Discover Katong’s colourful shophouses, amazing Peranakan cuisine, and other romantic spots perfect for a weekend getaway with your partner. Here’s your complete holiday dating guide to Singapore’s favourite East Coast neighbourhood.
Looking for somewhere outside the usual CBD circuit to spend quality time with your other half? Katong might just be your answer.
As a local living in Singapore, I’ve naturally been to the area many times with friends and family alike; I’ll imagine many of you have been as well. But what I didn’t know (before doing research for this article) was that the area was once a seaside retreat for wealthy families and later became home to Singapore’s Peranakan community. Imagine that!
Today, you’ll find rows of pastel-coloured shophouses with intricate tiles, independent cafes tucked into heritage buildings, and hawker stalls serving food that people queue for. For most of us, it’s close enough to explore easily (Marine Parade MRT opened in 2024 on the Thomson-East Coast Line), but far enough from tourist crowds to feel like an actual neighbourhood where people live.
A weekend here gives you time to wander without rushing, eat too much laksa, and discover why East Coast locals won’t be quiet about their side of the island. We know.
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Where to eat: Katong’s best food for couples
Let’s start off with food. Because that’s what we’re all here for, myself included.
328 Katong Laksa
Start your food adventure with the dish that made Katong famous worldwide. This is the laksa that supposedly beat Gordon Ramsay in a cook-off back in 2013, and it’s been pulling crowds ever since.
The gravy has that proper balance of richness from coconut milk and kick from the chilli-prawn paste. You’ll want to add their house-made sambal if you like heat. The small bowl costs $6.30, or go for the large at $8.30 if you’re properly hungry. Add their otah (grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaf) for $1.40 because it’s honestly too good to skip.
Location:
- 51 East Coast Road, Singapore 428770,
- 216 East Coast Road, Singapore 428914
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
Chin Mee Chin has been serving kaya toast and kopi since 1925, and it’s a go-to breakfast spot for many in the neighbourhood.
The Kaya Toast Set ($7.30 with a Milo Dinosaur) gives you thick slabs of butter melting into sweet coconut jam on lightly toasted bread, plus soft-boiled eggs that you crack into a dish with dark soy sauce and white pepper. Dip your toast into the runny eggs if you want the full traditional experience.
They’re open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 4pm, and it gets busy around mid-morning, so arrive early if you can.
Location: 204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903
Micro Bakery & Kitchen (The Red House)
Housed in a distinctive red shophouse that’s impossible to miss, Micro Bakery specialises in naturally leavened sourdough and all-day brunch. The space has that warm, lived-in cafe vibe where you can settle in for a couple of hours without feeling rushed. Did we mention that it’s also pet-friendly as well?
Their Green Goddess avocado tartine ($19) comes on fluffy sourdough with poached egg and pistachio dukkah that adds an herbaceous edge. For something simpler, the house kaya toast ($9) shows off the texture and flavour of their bread without much fuss. Mains typically range from $14 to $19.
Location: 263 East Coast Road, Singapore 428776
Baba Chews (Hotel Indigo)
Sitting on the site of the former Joo Chiat Police Station, Baba Chews at Hotel Indigo, an all-day dining restaurant, serves creative Asian-fusion dishes with Peranakan influences.
They offer a Heritage High Tea (around $58 for two people) from 2:30pm to 5:30pm daily, featuring local desserts and kueh instead of the usual scones and finger sandwiches. Think kueh pie tee, assorted Peranakan cakes, and savoury bites like crab with ikura sandwiches. You’ll also get Bacha Coffee or TWG tea included.
The alfresco dining area outside of Baba Chews is also dog-friendly, so feel free to bring Fido along for breakfast or tea. The restaurant opens from 6:30am to 10:30pm daily.
Location: 86 East Coast Road, Singapore 428788
PS.Cafe Katong (i12 Katong Mall)
Everyone knows PS.Cafe for their lush, greenery-filled interiors, and signature bites like its truffle shoestring fries, and the Katong outlet delivers exactly what you’d expect from the chain.
Their menu spans everything from all-day breakfast to pasta and mains. The Seafood Mac & Cheese and Rendang Lamb Shank are outlet exclusives worth trying. Truffle fries will set you back around $17, while mains typically range from $20 to $35. They’ve also got a pet-friendly outdoor terrace, so if you’re the sort who brings your dog or cat everywhere, this is your spot.
