The weekend guide to Katong

Everything about Katong Shopping Centre is dated, but as they say – old is gold, and this definitely applies to Dona Manis Cake Shop. It doesn't serve local desserts per se, but it has all the old-school vibes of traditional bakeries, and every bake is painstakingly handmade by husband and wife duo Mr Tan Keng Eng and Mdm Soh Tho Lang. Its most popular item is the banana pie ($2.50 per slice), often touted as the best in Singapore. The warm, sweet banana filling contrasts perfectly with the crumbly texture of the grated coconut topping, making it an instant hit. Other popular items include cream puffs ($3.50 for five), chocolate tarts ($4.50 for five) and raisin scones ($1.30 each). 

Keep your eyes peeled for Medley Alley, an eclectic mural by Nicia Lam, Valerie Neo, Novena Angela and Yillish Lam resemble wings made of colourful tiles (a nod to iconic Peranakan tiles) that represent the metamorphosis between generations. It resembles wings made of Peranakan-inspired tiles to represent the metamorphosis between generations. 

Some other artwork in the area to check out:

Kway Guan Huat Popiah (95 Joo Chiat Road) – Find two murals here by artist Jaxton Su which depicts hawkers peddling popiah in the traditional way. The mural is a homage to the stall which has been around since 1938. 

High Tide (Alleyway behind Koon Seng Road houses) – The mural is a collaboration between artist Helen Le Chatelier and poet Christine Chia and features a large blue tidal wave with lines of poetry. The mural actually symbolises the floods that used to occur in the area in the past.

Jousting Painters (Junction of Everitt Road and Joo Chiat Terrace) – If the style seems familiar, the artist, Ernest Zacharevic is known for his collection of Penang murals. Jousting Painters is just one of the many murals he has around Singapore and was initiated by the local residents. It features two children on imaginary horses having a duel with a paint roller and mop.

Whether you're looking to impress at a dinner party or just a cheese-fanatic (aren't we all?), The Cheese Shop offers a whole range of soft and hard cheeses, from the regular feta and Munster to the premium Camembert de Normandie and Hornbacher. Their cosy, well-organised retail outlets at Joo Chiat and Jurong also stock a variety of wines, sausages, charcuterie and pâtés, so you can easily craft the perfect cheese board for your needs. 

Like the original establishment at Bras Basah, its east side branch offers a fascinating cornucopia of unique home décor, books, trinkets, bicycle accessories, craft and paper paraphernalia. Bring home the likes of aesthetically pleasing art prints for your walls – pick from classic botanical guides, vintage posters, scenes of Singapore and even posters with motivational – but not cheesy – words. Keep a lookout for the resident cat shopkeeper Zoo-zoo – if he isn’t waiting to greet you by the door, he might be resting in his bed hanging by the window. 

Located in the basement of Katong Shopping Centre, this humble chicken rice stall has been around for a long time. Yet, it still warrants long snaking queues and long waiting times just to get a tasty set of chicken, rice, achar, soup and vegetables (if you wish to add on). The main draw here is the chicken – poached and then soaked in cold water, it creates a delicious jelly-like layer underneath the skin which soaks up the soy sauce nicely. While the rice pales in comparison to the chicken, the soup served at this joint is commendable. You get none of that clear and colourless liquid you're accustomed to. Tuck into bowls of traditional Chinese soup like rich pork rib, peanut and lotus root soup or Sichuan vegetables – check with the intimidating auntie taking your orders for the soup of the day. 

Occupying the iconic Red House in Katong, it's really hard to miss Micro Bakery. With the mission to serve delicious and hearty food and to provide a cosy space for people to take a break from the hustle, you'll feel comfortable right away at this café with its warm decor and the smell of freshly baked bread constantly in the air. But your mission is not to stay and wait for a table. Pick up an excellent loaf of freshly baked sourdough bread – there are many types to choose from – and some quality pastries.