Is Katong & Joo Chiat a good place to stay in Singapore?

Katong is a good base if you want a relaxed, characterful neighbourhood rather than a hotel district. The Thomson-East Coast Line stops at Marine Parade, Katong Park and Tanjong Katong, Paya Lebar is a short bus ride north and the airport is close. It suits families, repeat visitors and anyone who likes to eat well and walk to the sea.

The area is famous for its Peranakan heritage. The pastel shophouses of Koon Seng Road are some of the prettiest in Singapore, Joo Chiat Road is lined with old shopfronts, cafés and small hotels, and East Coast Road has bakeries, kueh shops and the laksa stalls that made the name Katong famous. To the south, East Coast Park runs along the shore with cycle paths, beaches and seafood restaurants.

The downside is that Katong is away from the centre and the big sights. Marina Bay, Chinatown and Orchard are a train or taxi ride away, nightlife is limited to a few bars and cafés, and the choice of large hotels is small. Most of the Thomson-East Coast Line stations are a walk from the shophouse streets rather than right beside them.

What makes Katong special is how local it feels. You can walk past rows of painted shophouses, eat laksa and Peranakan food in places locals queue for, and spend an evening by the sea at East Coast Park, all in one of the most pleasant neighbourhoods in Singapore.