Neighbourhoods
Katong is a residential neighborhood with heritage buildings like colonial bungalows and colourful shophouses. The area's rich Peranakan history and culture is evidenced in exhibits at the Eurasian Heritage Centre and at casual eateries serving traditional fare like spicy laksa noodles. Nearby, the Geylang district is known for street food like frog porridge and tze char. East Coast Park has beaches and cycle paths.
Katong
Katong is a residential neighborhood with heritage buildings like colonial bungalows and colourful shophouses. The area's rich Peranakan history and culture is evidenced in exhibits at the Eurasian Heritage Centre and at casual eateries serving traditional fare like spicy laksa noodles. Nearby, the Geylang district is known for street food like frog porridge and tze char. East Coast Park has beaches and cycle paths.
Paya Lebar
Food scene
With a school attendance logbook that doubles up as a menu, along with tin cups and retro flooring, Sinpopo Brand exudes undeniable old school vibes. Run by the folks behind Awfully Chocolate, the cafe pays tribute to Joo Chiat’s traditional heritage while adding a spruce of modern charm through their innovative cuisines.
Armed with their new menu, expect to find familiar local favourites with a Western twist with mains like the Sinpopo Beef Shortrib Horfun ($16) and desserts like the Orange Kaya Pisang Crème Brûlée ($7).
We tried out one of their best sellers – the Har Jeong Kai Burger ($16). On first bite, this juicy burger exceeded all of my expectations and set the bar for chicken burgers everywhere. Covered with a prawn paste batter and fried to a perfect crisp, the succulent piece of har jeong kai oozed with sinful juiciness as I sliced through this delicious monster. The mayonnaise dripping over the sides also did a nice job of combining all the ingredients in a delectable manner and gave the har jeong kai that extra kick.
For dessert, we got a taste of the Chilled Pandan Soufflé ($9), which can be summed up in 2 words – delightfully lemak. The pandan soufflé was fragrant and creamy, pairing very nicely with the bed of almond streusel. The thin sesame dentelle, made with pieces of dried caramelized crêpes, gave the dish an extra crisp, localising this dessert and making it comfortingly familiar to any Singaporean palate.
But don’t just take our word for it, try these delicious treats for yourself!
Address: 458 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427671
Opening Hours: Tues to Thurs 12 pm – 10 pm | Fri to Sat 12 pm – 12 am | Sun 12 pm- 10 pm | Closed on Mondays
16 locals recommend
Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat RdWith a school attendance logbook that doubles up as a menu, along with tin cups and retro flooring, Sinpopo Brand exudes undeniable old school vibes. Run by the folks behind Awfully Chocolate, the cafe pays tribute to Joo Chiat’s traditional heritage while adding a spruce of modern charm through their innovative cuisines.
Armed with their new menu, expect to find familiar local favourites with a Western twist with mains like the Sinpopo Beef Shortrib Horfun ($16) and desserts like the Orange Kaya Pisang Crème Brûlée ($7).
We tried out one of their best sellers – the Har Jeong Kai Burger ($16). On first bite, this juicy burger exceeded all of my expectations and set the bar for chicken burgers everywhere. Covered with a prawn paste batter and fried to a perfect crisp, the succulent piece of har jeong kai oozed with sinful juiciness as I sliced through this delicious monster. The mayonnaise dripping over the sides also did a nice job of combining all the ingredients in a delectable manner and gave the har jeong kai that extra kick.
For dessert, we got a taste of the Chilled Pandan Soufflé ($9), which can be summed up in 2 words – delightfully lemak. The pandan soufflé was fragrant and creamy, pairing very nicely with the bed of almond streusel. The thin sesame dentelle, made with pieces of dried caramelized crêpes, gave the dish an extra crisp, localising this dessert and making it comfortingly familiar to any Singaporean palate.
But don’t just take our word for it, try these delicious treats for yourself!
Address: 458 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427671
Opening Hours: Tues to Thurs 12 pm – 10 pm | Fri to Sat 12 pm – 12 am | Sun 12 pm- 10 pm | Closed on Mondays
Guan Hoe Soon is possibly Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurant that has been dishing out authentic Peranakan fare since 1953.
Now run by the founder’s granddaughter and her husband, you can count on Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant to bring you a scrumptious Peranakan feast as they pride themselves in using only the freshest ingredients and a selective choice of spices without skimping on the quality of their food.
40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Daily: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant
200 Joo Chiat PlGuan Hoe Soon is possibly Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurant that has been dishing out authentic Peranakan fare since 1953.
Now run by the founder’s granddaughter and her husband, you can count on Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant to bring you a scrumptious Peranakan feast as they pride themselves in using only the freshest ingredients and a selective choice of spices without skimping on the quality of their food.
40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Daily: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
Located just across the street from Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant and Enjoué Bakery, Long Phung is a restaurant whose menu focuses primarily on Vietnamese cuisine.
Once a hidden gem in Joo Chiat, Long Phung is now a place where many flock to for authentic Vietnamese fare without breaking the bank.
159 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427436
Tel: +65 6440 6959
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
11 locals recommend
Long Phung - Vietnamese Cuisine
159 Joo Chiat RdLocated just across the street from Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant and Enjoué Bakery, Long Phung is a restaurant whose menu focuses primarily on Vietnamese cuisine.
