Things to Do in Katong and Joo Chiat: A Peranakan Food Walk

In two hours you can eat a Nyonya dumpling on East Coast Road, photograph the shophouses on Koon Seng Road, and still have room for a bowl of laksa. This walk covers the best things to do in Katong and Joo Chiat at an easy pace. If you'd rather follow a story, MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Katong–Joo Chiat is a self-guided game you play on your phone on the same streets.

• Must-eat: Katong laksa at 328 Katong Laksa
• Best photo spot: the pastel terrace houses on Koon Seng Road
• Don't skip: a Nyonya dumpling at Kim Choo Kueh Chang
  

Area: Katong and Joo Chiat, east Singapore

Time: About 2 hours at a relaxed pace

Start: Kim Choo Kueh Chang, 111 East Coast Road

Nearest MRT: Marine Parade (Thomson–East Coast Line), about a 10-minute walk

Good for: Couples, friends, families, visitors, anyone into heritage

Best time: Morning, before the heat builds

Cost: Free to walk. MONOPOLY: HIDDEN is a paid ticket.

Why Katong and Joo Chiat's Peranakan heritage is best seen on foot

The Peranakan shophouses on Koon Seng Road are painted in pastel pinks, greens and blues, and a few streets away, family-run shops still make kueh, rice dumplings and Nyonya sweets the way they have for decades.

You can see the main roads from a car. What you miss are the murals, back lanes and small temples tucked a few steps off them, and that's where most of the character is. Koon Seng Road shows how much history sits in one short street. It was plain Lorong E East Coast until 1934, when it was renamed after businessman Cheong Koon Seng. Its houses went up in the 1920s and 1930s, and the row was gazetted for conservation in 1991.

A 2-hour Joo Chiat walking route

Budget two hours including stops, and longer if you're eating properly or walking with kids. The loop is about 3 km and flat the whole way, so most of your time goes on eating and looking. The stops run in order, starting and finishing on East Coast Road.

1. Kim Choo Kueh Chang: start with a Nyonya dumpling

Address: 111 East Coast Road  |  Time here: about 20 minutes

Kim Choo has been making Nyonya rice dumplings since 1945. Start with the dumplings and kueh at the front counter, then wander into the shophouse to see the Peranakan beadwork and collectables. Eat one dumpling now and save room, because there's more food ahead.

Tip: Playing the game too? Go into the open-front food shop on the left, not the Visitor Centre next door.

2. East Coast Road into Joo Chiat Road: look above the shopfronts

Where: East Coast Road to Joo Chiat Road  |  Time here: about 25 minutes

Keep your eyes above shop level. The carved upper floors, glazed tiles and timber window shutters are the details most people walk straight past.

3. Koon Seng Road shophouses: the photo stop

Where: Koon Seng Road, off Joo Chiat Road  |  Time here: about 20 minutes

This row of colourful Peranakan terrace houses is the photo stop of the route. Look for the floral motifs on the facades, which are said to bring good luck. People still live in them, so stay on the pavement and keep the noise down.

Tip: Come early if you want the houses without crowds in your shots.

4. Ceylon Road and the side streets: the quiet way back

Where: Ceylon Road and nearby lanes  |  Time here: about 25 minutes

Head back toward East Coast Road through the quieter lanes. On Ceylon Road you'll pass Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple, then old shopfronts and murals on the way down.

Tip: If you go into the temple, dress modestly and take your shoes off at the entrance.

5. 328 Katong Laksa: finish with a bowl

Address: 51 East Coast Road  |  Time here: about 30 minutes  |  Open: daily, 9.30am to 9.30pm

You finish a few minutes from where you started. Katong laksa is the dish the area is known for: a thick coconut broth with cockles, prawns and thin slices of fishcake, eaten with just a spoon. Get a slice of otah on the side.

Tip: Share a bowl if you want room for kueh afterwards.

If you have time left over, The Intan, a private Peranakan museum in a shophouse at 69 Joo Chiat Terrace, runs visits by appointment only, so book a few days ahead. Its tea experience includes a guided tour of the collection, tea and kueh.

More things to do in Katong and Joo Chiat

With a full day, add a few of these to the route.

