Katong: The Indie Neighbourhood of the East
Friday 06 October, 2017
Singapore is known to be a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and races, and the Peranakan culture is one of our most iconic ones.
Join us as we uncover the Katong / Joo Chiat district, its quaint eateries and heritage shophouses, where the legacy of the Peranakans (aka Baba-Nyonyas) remains till today.
Getting There
Bus: Board Bus 14 or 16 at the bus stop outside Lucky Plaza (“Orchard Stn/Lucky Plaza”) and alight at “Aft Duku Rd” after 16 stops
Taxi/Grab: 15-minute drive from the hotel
*GrabCar works similarly to a taxi service—simply book via the kiosk and get picked up at the hotel’s entrance!
1. Transport back in time as you visit Peranakan Home-museums
Credit: Singapore Tourism Board
Take a deeper look into the local Peranakan culture as you enter The Intan. The private home-museum whisks you back to a long-forgotten era with its assortment of carefully curated pots to intricate jewelry.
Alternatively, visit Katong Antique House. Owned by fourth-generation Baba Peranakan, the restored, bona fide home houses traditional Peranakan furniture, antiques and heirlooms ranging from beaded slippers to wedding costumes.
Kindly note that both locations are “by appointment only”. To make an appointment, contact them via the details below:
The Intan
Contact Number: (65) 6440 1148
Email: contactus@the-intan.com
Website: http://www.the-intan.com/book-a-tour
Katong Antique House
Contact Number: (65) 6345 8544
2. Shop at unique local lifestyle stores
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYQRvY2j8QT/?taken-by=cat_socrates
Credit: Cat Socrates
If you’re thinking of getting a unique gift back home for your loved ones, visit Cat Socrates. The curated lifestyle store houses books, stationery, accessories and other quirky knick-knacks by local artists. If you’re lucky ,you can even play hide-and-seek with the store’s resident feline, Zoo-zoo!
If you want to bring home a piece of Peranakan culture home with you, visit Rumah Bebe to get hand-made beaded accessories and trinkets, or even traditional Nyonya kebayas!
3. Explore the unique architecture of Peranakan shophouses
Link: http://www.thewackyduo.com/2017/03/explore-peranakan-culture-in-katong-6.html
Credit: The Wacky Duo
No visit to Joo Chiat / Katong is complete without a picture of the carefully-conserved Peranakan houses along Koon Seng Road. The pastel palette of the houses cues some major #accidentalwesanderson vibes and will surely brighten up your feed (and your day).
Or take a leisurely stroll down the stretch of coloured terrace houses in the Joo Chiat-Tembeling Road crossway. The houses are tucked away in an obscure lane, so keep a lookout for them or you’ll walk past them! (Fun fact: These houses are some of the few remaining ones in Singapore with basements.)
4. Indulge in artisanal bread and gelato
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZurAMvAToq/?taken-at=1020437668
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRsTqtDjMyb/?tagged=bopgelato
Credit: Claudex2, Michelle Wong
There’s nothing quite like freshly-baked bread, and at Firebake, they take breadmaking back to its basics–each loaf is made with all-natural ingredients and baked inside hand-built woodfire ovens.
Further down the road, Birds of Paradise revolutionises the dessert scene with their botanical flavour-infused gelatos (think Strawberry Basil, Lemongrass Ginger and White Chrysanthemum). We especially recommend having your gelato served in their freshly-made thyme-infused cones–the hint of thyme complements the cool treat without being too overwhelming.
5. Admire the wall murals around the district
Link: http://www.ten-ele-ven.com/ernest-zacharevic-street-art-in-joo-chiat/
Credit: Bee
Need a unique backdrop for the ‘gram? Round the corner of Joo Chiat Terrace and Everitt Road lies a cheeky mural painted by infamous Penang street artist Ernest Zacharevic, also endearingly known as “Malaysia’s answer to Banksy” by the BBC.
If you’re close to Katong’s iconic Red House, hidden in the alley behind is a wall mural of three ladies dressed in traditional nyonya kebayas which makes for a cute backdrop for your #OOTD.
6. ...Or simply spend your day eating your way around the district
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZizECmAQEP/?taken-at=239466
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ4m8ogFlFB/?taken-at=558784
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWbwKnGjDAQ/?taken-at=352614162
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFI8DZotaEI/?taken-at=3517815
Credit: gohhuisin (top left), wingthefoodie (top right), QiQi (bottom left) and Esther Chin (bottom right)
When you’re in Katong, you’ll be surrounded by a wide array of culinary choices—from well-loved classics such as Chin Mee Chin Confectionary, the classic 328 Katong Laksa, or the delicious glutinous rice dumplings from Kim Choo Kueh Chang, to Cafes such as Sinpopo and Baker’s Well.
No meal is complete without dessert! End off your meal with a decadent slice of banana pie from Dona Manis or a piece of handmade nyonya kueh from Glory Catering.
