Where to Shop in Chinatown Singapore: Souvenirs, Local Crafts & Hidden Bargains

Chinatown Singapore may be known chiefly for its food stalls and photogenic temples, but it’s a shopper’s haven as well! Just about every corner of the district offers deals worth seeing for those who love retail therapy, especially those interested in local crafts and items.

If you want to know where to shop in Chinatown Singapore, we can help. This Chinatown Singapore shopping guide offers an insider’s map of the best buys and bargains.

Traditional Souvenir Spots

Most tourists begin their shopping journeys right in the heart of the district. If you’re looking for shops overflowing with classic memorabilia, this is a good call.

Below are the Chinatown souvenir shops in Singapore to try for this sort of shopping.

Chinatown Street Market

This is at Smith Street, Pagoda Street, and Trengganu Street. You can get the quintessential Chinatown shopping experience here, with vendors stocking everything from fridge magnets to gleaming qipaos.

The market is usually operational throughout the day, but if you want the best experience, go at night. The atmosphere changes after the sun sets, with the scene lit by lanterns and the evening crowd providing a charming hum of activity.

Temple Street

If you want less generic souvenirs, look for shops that specialise in traditional Chinese crafts. The stalls around Temple Street offer a lot of these.

Look for items deeply tied to Chinese symbolism and culture, like Chinese knots and authentic wooden mahjong sets. These are some of the best things to buy in Chinatown Singapore, for heritage enthusiasts.

Note that many souvenirs will feature the colour red (because it’s auspicious in Chinese culture) or icons like koi fish (because they stand for prosperity). If you're looking for gifts for others, consider the meaning behind the souvenir to make it more meaningful.

Beyond Tourist Lanes and Into Hidden Gems

When people talk about what to buy in Chinatown Singapore, they usually cover items aimed mainly at tourists or visitors. But there are some less-often-mentioned hidden bargains and shops worth experiencing, whether you’re a local or a visitor.

Smith Street

The Chinatown Complex houses a legendary food centre, wet market, and retail area. There’s so much to see here as a shopper! 

Come to the area for a genuine slice of local life in the stalls selling medicinal herbs and fresh spices. Items are often sold at wholesale prices, and you get a more authentic, less commercial shopping environment than what you’d get at the main Pagoda Street strip.

People’s Park Complex & Centre

Inside People's Park Complex, you'll find everything from travel agencies, fabric and tailoring shops, and reflexology centres at affordable prices. Across the road, People's Park Centre complements it with money changers, wellness clinics, and eateries.

Come explore, shop, and experience the lively charm. These two iconic landmarks promise a fun and authentic Chinatown experience you won't want to miss.

OG People’s Park

One of the best-known traditional shopping buildings in the district, OG People’s Park tends to be more popular among older generations, but still has things to offer to young shoppers.

This long-standing department store offers fashion, beauty products, home essentials, toys and more. Visitors can enjoy special promotions, membership perks, making it the perfect spot to pick up something for yourself or as a souvenir.

Modern Lifestyle Boutiques

Over at Ann Siang Hill and Keong Saik Road, you can find a lot of stylish independent shops and design-led brands. They indicate Chinatown’s evolution as a trendy lifestyle hub and offer a taste of the modern morsels of fashion and decor coming from this district.

The Tintin Shop, Singapore — Image from Tripadvisor

Tintin Shop

The Tintin Shop is a quirky stop worth visiting for most shoppers. While it’s not traditionally Singaporean, it has since become an iconic fixture in the area. Most locals actually consider it part of the classic Chinatown shopping experience now.

One can find comic-inspired gifts or memorabilia. Yes, it’s literally a shop for items based on that Tintin – the one with the beloved Snowy the Dog.

Local Crafts and Handcrafted Goods

If you want to shop specifically for handcrafted and highly localised items, Chinatown Singapore offers many options for those as well.

Handcrafted and Artisan Stores

Specialist boutique stores abound in the district, featuring the work of local designers and artisans. They may offer jewellery incorporating intricate Peranakan motifs, for example, or homeware based on the art of batik. 

Handmade, handcrafted products like these can be excellent souvenirs to bring home or send to others as gifts. Buying from these shops also supports the cultural traditions that made their work possible.

Tea Shops and Houses

Tea is a big part of Chinatown life. A tin of quality leaves can be an elegant souvenir that also ties back to Chinese culture.

Shop for these at the dedicated tea shops and tea houses around Amoy Street and Smith Street. You can also try Pek Sin Choon, a Singapore-based tea merchant which has been selling traditional Chinese teas in Chinatown for decades.

Foodie Finds for Edible Souvenirs

Some of the best things to buy in Chinatown Singapore are actually edible goodies and snacks. With these, you can share a taste of the district with family and friends.

Traditional Snacks and Sweets

There are countless places to get purchase snacks in Chinatown! Try Lim Chee Guan on 203 New Bridge Rd, where they sell delicious bak kwa (barbecued meat slices). 

If you’d prefer sweet treats, head to Tong Heng Confectionery on 285 South Bridge Road for its unique diamond-shaped Chinese pastries.

Herbal Remedies and TCM Shops

Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM shops can be found all over the district, holding within their shelves centuries of ancient medicinal knowledge. In them, you can buy items such as ginseng, dried bird’s nest, herbal teas, and more.

Seasonal Food Souvenirs

If you time your Chinatown visit for major festivals, you'll be able to find a lot of seasonal or festive goodies!

For Mid-Autumn, for example, you’ll find specialty mooncake varieties unavailable for the rest of the year but available only during Mid-Autumn Festival. Meanwhile, Chinese New Year brings out goodies such as pineapple tarts and 年糕 (sticky rice cakes).

Chinatown Singapore Shopping Tips

Locals may not need this, but for those going on their first Chinatown shopping adventure, these practical insider tips may help.

• Weather & Comfort. Singapore’s heat and humidity can get intense, especially at midday. Dress in light, breathable clothing and stay hydrated. Many shops are air-conditioned, but the street markets are mostly open-air.

• Bring a Reusable Bag. Some stalls still provide plastic bags, but many now charge a small fee (usually 5-10 cents) as part of the move towards sustainability. Bringing your own tote or foldable bag not only helps reduce waste, but also makes it easier to carry your Chinatown finds as you shop from stall to stall.

• Best Time to Shop. For a more engaging atmosphere, it may be best to try the Street Market in the evening. For fresh produce or wholesale food finds, try places like Chinatown Complex in the morning.

• Payment. Cash is still king for most vendors. Some stalls now accept digital payments, but err on the side of caution by bringing a lot of smaller banknotes.

Come to Chinatown and Start Shopping Today

Shopping in Chinatown can be one of the most memorable experiences you may have in Singapore. Plan your trip today so you know which stalls or streets to visit ahead of time!

If you want to make the most of your visit, you can also consider stopping by the Chinatown Heritage Centre. Here, you can appreciate the stories behind the streets and the heritage brands you’ll be buying items from.