The ultimate guide to Chinatown

Herein lies a humble plate of soy sauce chicken cooked with a recipe that spans over three generations. Since the 1940s, Chew Kee has been preparing affordable food with a sincere heart with an emphasis on quality over quantity for all generations to enjoy. To this day, dining in Chew Kee Eating House almost feels like a blast from the past where the essence of a timeless recipe and unpretentious community spirit still lingers. For a quick fuss-free bite, order a single portion of soy sauce chicken ($5.50) with either an aromatic yet less greasy version of chicken rice or a springy wonton egg noodle. But if you’re observing around you, you’d soon realise most patrons come for the entire bird experience – usually ordering a half-bird or full bird depending on sheer appetite or group size.

Established 30 years ago, this family business specialises in Teochew braised duck rice and kway chap – hence the name. Order the Bento Combo Jumbo Set ($8) while you're there. It's a generous, Instagram-worthy platter of yam rice balls with kway chap, pork belly, tau kwa, tau pok, cucumber chunks, radish, kiam chye and, rather than a hard-boiled one, an onsen egg.

With mismatched tables and stools for seats, this zi char joint is loud, crowded and unrefined – just the way we like it. You’ll spot a glistening plate of prawn hor fun ($16-$48) on almost every table. Unlike typical hor fun dishes, the sauce here is less starchy and has a soup-like consistency. Each spoonful delivers a broth made from prawn stock that’s rich in umami with a hint of heat from fresh red chillies. Other specialties include claypot yong tau foo ($14-$28), vegetables and tofu stuffed with fish and squid paste, and braised pork ribs in black bean sauce ($14-$28).

Step into this otherworldly space that turns wizardry fantasies into reality. With floating candles, ornamental chandeliers, giant shelves filled with mythical books, and even a faux fireplace, this medieval-inspired dessert bar takes a page from the beloved Harry Potter series. The sorcery begins with a slew of imaginative desserts paired with theatrical showmanship, set to wow guests of all ages. Their range of whimsical spell-binding cocktails are also a visual feast.

Japanese café Paaru is all the rage among carb-lovers right now. Their house-baked shokupan is what draws the crowds, where it is served as part of comforting and hearty all-day breakfast classics. Don't sleep on the freshly-baked madeleines ($2) that you can take away from their bakery right around the corner.

In the mood for some stinky fruit? Swing by modern durian café 99 Old Trees to tuck into an omakase-style spread of six variants, ranging from Mao Shan Wang to the lesser-known Black Thorn – all specially handpicked for your enjoyment. The aesthetically-pleasing space also serves up durian-infused desserts, such as the traditional chendol to durian mousse and cream puffs. 

Despite its name, Maxi Coffee Bar is small – and for good reason. The popular coffee joint nestled within the Ann Siang Hill area keeps things cosy to encourage a sense of community among customers. Besides the regular mainstays, they're also known for their unique Cereal Milk Latte. You know that bit of leftover milk at the bottom of your bowl after you've finished your morning cereal? Yup, that's exactly what is used to make the latte. 

This four-storey shophouse is a celebration of all things boozy – from alcohol-infused gelato at the ice cream parlour on the first floor, to bespoke cocktails at the restaurant-bar on the second. Level three boasts a customisable events area, while the rooftop lets you kick back with draft beers and cocktails all affordably priced below $20.

This trailblazing cocktail bar places all bets on making sustainable dining and drinking approachable through the use of ingredients that have a low carbon footprint – including insect proteins, cell-cultured milk, and coffee made from burdock root and hemp seeds. But don’t expect anything squirm-worthy, for these morsels will be so cleverly weaved in that you wouldn't realise they're there in the first place.

The Duxton enclave makes a perfect spot for clandestine hideouts and Cat Bite Club is unlike any other booze den on the block. First, look out for a grinning Cheshire cat outlined by red neon lights along Duxton Road. Then, head straight into Monument Coffee and behind those heavy curtains, you’ll find yourself in good company. The speakeasy is crystal clear about putting agave and rice spirits on a pedestal while threading the needle between both cultural and culinary influences of Southeast Asia and Mexico. Hot tip: start with the mean Cat Bite Margarita ($26), which features a base of tequila blanco and smoky mezcal, before moving on to the stiffer concoctions.

It's not often that you'll find a craft beer bar in a hawker centre of all place, but that's what Smith Street Taps is. What we love – aside from its no-frills setting and pocket-friendly prices – is their sheer range of daily-rotating specialty brews from all over the world. They also brings in a good range of locally brewed craft beers made by passionate Singaporeans. A must-visit for all craft beer lovers.

Yes, it's another high-end cocktail bar in Chinatown, but don't start yawning yet. From surreal eye candy to a rollicking soundtrack breezing between classic rock and Motown funk, this Keong Saik cool cat nails the flippant, friendly vibe they boast at their Seminyak, Bali location – easily one of South-East Asia’s trendiest bars. As we’ve seen in other ballyhooed cocktail lounges in town, slick branding or a big name doesn’t guarantee that things will be done right, but Potato Head Singapore manages it with fun and flamboyance. 

Sago House was set up by a trio of industry veterans. It's all about the little touches here – from the hand-built interiors fashioned out of upcycled materials, to the weekly-rotating cocktail menu inspired by the best local ingredients, to even the graffiti murals on the wall, everything you see here has had plenty of heart and soul put into it. Wanting to create a safe space in the industry, they also host education sessions where they provide insight on about creating one's independent F&B venue, and encourage open discussion among participants regarding day-to-day issues in the sector.

With origins tracing back to the late 1980s, Tea Chapter is easily the oldest and largest teahouse in Singapore – and they even have the bragging rights of having played host to Queen Elizabeth II, where she sipped on their Imperial Golden Cassia tea. Today's they're still keeping traditional tea appreciation accessible to locals and tourists of all ages, proving that it is indeed a timeless art. While there, induge in tea-infused snacks like tea eggs and oolong sweet potato, and pick up some fresh loose leaf teas to brew at home.

Yixing Xuan Teahouse is a one stop shop where you can buy tea leaves and tea-making equipment, as well as pop by for a tea appreciation workshop to enjoy tea the traditional way – in between bites of dim sum, of course.

Though one of the newer entrants in Chinatown's teahouse scene, Silk Tea Bar is no less worthy of mention. Helmed by a pair of young locals, this calming space is the epitome of zen, and offers a range of classic oriental teas. All leaves are sourced from China, while everything is brewed using Australian spring water. Be sure to try their kueh kosui, which complements the teas without overshadowing their complex flavours.

As one of Singapore’s oldest tea merchants, Pek Sin Choon has survived multiple redevelopments, relocations and even a war since its establishment in 1925. The brand now supplies its tea leaves to almost 80 percent of all bak kut teh shops in Singapore as well as some Chinese restaurants, most notably Din Tai Fung. Helmed by a fourth-generation owner, the tea shop maintains many traditional practices, from blending and roasting of leaves in-house, to wrapping them in paper by  hand.