Chinatown Singapore: What to do, eat and more
There’s so much more to Chinatown than just yearly lunar new year visits to the bazaars. If you’re thinking about what to do in Chinatown Singapore, we’ve got you covered. From street art murals, fancy cafes, chic dinner spots, and boutique hotel staycations, here’s why the Chinatown area is worth all the hype!
Chinatown Singapore Food
You’ll be terribly spoilt for choice at Chinatown, whether you’re looking for cheap Michelin eats, Dim Sum, chic restaurants or just good ol’ heartwarming local cuisine, you’ll find it here.
1. Tong Ah Eating House
Enjoy good ol’ traditional breakfast at Chinatown at Tong Ah Eating House. You can expect crunchy toast slathered with thick slabs of butter and rich creamy coconut pandan Kaya. Not forgetting perfectly poached soft boiled eggs and their house specialty, coffee with BUTTER.
To order this, simply request for “Kogi Gu You” which literally means "Coffee Butter" in Hokkien. Adding a slab of butter to coffee along with some condensed milk gives it a caramelised flavour and softens the harsh notes of Robusta coffee beans.
Address: 35 Keong Saik Rd, 089142
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday: 07:00-21:30 Closed on Wednesday
2. Spring Court
One of Singapore’s oldest Chinese restaurants, Spring Court is a Singapore Chinese restaurant with dim sum as well as other Chinese Hokkien and Cantonese dishes. Some of the must-tries include their signature Popiah stuffed generously with savoury braised radish and prawns.
Get your cash vouchers on Klook to enjoy savings and still get to order whatever you want!
Address: 52-56 Upper Cross St, Singapore 058348
Opening Hours: 11:00-15:00 | 18:00-22:30 Monday-Sunday
3. Grids and Circles
If you’re looking for a cafe to add to your weekend cafe hopping list, Grids and Circles is a relatively new kid to the block. This 3 storey Japanese inspired minimalist cafe serves up meals like Wagyu Steak Sandwiches, Buta Don Bowls and more.
Of course, you can’t forget their cold brew coffee - Clouds in My Coffee is brewed in-house and is super creamy and will definitely perk you up.
Address: 200 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058749
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday: 08:00-18:00
4. L'Angelus Restaurant
Looking for something fancy? L'Angelus Restaurant is a Michelin Plate French restaurant that serves up authentic French cuisine with fresh ingredients mostly flown in from France. Some of their signature dishes include petits pots d’escargots de Bourgogne, homemade pâté, and generously sized entrecôte steak.
Address: 85 Club Street Singapore 069453
Opening Hours: Saturday: 19:00-22:30| Monday- Friday 12:00-14:00 | 18:30-22:30
5. Hong Lim Food Centre
Somedays, there’s nothing more heartwarming than a plate of Char Kway Teow. The Outram Park Fried Kway Teow at Hong Lim Food Centre. The noodles are fried to perfection- full of wok hei flavour, crunchy bean sprouts, Chinese sausage and of course, cockles.
Apart from Fried Kway Teow, another Singaporean favourite is the Curry Chicken Noodles. You’ll find a couple of stores selling this but our favourite is the Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles found on level 1. You’ll easily spot this stall by their snaking queues. The noodles and taupok are soaked in a sweet and savoury curry broth and topped off with tender juicy chicken chunks.
Address: Hong Lim Food Centre, 531A Upper Cross St, Singapore 051531
6. Keong Saik Bakery
Basque or Burnt Cheesecakes in the newest food trend to hit Singapore and one of the best places to get yours is at Keong Saik Bakery. The burnt cheesecake is rich and gooey in the center and has a tangy lemon taste to cut through the richness of the cheese. You can finish an entire slice without it being cloying. It’s no wonder many consider this to be the best burnt cheesecake in Singapore.
Apart from the original flavour, they also have it in Matcha and Two-Faced which is both Matcha and Original combined!
Address: 41 Keong Saik Rd Singapore 089146 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089146
Opening Hours:Monday-Sunday: 08:00-20:00
Chinatown Singapore: what to do
7. Workshop at Nanyang Old Coffee
Try out a Traditional Coffee Workshop at Nanyang Old Coffee where you get to learn the art of Coffee Pulling and how to recreate traditional coffee at home. Of course, as part of the workshop, you’ll get to learn the difference between traditional coffee and Western coffee as well as the various types of coffee beans and the roasting, grinding and brewing process. You’ll be a Kopi expert in no time!
8. Street art murals
Credit: Visitsingapore
The lanes of Chinatown are littered with street art murals that make for good photo backdrops for your #OOTDs. You can spend at least half a day exploring all the different art pieces and getting the perfect photos.
Some of the more iconic murals include the Old Trades by Yip Yew Chong along Mohammed Ali Lane and Letter Writer by Yip Yew Chong at 10 North Bridge Centre.
9. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum
Photo by Zairon at Wikimedia Commons
Probably the most iconic landmark in Chinatown, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is definitely a building not to be missed on your visit to Chinatown. You won’t just want to pass by this one, instead head upstairs to their roof garden or head into the temple grounds to see The Buddha Tooth Relic that's made of 320kg of gold.
However, do note that the temple is currently closed.
Address: 244 South Bridge Rd.
Opening hours: Daily 5.30am-12pm; 6pm-9pm
10. Jinrikisha Station
The Jinrikisha Station is a heritage building was built in 1903 and served as an administration centre for rickshaws in the past. Today, there are restaurants, pubs, music lounges, KTVs and offices in the building.
Located right opposite the Maxwell Food Centre, hop over for a plate of the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice!
Address:1 Neil Road, Singapore 088804
11. Chinatown Murder Mystery Game Tour
Put on your detective hats and solve this Chinatown Murders Game Tour.
The Chinatown Murders Game Tour takes walking tours to a whole new level. Explore Chinatown in a way like never before - by solving a murder mystery game. You will be given Cluedo-style puzzles by your tour guide (and game master) and you will need to try to solve the mystery behind a serial killer on the loose.
Learn about the history of Chinatown as you uncover the stories of Samsui woman Auntie Geok, moneylender friend Raj and provision shop owner Ah Kee along the way. Every choice you make will determine the route you take and how quickly you solve the mystery.
Chinatown Singapore Hotels
11. Hotel Mono
Hotel Mono is a minimalist modern chic hotel hidden along Mosque Street. This building retains plenty of their original airwells and windows, bringing you a fusion of modern and traditional.
Their deluxe rooms are perfect for your next baecation and if you’re planning some family time, the Loft rooms are huge and spacious enough for the whole family.
12. Hotel Soloha
Photo by: Hotel Soloha
Hotel Soloha is a bespoke boutique hotel in Keong Saik that is housed in a preserved shophouse. This quintessential neon, technicolor hotel gives off an urban chic aesthetic and being surrounded by plenty of things to eat and drink, it’s definitely an experience like no other.
Pre-book your staycation on Klook and you’ll get to enjoy all day 1-for-1 Asahi Beer and F&B Dining discounts at nearby restaurants.
More to explore in Chinatown
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