Hidden Treasures & Things To Do In Chinatown Singapore

Chinatown, with its vibrant blend of rich heritage, tantalizing cuisine, and bustling markets, is a must-visit destination in Singapore. Wander its colorful streets to see its Chinese temples like the stunning Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, explore a variety of foods in its lively hawker centers, the Chinatown Complex and Maxwell Center, see century-old streets lined with colorful old shophouses like Pagoda Street and Smith Street, discover its street art, and soak up its lively atmosphere. This post covers the best things to see and do in Chinatown, Singapore.

Pagoda Street, The Chinatown Street Market

Pedestrianized Pagoda Street, is where the Chinatown Street Market is held. It’s located in the heart of Chinatown and is a must-visit. This street is lined with colorful shophouses dating back to the 1840s and is bustling by day and vibrant at night. The shophouses are filled with restaurants, cafés, specialty food stalls, and souvenir shops making it the perfect place to spend some time shopping for Chinese trinkets, or trying some traditional black pepper crab.

To get to Pagoda Street, take the MRT to the Chinatown Station. Use exit A to get to Pagoda Street.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

If you only have time for one temple in Chinatown, make it the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Its colorful 5-story high architecture is a delightful mix of Chinese and Tang Dynasty influences.

The interior is even more opulent, with multiple halls including Hundred Dragon Hall, Universal Wisdom Hall, Dharma Hall, and an Ancestral Hall, as well as museums, a gilded stupa in the Sacred Buddha Relics Chamber, that houses what is believed to be a relic of Buddha’s tooth (which is how this temple gets its unusual name). Even its rooftop is special with the Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda and a serene orchid garden.

This temple is free to visit. Note that your arms, legs, and chest must be covered. There are free shawls and wraps available to borrow if you need them. Make sure to visit buddhatoothrelictemple.com for more details and see special events.

The closest MRT station to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is the Maxwell MRT. After you arrive, take exit 2 and follow the signs to South Bridge Road. It’s also a short walk from the Chinatown MRT station.

Thian Hock Keng Temple

Another important temple to visit in Chinatown is Thian Hock Keng Temple, which means “Temple of Heavenly Happiness”. It is dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea and protector of seafarers.

It’s one of the oldest and most significant temples in Singapore, established in the early 1800s by the Hokkien immigrants from China. This may seem a little strange as today it’s in the middle of the city, but the Telok Ayer region of Chinatown, which means “bay water”, was once the waterfront. Now reclaimed land in the city, this is where many immigrants first landed after their long journey, praying to the Sea Goddess upon arrival.

Its architecture is heavily influenced by the Chinese architecture from the southern Fujian province of China, where the Hokkien emigrated from. This includes its bright colors, intricate carvings, the curved roofs embellished with dragons, and even the “spirit-warding step” which one needs to step over to enter the temple. This “step” was added as it was believed that the evil spirits could not jump over it, preventing them from entering.

The closest MRT station to Thian Hock Keng Temple is the Telok Ayer MRT Station. After you arrive, take exit A and walk along Telok Ayer Street to the temple.

Sri Mariamman Temple

The Sri Mariamman Temple may seem out of place in Chinatown as it is a Hindu Temple, but it dates back to Chinatown’s multicultural roots. It’s one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, serving as a place of refuge and prayer for immigrants

The first things you’ll notice are the colorful intricate sculptures in vibrant colors that reflect Hindu mythology. Inside, there are shrines, more sculptures, and colorful paintings. The temple is dedicated to the Mother Goddess, Sri Mariamman, who is known for her power to cure epidemic illnesses and diseases.

The main festival of this temple is its fire-walking ceremony, or Theemithi, where devotees walk on hot coals as a test of faith and devotion. A festival that has been an important part of Hindu life in Singapore for 150 years.

Entrance to this temple is free. It sits on the corner of Pagoda Street and South Bridge Road (and is how Pagoda Street gets its name). Note that shawls and wraps are available to cover your arms, legs, and chest if you need them. And you must remove your shoes before entering, leaving them on the shelves outside the temple.

