthusiastically (when it was in a different location), disagreeing with Tantallon’s Nick Harbinson on how well wines might be paired with our local cuisines.

That debate continues to this day. Delightfully, while Chao Shan is still serving its reliably delicious fare, there are also many new places in the area to experiment at!