After wandering through several interesting neighborhoods on my three trips to Singapore, Chinatown was always the first one I returned to. Whenever I visit the area, I love strolling its streets to admire the colourful heritage buildings, ducking into the old Chinese shophouses tucked behind them, and following my nose to one of its many yummy hawker centres. It pulls me back every time.
For me, Chinatown is also the best introduction to Singapore as a city. No other neighbourhood I visited captures how well the city-state layers cultures, religions, and cuisines on top of each other without any of it feeling forced.
From scouring temples to chowing down on all this food-crazed city’s tasty dishes, here’s how I would plan out which things to do in Singapore’s Chinatown on my first visit…
Eat to your heart’s content at Chinatown Complex Food Centre
After several visits to Singapore, I found myself roaming the food stalls of the Chinatown Complex Food Centre more than a few times. It’s hardly difficult to find a good meal in Singapore. But if you’re looking for a massive selection AND some superb quality, I think this is the place to get ‘er done.
From my first visit, the Chinatown Complex Food Centre quickly cemented itself as one of my favorite hawker centres in Singapore. It’s the biggest food centre in the city. I’d expect nothing short of street food brilliance here.
In my opinion, it’s hard to go wrong with most of the stalls at this ginormous food court.
If you need a simple starting point, I’d recommend the Shanghai-style steamed dumplings at Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao (#02-135).
Shaking off extreme jet lag on my first trip here (a 17-hour flight from LAX will do that), I wandered into Lao Ren Jia Roasted (#02-03) in the early-morning hours for a taste of their wonton noodles. They were perfectly springy and doused with just the right amount of sauce.
(Oh, and topped with juicy char siu with the perfect sweet BBQ’d crust.)
Unfortunately, this hawker stall has closed since my last visit. In its place, I’d consider checking out 335 Hong Kong Roasted Meat (#02-181) for this delicious late-night (or morning) snack. This popular stall gets rave reviews from locals.
Another one of my favorites from the Chinatown Complex, Terry Katong Laksa (#02-04), has also shuttered its doors since my last visit.
If you still want to slurp on katong laksa—which is, in my humble opinion, one of the tastiest dishes in Singapore—the stall has moved to the Amoy Street Food Centre, a short walk away.
(I promise you won’t regret the few extra steps to seek this one out.)
Get spiritual at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Singapore isn’t well-known for its temples. But I knew before my first visit to the city that there was one major exception: the massive Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.
Clinging to the edge of Chinatown, this eye-popping five-storey temple is unmissable. And it isn’t just for peering upon at street-level. It’s as stunning inside as out.
Entering the temple through the main gate on South Bridge Road, I was greeted by a cavernous main hall (Hundred Dragons Hall) adorned with bright reds and gold. I could have spent hours here soaking up all the intricate details, designed in Tang Dynasty Buddhist style.
The highlight of the Hundred Dragons Hall is the 15-foot-tall Buddha Maitreya statue, painted mostly in gold and red. I was also awe-struck by the one hundred hand-carved Buddha statues ringing the hall.
After soaking up the atmosphere, I’d recommend heading up to the 4th floor, where you’ll find the temple’s namesake sacred relic. It’s enshrined inside a two-metre-high gold stupa.
NOTE: Only monks are allowed to enter the relic chamber, but visitors can view it from a special viewing area twice a day. (No photography is allowed.)
But let’s not stop there. Walk up two levels to relish in the temple’s lovely Rooftop Garden. As you stroll through the open-air orchid garden, I’d recommend keeping your eyes peeled in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda for the Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel, the world’s largest prayer wheel.
Despite its ancient Buddhist mandala-inspired looks, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is only a young pup. It’s got less than 20 years of history behind it!
Check out the colourful Sri Mariamman Temple
Sure, this next attraction might seem a little out of place in Singapore’s Chinese enclave. Sri Mariamman Temple was Singapore’s first Hindu temple. Today, it’s still one of the finest I’ve come across while exploring the city.
Unlike the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, this temple has genuine centuries of history behind it. It dates back to the early 19th century when Tamil immigrants from Southern India flocked to Singapore.
The architecture of Sri Mariamman Temple is typical of Dravidian temples. When I first spotted the temple, I was mesmerized by the ornate six-tiered entrance tower (gopuram), embellished with colourful figures drawn from Hindu culture.
