Things to Do in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar: A Local Guide to Keong Saik and Duxton
When most visitors search for things to do in Chinatown, they are directed towards Pagoda Street, souvenir shops and the same famous tourist attractions. But walk a little further towards Tanjong Pagar and you’ll discover a more interesting side of the district—one shaped by historic temples, conserved shophouses, independent stores, contemporary art and some of Singapore’s best-loved niche places to eat.
Skip the rows of cheap, mass-produced souvenirs, many of which reveal little about Singapore. Instead, follow this walk through Maxwell, Ann Siang Hill, Keong Saik Road, Neil Road and Duxton to experience a more local and distinctive side of Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar.
Start at Maxwell
Begin at Maxwell Food Centre, one of Singapore’s best-known hawker centres. It is a convenient place to try local dishes before exploring the surrounding streets, although popular stalls can become crowded during lunchtime.
Directly beside the market is KADA, a contemporary lifestyle and wellness hub housed inside a restored century-old building that was formerly St Andrew’s Mission Hospital. Its mix of cafés, dining concepts, wellness studios and creative spaces offers an interesting example of how heritage architecture can be adapted for modern Singapore.
Architecture and city-planning enthusiasts should also visit the nearby Singapore City Gallery at the URA Centre. Its enormous architectural models offer a fascinating look at how Singapore has developed and how its future neighbourhoods are being planned. Admission is free.
Wander through Ann Siang Hill
From Maxwell, cross over to Ann Siang Hill, where narrow streets and conserved shophouses are now home to restaurants, bars and independent creative businesses.
Look out for ARKIVE, a concept store specialising in pre-loved designer fashion, music, books, vinyl, art and collectables sourced from around the world. There is even a hidden photo booth inside. It is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in fashion, subculture and objects with a history.
For dinner later, return to Les Bouchons on Ann Siang Road, one of my personal favourites in the neighbourhood. This cosy French bistro is best known for its steak frites, served with salad and free-flow homemade fries.
Explore Keong Saik Road
Continue towards Keong Saik Road, one of the most characterful streets within the wider Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar district. Once associated with clan houses, migrant communities and a more notorious nightlife, the street has evolved into a lively mix of conserved shophouses, restaurants, boutique hotels and independent businesses.
At 73 Keong Saik Road, you’ll find the colourful Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple. Dedicated to Lord Vinayagar, also known as Ganesha, the Hindu temple was established at its present location in 1925. Its ornate five-tiered entrance tower makes it one of the most distinctive landmarks on the street. As it remains an active place of worship, visitors should dress and behave respectfully.
Visit The Finix Store
While exploring Keong Saik Road, head upstairs to The Finix Store, an independent, gender-neutral fashion and lifestyle destination inside a conserved shophouse.
For anyone searching for a cool lifestyle concept store in Tanjong Pagar, the store offers an alternative to Singapore’s mainstream malls and international fashion chains. It is home to Finix, a modern Singaporean fashion label known for distinctive modern Asian silhouettes, movement-led design and versatile clothing created for tropical city living.
As a contemporary Asian fashion label store, Finix reinterprets familiar Asian clothing forms—including kimono jackets, wrap tops, hakama-inspired bottoms and tobi pants—for modern, gender-fluid dressing.
The Finix Store also carries a considered mix of other independent local and regional labels across fashion, accessories, fragrance and lifestyle. If you are exploring fashion boutiques in Singapore or searching for the best local boutique store on Keong Saik Road, it is a worthwhile stop along your Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar walking route.
Eat and unwind along Neil Road
From Keong Saik, continue towards Neil Road for lunch or a tea break.
Jing Hua Xiao Chi is a longstanding, family-run dumpling restaurant located in its original shophouse. Their handmade dumplings and noodles are among my personal favourites in the area—simple, comforting and full of flavour.
Nearby, Tea Chapter, one of Singapore’s oldest traditional Chinese teahouses, offers a quieter way to experience the neighbourhood. Settle into its conserved shophouse interior and slow down over a pot of Chinese tea away from the crowds.
Book lovers can make a short detour to Grassroots Book Room on Bukit Pasoh Road, an independent Chinese-language bookshop with a thoughtful selection spanning literature, philosophy, history and art.
See contemporary art in Duxton
Continue into Duxton and look out for the gigantic KAWS sculpture outside Mondrian Singapore Duxton. Standing six metres tall, WHAT PARTY is a permanent bronze artwork positioned at the hotel entrance. Its playful, instantly recognisable form creates an unexpected meeting point between contemporary art, fashion and pop culture.
For a wider view of the district, visit the 50th-storey skybridge at The Pinnacle@Duxton. Located within one of Singapore’s most recognisable public housing developments, the elevated walkway offers panoramic views across the historic shophouses, CBD and harbour without the price or crowds of the city’s major observation decks.
See a different side of Tanjong Pagar district
Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar are best explored slowly and on foot. By venturing beyond the usual souvenir streets, you’ll encounter a more authentic mix of heritage, food, fashion, art and independent culture.
Follow the route from Maxwell through Ann Siang, Keong Saik and Duxton, and you’ll see how old and new Singapore exist side by side - and discover some of the local places that give this district its character.