Location: 30 East Coast Road, #01-11, Singapore 428751
Things to do together in Katong
Wander the Peranakan Shophouses
The Instagram moment everyone comes to Katong for: rows of two and three-storey shophouses painted in pastels and decorated with ornate Peranakan tiles and motifs. Koon Seng Road has the most concentrated stretch of these beauties, and they’re particularly photogenic in the late afternoon light.
Location: Koon Seng Road
Visit Katong Antique House
For couples who want to go deeper into Peranakan culture, book a tour at this private museum-home. The Katong Antique House is crammed with four generations’ worth of heirlooms: traditional crockery, beaded slippers called kasot manek, wedding costumes, furniture, and family photographs spanning over a century.
Tours cost $15 per person and must be booked by appointment. They run Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6:30pm and typically last 45 minutes.
Location: 208 East Coast Road, Singapore 428907
Enjoy the sea breeze at East Coast Park
Just a 10-minute walk from the heart of Katong, East Coast Park needs no further introduction.
Rent bikes from one of the many rental shops (roughly $10-15 for a couple of hours) and cruise along the coastal path. The sea breeze helps with Singapore’s humidity, and the route is flat and easy with plenty of spots to stop for food or drinks. There are also kayaking and wakeboarding options if you’re feeling more adventurous.
Several cafes and restaurants dot the park, including Fico, which offers beachside pasta and views over the water.
Browse shops and cafes at Joo Chiat Road
After you’ve walked off your laksa, spend an afternoon poking around Joo Chiat Road’s mix of vintage stores, lifestyle boutiques, and cafe-hopping spots. The area has this nice balance of old and new: traditional provision shops sit next to contemporary design stores, and heritage kopitiams share the street with specialty coffee roasters.
But if you’re after a unique specialty coffee experience, give Big Short Coffee a try – we covered it recently and think it’s well worth it!
Where to stay: Romantic hotels in Katong
Village Hotel Katong
This 229-room hotel captures Katong’s Peranakan heritage in its design, with warm fuschia and grey motifs throughout. Rooms start from around $130-190 per night depending on when you book, and they’re properly spacious with modern amenities.
There’s an outdoor pool, a halal-certified restaurant called Katong Kitchen, and it’s connected to Katong V shopping mall. You’re also a three-minute walk from Marine Parade MRT, which makes getting around Singapore dead easy. Want comfort and location without ridiculously expensive prices? Try this one.
Location: 25 Marine Parade Road, Singapore 449536
Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong
If you want a more unique and design-focused experience, Hotel Indigo brings proper style. Built on the former Joo Chiat Police Station grounds, this hotel combines heritage architecture with contemporary luxury. Rooms typically range from $200-280 per night.
The hotel also scores points for being pet-friendly (under their Pet Getaway package) and having their pet-friendly Baba Chews restaurant on-site, as previously covered.
Location: 86 East Coast Road, Singapore 428788
Make your weekend count
So, all in all, what’s there to do in Katong?
Well, here’s what it could look like: Saturday could be heritage shophouses in the morning, laksa for lunch, lazy afternoon at a cafe with a book, then dinner somewhere nice. Sunday might be a sunrise walk on East Coast Park, traditional kaya toast breakfast, a private museum tour, more eating (obviously), and maybe a swim in your hotel pool before checkout? Well, sign me up!
So, here’s to a weekend filled with quality time with your favourite person in one of Singapore’s most charming neighbourhoods. (Just make sure not to stuff your bellies with too much Peranakan food.)
with Love,
The Dateideas Team
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Katong for couples?
Couples can explore colourful heritage shophouses, take a private tour of Katong Antique House, enjoy laksa at famous hawker stalls, cycle along East Coast Park, and browse independent cafes and boutiques along Joo Chiat Road.
Are there romantic places to eat in Katong for a date?
Yes. Try 328 Katong Laksa and century-old Chin Mee Chin Confectionery for authentic local experiences, or Hotel Indigo’s Baba Chews and PS.Cafe for more upscale dining with Peranakan-inspired or Western cuisine.
What are some affordable date activities in Katong?
Walking tours of the Peranakan shophouses are free, 328 Katong Laksa costs under $10 per person, and cycling at East Coast Park runs about $10-15 for bike rental, making Katong an accessible destination for budget-conscious couples.
What hotels in Katong are recommended for a romantic stay?
Village Hotel Katong offers spacious Peranakan-themed rooms from around $130-190 per night, whilst Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong provides boutique luxury with a rooftop infinity pool and heritage-inspired design from $200-280 per night.
