2025 has already blessed us with a bunch of new and upgraded malls in Singapore, such as iMall and Punggol Coast Mall. But if you’re feeling a little sian of all that glossy, cookie-cutter shopping, it might be time to take a step back into the past by visiting Katong Shopping Centre. While it’s best known as a domestic helper agency hub, it’s also home to quirky hidden gems you won’t find in your usual mall crawl.
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Katong Shopping Centre isn’t just one of the oldest strata malls – it’s also the first air-conditioned mall in Singapore, dating back to the 70s. But what’s a strata mall, you ask? Simply put, it’s a shopping complex not fully owned by a single company. Instead, each shop unit is individually owned by tenants.
Sounds cool in theory, but in practice, it’s a bit mafan. Since everyone owns their own shop, it’s hard to agree on stuff like renovations and upkeep. Case in point: when we went down, there wasn’t even a proper directory of the mall’s shops and services. Don’t worry though, we’ve sussed it out for you.
That said, strata malls like Katong Shopping Centre are still worth a visit IMO. While it may be past its heyday, the mall oozes 70s charm and is home to a unique pool of tenants that you won’t easily find elsewhere. After all, with Katong Shopping Centre being put up for sale several times in the past, who knows how much longer it’ll be around? Better to soak it all in while you still can.
Take the MRT and alight at Dakota MRT Station on the Circle Line. Head to Dakota Stn Exit A/Blk 99 Bus Stop (stop ID: 81181) and board either bus number 10 or 32 before dropping off at Katong Shop Ctr Bus Stop.
Alternatively, you can take the Thomson-East Coast Line and alight at Marine Parade MRT Station. From there, it’s a 10-minute stroll to the mall.
Image credit: @happybellybuddy via Instagram
Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice (#B1-85/87) is pretty much the star of Katong Shopping Centre, with foodies from all over Singapore making the trip just for a plate. Their Chicken Rice Set ($6.70) may be pricier than your average hawker fare, but it’s still well worth every cent as you’ll get to enjoy free-flow achar and soup to your heart’s delight.
Those who are just after a quick bite have not 1, but 2 famous banana pie shops to pick from – Dona Manis Cake Shop (#B1-93) and Auntie Peng Banana Pie (#B1-92). Both serve up banana pies at affordable prices, with the former selling them at $3.50/slice and the latter pricing them at $3.30/slice.
There’s actually some tea behind these shops: Dona Manis originally started in 1994 by Auntie Peng and Uncle Tan. After Uncle Tan passed away in October 2023, Auntie Peng left the business to start her own shop next door, while Uncle Tan’s daughter Ester kept the original stall running.
We’ll leave it to you to decide which one’s the real deal and whose banana pie is superior.
You’ll also find plenty of yummy fare over at Golden Cafe (#B1-124). Some fan-favourites to look out for at the food court are the zi char, sheng jian bao, and mala hotpot stores.
For a strata mall, the interior here is surprisingly well-kept – clean, neat, and even nicely designed. The food stalls may not have the same star power as the famous chicken rice joint at the other end, but what it lacks in hype, it makes up for with dining comfort and a cosy ambience.
One thing that sets Katong Shopping Centre apart from other strata malls is its rather unexpected tenant – Ghostbuster (#B1-27/28/29). According to their website, they tap into bazi divination and psychic “heavenly eye” skills to detect life’s problems. They’ve even shared stories online about how their rituals have helped to lift curses.
Step closer and you’ll spot a whole collection of “cursed” artefacts from all over the world displayed outside the store. Each one comes with a short note explaining the consequences of the curse – creepy, fascinating, or both?
Beyond the curio, the shop also offers a wide range of feng shui services, from picking auspicious wedding dates to destiny enhancement.
When you think of Katong Shopping Centre, the first thing that probably comes to mind is its cluster of domestic helper agencies – hard to miss with all the big signage plastered on the exterior walls of the mall. Among the crowd, Prestigious Employment Agency (#01-4016) and Jack Focus (#01-08) are some of the more highly rated.
