It’s highly recommended to visit Joo Chiat & Katong, the vibrant areas of Singapore’s Straits-born Chinese (mainly descendants of Chinese immigrants who moved south during the Straits Settlements era and their intermarried Malay and Indonesian local descendants) and Eurasian communities, to explore Singapore’s multiculturalism.
While Joo Chiat & Katong are often considered together, they have distinct characteristics. Joo Chiat is more traditional, featuring local markets and shophouses. Katong, on the other hand, has a more colonial charm with its seaside and villas. The intersection of these two distinct styles blurs their boundaries.
The Katong area was once a dense coconut plantation, frequented by affluent city residents for weekend getaways. By the early 20th century, it had developed into a suburban residential district. The area was primarily inhabited by the English-educated middle class, including Straits-born Chinese and Eurasians. The nearby Joo Chiat area was named after the wealthy Chinese landlord Chew Joo Chiat from the early 20th century.
Today, while the coconut plantations are long gone, visitors can still admire well-preserved Straits-born Chinese shophouses within this thriving community, as well as scattered colonial-era villas in the area. The Straits-born Chinese men are known as “Baba” and the women as “Nyonya,” with Nyonya culture providing a distinctive first impression of the Joo Chiat & Katong areas.
1. Architecture
In this area, you’ll find rows of colorful houses, mostly built between 1900 and 1940. These Victorian-style villas, featuring Dutch architectural influences, are adorned with vibrant hues and exquisite European ceramic tiles. Adding to their unique character are Chinese elements like couplets and stone lions. This blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles makes these buildings a distinctive representation of the Straits-born Chinese heritage.
2. Cuisine
As a top culinary destination in Singapore, Joo Chiat & Katong are highly favored by many locals. The variety of food available is overwhelming: modern cafes and traditional coffee shops coexist harmoniously, offering a wide range of options. You can savor famous dishes like Katong Laksa (spicy coconut milk noodle soup), Kueh Chang (Nyonya meat dumplings), and other delectable Nyonya specialties at local eateries.
You can visit the historic “Kway Guan Huat Joochiat Popiah”, established in 1938, to try a street food classic – popiah. These paper-thin spring roll skins are filled with a variety of delicious ingredients, offering a perfectly balanced sweet and savory taste that is exceptionally appetizing.
You can also try one of Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurants, Yuan He Chun, to enjoy authentic Nyonya cuisine.
British Hainan restaurant is a treasure trove of antiques, with every wall and corner adorned with various old items: gramophones, vintage watches, old sunglasses, typewriters, telephones, sewing machines, wooden pianos, and black-and-white TVs. It resembles an antique shop, but it’s actually a Western-style eatery with Hainanese flavors. The restaurant’s signature dishes include Hainanese pork chops, and stewed oxtail, as well as comforting options like English sausages and Hainanese beef noodles.
3. Shopping
This area is home to many unique boutiques where you can find traditional Nyonya attire such as kebaya (traditional Nyonya clothing), sarong (traditional Asian garments), embroidered beaded slippers, and accessories. Additionally, the shops offer a range of Straits-born Chinese-style Nanyang ceramics and crafts that are equally captivating.
