Overview of Katong
Katong is a quaint, surburban area located east of Singapore that’s facing the sea. Katong was where many villas and mansions of the wealthy in the late 19- to the mid-20th centuries were situated at. Modern Katong still stands as an established middle to high income area with a mature estate of many landed properties and condominiums. It is also located near to a cluster of great schools, hotels and industrial properties. Getting here is a breeze, whether you’re coming from the Central Business District (CBD) or Changi Airport.
Between East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road lies the heart of Katong. It is here that you’ll find the heartbeat of the Peranakan and Eurasian cultures in Singapore. It is also a mix of the old and the new Singapore, where shophouses which are reminiscent of the old Singapore are located not far from the glitz and glamour of 112 Katong.
Katong’s rich cultural mix has contributed to its unique cuisine. In Katong, you’ll find plenty of local and Peranakan flavours – the most famous being the “Katong Laksa”. Previously, Katong was home to the famous Katong Bakery & Confectionery (fondly known as the “Red House Bakery”), which served up its delicious signature cakes and curry puffs. Unfortunately, due to claims of safety concerns, the famous “Red House” had to be closed in 2003.
A great cultural area with a dollop of modernity – that’s what modern Katong is all about. If you fancy coming to Katong, be sure to visit some of these great places listed below!
Amenities Nearby
112Katong
112 Katong is a shopping mall that is situated at the crossroads of Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road. Previously known as Katong Mall, 112 Katong has been rebranded and revamped to be positioned as the “premier lifestyle, F&B and fashion hub in the Eastern-part of Singapore”. The new kid on the block has six levels that consist of retail and lifestyle shops, two basement levels of car park and a rooftop garden with a wet playground on Level 4.
With over 150 specialty shops, 112 Katong offers shoppers and diners an “unrivalled and eclectic mix” of retail, dining and entertainment options.
Katong V Mall
A fresh new façade of Katong, Katong V is one of the latest additions to the area. Inspired by Katong’s Peranakan culture, the mall is an exciting combination of F&B outlets, retails shops, learning centres and consumer services, which include a Fairprice Finest supermarket.
Comprising of three storeys, the mall is Far East Hospitality’s entrée to Katong, alongside Village Hotel Katong. Along with the re-launch of the former Paramount Hotel into the modern Village Hotel Katong, the mall seeks to appeal to families, students, working executives and hotel guests.
Other Nearby Malls
- Katong Shopping Centre
- Katong Plaza
- Roxy Square
- Tanjong Katong Complex
- Marine Parade (Parkway Parade)
- City Plaza
- Singapore Post Centre
Rumah Bebe
What’s a strong Peranakan heritage without an established retail place to shop and immerse yourself in the Peranakan culture? The Rumah Bebe at 113 East Coast Road is a store where you can get to see authentic Peranakan arts and crafts, try your hands at some traditional Peranakan beading and even take Nonya-style cooking courses. Rumah Bebe strives to bring as much authenticity and richness in the store. From the scents of Peranakan potpourri to the ornate doors and traditional Peranakan designs of the store, Rumah Bebe would’ve brought back a great deal of nostalgia to those familiar with the Peranakan Culture. If you’re there, why not bring back some great pieces of handiwork as souvenirs for keepsake?
Nearby Schools in Katong
Tanjong Katong Primary and Secondary School
When it comes to good neighbourhood schools, both Tanjong Katong Primary AND Secondary School seems to be at the top of the list for most Singaporean parents. Located at the heart of the Katong District at Seraya Road (Primary School) and Haig Road (Secondary School) respectively, both schools are co-ed schools which are found just a few minutes’ walk away from each other.
Tanjong Katong Primary School, or TKPS in short, is a relatively new government school with a history of just 13 years. It was an amalgamation of three schools carried out by the MOE under its school upgrading and rebuilding programme, PRIME. TKPS is a school favoured by the expatriate community in Singapore.
About 40% of the school’s enrolment are foreigners from over 30 countries, which makes it the most diverse student population in all of Singapore’s government schools. Local parents shouldn’t have to worry though, the school has a well-established system such that the local demand and admissions has been increasing over the years while there are caps on the number of places for foreign students. Nevertheless, the school has built a name for itself, becoming Singapore’s local-international Primary School of choice.
Tanjong Katong Secondary School (TKSS) is an autonomous school with a history of 58 years. Formerly founded as Tanjong Katong Technical School, TKSS has now transformed into a modern educational institution which has over 20 CCAs and has received numerous awards. In 2007, TKSS was awarded the School of Excellence Award by MOE. This is the highest prestige of awards that schools in Singapore can attain. In its CCAs, TKSS’ TK Band is known for putting up stunning band performances and clinching top honours awards in band competitions.
Getting to Tanjong Katong Primary School
Bus Services (from Katong Shopping Centre):
- 10, 10e,12,14, 14e, 32, 40,
Landmark:
- Behind Katong shopping Centre
Getting to Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Bus Services:
- 16, 33 (Dunman Road beside/opposite TK side gate)
- 10, 31 , 32 , 40 , 76 , 135 , 197 (Tanjong Katong Road)
Nearest MRT Station:
- Paya Lebar & Dakota Station
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School (TKGS) is an autonomous girls-only secondary school that has a history of 61 years in Singapore. Its vision is to develop students to be “accomplished young women of character and grace” and imbues in their girls values of determination, integrity, humility and graciousness. TKGS encourages their students to also become strong leaders with a positive influence on others.
