Discover both traditional and trendy date ideas in Singapore’s central heritage gem. From highly-raved places to eat and sightsee, to unique couples’ things to do, here’s our perfect weekend dating guide to Chinatown.
Welcoming you with its colourful retro shophouses and bustling streets, Chinatown buzzes with life, a fusion of preserved history and novel experiences.
Once an important kampong settlement for Chinese immigrants and diverse trade communities in Singapore’s early history, Chinatown distinctly blends tradition and modernity. Now full of conserved architecture, religious sites, popular bars and cafes, it’s no wonder locals and tourists alike enjoy a getaway here from city life.
Intrigued? Explore all this beloved heritage gem has to offer with your date, using our complete couple’s weekend guide to Chinatown!
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Where to eat in Chinatown
Food in Singapore’s Chinatown is so much more than your go-to hawker stall chicken rice from Maxwell Food Centre; here are the best places and foods to eat in Chinatown for a unique meal date!
1. Yum Cha Restaurant
Crave authentic comfort food? Savour some fresh dim sum at Yum Cha, an all-time favourite Chinatown restaurant for foodies in Singapore, in their nostalgic tea house environment.
Enjoy the classic tastes of Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings ($6.80), Fish Roe Siew Mai dumplings ($6.80) and Fried Carrot Cake ($7) perfected over 25 years, along with a wide variety of traditional dim sum dishes.
Bonus tip: Use your SG60 CDC vouchers for a discounted meal at Chinatown’s Yum Cha Restaurant – before they expire end-2026!
- Address: 20 Trengganu St, #02-01
- Opening hours: Tue to Fri, 10.30am to pm | Sat & Sun, 9am to 9pm
2. Rise Bakehouse Heritage
Treat your date to a special heritage-inspired lunch date at Rise Bakehouse’s Chinatown outlet, a popular local cafe known for chic aesthetics and innovative, eye-catching desserts.
Delight in local fusion flavours with outlet-exclusive dishes, from mains like the spicy Soft Shell Chilli Crab Rigatoni ($23.90) and crispy Curry Mayo Fish & Chips ($20.90), to the specialty Kueh Salat cake and Pandan Matcha Cloud Latte ($9).
Bonus tip: Keep a lookout for their seasonal dessert menu in-store or on their social media.
- Address: 273 South Bridge Rd
- Opening hours: Sun to Thu (except Tue), 11.30am to 8.30pm | Fri & Sat, 11.30am to 10pm
3. Xiao Ya Tou
Try delectable Asian cuisine with a bold twist at Xiao Ya Tou, a restaurant bar honouring Duxton Hill’s nightlife with spunky energy.
Indulge in their XYT Hokkien Mee ($32) chock-full of smoked pancetta, scallops and seafood, decadent Angus Beef Satay ($36) or vegetarian-friendly Mala Bowl ($28), paired with secret Yuan Yang or Milo-inspired craft cocktails.
- Address: 6 Duxton Hill, #01-01
- Opening hours: Mon to Thu, 11.30am to 11pm | Fri & Sat, 11.30am to 11.30pm | Sun, 11.30am – 10pm
4. Cafe Monochrome
Dine on hearty western dishes at Cafe Monochrome, Singapore’s first 2D black-and-white cafe full of immersive photo spots that resemble hand-drawn Chinese architectural sketches.
Between creative local-fusion meals like the cafe’s popular Laksa Crayfish Pasta ($24) and satisfying classics like all-day Monochrome’s Brunch ($22), and the mind-bending 2D optical illusions, you and your beau will have a feast for the eyes and tastes.
- Address: Along Smith Street Side, 25 Trengganu St, #01-12 Chinatown Point
- Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 8.30pm
5. Mei Heong Yuen Dessert
End your meal on a sweet note with traditional Chinese desserts from Mei Heong Yuen, an established Singapore Chinatown Heritage Brand renowned for its quality dessert pastes.
Escape Singapore’s heat with a cooling Durian Snow Ice ($8) and Mango Pomelo Sago ($8), or opt for some smooth mouth-feel with their signature Walnut Paste ($4.50) and Egg Pudding with Ginger ($4).
Bonus tip: Visit their Chinatown Point outlet if you want to avoid crowds at its main outlet at Temple Street.
- Address & Opening hours
- Temple St, #63-67 |Tue to Sun, 12pm to 9.30pm
- 133 New Bridge Rd, B2-32/33 Chinatown Point | Daily, 10am to 10pm
Things to do in Chinatown
Dive into Chinatown’s best cultural attractions as well as romantic date activities and experiences, by visiting these top places to visit for a memorable time in Singapore.
1. Snap photos with Chinatown’s street art murals
Roam Chinatown’s streets with your partner to spot and take photos with rich, storied street art depicting its vibrant history.
From the nostalgic old-school street vendors at Mohammed Ali Lane, to the iconic red headscarf-bearing Samsui women at Smith Street and more, there is no shortage of heritage-filled mural art to appreciate.
Bonus tip: Plan a walking trail date by viewing all must-see Chinatown murals and their exact addresses. Best part – you can do this for free!
2. Experience 1950s Singapore in Chinatown Heritage Centre
Elevate your typical museum date with an immersive journey through Chinatown’s origins and past migrant communities at Chinatown Heritage Centre, located within three levels of restored shophouses.
At this top-rated local attraction even for born-and-bred Singaporeans, you can hear authentic stories and glimpse lifelike exhibitions, making any visit to Singapore’s Chinatown an unforgettable one.
Bonus tip: Get admission tickets or tour experiences for Chinatown Heritage Centre at discounted prices using SG Culture Pass credits. Then head to the museum’s Amacha drink store for refreshing Traditional Chinese Medicine-inspired milk tea.