The vivid colours continue in the interior. As I walked into the temple, I was equally dazzled by the colourful paintings and shrines dedicated to several Hindu deities, including Draupadi and Lord Krishna.
Relive the past at the Chinatown Heritage Centre
No matter where I visit, I love digging into local history. So I wasn’t surprised that the Chinatown Heritage Centre became one of my favourite (non-food) stops on my first day exploring Singapore.
This popular museum is located on Pagoda Street between New Bridge and South Bridge Roads. It sprawls several floors of a former Chinese merchant house in the heart of Chinatown.
While exploring the museum, I discovered a variety of interesting exhibits detailing the history of Singapore’s first Chinese immigrants.
The exhibits at the Chinatown Heritage Centre whisk you through the district’s journey from one of the city’s most ill-reputed areas to one of its most vibrant.
The highlight of the museum for me was the immersive experience of being inside a traditional Chinese tailor shop, with its storefront, spartan living quarters, and communal areas rolled into one.
Whenever I walked past this popular Singapore museum, it seemed to be busy. I’d recommend coming early or booking your Chinatown Heritage Centre ticket online to beat the crowds.
Chow down at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre
You didn’t think I’d leave you hanging with just one food recommendation in Singapore’s Chinatown, did you? After you’ve indulged at Chinatown’s mainstay hawker centre, let’s get local. Head a few blocks north to discover the Hong Lim Market & Food Centre.
I found this popular food centre tucked away from the main tourist avenues of Chinatown. It’s located off Upper Hokien Street, south of the stunning PARKROYAL on Pickering hotel.
As I quickly discovered, the Hong Lim Market & Food Centre is a two-floor celebration of all the tastiest Singaporean food. And after my first few food experiences here, I don’t think it will ever fail to put your taste buds into a frenzy.
Despite the lack of name recognition and offbeat location, the Hong Lim Market & Food Centre shines. After visiting more central Singapore hawker centres than I could count, I’d say this one has some of the tastiest food stalls I’ve tried in Singapore. (I even noticed a couple of brilliant Michelin-starred choices here!)
My recommendation is to ramble over to Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee (#02-58/59), which serves some of the tastiest curry noodles I’ve tried in the city.
I also loved the signature dish at Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa (#02-66). I was more than satisfied with the Michelin Gourmand recommendation at this stall when I dug my spoon into the rich, umami broth flooded with cockles and shrimp.
If you’ve got a craving for a bit of spice, I promise these dishes will be among your most cherished memories in Singapore!
Feel the culinary buzz at Chinatown Food Street
Okay, maybe just two Chinatown food recommendations would do. But, hey, this is Singapore, so let me give ya one more…
If you’re wandering around the area, you’re bound to stumble upon Chinatown Food Street. (It’s officially known as Smith Street, but as I quickly discovered, its culinary-focused moniker is more fitting.)
This pedestrianized street stretches between New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road. And I think this street truly lives up to the name. Walking along Chinatown Food Street for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the multitude of restaurants, bars, and food stalls.
One thing I immediately noticed is that prices along Chinatown Food Street are higher than at nearby hawker centres. In my opinion, though, the atmosphere is well worth taking in.
Like other streets in the area, Smith Street is lined with beautiful restored Chinese shophouses hiding restaurants. The dining areas pour onto the street, protected under canopies.
(In the hot Singapore sun, I came to appreciate the canopy cooling system here, even when I was just walking by. It sucks the humidity out of the air and helps keep you cool like a charm.)
Mixed with its soft lamp light and neon signs, Chinatown Food Street delivers one of the loveliest scenes in the area, especially in the evening.
After grabbing snacks here several times on my three trips, I think it’s a fantastic place to enjoy some food and drinks to unwind after a day of sightseeing in Singapore.
Explore Chinatown’s Muslim culture at Masjid Jamae
Before my first visit, I thought Buddhist or Taoist temples would comprise the bulk of Chinatown’s religious buildings. Masjid Jamae, like its Hindu temple neighbour, quickly threw a wrench into my theory.
Masjid Jamae, also called Masjid Chulia, was built in the 1820s. As I discovered on my first visit to the city, it’s one of the oldest mosques in Singapore.
The mosque was one of three built in Chinatown by Singapore’s early Tamil Muslim immigrants. It remains one of the only mosques in the city to offer services in Tamil.
