J. J. (Jake) Gittes
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Discover the five precincts of Chinatown, from historic temples to hip bars, and learn about its culture and history. Find out what's on, where to shop, and how to stay safe and clean in Chinatown.
visit. Heritage Buildings. Museums. Places of Worship. Street Art. Get lost in the history, architecture and heritage of Singapore's Chinatown. Here's a guide to places of interest in this bustling district.
We'll take you on a walking tour of the neighborhood, exploring the vibrant shophouses, hidden alleys, and historic landmarks that make Chinatown Singapore so special. So, buckle up and let's uncover the sights, sounds, and flavors of this dynamic neighborhood in the heart of Southeast Asia.
- Chinatown Singapore Guide: Food & Drinks
- Chinatown Singapore Guide: Where to Shop
- Chinatown Singapore Guide: Things to Do
1. Oriental Chinese Restaurant
Spreading Chinese culinary joy for two decades, Oriental Chinese Restaurant is your passport to Northeast China’s delectable flavours. Highlights include grilled skewers such as mushrooms, mutton, beef, chicken feet, and squid as well as zi char-style plates like spicy sour fish, sweet and sour pork, salted egg pumpkin and garlic eggplant. It can get pretty busy during lunch and dinner times, so brace yourselves for long queues. Oriental Chinese Restaurant, 193, 195 and 197 New Bridge Road, S...
2. Chilli Pan Mee
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming storefront and no-frills atmosphere. Located in Far East Square, this chilli pan mee shop hits the spot with perfectly QQ noodles, gooey egg, crispy pork lard, fragrant minced meat and, of course, chilli crisp for a spicy kick. The chilli is served on the side so you can adjust the spice according to your liking. Other dishes include curry noodle soup, pork chop noodles and mee hoon kueh. Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Rd), 22 China Street, Singapore 049564
3. Li Ji Chuan Chuan Xiang
This hot pot hangout in Chinatown is raved about for its fresh seafood choices, flavourful soup bases, and succulent meat skewers. It’s also a great location for communal dining. Cool down with an ice-cold beer or a young coconut drink. And for all you supper fanatics, you’ll be happy to know that this restaurant closes at 1am. Li Ji Chuan Chuan Xiang, 295 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058838
27. The Social Space
We’re big fans of this multi-concept space: it’s a cafe, boutique store and nail salon rolled into one. But that’s not the only reason why we love The Social Space. Sustainability is the name of the game here – there’s a fair trade retail area that promotes accessible conscious living. Plus, the nail salon offers vocational training programmes for underprivileged women and the cafe has a wholesome food and beverage menu with planet-friendly ingredients. The Social Space, #01-14, 333 Kreta Aye...
28. The Tintin Shop
Fans of this iconic series of books will squeal with joy at the number of collectables and memorabilia found at this official merchandise store. You’ll find everything from figurines to stamps and tote bags to comic books. They also telecast episodes from the original series here. The Tintin Shop, 28 Pagoda Street, Singapore 059188
29. People’s Park Complex
If you’re looking for textiles, buttons, costume jewellery and the like, check out the second floor of People’s Park Complex. This place has a variety of shops – it’s an absolute DIY heaven. People’s Park Complex, 1 Park Road, Singapore 059108
33. Fuk Tak Chi Museum
The oldest Chinese temple in Singapore, Fuk Tak Chi Museum now displays over 200 artefacts donated by former residents of Chinatown. The building is one of the area’s finest examples of restored architecture. Fuk Tak Chi Museum, 76 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 048464
34. Cool wall art
We’re so here for Yip Yew Chong’s beautiful murals that practically create portals into Singapore’s culture-filled past. His 44m-long Thian Hock Keng mural took him 10 weekends to complete between work and three overseas trips. For more wall art inspo, check out our street art series.
35. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Behold, the magnificent Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Named after what’s believed to be the left canine tooth of Buddha, the temple is based on Tang dynasty architectural style. It holds many relics including the sacred Buddha tooth (which can be viewed from the viewing gallery on the fourth floor) and a giant stupa made with 320kg of gold. Join the weekly guided tour to unearth more treasures, relics and secrets. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, 288 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058840
Home to a good mix of hawker centres, temples, and teahouses, all set alongside trendy bars, cafés, and independent art galleries, Chinatown is certainly a riot of colour. Here are the best ...
Oct 2, 2022 · Singapore’s Chinatown is among the city’s most atmospheric areas. It’s famous for its colourful heritage buildings, hiding old Chinese shophouses. The architecture hearkens back to a bygone era in Singapore’s history. It’s hardly a surprise that there are plenty of superb things to do in Chinatown, Singapore.
Chinatown Walking Trail. Experience the best of Singapore’s Chinatown, also known as 牛车水 Niu Che Shui, or bullock water cart in Mandarin, was named after the ox-drawn carts that transported water to the area. Temple Street and Pagoda Street are the most popular spots for a quick visit.