Jack Focus has been around for over 20 years and even clinched awards like being one of the “Three Best Rated Maid Agencies” in the Marine Parade and Katong area. Prestigious Employment Agency also provides elderly care assistants and professional caregivers.
What’s a mall retreat without a rejuvenating massage or spa experience? Luckily, Katong Shopping Centre has you covered with Healing Heritage (#B1-26) and Dong Fa Foot Reflexology (#B1-98).
Healing Heritage offers services ranging from sports therapy to pain management, with prices starting from $90/hour, and they even offer house visits for an extra fee. It also happens to be one of the only shops in the mall to have a perfect 5-star rating on Google reviews, at the time of writing. Meanwhile, Dong Fa Foot Reflexology’s classic foot reflexology experience (from $28/30 mins) is a great way to relax after exploring the mall’s maze-like interior.
If you’ve been thinking of setting up a home aquarium, visit New Katong Aquarium (#B1-23). From fish tanks of all sizes to shrimps and aquatic plants to spruce up your underwater friends’ home, this aquarium shop has everything you need to start your aquatic adventure.
KTV fans can consider dropping by Teo Heng Trading Pte Ltd (#02-13/14/15 & #02-55/56), one of Singapore’s most popular karaoke chains and home karaoke system brands. While you won’t be belting out tunes in-store, you can check out the different systems on offer and bring the karaoke fun home to sing in comfort.
One product that caught our eye was the Wasuka Classic Snow Set ($1,999, U.P. $3,999). You read that right – one of the more premium home karaoke sets on the market is going for almost 50% off, at the time of writing.
The set comes with:
Toy collectors will also feel right at home at Harmonious Collectibles (#B1-103/104). From the outside, it may look like an unassuming store, but step in, and you’ll be greeted by rows upon rows of shelves lined with toys and figurines – especially a treasure trove for Transformers fans.
If you’re a fan of the Transformers: War for Cybertron series, you can snag figurines of characters like Quintesson ($36) and Optimus Primal ($72).
Fellow numismatists – that’s the fancy term for coin collectors – this shop has a neat selection of unique Singapore notes and coins, which can be tricky to hunt down elsewhere. Prices vary depending on age and resale value, so the best way to see what’s available is to check it out in person.
For an even wider selection of figurines, check out Hobby Bounties (#02-91/92). This shop leans toward small-scale vehicle figures and dioramas of things like aircraft, ships, and cars. Most of the replicas are from Airfix, a reliable brand among serious collectible hobbyists.
Rubik’s cube enthusiasts can check out CubeWerkz (#02-32), a store specialising in just about anything and everything related to the 3×3 and more. This also happens to be their main branch, which means that you’ll be able to get the very best that they have to offer.
Here, a regular 3×3 will cost you $5, though they offer so much more than that. If you’re into competitive cubing, they have a bunch of speedcubes, twisty puzzles, and brain toys to help you shave as many seconds off your timing as possible. Beyond just the products, they offer professional-level training too, which you can find out more about on the CubeWerkz website.
Sure, online tutors are a big thing now, but if physical in-person interactions are a top priority for you, you’ll be glad to know that there are some tuition centres in the mall. Glenn Lee Learning Centre (#02-53) specialises in helping students improve their math and science skills in preparation for N or O levels.
Meanwhile, Math Vigilante (#02-77) caters to younger children from primary 3 onwards, giving them a solid foundation so they can stay cool and confident when tackling tricky PSLE Maths questions.
With over 30 years of experience, AppleDot Design and Digital Printing (#02-81B) covers everything you could need when it comes to printing – from name cards and brochures to stamps and seals.
There’s also B.Spoke by Jamco (#B1-99), which offers a selection of luxury spectacles and sunglasses.
So, the next time you’re looking to spice up your mall haunts with something different, give Katong Shopping Centre a try. Beyond its well-known domestic helper agencies, you’ll also find plenty of niche shops and good food around. Who knows, you might even want to revisit after exploring it in full.
For other malls in SG, check out:
Photography by Eldora Chong.
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