7 new cafés in the Joo Chiat and Katong area

The main star of Joo Chiat and Katong – the charming two and three-storey shophouses, rich in heritage and culture. Take a jaunt down Koon Seng Road where you’ll find the popular eye-candies adorned in ceramic Peranakan floral motifs, geometrical tiles, pastel hues and even Chinese couplets which are said to bring good fortune. 

While you can’t photograph its interiors, Rumah Bebe has eye-catching cerulean exteriors and bright Peranakan tiles that your ‘gram desperately needs. For something less in-your-face, take a stroll down Lotus @ Joo Chiat, a stretch of 18 white conserved shophouses with green windows and doors with intricate carvings. Lace up and grab your camera – we’re going shophousing.

If you're strolling along East Coast Road – en route to ice cream parlour Birds of Paradise – remember to keep your eyes peeled. There is a myriad of Insta-worthy urban artworks that bathe the walls of shophouses and other buildings here. Lurking away at one of the small side laneways between two shophouses at 107 East Coast Road is a majestic masterpiece titled Medley Alley. It resembles wings made of colourful, Peranakan-inspired tiles, representing the metamorphosis between generations. For a colossal wall art, feast your eyes on Jousting Painters along Everitt Road. It brilliantly captures the playful imagination of children.

Katong Antique House is pure living memory. This Peranakan house has been perfectly preserved as it was in the old days, and is filled with heirlooms and artefacts including traditional Peranakan crockery, jewellery, beaded slippers, costumes, furniture and photographs of Singapore's earlier generations of Babas and Bibiks. The vast collection can be credited to 40 long years of effort by Mr. Peter Wee, a fourth-generation Peranakan who inherited the house from his maternal grandfather in 1966. Himself the great-grandson of philanthropist Tan Keong Saik, Baba Peter Wee bought, restored and sold Peranakan-related items from 1971 and eventually turned his inheritance into Katong Antique House in 1979. Although he has since passed on, his legacy, alongside Peranakan culture and heritage, continues to live on in this irreplaceable private museum. Read our interview with the new guardians of the museum, Eric Ang and Angeline Kong, here.

The Eurasian Heritage Gallery gives an insight into the lives of the Eurasian community in Singapore. Located in the Eurasian Community House in the heart of Katong, the gallery showcases the community's most prominent personalities, the history of Eurasians in Singapore, and its culture – which includes weddings, traditional outfits, and cuisine, among others. 

As the name suggests, Straits Enclave is a haven for Peranakans and those interested in Peranakan culture. Experience the Straits Golden era of the early 1900s at this private museum, which is decked out with heirlooms and precious antiques collected from generations of Peranakans. This is also where traditional culture and crafts are kept alive – try on a full kebaya, learn the art of Peranakan beading, indulge in a homecooked meal, or play the traditional Cherki card game. The best part is getting to interact with members of the Peranakan community, who have a wealth of knowledge about their rich culture and heritage. 

This private museum gives visitors a taste of old-world Peranakan charm. It is a treasure trove of Peranakan furniture, costumes, trinkets, and even old black-and-white photographs – all owned by collector Alvin Yapp who is also of Peranakan descent. Take a tour around the shophouse residence with Alvin, and learn about the rich Peranakan history, culture, and even embroidery craft. That's not all – an hour tour includes tea, while a two-hour tour of lunch or dinner with authentic Nonya dishes prepared by his mother. Mmm, nothing like home-cooked food.

Burn some energy at this long, narrow recreational area sandwiched between houses in Joo Chiat. Here, kids (and kidults) are welcome to take on one of the city's 15 vertical playgrounds: the Wallholla Playground. It's equipped with rope bridges, a rock climbing wall, and a fireman's pole to boot. However, note that the playground can only hold up to 30 kids.

Take a break from exploring the Katong area and get your trotters kneaded into utter submission with the award-winning Feet Haven. Not your average spa, the cosy space is tricked out with hanging light bulbs, standing spotlights, and quirky furniture to make you feel at ease. At the hands of its experienced masseurs, the popular 60-minute foot massage ($42) will have your feet feel brand new once again.

For a staycay with Peranakan flavour, book a stay at this boutique-style hotel. It's splashed out in vivid colours and Peranakan touches abound: from floor tiles that mimic the mosaic pattern found in Peranakan abodes, to Singer sewing machine legs that form the base of in-room vanity counters and ornate display cases that double up as the minibar. Did we mention the enamel washbasin for you to have a foot soak in just like the matriarchs of old? But if that doesn't quite cut it, there's a rooftop lap pool, as well as a 24-hour gym, a lobby lounge/business centre stocked with local books, and an in-house restaurant that stays faithful to Nyonya flavours.