Sometimes known as the “Premier School of the East”, TKGS is one of the few schools in Singapore to offer music subjects under the Music Elective Programme (MEP) to students wishing to pursue Music as a subject for their Cambridge ‘O’ Level Examinations.
The school is as premier as it gets. Former students of TKGS include rising TV stars Felicia Chin and Jade Seah, as well as successful politicians such as Madam Halimah Yacob, Speaker of Parliament and Former Minister of State. In CCAs, TKGS has also excelled tremendously, winning Gold with Honours for its Choir and Modern Dance, as well as Gold for Symphonic Band.
Getting to Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
Bus Services:
- 16,33,10,31,32,40,43,76,135,197
Nearby MRT Stations:
- Dakota and Paya Lebar
Full list of Nearby Schools (within 2 km):
Primary Schools
- Tanjong Katong Primary School
- Haig Girl’s School
- Kong Hwa School
- CHIJ Primary School (Katong)
- Geylang Methodist Primary School
- Tao Nan School
Secondary Schools
- Chung Cheng High School
- Tanjong Katong Secondary School
- Tanjong Katong Girls School
- Broadrick Secondary School
- Telok Kurau Secondary School
- School Of The Arts, Singapore
- NorthLight School
- Dunman High School
- Geylang Methodist Secondary School
Food Options Nearby Katong
Katong Laksa: Katong is home to the most famous Nonya-style laksa-s of all time. As you’re cruising along the streets of Katong, three laksa powerhouses will grab your attention – the 49 Katong Laksa, 328 Katong Laksa as well as Marine Parade Laksa, with its namesake, “The Original Katong Laksa”. If you do ever go there, make sure to try at least two of the stalls for comparison. With each equally great-tasting in its own way, we wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t a clue of which one you like better.
Tau Kwa Pau: Tau Kwa Pau is a deep-fried stuffed tofu covered with sweet Braised sauce. It’s a Teochew Nonya dish which literally means Beancurd Bun. Typical Tau Kwa Paus would have included a generous serving of fishcake, chopped cucumber, eggs, fried yam pieces and a dose of braised soy sauce. Tau Kwa Pau can only be found in certain places in Singapore, so you’re in luck, because Katong has some of the best Tau Kwa Pau stalls in Singapore! Some of the stalls selling Tau Kwa Pau in Katong include (Original) Tao Kwa Pau/Duck Rice and Mary’s Corner Tao Kwa Pau in Ali Baba Eating House (125 East Coast Road).
Peramakan: No, this isn’t a typo! In fact, this is the name of a popular Nonya family restaurant which is our next pick for food. Found inside the Santa Grand Hotel Katong, the restaurant offers really good traditional Nonya home-cooked dishes, such as Ayam Buah Keluak, Nonya Chap Chye, Beef Rendang, Sambal Ikan and many more!
Entertainment Venues in Katong
AMPED Trampoline Park
In Katong, it’s not difficult to find good, unadulterated fun. If you (and your family) like jumping around and getting all crazy, AMPED Trampoline Park is the place to spend your weekends at! This huge fun indoor sanctuary will have you bouncing up and down on 5000-square feet of interconnected trampolines.
For families who are worried for their kids’ safety, the good people at AMPED have put in place divided timeslots for different ages of players so that the hardy teen doesn’t have a chance to accidentally injure a 5 year-old. Nevertheless, it is still important to watch out for your own (or your kids’) safety!
East Coast Park
Located within walking distance of the Katong precint, East Coast Park (ECP, in short) is another great venue for anyone to come out and enjoy the sun. ECP has a great, long bicycle and rollerblading track for anyone who is up for some fun and a nice workout. Joggers would also find ECP to be a great jogging spot with splendid views of the beach. For more adventurous persons, you might like to try wake-boarding at Ski 360. Otherwise, spending the day at the beach watching waves crash onto your feet is also something to look forward to after a long day.
Night Life
Nothing’s short here at Katong. If you’re the kind of person who likes to chill out with great music and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in your hand, there are some great bars to look forward to in Katong! Located at 125 East Coast Road, Alibabar is a hawker bar that is ALSO a coffee shop/food court which serves amazing not-your-typical-food-court food. It’s hawker bar is a fantastic concept, serving all kinds of beer from around the world.
If you don’t seem to fancy something like Alibabar (why not?), you could hop on over to your familiar, friendly German beer bar, Brotzeit, over at 126 East Coast Road.
Transport Options in Katong
The Katong area is well accessible via all modes of transport. To reach Katong by train, take the MRT to Dakota MRT Station (using the Circle Line). Dakota MRT Station is the nearest train station from Katong by distance. However, an alternative station to get there would be Paya Lebar MRT Station. From Dakota, you can hop on the SBS Buses at the conveniently located bus stops just outside the station, and alight in 5 or less bus stops. The closest bus stops are a 5-minute pleasant stroll down a lovely pedestrian promenade to Katong.
If you’re driving, Katong is also accessible via ECP and PIE. From Changi International Airport or the City, it only takes less than 20 minutes to coast along the ECP and exit at 10B to get to Katong.
Additionally, there is are numerous bus services that ferry passengers to Katong. To get to the heart of modern Katong (i.e. 112 Katong Shopping Centre), you may wish to take buses 10, 10E, 12, 14, 14E, 32, 40 or 16. The mall also offers a free shuttle bus service every day that travels to-and-fro Paya Lebar MRT Interchange and 112 Katong.