Kreta Ayer

The heart of Chinatown, Kreta Ayer is home to an assortment of traditional trades, homegrown brands and some of the best hawker food around.

Kreta Ayer district links Neil Road to New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street, intersected by Keong Saik Road. Kreta Ayer Road was officially named in 1922.

In the early 19th and 20th centuries, water drawn from wells near Ann Siang Hill was transported in bullock carts named Kreta Ayer today, which means “water cart” in Malay. The Hokkien refer to this area as gu chia chui, and the Cantonese call it ngow chay shui meaning “bullock water cart” that once plied this street. In the 1800s many roads were developed in the district, such as Hokkien Street, China Street, Sago Street and Pagoda Street.

Kreta Ayer is a part of the Chinatown Kreta Ayer Conservation Area and is home to many conserved shophouses. HDB blocks, shops, and eating places also line this street. Several developments were renovated and modernised, known as the Kreta Ayer Centre today: Kreta Ayer Community Centre, originally known as Banda Street Community Centre as it was on Banda Hill. The People’s Theatre, part of the Kreta Ayer Community Centre. Kreta Ayer Complex was renamed Chinatown Complex, a shopping and residential development.

DISCOVER

Kreta Ayer

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DINE

Indo Sumatera

Indo Sumatera, located in the Chinatown Street Market serves a diverse menu of kueh such as the delicious Putu Bambu (Bamboo Cake)…

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VISIT

Heritage Centre

The Chinatown Heritage Centre is the gateway for all visitors to trace the footsteps of Singapore’s early pioneers and…

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SHOP

Orchid Chopstick

Combining elements of Chinese culture into chopsticks technology, Orchid (chopsticks) provides customers with beautiful chopsticks…

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STAY

Hotel Calmo

The famed opera house “Lai Chun Yuen” of the 1910s and 1920s was built in 1887 and underwent many transformations…

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