Singapore’s coolest neighbourhood: Joo Chiat shopping guide

With a steady stream of independent brands moving in post-pandemic, Joo Chiat has become a bona fide shopping destination

PHOTOS: IN GOOD COMPANY, GIN TAY, SOJAO, SARAH LEE

Carmen Sin

• Joo Chiat has transformed from a run-down area into a trendy shopping neighbourhood with a mix of old charm and new independent brands.
• Local labels like In Good Company, Rye, and Yumumu offer modern fashion and lifestyle products in unique, cosy stores.
• Specialty shops such as The Monocot Shop, Sojao, and Grafunkt provide curated home goods and designer furniture, enhancing Joo Chiat’s appeal as a shopping destination.

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SINGAPORE – Slowly, then all at once, Joo Chiat has become that most marmite of places – a trendy neighbourhood

The old patchwork of scuzzy KTV bars and Vietnamese-run eateries now sit cheek by jowl with speciality coffee joints and artsy concept stores

But whether you love to hate it or hate that you love it, there is magic in the way the East Coast neighbourhood captivates both locals and tourists. The district is still better known for its polished cafes and colourful Peranakan shophouses, but with a steady stream of independent brands moving in post-pandemic, Joo Chiat has become a bona fide shopping destination

Here is a supercut of the best shops in the area, spanning fashion, lifestyle and home

In Good Company is a Singapore label known for its clean lines, good draping and knack for modern wardrobe staples. The newest entrant to the busy street opened at a three-storey shophouse in early July

The brand prioritises material, often using exclusive, customised fabric

Its Joo Chiat outpost is split into two retail floors and a loft activity space

The first floor, designed for lingering, features the brand’s curation of lifestyle objects

There are ceramics, art objects, fragrances, beauty products, handwoven stainless steel bags by local brand Studio Karyn Lim and stationery

Past the object salon where these objects are displayed is Miura, a tea and wagashi stand by the team behind popular cafe Paaru

The second floor houses womenswear, menswear and accessories. Prices for apparel are mostly in the low hundreds. 

Info:316 Joo Chiat Road

Rye is a local slow-fashion womenswear label and cool-girl favourite founded in 2016. It excels at minimalist but expressive basics – fluid tops, cocoon-shaped dresses and a neutral palette. 

Its Joo Chiat boutique opened in 2023, a year before its second at lifestyle development New Bahru. Primarily designed in-house, the Joo Chiat store features rustic clay walls, natural stone floor tiles and polished metal shells across the counter for added tactility

One of the most distinctive details is Helios, a hand-crafted sun mosaic inspired by the idea of a “sun keeper” and the neighbourhood’s coastal history. Bespoke column racks draw inspiration from the work of architect Geoffrey Bawa. 

There are also pieces by artisans and designers from Singapore and around the world, including the Jak and Ebony print by Barbara Sansoni on an ottoman, the Tekio horizontal lamp by Anthony Dickens, and a custom rug by local textile studio Tanchen. 

Prices range from $69 for a T-shirt to the low hundreds for dresses. 

Info:201 Joo Chiat Road, 01-03

The monocot shop is an offshoot of Singapore-founded interior design firm Monocot Studio. It sells home goods and collectibles, many of them vintage

The 35 sq m space is an emporium of good design, featuring everything from limbless Japanese Kokeshi dolls to hand-braided fern brooms and tofu sieves, made for picking up soft squares of tofu from hot-pot broth

Highlights include three-legged stools by cult Finnish furniture company Artek – designed more than 100 years ago – clocks by acclaimed American industrial designer George Nelson, and semi-abstract wooden figures designed by mid-century great Alexander Girard, known as Vitra dolls

Beyond the brand names, there are such delights as a sausage dog whisky bottle and salt and pepper shakers shaped like zebras that can be wound up to walk. This is the place for the ultimate collectible or, perhaps, just Hello Kitty branded salt. 

Info:216 Joo Chiat Road, 01-18

Yumumu is a local womenswear brand founded in 2010. Designed by Yilin Liu, who trained at London’s Slade School of Fine Art, the brand turns out smart and feminine casual clothing. It is popular with expats who make up about half its clientele. Its bestsellers are its longline sleeveless tops and tailored trousers. 