Chinatown Complex

The Chinatown Complex Food Center is the largest hawker center in Singapore. It has 3 floors with a fresh market on the lowest level, clothing and housewares on the second, and a hawker center with around 200 stalls on the third. This complex is large enough to get lost in, so try to set visual breadcrumbs for yourself as you explore.

Its most famous stall is Liao Fan Hawker Chan, which was the first hawker stall to be awarded a Michelin Star. They, unfortunately, lost that star during COVID, but while they work to gain it back, the queue for their soy sauce chicken rice remains incredibly long.

I liked the flavors, but was surprised by the amount of bones I found in my dish, so wasn’t really crazy about it. They also have a restaurant located just outside the Chinatown Complex, in addition to its hawker stall (if you prefer air conditioning). Check their website for day of the week closures.

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot, with its smoky flavors and crispy crust is another Michelin Guide recommended stall to try. Note that this dish takes time to cook, so expect a wait. This stall is closed on Tuesdays.

The Chinatown Complex is also known for Ann Chin Homemade Popiah, which is eggs, shrimp, carrots and peanuts fried and then rolled into a crepe-like roll and sliced. It comes with dipping sauce. They also have a vegetarian version.

For the best coffee stall in the Chinatown Complex, try 1950’s Coffee. Even better, try it with the fried butterflies at the stall nearby (they are not real fried butterflies, they are just shaped like them). Locals pull off the “wings” and dip them into their coffee.

Maxwell Food Centre

The Maxwell Food Center is located across the street from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This hawker center has over 100 stalls. It’s mainly used by tourists and locals having lunch, so it’s usually busiest around lunch time. It may be smaller than the Chinatown Complex, but I actually preferred its more intimate scale and visited this center twice.

One of its best-known stalls is Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which is noted in the Singapore Michelin Guide. Note that there is almost always a long line here, as with most Michelin Guide recommendations, except on Mondays when it is closed.

The Fuzhou Oyster Cake has also been awarded a Michelin mention for its crispy fried exterior and juicy interior, and is also popular. This stall is closed in Sundays.

But don’t just stick to the most famous stalls, wander and decide what looks the best to you. In addition to the chicken rice, and a couple of smaller stalls, I also ate a bahn mi sandwich at the Vietnamese stall Baguette Huong Viet and loved it!

Smith Street

Smith Street is another interesting pedestrianized street to explore in Chinatown. It’s currently under renovation, so its history is more interesting than the street itself right now, but the colorful shophouses and the street art still make it worth a visit.

In the early 20th century, this street represented the seedier side of Chinatown as it was lined with brothels and opium dens. After WWII, social reform and regulations brought change and the street started reverting to more conventional businesses. More families started to move into the rooms above retail shophouses and food stalls started lining the streets (until these stalls eventually were moved to the Chinatown Hawker Complex).

Make sure to look for the amazing street art on Smith Street. There are three main murals here, all by Yip Yew Chong. My favorite is in an alley off of Smith Street, showing the interior of a typical shophouse and family life there. It’s called My Chinatown Home. It takes actually takes up the whole alley. The photo below is only part of it.

The second shows a Japanese character called Detective Conan, giving a thumbs up to durian fruit at a fruit stand. It’s across from Nanyang Old Coffee.

The third mural is called the Letter Writer. It’s located at the opposite end of Smith street. Letter writers were once popular, helping to keep illiterate immigrant workers in contact with family back home.

To learn more, visit the artist’s website above or take a walking tour in Chinatown. These tours usually walk down this historic street and talk about the street’s history. I took the free walking tour by GuruWalk with Stephan called Pinch of Singapore and really enjoyed it. He also included details of Little India and Kampong Glam and covered so many interesting insights about life here.

Telok Ayer

Telok Ayer is the region Thian Hock Keng Temple is located in. As noted above, it means “bay water” as this area was seawater before being reclaimed.

Telok Ayer Road, near the temple, is loaded with a variety of trendy restaurants and cafes like Shinrai, Napoleon Wine Bistro, Singkoba, French Fold, and many more (I ate at Shinrai and loved it!). The food alone here is worth a visit, but this is the same road that Thian Hock Keng Temple is on.

I suggest visiting the temple during the day and picking a place to make a reservation at for dinner later. The best places book up in advance, so don’t expect to just drop in and get a seat.

