“Joo Chiat represents the heart of Singapore”

As a Peranakan Chinese, Belinda Lee knows all too well the joys that come from blending multiple cultures together.
That’s part of the reason why she loves exploring the colourful streets of Joo Chiat on the East Coast, home to a plethora of picture-perfect shophouses, rich heritage, and a dizzying array of fantastic local food.
“I spent most of my childhood here, so I see it as the place where I grew up. This is the place I used to come to on dates, where I had my family dinners, and where I can run my errands, but more than that, this is where I feel represents the heart of Singapore,” she says.
“The rich Peranakan culture I see when I come here also reminds me of my grandma, who was a Straits-born Chinese.”
Click through the gallery to see Belinda hit her favourite spots in Joo Chiat, her favourite Singaporean neighbourhood:
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Besides being steeped in history, Joo Chiat also holds fond memories for the stunning actress, which keep her coming back time and time again.
“I have one distinct memory of eating here with my dad when I was younger. There used to be a char kueh teow place where Brotzeit stands now on East Coast Road, and my dad loved that place,” she recalls fondly.
“Even though it was next to a huge drain that was very filthy, he kept going there. One day, as he was eating, a huge cockroach flew towards us from the drain and landed on his face!”
The memory leaves her in fits of laughter, and stirs something in Belinda that prompts her to point out other former eateries and reveal what she remembers of them.
“I love the energy Katong gives off. Regardless if you’re a Westie or a foreigner, everyone who comes to Katong falls in love with this place,” she assures me.
“I remember reading about a survey done on Singapore many, many years ago and it found that people who live in the East, especially those who live in Joo Chiat, Katong and Marine Parade, are among the happiest people on the island, and that to me makes perfect sense.”