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Experience Singapore's past in these colorful tenement-style shophouses
A shophouse is a commercial residence with a store on the first floor and residences on the second and third floors. Adjacent houses share walls and are connected like a row of tenement houses. There is a shared corridor about 5 feet (about 152 cm) wide on the first floor, so it is also called the "Five-foot way". The long arcaded corridor also serves to block out the hot tropical sun and heavy rain showers.
Shophouses first appeared in the mid-1800s, originally simple buildings housing many immigrants from the Chinese coast. As Singapore developed as a hub for maritime trade, the number of wealthy people increased, and they began to beautifully decorate their shophouses, incorporating European decorative styles.
In particular, the unique lifestyle and culture of immigrant families of Chinese, Indians and other descent who settled near the Malay Peninsula is vibrant and beautiful, and their colorful shophouses are called "Peranakan houses."
A shophouse as gorgeous as a pastry shop on Petain Road in the downtown area
On Petain Road in Jalan Besar, a bustling downtown area, there is a shophouse that is ornately decorated like a decorated cake.
The retro-chic windows and colored glass adorning the ivory-colored shophouse facades, the elegant reliefs decorating the pillars, and the walls covered in floral tiles - anyone who sees it for the first time will be left breathless by its splendor.
If you visit, take a moment to hang out on the 5 Foot Way porch - it may be a little dusty, but the feeling of nostalgia far outweighs it.
The contrast between the Peranakan coloured walls of pale pink, green and blue and the black and white floor tiles makes this a beautiful photo spot, like a scene from an old movie.
The pillars and window frames feature Chinese decorations such as flowers and birds, allowing you to see the decorative style that blended Eastern and Western cultures at the time it was built in the 1930s.
A two-minute walk from the shophouse will take you to Jalan Besar, lined with shops and restaurants. This area of the downtown area is also a fun place to discover, with gorgeous shophouses and floral tiles suddenly appearing.
There are many restaurants along the street, so be sure to try the local cuisine.
Shophouses at Petain Road
| access | ： | 8 minutes walk from Farrer Park Station on the MRT, 13 minutes walk from Jalan Besar Station |
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The cute pastel-colored shophouses in the upscale residential area of Katong
You'll find some very popular pastel-coloured shophouses in the residential Katong area on Singapore's east coast.
Our destination is Koon Seng Road, which intersects with the main street, Joo Chiat Road.
The colorful shophouses, commonly known as Peranakan Houses, catch your eye and your excitement instantly rises! Everyone here is posing as models.
Cute Peranakan house
The nameplate made of tiles and the gatepost with tiles embedded in them are both cute.
Beautiful color scheme in front of Peranakan house
The surrounding area is also lined with beautifully colored shophouses. The Katong area has long been home to many Peranakan people, and there are many small shophouses painted in their distinctive colors.
Shophouses are also lined up along Joo Chiat Road, the main street. Unique restaurants, cafes and shops line the streets, making it a fun stroll to check out.
The shophouses along the main thoroughfare, East Coast Road, are home to some famous Peranakan restaurants.
We recommend Common Man Coffee Roasters, a popular coffee roaster located in a 1920s shophouse. This area is a little more laid back than the city center, so why not enjoy some delicious coffee and food?
Photo by Common Man Coffee Roasters
Photo by Common Man Coffee Roasters
Peranakan Houses in Katong
| access | ： | Get off at Bus No. 33 After Koon Seng Road and walk for 2 minutes |
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Common Man Coffee Roasters Joo Chiat Road
| address | ： | 185 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427456 |
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| web | ： | Common Man Coffee Roasters official website (foreign language site) |
The colorful shophouses of Arab Street, an exotic fabric wholesale district
Kampong Gelam is a colorful and exotic area in Singapore. During the British colonial period in the 19th century, it became a community of Malays and Arabs, and even today, their culture is still strongly felt in this area.
Among them is Arab Street, where long-established fabric wholesalers gather, with its dazzling line of brightly colored shophouses.
The vividly colored shophouses include Malay stores selling Southeast Asian batik and floral Indian cotton, as well as Arab stores displaying Middle Eastern colored fabrics and exotic goods in piles. The international and lively Arab Street will get you in the mood for shopping.
Colorful Indian cotton handkerchiefs with floral block prints (a traditional Indian technique of dyeing patterns by pressing woodblocks onto fabric, like woodblock prints)
If you look up, you can see innovatively designed skyscrapers beyond the rows of brightly colored shophouses, making this an area where you can get a feel for both the old and new of Singapore.
Contrast between shophouses and skyscrapers
It is also a tourist spot that is home to Singapore's largest Sultan Mosque, and is full of gourmet options, including Malay and Middle Eastern restaurants, cafes, and gelato.
Vividly colored shophouses line the streets
Haji Lane, an alley next to Arab Street, is always bustling with shops selling variety goods and unique apparel that are popular with young people, giving it a Harajuku-esque atmosphere. The colorful wall art in the area is a popular photo spot.
Shophouses around Arab Street
| access | ： | 8 minutes walk from Bugis Station (MRT) |
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We have introduced some old-fashioned retro shophouses that are a little different from the cutting-edge city of Singapore. However, there is a huge variety and personality, from gorgeous to cute pastel tones to exotic vivid colors. There are many shophouses other than those introduced in this article that are also great for social media, so be sure to grab your camera and find your favorite one.
Interview and photo: Nagao Yayoi
Singapore Malaysia Travel & Tours
We will introduce tours of Singapore and Malaysia that offer a variety of ways to enjoy yourself, including resorts, shopping in the city, and admiring the night view.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