What I thought was unique about Masjid Jamae is its assortment of architectural styles compared to other mosques I saw in the city. The main gate is South Indian in flavour, showing off classic Indo-Islamic design in its dual minarets and palace façade.
Inside Masjid Chulia, I even spotted a glimpse of non-Islamic influences. Look for the two rows of Doric columns and Chinese-inspired green-tiled windows.
Find bliss at Thian Hock Keng Temple
Although it’s outside the boundaries of Chinatown proper, I wouldn’t recommend skipping out on a visit to Thian Hock Keng Temple. Unlike the less-than-20-year-old Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Thian Hock Keng is the real deal. It’s the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore, dating back to 1839.
This Hokkien folk temple is dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea.
(Odd fact: I learned on my visit that this temple once sat upon Singapore’s seafront. Yes, the same seafront that’s now over a kilometre away!)
Before a massive land reclamation project, Telok Ayer Street straddled the Singaporean coastline. Early settlers arrived at Thian Hock Keng Temple by sea. Disembarking, they’d thank Mazu for granting safe passage over the South China Sea.
Why would I recommend visiting? The design of Thian Hock Keng Temple is quite remarkable. I relished in the temple’s unique Fujian architectural style, distinguished by its intricate carvings of folk deities and dragons.
Chill out at Ann Siang Hill Park
I’ll admit: Singapore’s Chinatown can sometimes feel like dense urban low-rise planning at its finest. A break at nearby Ann Siang Hill Park tempers the feeling.
(Well, kinda.)
I stumbled upon this small park, snuggled behind the lovingly restored historic Chinese merchant houses of Ann Siang Road, completely by accident. After a long day of sightseeing, it offered me a quick escape from the buzz of central Singapore.
There’s a wide array of interesting tree species at Ann Siang Hill Park to scope out. Wandering about, I spotted cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, and tamarind trees. As I relaxed here, I was also impressed by the views towards Chinatown, Telok Ayer, and the Singapore CBD.
After you’ve snuck in a few quiet moments at the park, cozy up with a quick bite and a drink nearby. I wandered past a wide selection of hip cafés & restaurants along Ann Siang Road and nearby Club Street.
Chow down (more) at Maxwell Food Centre
Another recommendation for foodies? Yep, you bet.
(And, yes, eating to excess is one of my recommended must-do activities in Chinatown.)
Let me give a thumbs up to (yet another) Singapore Chinatown food hotspot: Maxwell Food Centre.
Located southeast of Chinatown on South Bridge Road, Maxwell Food Centre is one of the most famous places to eat in Singapore—and one of my own favorites.
And justifiably so. The selection of what to eat at Maxwell Food Centre is as varied as Singaporean cuisine itself.
Looking for one of the hawker centre’s specialties? I’d suggest queuing up at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. They serve rice that, as the late Anthony Bourdain put it, is “so fragrant & delicious that it can be eaten on its own.”
For a twist on Singaporean hawker fare, I’d also highly recommend Chee Cheong Fun Club. Their signature dish, Kuala Lumpur-style curry chee cheong fun, is a masterpiece. It’s savoury, silky, and chewy, everything that a foodie could ask for.
EDITOR’S NOTE: While updating my Singapore content, I was bummed out to learn that Chee Cheong Fun Club has permanently closed since my visit :(
Live it up on Keong Saik Road
Even in an ever-changing city like Singapore, the story of Keong Saik Road is impressive. Once a red-light district, the area has transformed itself, in recent years, into—what I believe is—one of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods.
Whether I was walking here by day or night, Keong Saik Road caught my eye.
Like other streets around the area, I loved the handsome assemblage of restored shophouses here. Inside hide some of the best places to eat & drink in Singapore. I found a little of everything here—from hipster-approved restaurants to after-work cocktail hangouts.
One of the most famous haunts I tried out along Keong Saik Road is 1939 Singapore, once known as Potato Head Singapore. The popular hangout occupies an eye-popping heritage building that straddles the sharp corner of Keong Saik and Teck Lim Road.
(Unfortunately, like so many of the restaurants & bars around Keong Saik Road, it’s closed since my last visit.)
Instead, I’d aim for grabbing a meal at Maggie’s (1 Keong Saik Rd). You might think I’m crazy to recommend a restaurant that bills itself as “the least authentic Chinese restaurant in town.” But with its retro decor and Asian fusion dishes like spicy wagyu tartare and golden prawn Croque Madame, it’s one of the more unique spots on the block.