Tong Ah Eatery

If you want a more traditional restaurant in Chinatown, head to Tong Ah Eatery. This restaurant has been in business for over 60 years. It’s the kind of place that will be full of locals and has a comfortable feel to it. You can come here for a traditional breakfast of kaya toast, soft boiled eggs, and coffee. Or come here for dinner and try the coffee-rubbed ribs.

Tong Ah used to be in the charming corner building nearby, but rent increases caused them to move down the street about 50’. If you walk here from the Chinatown Complex, which it’s not far from, you will pass the original. Hopefully one day, the restaurant can move back into it.

Nanyang Old Coffee

Nanyang is another great place for a traditional Singaporean breakfast of kaya toast, soft eggs, and coffee, known as kopi. This old building sits at the end of Smith Street and boasts “The Best Singapore Traditional Coffee”. It’s strong, so I recommend the evaporated milk with it.

There are seats outside, or you can have your coffee on the second floor, which is air conditioned, and see a quirky museum of Singaporean coffee. Nanyang also serves lunch.

Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Ya Kun Kaya Toast in another place for morning coffee, kaya toast, and eggs. It’s across the street from Nanyang Old Coffee in Chinatown. They also have several other locations around Singapore (and in the airport).

This place is also very popular and there is often a line to order. I personally did not try this one as I preferred the ambiance of Nanyang and Tong Ah for my morning coffee in Chinatown.

Learn Singapore’s History At City Gallery

Singapore a city Gallery is a great museum on the history of Singapore. It has permanent exhibitions on the 2nd and 3rd floor and temporary exhibits on the first. Learn how Singapore transitioned from a small trading post in the 1800s to a high-incline economy with one of the highest GDPs per capitals in the region.

This museum sits across the street from the Maxwell Center on Maxwell Road, so it’s perfect to stop here after some tastings.

Where To Stay In Chinatown

Chinatown makes a great place to stay in Singapore as it’s centrally located and you can find more affordable accommodation. Here are a few that get great reviews.

• The Scarlet Singapore is set in renovated pre-war shophouses near the Maxwell Center. It offers elegantly appointed, colorful rooms with a rooftop restaurant, a fitness gym, and an outdoor hotub. All at an affordable price.
• The Claude Hotel offers affordable rooms and is located about a 5-minute walk from the Chinatown Complex.
• If you want something really inexpensive, try one of their capsule hotels here. Jyu Capsule Hotel on Smith Street gets very high reviews, is very clean, and very inexpensive.
• If you want to stay near the Telok Ayer region of Chinatown, stay in the beautifully restored heritage shophouse Ann Siang House, The Unlimited Collection managed by The Ascott Limited.

Where To Stay Outside of Chinatown

• If you want the splurge experience of Singapore, stay at Marina Bay Sands. Even if you only stay a day or two. The rooms are stunning and overlook either the city or Garden Bay on the opposite side. They have several amazing restaurants, a fitness center, and the rooftop entertainment area which includes free access to the infinity pool. This is the real gem of the hotel with its incredible view. Marina Bay Sands is located about a 15- to 20-minute ride away from Chinatown by the MRT.
• If you would prefer luxury on the opposite side of Marina Bay, by the Merlion Statue, consider staying in the 5-star Fullerton Bay Hotel. Some rooms feature views of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
• Raffles Hotel is another well-known luxury hotel, but located closer to the city center. It offers historic charm and outstanding service. And of course you must visit Raffles Bar for the obligatory Singapore Sling.
• Heritage Collection on Seah is located in the city, close to the City Hall MRT. The rooms are exceptionally clean and most have a loft. It’s just a few minutes walk from Raffles Hotel.

For a full list of the best places to stay, at a variety of price points, see my post on The Best Places To Stay in Singapore | The Ultimate Guide.

Want To See More Of Singapore?

For all my favorite places in Singapore, see the following posts.

• Experience The Best Of Marina Bay | Must-See Waterfront Experiences
• The Charming Arab Quarter of Singapore
• 7 Must-See Sites in Little India Singapore
• Joo Chiat Road | Colorful Shophouses, Culinary Wonders & Cultural Fusion
• Is It Worth Visiting Sentosa Island?

Safe Travels!

Julie