Its Joo Chiat boutique is its only store. Measuring 1,000 sq ft, it is an intimate, cosy space designed to feel like someone’s living room. Fixtures were kept intentionally close to the ground, creating a warm, uncluttered atmosphere for guests. 

Prices range from $135 to $345. 

Info:303 Joo Chiat Road

Sojao is a local home and lifestyle brand specialising in ethically made, 100 per cent cotton bedsheets, bath towels and loungewear. Its name means “go to sleep” in Hindi, and is a nod to the Indian cotton farmers and workers behind its signature sheets. 

From sheets to duvet covers, pillow cases and quilts, all of Sojao’s products are 100 per cent certified organic, which means the whole supply chain is audited, not just the field

Pesticides, Azo dyes (common synthetic organic chemical compounds) and chlorine bleaching do not feature in production, according to the brand. Its bedsheets are long-staple and single-ply, built to last without pilling. 

Prices start at $32 for tote bags, $44 for loungewear, $60 for bath towels and the low hundreds for its fitted sheets. 

Its shophouse unit is its first store and flagship. It has a skylight in the back, where the family who used to live there did laundry, and an original breeze block that is now part of the toilet. 

Info:251 Joo Chiat Road

The local bedding specialist offers a range of materials including French linen, bamboo and all-cotton bedding

One bestseller is bamboo bedding, a 100 per cent bamboo rayon popular in Singapore for its moisture-wicking and coolness. A full set (fitted sheet, duvet cover, and two pillowcases) ranges from $235 to $342, depending on size

A full French linen set, which has a rustic, lived-in look and is incredibly durable, ranges from $355 to $530. 

Its 900 sq ft store also carries a tight range of clothing, including modern lifestyle label n-house lounge line made from end-of-roll bamboo sateen and Japanese-

Info:479 Joo Chiat Road, 01-00

Curating high-quality bags for people on the go, The Bag Creature carries more than 10 international bag brands, suitable for work, travel and outdoor activities. 

These are backpacks that look a touch like gear and can be put through their paces. Browse from the likes of small Hong Kong brand Able Carry, which uses the high-performance fabric Cordura, typically two to three times more abrasion-resistant than standard nylon of the same weight

The two-storey store also sells modular shelves and storage boxes under the brand Sumu, design books, stationery and a small selection of clothes. 

The second floor is styled like a creative’s living room to show off the shelving and Dulton storage boxes from Japan. Everything in this showroom can be bought. 

Info:162 East Coast Road

Enter the trendiest furniture store in town and a paradise for arty decorators. The home-grown retailer was founded in 2009 by Singaporean entrepreneur Jefery Kurniadidjaja and award-winning Singapore designer Nathan Yong. 

Its Joo Chiat showroom spans three floors and three moods. The ground level houses popular Danish brands like Hay, known for its bright modern designs, and &Tradition, whose colourful half-moon-shaped lamps you have probably seen on your social media feed

New entrant House of Finn Juhl, also Danish, kicks things up a notch with sculptural pieces designed by its namesake, the late mid-century designer instrumental to the introduction of the Danish Modern to America

The second floor is given over to French brand Ligne Roset, the originator of the voguish Togo chair. 

The third floor is for Japanese brands

A small cafe, Same Days Coffee Stand, serves espresso tonics and classic cuppas on the ground floor. 

Furniture and lighting start at about $200, while home accessories range from $10 to $200. 

Info:292 Joo Chiat Road

Tucked away on the third floor of a shophouse is Heartware, a gallery and store with a focus on the adorable. 

Most of its 66 sq m floor space is given to its free bi-monthly art exhibitions, but it also sells creative loot: art objects, apparel, prints, books, toys and even stickers. A selection of vintage objects, mostly from Japan, feature, too. 

Clothing and accessories for sale include T-shirts from various artists, caps, outerwear like vests, tote bags and keychains. 

Founded by the team at creative agency Kinetic, Heartware has held many a quirky event, like love hotel- and supermarket-themed shows

Most recently, Irish comic artist Niall Breen brought his internet-famous Dog and Frog comic universe to life at Heartware for his Lazy Days With Dog & Frog solo exhibition. 

Info:350B Joo Chiat Road

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