- Address: 48 Pagoda Street
- Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 8pm
- Ticket prices: $15 for Singapore Resident Adults
3. Get crafty with a tufting workshop at Anna Craft Creative
Engage in a hands-on date at Anna Craft Creative’s cosy Chinatown studio, where you can learn a new beginner-friendly craft to make colourful and unique couple’s mementos.
Create fuzzy custom rugs, cushions or mirrors with tufting workshops ($45 – $136) that are now all the rage, make matching marble-swirled clay accessories ($58), or craft punch needle coasters and displays ($40 – 55); the possibilities are endless.
- Address: 150 South Bridge Rd, #02-17, Fook Hai Building
- Opening hours: Daily 12 PM – 8 PM
- Price range: $15 – $136, depending on workshop type, size and duration
4. Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
One of the most iconic landmarks of Chinatown is the stately Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Don’t be intimidated by its imposing facade, the striking building welcomes both visitors and worshippers alike.
Housing some of the most impressive Buddhist iconography in Singapore, this temple soothes and delights with intricate artwork and carvings, sonorous chanting and hundreds of lit candle lamps. Detailed plaques are thoughtfully installed throughout, providing clear explanations of the various deities and divine beings worshipped at the temple.
Don’t forget to explore the other floors where you’ll find various ceremonial halls featuring major Buddhist deities, sacred relics (including the eponymous Buddha Tooth) and a well-curated museum telling the story of the Buddha himself.
- Address: 288 South Bridge Road Singapore 058840
- Opening hours: Daily, 7am to 5pm
5. Embark on guided heritage tours or outdoor escape adventures
Don’t want to miss out on Chinatown’s expansive heritage and all its historic gems? Explore the area with guided walking tours, exploring street art, iconic food, past heritage or all of the above.
Have the best of both worlds when you take on Chinatown’s many outdoor escape games, as you and your partner solve exciting puzzles and embark on self-guided routes to understand Chinatown’s history.
Bonus tip: search for all available Chinatown tours and adventure hunts on the SG Culture Pass portal, and get tickets using your SG Culture Pass credits!
Where to stay in Chinatown
Enhance the romantic getaway vibes for a relaxing, yet unique 2D1N weekend experience, with our pick of the best hotels in Singapore’s Chinatown.
1. AMOY Hotel
For an immersive stay steeped in Chinatown’s historical vibes, book a a room at AMOY Hotel. This retro-meets-modern 4-star boutique hotel brings you through a former temple turned into the Fuk Tai Chi Museum, and into an intimate space within conserved shophouses.
Recharge in their furnished rooms honouring Chinatown’s historic details, enjoy the sky pool and gym amenities, and learn more about the area’s trading heritage for a unique hotel stay with your partner.
- Address: 76 Telok Ayer St, Far East Square
- Price: From $235 a night
2. KINN Studios
Make your serene Chinatown weekend complete with a night at KINN Studios, a cosy boutique hotel within a quiet heritage building that offers among the best affordable getaway in the area.
Have your pick from a range of 23 intimate private rooms for a peaceful stay at its prime location, equipped with a common pantry, lounge facilities and a cosy coffee corner – perfect for quiet evening chats.
- Address: 69 Keong Saik Rd
- Price: From $148 a night
3. Amara Singapore Hotel
Located in the adjacent Tanjong Pagar district, Amara Singapore Hotel makes for another great choice for a weekend Chinatown getaway. Luxuriate in the sophisticated ambience of Amara Singapore, a long-running local 5-star hotel brand that honours the vibrant heritage and contemporary elegance of the Tanjong Pagar area, with a prime location connected to the 100 AM mall.
Soak in the comfort of their modern earth-tone rooms, indulge in their popular Thai and Cantonese cuisine, and treat yourselves to a couples’ massages or facial treatments from Haach Spa at 100 AM after a day of exploring Chinatown.
- Address: 165 Tanjong Pagar Rd
- Price: From $280 a night
Rediscover Chinatown through the lens of love
Whether you’re a couple seeking new and enriching experiences, or in need of a romantic weekend retreat with good food, Chinatown’s historic charm and up-and-coming popularity has plenty to offer for a unique date right in Singapore!
with Love,
The Dateideas Team
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Frequently asked questions
What are unique or lesser-known date ideas in Chinatown?
For history lovers or curious learners, visit Chinatown Heritage Centre or go on a Chinatown puzzle hunt adventure for a unique date experience within Singapore. Couples’ picnics at Hong Lim Park or a rug tufting or DIY craft workshop are some lesser-known date activities in Chinatown.
What cultural or heritage attractions can couples visit together?
Some common heritage attractions in Chinatown include Chinatown Heritage Centre, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, and free street art murals to spot and take photos with.
Which cafés in Chinatown are great for a weekend date?
We recommend cafés like Rise Bakehouse Heritage and Cafe Monochrome for a unique café date with Chinatown-inspired dishes. Other popular café date picks include Nakey, September Coffee and Muro Coffee.
Are there affordable date ideas in Chinatown for couples?
Yes – free date ideas in Chinatown include walking trails of Chinatown’s historic street art murals and picnics or walks in Hong Lim Park. Affordable date ideas using your SG Culture Pass credits include a visit to Chinatown Heritage Centre and an outdoor escape adventure around Chinatown.
What hotels in Chinatown are suitable for a romantic weekend stay?
Some hotels suited for a romantic weekend stay in Chinatown are KINN Studios for a cosy getaway, AMOY Hotel for an intimate retro-themed stay, and Amara Singapore Hotel for a luxurious couple’s night.
