Coliva neighbourhood guide
Living in Upper Thomson, Singapore
Singapore’s low-rise green-belt corner — Upper Thomson Road, MacRitchie Reservoir, and the Mandai stretch into the rainforest. The neighbourhood that sells itself to renters with a dog.
Upper Thomson is the long ribbon of low-rise housing that runs north of the Pan-Island Expressway, between the Central Catchment forest and the older Bishan housing belt. The streets are tree-lined, the cars are slow, and the neighbourhood has the highest concentration of dog-walkers in Singapore. The Thomson-East Coast Line opened in 2021 and put Upper Thomson MRT (TE8) and Springleaf MRT (TE5) within direct reach of the CBD core.
Coliva runs The Vanilla House in this neighbourhood, seven minutes’ walk from Springleaf MRT — the most pet-popular Coliva house, by some margin.
Transit at a glance
- Springleaf MRT TE5 · 7 min walk
- Upper Thomson MRT TE8 · ~6 min by bus
- Caldecott (Circle Line interchange) TE9 · 10 min by MRT
- Singapore CBD ~25 min by MRT (Marina Bay)
Where to eat
Upper Thomson’s food scene is concentrated along Upper Thomson Road and Sembawang Hills. Strong on local-Chinese, prata, brunch cafes, and craft coffee.
- Casuarina Curry Famed roti prata stall with a 24-hour line at peak times.
- Salted & Hung Modern Australian, at the Sembawang Hills cluster.
- Habitat Coffee Specialty coffee roaster popular with the work-from-home crowd.
- Sembawang Hills Food Centre Hawker fare, chicken rice, fishball noodles, kopi.
- The Daily Cut Healthy build-your-own grain bowls — the work-from-home lunch staple.
Parks and green space
This is why people move here. Three of Singapore’s biggest green spaces are within walking or short driving distance of Upper Thomson.
- Springleaf Nature Park Compact rainforest park with mature canopy; popular with dog walkers.
- MacRitchie Reservoir Park 10 km of trails, the Treetop Walk, and the longest reservoir loop in Singapore.
- Lower Pierce Reservoir Quieter alternative to MacRitchie; trail starts a 12-minute drive away.
- Central Catchment Nature Reserve Direct access from Springleaf-side; bring water and good shoes.
Daily errands
Sembawang Hills and the Upper Thomson MRT cluster cover daily-life basics. For specialty groceries, two MRT stops to Bishan or six to Orchard.
- FairPrice Sembawang Hills Local supermarket at the Sembawang Hills food centre.
- Cold Storage Thomson Plaza Larger grocery with a Western-leaning selection.
- Mandai Veterinary Hospital Major vet hospital — one of two reasons people move here with a dog.
Gyms and fitness
The local fitness scene is more about outdoor running and trail-walking than boutique studios. The Reservoir loops are the main draw.
- MacRitchie loop 10 km circuit; the runners’ rite of passage in Singapore.
- Anytime Fitness Thomson Plaza 24/7 gym at Thomson Plaza, two MRT stops away.
- Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park Free outdoor running and cycling loops; 10 minutes by MRT.
Pet-friendly living
Upper Thomson and Springleaf are the most dog-friendly central-line neighbourhoods in Singapore. The Vanilla House is built around the assumption residents will walk their dogs daily — hard flooring, designated wash zone, no breed list. See our 2026 pet-friendly rental guide.
Practical pet logistics: Mandai Veterinary Hospital is a 5-minute drive; Springleaf Nature Park is 12 minutes’ walk; the regular dog-walker community at Springleaf is welcoming and easy to slot into. Big-dog owners in particular tend to prefer this neighbourhood over central Singapore. For comparison reading, see our best Singapore neighbourhoods for dog owners piece.
Working from home in Upper Thomson
Upper Thomson and Springleaf together form one of the strongest work-from-home zones in Singapore. The houses are quiet during business hours, the cafes are laptop-friendly, and the Reservoir loop gives you a 30-minute mid-day reset that no central neighbourhood can match. Wi-Fi is fibre across the Vanilla House with mesh repeaters; meeting-rich days work cleanly from the bedrooms or the upstairs landing.
If your role pulls you into the office most days, the longer commute to the CBD will eventually grate. Honest cut-off: if you’re in the office 4+ days a week and your office is south of Newton, Jalan Besar is probably the better choice. Below 3 days, Upper Thomson tilts heavily in favour.
- Habitat Coffee Specialty coffee roaster, laptop-friendly seating, walking distance from the Vanilla House.
- Foreword Coffee Sembawang Hills Local-favourite roaster with quiet morning hours.
- MacRitchie loop 30-minute mid-day reset; no central neighbourhood can match this.
Who fits this neighbourhood
Upper Thomson is the best fit for renters whose week tilts toward the green side: dog owners, weekend hikers, remote workers, anyone who values quiet streets and trail access more than late-night density. It works less well for residents whose social life is centre-of-town five nights a week — the daily commute will eventually wear them down.
For comparison reading, see how Upper Thomson stacks up against Jalan Besar in our Springleaf vs Jalan Besar breakdown.
- Best fit Dog owners, remote workers, weekend hikers, couples wanting calmer base.
- Less good fit Heavy CBD commuters, nightlife regulars, renters wanting central walking density.
- Comparable neighbourhoods Bukit Timah (more expensive), Sembawang (further out), Bishan (more HDB-dense).
Frequently asked questions
How far is Upper Thomson from the CBD?
Around 25 minutes door-to-door on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Faster than Bukit Timah, slower than Jalan Besar. The TEL gets you to Orchard in 18 minutes and Marina Bay in 25.
Is Upper Thomson actually pet-friendly?
Yes — it has the highest concentration of dog walkers we know of in Singapore. The Vanilla House accepts up to two pets per resident with no breed list, no weight cap. Read about the house or our best dog-owner neighbourhoods round-up.
Is the neighbourhood quiet at night?
Very. The streets close down early; if you want a high-density nightlife area, look at Tiong Bahru or Jalan Besar instead.
What’s the difference between Upper Thomson and Springleaf?
Springleaf is one MRT stop further north and slightly more residential; Upper Thomson is closer to Sembawang Hills food and slightly more developed. Both share the same green-belt access. Coliva’s house sits between the two, closer to Springleaf MRT.
Is parking easy?
Yes. Many residents have cars, and parking is more available here than in central neighbourhoods. Season-pass HDB parking is around S$110/month; condo visitor parking is generally available. The MRT is good enough that most Coliva residents in this area don’t bother with a car.
What about flooding or rain?
The neighbourhood sits on relatively high ground; serious flooding is rare. Heavy afternoon rain happens daily during the November–January monsoon, but the canopy along most streets keeps the dog walks workable.
Are there schools nearby?
Yes — multiple international and local schools are within a 5-minute drive (Catholic High, CHIJ St Nicholas, Australian International School). Most Coliva residents are working professionals without school-age children, but the catchment is good if that changes.
How does Upper Thomson compare to Bukit Timah?
Both are dog-friendly green-belt neighbourhoods. Bukit Timah has older, more prestigious housing and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Upper Thomson is more affordable, more recently developed, and has direct TEL access. For renters under S$3,000/month with a dog, Upper Thomson is usually the better fit.