Eat and drink

• Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, 204 East Coast Road: a Hainanese coffee shop dating back to 1925, known for its kaya toast. Open daily from 8am to 4pm.
• Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah: a long-running popiah maker on Joo Chiat Road, good for a light snack between stops.
• Petit Pain, 315 Joo Chiat Road: a small-batch bakery whose morning bake often sells out by early afternoon, so go early.
• The Red House, 63 East Coast Road: the red-fronted bakery building from 1925, now restored and home to a sourdough bakery.

Shop

• Rumah Bebe and Katong Antique House: small shops for Peranakan clothing, beadwork and antiques.
• RetroCrates, 450A Joo Chiat Road: a vinyl record shop on the second floor of a shophouse, with plenty of second-hand records. Closed on Mondays.
• A Vintage Tale, 277 Joo Chiat Road: vintage clothing from the 1950s to the 1990s, with a corner where you pay by weight.

Photo spots

• Joo Chiat Community Club, 405 Joo Chiat Road: pastel pink, retro-style interiors. Open daily.
• Street murals: look out for murals about local history on walls around Joo Chiat.

With kids

• Carpmael Park, 166 Ceylon Road: a wave-shaped climbing-net playground, right by stop 4 on the route.
• East Coast Park: south of the neighbourhood, for a seaside end to the day.

Opening hours change often, so check before you go.

Play MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Katong–Joo Chiat on the same streets

The Katong–Joo Chiat edition of MONOPOLY: HIDDEN Singapore is a self-guided walking tour that runs in your phone's browser. Open the link or scan the code at the start point to begin. There's no app to download and no guide to keep up with.

You follow a story, solve clues tied to real buildings and streets, and stop in at local partner shops along the way, all on foot. The game covers the same streets as the walk above, so you don't need to do both. Most teams finish in about 2 hours, or closer to 3 if they stop to eat along the way.

• Start point: Kim Choo Kueh Chang, 111 East Coast Road. Go into the open-front food shop on the left, not the Visitor Centre next door. Some sessions start at The Eco Club instead, so check your booking.
• Team size: up to 5 players recommended.
• Language: English.
• Kids: children aged 4–12 play on an adult's phone with a child ticket, sold on Fever. Under-4s don't need a ticket. On Klook, under-12s join a paying adult.
• Tickets: on Fever and Klook. You can start any time from 9am to 9pm on the day you book, and Fever recommends starting by 7pm. Prices and offers change, so check the booking page.
  

"Loved that it was self paced so there was no rush and you could stop anything for a break when needed." – Charlene H., Fever review, July 2026

"The riddles were fun, pushes you to really search the area/read the texts around you." – Dev, Klook review, July 2026

Tips before you go

Go in the morning, because parts of the route have very little shade. Wear covered, comfortable shoes, and bring water and a hat. With kids, build in extra time for snack stops and keep younger ones with an adult the whole way. If you're playing the game, charge your phone and pack a power bank, since you'll be using it for the whole route. Many of the shops here are family-run, so ask the owners what to try.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a walk through Katong and Joo Chiat take?
About 2 hours if you stop for food and photos. Without stops, you can walk it in under an hour.

Where is the nearest MRT?
Marine Parade station on the Thomson–East Coast Line, roughly a 10-minute walk to East Coast Road.

What should I eat in Katong?
Katong laksa, Nyonya rice dumplings and traditional kueh. Order small portions and share so you can try more.

Can I use SG Culture Pass credits?
Yes. Singapore citizens can use SG Culture Pass credits for the Katong–Joo Chiat edition on Klook.

Is it good for kids and families?
Yes. The route is flat and easy to take slowly, and children aged 4–12 can join the game on a child ticket. Under-4s don't need one.

Do I need an app to play the game?
No. It runs in your phone's web browser, so there's nothing to download.

What if it rains?
The walk and the game are both outdoors, so check the forecast. On a wet day, try the indoor editions at Jewel and Suntec City instead.

Ready to play?

Book the Katong–Joo Chiat edition on Fever or Klook, then meet your team at Kim Choo Kueh Chang. Grab a dumpling before the first clue.

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