SG · Central Region · 1.30°N 103.90°E

katong

Peranakan shophouses, Katong laksa and kueh along East Coast Road.

Best time
Any time of year. Come in the morning for laksa and kueh, or late afternoon when it's cooler to walk the side streets.
How long
Half a day
Getting there
From JB, cross the Causeway to Woodlands and take the Thomson–East Coast Line to Tanjong Katong or Marine Parade, about an hour with no changes. Flights from KL to Changi take about an hour, and Katong is about 15–20 minutes from the airport by taxi.
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SG · Central Regionkatong1.30°N 103.90°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Peranakan shophouses, Katong laksa and kueh along East Coast Road.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKatongSG, Central Region
KLkatong
≈ 320 km from KL, as the crow flies
A preserved building marked for intangible cultural heritage.

Photo: Robert Sim · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

An old seaside neighbourhood in eastern Singapore, once lined with the villas of rich families before land reclamation pushed the coast south. Today it's known for Peranakan shophouses and terrace houses, and for food, above all Katong laksa. Joo Chiat runs into it, and East Coast Park is a short walk away.

Makan

  1. Katong laksaRich, spicy coconut laksa with the noodles cut short, so you eat it with just a spoon.Map ↗
  2. Nyonya kuehKueh lapis, ondeh-ondeh and nyonya rice dumplings. Kim Choo Kueh Chang has made them for decades.Map ↗
  3. Peranakan dishesAyam buah keluak, chap chye and other nyonya home cooking at the shophouse restaurants.Map ↗
  4. Satay and seafoodAt the East Coast Lagoon hawker centre, right by the beach.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Koon Seng RoadRows of pastel Peranakan terrace houses with ornate tiles, the area's classic photo spot.Map ↗
  2. Joo Chiat RoadRestored shophouses with old family businesses, cafés and eateries.Map ↗
  3. Geylang Serai MarketAt the north end of Joo Chiat, a Malay market and hawker centre, and the heart of the big Ramadan bazaar.Map ↗
  4. East Coast ParkRent a bike and ride along the sea, then makan at the hawker centre by the beach.Map ↗
  5. Eurasian Heritage GalleryA small museum on the history of Singapore's Eurasian community.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Many laksa shops and Peranakan restaurants here aren't halal. Geylang Serai Market nearby has plenty of Malay food.
  • The Koon Seng Road houses are private homes, so keep it quiet and don't block doorways for photos.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.