Once a hidden gem in Joo Chiat, Long Phung is now a place where many flock to for authentic Vietnamese fare without breaking the bank.
159 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427436
Tel: +65 6440 6959
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Remarked as one of the best roti prata stalls in Singapore, Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata is located within a shabby, old-world-looking coffee shop named ‘Poh Ho Restaurant’ along Crane Road.
Here they serve real-deal, crispy prata flipped to perfection to give the right amount of crispiness on the edges and a fairly fluffy interior. Their curries—not that you need it—are extremely fragrant and pair well with their doughy goodness.
7 Crane Road
Singapore 429356
Tel: +65 9794 3124
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Thu to Sun: 6.30am – 1pm
Mr and Mrs Mohgan's Super Crispy Roti Prata
300 Joo Chiat RdRemarked as one of the best roti prata stalls in Singapore, Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata is located within a shabby, old-world-looking coffee shop named ‘Poh Ho Restaurant’ along Crane Road.
Here they serve real-deal, crispy prata flipped to perfection to give the right amount of crispiness on the edges and a fairly fluffy interior. Their curries—not that you need it—are extremely fragrant and pair well with their doughy goodness.
7 Crane Road
Singapore 429356
Tel: +65 9794 3124
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Thu to Sun: 6.30am – 1pm
Anytime those hunger pangs strike, you can simply head downstairs to the cafe where you’ll be able to tuck into comfort food like Eggs Benedict, Quiche Lorraine and pancakes. When night falls, the menu switches up featuring sharing plates and dishes like Braised Beef Cheek.
Address: 49 E Coast Rd, 428768
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun: 8.30 am – 10.30 pm
29 locals recommend
Rabbit Carrot Gun
47 - 49 E Coast RdAnytime those hunger pangs strike, you can simply head downstairs to the cafe where you’ll be able to tuck into comfort food like Eggs Benedict, Quiche Lorraine and pancakes. When night falls, the menu switches up featuring sharing plates and dishes like Braised Beef Cheek.
Address: 49 E Coast Rd, 428768
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun: 8.30 am – 10.30 pm
This old school coffee shop has been serving up sweet treats like egg tarts, cream puffs and other traditional breakfast staples for more than 80 years, but the real deal here is their kaya toast. If you think the kaya toast you’ll find at your neighbourhood kopitiam is as traditional as it gets, wait till you try the kaya toast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionary!
Best dipped with a side a soft boiled eggs, mixed with a dash of dark sauce and a sprinkle of pepper, these traditional kaya toasts are beyond compare. Who knew that just 3 ordinary ingredients hastily combined could be this mindblowingly tasty? Unlike your typical kaya toast which comes with thin crusty bread slices, these ones were light, fluffy and divinely yummy.
Address: 204 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428903
Opening Hours: Tues to Sun 8.30 am – 4 pm | Closed on Monday
18 locals recommend
Chin Mee Chin
204 E Coast RdThis old school coffee shop has been serving up sweet treats like egg tarts, cream puffs and other traditional breakfast staples for more than 80 years, but the real deal here is their kaya toast. If you think the kaya toast you’ll find at your neighbourhood kopitiam is as traditional as it gets, wait till you try the kaya toast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionary!
Best dipped with a side a soft boiled eggs, mixed with a dash of dark sauce and a sprinkle of pepper, these traditional kaya toasts are beyond compare. Who knew that just 3 ordinary ingredients hastily combined could be this mindblowingly tasty? Unlike your typical kaya toast which comes with thin crusty bread slices, these ones were light, fluffy and divinely yummy.
Address: 204 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428903
Opening Hours: Tues to Sun 8.30 am – 4 pm | Closed on Monday
The older generation would be familiar with Old Airport Road as this was where Singapore’s first civil airport, Kallang Airport, once stood. The airport ceased operations when the new Singapore International Airport opened at Paya Lebar. Though Old Airport Road might have lost its glory, people started flocking back to the area when the food centre opened in 1973. Today, there are more than 150 hawker stalls at the food centre, and among them, an overwhelming number of well-known stalls with loyal supporters. It’s hard to navigate around the rows of stalls, and even harder to decide on your choice of food.
81 locals recommend
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport RdThe older generation would be familiar with Old Airport Road as this was where Singapore’s first civil airport, Kallang Airport, once stood. The airport ceased operations when the new Singapore International Airport opened at Paya Lebar. Though Old Airport Road might have lost its glory, people started flocking back to the area when the food centre opened in 1973. Today, there are more than 150 hawker stalls at the food centre, and among them, an overwhelming number of well-known stalls with loyal supporters. It’s hard to navigate around the rows of stalls, and even harder to decide on your choice of food.
Da Dong Prawn Noodles 大東蝦麵
354 Joo Chiat RdMellvin Seafood Restaurant
354 Joo Chiat RdBirds of Paradise Gelato Boutique
63 E Coast RdOld Bibik's Peranakan Kitchen
328 Joo Chiat RdChezcake Bistro
216 Joo Chiat RdPetit Pain
315 Joo Chiat RdSong Kee Fishball Noodle
100 Yio Chu Kang RoadSightseeing
112 Katong
The Red House
63 E Coast RdTraveler advice
Getting around
Public transport is the fastest way to get around.
3 mins walk to Maranatha Hall bus stop,
5 mins to reach Dakota MRT station.
17 mins to reach City Hall.