A nostalgic Peranakan stroll
Katong District
The first area we will introduce is Katong, where many Peranakan people live. "Peranakan" refers to the descendants of Chinese immigrants who married local Malay women, and they have created a unique culture that blends Chinese, Malay, and European cultures.
Peranakan architecture along Koon Seng Road, highlighted by exotic flowers
Along Koon Seng Road in the Katong district, there are rows of historic Peranakan architecture. These cute buildings come in pastel colors such as pink, light blue, and light purple, and the first floor is often a store, so they are also called shophouses. One of the highlights is the mix of various architectural styles and designs, with Chinese-style windows on the first floor and large French-style windows on the second floor.
If you visit Katong, you should definitely visit Kimchu, a Peranakan goods and sweets store.
The colors used are European, while the flashy, cute patterns have a Chinese feel to them.
Traditional tableware decorated with Chinese-style flowers and birds is pastel-coloured, just like the shophouses along Koon Seng Road, and there are plenty of sandals decorated with beading, a culture brought over from Europe and developed by Peranakan women.
| Kim Choo Boutique Gallery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| business hours | ： | 9:00〜21:00 |
| web | ： | https://www.kimchoo.com/ |
| address | ： | 109 East Coast Road, Singapore 428800, 111 East Coast Road, Singapore, 428801 |
Experience the charm of traditional Nyonya cuisine and sweets
Kim Choo, Coconut Club
Colorful traditional sweets. The subtle sweetness comes from coconut.
Traditional Peranakan food and sweets are called "Nyonya food" and "Nyonya sweets." All of the Nyonya sweets sold at the aforementioned "Kimchiu" are handmade in a workshop. The colors may be startling, but rest assured that they are colored with plants. The Malay style uses pandan leaves, a plant that gives the sweets a vibrant green color.
While new cultures are constantly being introduced to the region, Nyonya cuisine and sweets are also being reevaluated in recent years. Representative of this movement is the Coconut Club, which opened in the autumn of 2016.
"Coconut Club" - A modern look that makes it hard to believe it's a local restaurant
Coconut Club is a stylish restaurant that focuses on nasi lemak, a staple breakfast dish in the Malay Peninsula consisting of rice cooked with coconut and an assortment of side dishes.
Nasi Lemak is a combination of various ingredients with coconut rice. The original chili sauce, which is made using more than 20 kinds of spices, is also delicious.
"Every Singaporean knows nasi lemak, but for today's young people who are interested in foreign food, it has become a distant food," says the owner of the restaurant. Fascinated by nasi lemak, he spent many years researching the recipe, experimenting with all kinds of rice and flavoring methods. He eventually settled on coconut, shallots, garlic, and pandan leaves. The chicken side dish is marinated in ginger and lemongrass and deep-fried, and one bite is filled with a crunchy, juicy flavor. It is now so popular that young people line up every day at lunchtime. It is a spot where you can get a feel for Singapore's food scene.
| The Coconut Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | Month |
| business hours | ： | 11:00-15:00, 18:00-21:30 (Only lunch on Sundays) |
| web | ： | http://www.thecoconutclub.sg/ |
| address | ： | 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore, 069787 |
A little India filled with vivid colors and spicy aromas
Little India
As a symbol of Singapore's multicultural nation, there are several ethnic towns in Singapore. Little India is one of them. In stark contrast to the pastel colors of the Peranakans, the buildings and Hindu temples are painted in primary colors of red, green, and yellow, making you feel like you're in India!
We recommend starting your walk around the city from Tekka Center, where the train and bus stations are located. If the stimulating aromas whet your appetite while browsing the Indian goods and food stores nearby, satisfy your hunger at the Indian restaurant Mustard.
Mustard's specialty is a creamy shrimp curry served in a coconut.
If you're looking for souvenirs, head to Mustafa Center. It's open 24 hours a day and has everything you could want. Ayurvedic beauty products are crammed into shelves so tall you have to look up. Check them out as if you were on a treasure hunt, looking for something for yourself or as a souvenir.
Beautifully packaged Ayurvedic products found in the beauty section on the first floor of Mustafa Center
Please note that this area gets so crowded on weekend nights that it is difficult to move forward.
| Mustard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | Month |
| business hours | ： | 11:30-15:00 (until 16:00 on Saturdays), 18:00-22:45 |
| web | ： | http://www.mustardsingapore.com/ |
| address | ： | 32 Race Course Road, Singapore, 218552 |
| Mustafa Centre | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| business hours | ： | Open 24 hours |
| web | ： | http://www.mustafa.com.sg/ |
| address | ： | 145 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore, 207704 |
*The Tekka Center is currently undergoing renovation work until July 31, 2017.
Enter the world of Arabian Nights. Take home beautiful perfume bottles and perfume oils as souvenirs.
Arab Street
Next to Little India is Arab Street, a street called Haji Lane that is filled with colorful graffiti art, unique boutiques, and trendy cafes and bars.
When you go out to the main street, "Arab Street," you will see the beautiful pointed dome-shaped roof of the "Sultan Mosque" beyond the rows of shops. It is especially recommended to visit at dusk, when you will be enchanted by the temple floating against the backdrop of the sky that changes from orange to purple, and the resounding adhan (call to prayer).
A must-see shop in this area is Jamal Kazura Aromatics, a perfume shop founded in 1933.
Beautiful perfume bottles made by Egyptian artisans in the shape of elephants and camels
Choose your favorite from the many perfume bottles and perfume oils lined up in a small space. There are many scents that are familiar to Japanese people, such as the gorgeous yet calming scent of orange and ylang-ylang, and the refreshing scent of apple. Another great thing about these products is that they do not contain alcohol or water, so the scent lasts a long time.
| Jamal Kazura Aromatics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| business hours | ： | 10:00-19:00 (until 18:30 on weekends) |
| address | ： | 728 North Bridge Road, Singapore, 198696 |
Popular among culture-loving young people. The trendy area of Tiong Bahru
BooksActually
The last place I would like to introduce is Tiong Bahru, a hot area among locals. The symbol of the area is a bookstore called "BooksActually".
Tiong Bahru was originally a quiet, tranquil area lined with HDB public housing, but since this bookstore opened there, its selection of books, mainly fiction and literature, has attracted young culture-loving people, and the number of fashionable cafes and bakeries in the area has increased.
The owner, Kenny, says, "When I opened the shop in 2005, there were only houses around. That's why I chose this place because the rent was cheap (laughs)." He's joking about it, but in truth, he has had a big impact on the area.
In the back of the store, antique items collected by Kenny are also on sale. You might find a bargain.
It is a lovely, cozy town that is deeply rooted in the lives of its local residents, but also welcomes those who come to relax on the weekend.
| Books Actually | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| business hours | ： | 10:00-20:00 (until 18:00 on Sundays and Mondays) |
| Official website | ： | https://www.booksactuallyshop.com/ |
| address | ： | 9 Yong Siak Street, Singapore, 168645 |
Singapore has a history of fusing Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures. With its diverse charms packed into a small country, even a busy working woman on a weekend trip is sure to be satisfied. Why not visit Singapore to find something wonderful that you can only find here?
T. Ayako
Freelance writer and editor. After working at a publishing company and editing information and fashion magazines, she became independent and moved to Singapore in 2016.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
