Rediscover timeless traditions and hip lifestyle offerings when you go on a 3 day Singapoliday in Chinatown. Charming streets lined with merchants; uncles playing an afternoon game of chess in the shadow of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple; chic eateries and mouth-watering hawker fare—welcome to Chinatown, where well-loved classics play neighbour to the chic and trendy.
Accommodation
Nestled in a conserved shophouse in the Keong Saik area, Hotel Soloha is a great place to take a well-deserved rest and feed your ‘gram. The rooms exude a hip and modern aesthetic, while the neon-lit bar makes for a great selfie opportunity.
Located in South Bridge Road, Heritage Collection Chinatown is the perfect home base to explore the historic district where the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple are just a stone’s throw away. The homegrown boutique hotel chain is known to provide excellent personalised services.
With an aesthetic that channels the vibes of a luxurious residential apartment, Oakwood Premier is a great option for a staycation. Wake up to a hearty buffet breakfast at Se7enth, go for a swim in the infinity pool, and round off your day with a nightcap at The Bar.
Recharge, relax and rejuvenate at Oasia Hotel Downtown Singapore, an accommodation that boasts myriad amenities. Fitness and wellness buffs are bound to enjoy the hotel’s gym, swimming pools and dedicated space for meditation and yoga.
Tours & Experiences
While many Singaporeans have grown up with tales of trishaws, few of us have actually hopped onto one. Trishaw Tour by Trishaw Uncle will transport you into the past, as you experience a 45-minute guided tour that spans Chinatown and Bugis.
Cycle down memory lane and learn about Singapore’s history during the 1920s with the Trails of Tan Ah Huat. This charming, narrative-driven tour will take you on an adventure through hidden alleys and iconic locales.
A visit to Nanyang Old Coffee is an experience in itself—enjoy satisfying kopi traditionally brewed with a thick cotton sock in a long-neck kettle. The establishment offers workshops on how to brew a mean cup of joe.
Learn about the intricacies of Chinese tea brewing at Tea Chapter's Tea Appreciation Workshop, where you can delve into the history, brewing techniques and philosophy of this fascinating craft.
Dining
Be transported into a breakfast scene right out of a Cantonese drama at Yum Cha Chinatown. Spoil yourself with over 50 types of dim sum, from sweet treats like egg tarts and custard buns to classics such as peking duck.
With a 37-year history and a spot on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list from 2016 to 2019, Kok Sen Restaurant is your go-to restaurant for zi char delights. Cantonese-style dishes take centre stage at this old-school eatery, and signatures include big prawn bee hoon soup and stir-fried beef.
Fans of fusion cuisine will find a lot to love about Meta. This Michelin-starred restaurant serves dishes inspired by Korean culture, such as prawn rolls filled with foie gras and tempura beef tartare. Likewise, their culinary techniques are Japanese and Western-influenced hence diners will get to enjoy the best of both worlds.
To experience a slice of Scandinavia, pay a visit to Zen. This newcomer to the Michelin list shot straight to a two-star ranking in 2019, with chef-owner Bjorn Frantzen’s elevated take on Nordic fare. Guests will sample pre-appetiser drinks, Modern-French flavours and dessert on each floor in the three-storey premise.
With a history dating back to 1929, Spring Court is known as the ‘oldest existing Chinese restaurant in Singapore’. Besides signatures like the Spring Court popiah, the establishment’s other must-try dishes include roasted suckling pig and roasted chicken stuffed with minced prawns.
Swee Kee Eating House is a pioneer of Cantonese-style fish soup in Singapore with humble beginnings as a roadside stall in the 1950s. While most fish soup gets its white broth from the addition of milk, the pearl-white soup here is the result of a painstaking boiling process.
Round off your exploration of Chinatown on a sweet note with a pitstop at Mei Heong Yuen. This traditional eatery dishes out hot and cold Chinese desserts, from Ah Bo Ling (rice balls) to bird’s nest soup and mango sago.
Shopping
Whether you’re looking to stock up on spices that’d get a nod of approval from your gran or peruse Chinese artefacts, Yue Hwa Chinese Products is bound to have what you seek. Sample rice wine, take home a chess set or admire a range of porcelain wares at this emporium.
One of our island’s oldest medicated oil and balm purveyors, Chop Wah On has been alleviating aches and pains for three generations. Forget about boring old cough drops—the colourfully-named medications here include the ‘Conquer All Demons Tea Tree Rejuvenating Cream’ and the ‘Gold Crocodile Oil Lip and Skin Protectant’.
You don’t have to wait for Chinese New Year to indulge in the tasty treats from Kele Pineapple Tarts. The signature pastries here are topped with sweet-sour pineapple jam and come in both open-faced and golden ball options.
Socially-conscious shoppers looking to stock up on fair trade goods and eco-friendly products should make a beeline for The Social Space. This multi-concept store stocks everything from organic soaps to bamboo straws and handcrafted plates.
Have your cake and eat it too with the delightful confections at Pure Pandan. The go-to dessert here is their light and fluffy pandan chiffon cake, and other delectable treats like swiss rolls and pandan durian puffs.
A beloved bakery that sells a range of festive goodies, the treats from Tai Thong Cake Shop can be savoured all year round. Buy a box of traditional Cantonese mooncakes or treat yourself to an assortment of red bean pastries and spicy prawn rolls.
Take a stroll through the bustling street of the Chinatown Street Market, and you’ll find a range of charming curios and quaint knick-knacks, from silk cushion covers to lacquered chopsticks and scrolls of Chinese calligraphy.
