 | Along this charming street are classic shophouses with contemporary updates, colonial-style bungalows on masonry stilts and a pre-war parish church that dates back to 1902. Founded by four Eurasian families in Katong, the Church of the Holy Family has been rebuilt several times over the decades to cater to its growing congregation. | Opened in the 1970s, East Coast Park – built entirely on reclaimed land – is the largest park in Singapore with a coastline that stretches over 15km. With holiday chalets, cafes, watering holes, bicycle and rollerblade rental shops, a skate park, a renowned seafood centre and even a cable ski park, it is a big draw for both locals and tourists. | Katong is known as a food paradise and its main street, East Coast Road, is filled with some of the country's most reputable eateries. A trip here would not be complete without sampling the famous Katong laksa, a variation of a spicy noodle soup dish, eaten with just a spoon. Several stalls along this road have been engaged in a 'laksa war' for years, each claiming to be the original source. Nonetheless, you cannot go wrong at any of them. Another popular stop is Chin Mee Chin, a quaint old-school bakery with traditional wooden chairs, marble-top tables and mosaic tile floors. All-time favourites include round buns with homemade kaya (coconut and egg jam) and custard puffs. |  |
Joo Chiat Road, Joo Chiat Place, Everitt Road, Koon Seng Road
Architecture buffs will be captivated by the eclectic mix of quaint terraces, historic bungalows, trendy apartments and art deco shophouses found in Joo Chiat, which won the country's inaugural Heritage Town award in 2011. Marvel at the many exquisite pre-war Peranakan houses, including the ornate shophouses along Everitt Road and Koon Seng Road. Foodies will also thrilled by this culinary haven's countless offerings, such as dumpling noodles, chicken rice and curry fish head. Institutions include Singapore's oldest Peranakan restaurant, Guan Hoe Soon, open since 1953, and Eng Seng Restaurant, a plain old coffeeshop particularly renowned for its black pepper crabs. |  |
Marine Parade Road, Marine Parade Central
The first housing estate to be built on reclaimed land, Marine Parade was named after a promenade near the sea that ran parallel to East Coast Road. Largely made up of public housing, it offers an array of good cheap eats. The Marine Parade Food Centre, which has a delicious mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western food stalls, is particularly popular. |
112 East Coast Road. Opening hours: 1000-2200 hrs daily.
This new premium lifestyle mall features over 150 shops and restaurants, including the award-winning Din Tai Fung, which specialises in small steamed buns. Other highlights include a rooftop garden with a water playground and a Golden Village multiplex that includes two Gold Class halls, complete with plush lounges and reclining seats. Some of the restaurants, such as T.G.I. Fridays and Nando's, even offer late-night dining, opening until 3am on weekends. |
80 Marine Parade Road.
Opening hours: 1100-2130 hrs (Mon-Thu), 1100-2200 (Fri), 1030-2200 (Sat), 1030-2130 (Sun).
One of Singapore's first major suburban malls, Parkway Parade, which opened in 1984, houses over 250 stores, such as Isetan department store, Giant hypermarket and Best Denki electronics. It also has a wide range of fashion retailers and eateries, including local favourite, Ya Kun, which is famous for its kaya toast. |
139 Ceylon Road.
Opening hours: 0900-1800 hrs daily. Free entry. Quentin's opening hours: 1130-1430 hrs, 1830-2230pm (Tue-Sun).
With their passion for music and merry-making, the Eurasian community was known for creating an air of revelry in the Katong and Joo Chiat areas. Visit the Eurasian exhibition and find out more about this community's unique blend of European and Asian cultures. For a taste of Eurasian cuisine, check out Quentin's, which serves home-cooked Eurasian fare. |  |
208 East Coast Road.
Opening hours: 1100-1800 hrs (Tue-Sun).
Free entry. Guided tour (inclusive of tea and cakes): $15 per person, minimum 10 people
Visit an authentic Peranakan house, so well preserved that it feels like you are stepping back in time. It features everything from intricate beaded slippers, traditional wedding costumes and Peranakan crockery, to family heirlooms, old photographs and antique furniture. Call in advance and arrange to have tea or a Peranakan meal. |  |
113 East Coast Road.
Opening hours: 0930-1830 hrs (Tue-Sun). Free entry.
Experience the opulence of Peranakan culture in this heritage store, which focuses on traditional art forms such as jewellery, beadwork, batik textiles and sarong kebayas (traditional outfits for Peranakan women). It also offers beading, embroidery and cooking classes. The TBG sign on its shopfront serves as the only reminder of its former occupant, the Tay Buan Guan shop - the first department store to be set up in the eastern part of Singapore in 1948. |  |
109 East Coast Road.
Opening hours: 0800-2200 hrs daily. Kim Choo's Kitchen's opening hours: 1000-2200 hrs daily.
Known for its delicious kueh chang, or Nonya rice dumplings, this nondescript stall had its humble beginnings decades ago when its founder Madam Lee Kim Choo sold her home-made dumplings under a tree outside her zinc roof house. Today, it has several outlets, including the adjoining restaurant, Kim Choo's Kitchen, which serves other Peranakan delicacies. After you have had your fill, visit the charming gallery upstairs, which sells all kinds of crafts, including beaded slippers and embroidered bags. |
19 Ceylon Road
Dating as far back as 1875, this is one of Singapore's oldest Indian temples. It is also one of the tallest, with a 21-metre-high royal tower. Its first structure was a modest shelter with an attap roof under a Chempaka tree. While the temple complex was rebuilt after World War II, the main shrine remains untouched. |
41 Ceylon Road
This English parish-style church building adds to the rustic charm of the neighbourhood. Built in 1934, it features a beautiful stained glass within the chapel and a conical tower built in the Victorian tradition. It has a tight knit community and has served many families in the area for decades. |
62 Tembeling Road
Built in 1921, this Chinese temple features an ornate façade, with colourful mosaic symbols near its front doors and statues of dancing dragons on its roof ridges. The prayer hall is dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Confucius and the Sun and Moon gods. |
136 Joo Chiat Road
Built in 1917 as a place of worship for Indian Muslims, this mosque continues to be a gathering point for Joo Chiat’s Malay community. It has undergone several restorations, with the most recent one in 1998. |
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