Katong Antique House
Katong Antique House
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4.0
34 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
11
Average
7
Poor
3
Terrible
2
rinskeblo
Laren, The Netherlands77 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
After being closed for renovations for months, we were happy to finally be able to visit the Katong Antique House. Our guide Angeline was very knowledgeable and made it very personal and entertaining. The tour takes about 45 minutes and costs 15 SGD per person, it’s worth every cent!
Written 5 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bolomenino
Singapore183 contributions
July 2020
The house is situated in Katong, a Straits Chinese enclave, right next to Holy Family Church.
A great place to experience how Straits Chinese used to live. Many thanks to Eric who described every part of the house in detail so passionately. This 'museum' was started by Mr. Peter Wee, a well-respected doyen of Peranakan culture, who spared no effort in collecting Peranakan antiques handed down by his ancestors and other Straits Chinese. Do call to make an appoinment to visit.
A great place to experience how Straits Chinese used to live. Many thanks to Eric who described every part of the house in detail so passionately. This 'museum' was started by Mr. Peter Wee, a well-respected doyen of Peranakan culture, who spared no effort in collecting Peranakan antiques handed down by his ancestors and other Straits Chinese. Do call to make an appoinment to visit.
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AliceMunro
Singapore, Singapore2 contributions
Oct 2014 • Business
The small details inside this house are bewitching, from the tin carriers to the kebayas, to the dresses and black and white photos depicting Peter Wee's family and history. This is the place to go to if you want to learn more about the Peranakan Culture in Singapore. Learnings and stories from the owner Peter Wee are delightful. Read more about the house here: http://www.cromly.com/stories/article/148000
Written 5 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AiBing
Singapore, Singapore14 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
I came with a group of ten people to Peter Wee's house and briefed him before that it is a bachelorette party, so we are particularly interested in Peranakan wedding customs.
Peter was very nice over the phone, assured me that he has "40 years of colorful stories" and he can talk about whatever we wish.
During the visit however, he only told us very basic Peranakan stories that we have all known already, since we all live in Asia for years. When asked more specific questions, he gave vague answers and used often the expression that "this is very complex and hard to explain".
When I invited him to tell us about whatever he feels comfortable with, he said, he prefers responding to our questions but again, our questions did not get proper & detailed answers.
The visit of his house consisted of going from the entrance to the living room and then peek into the inner court & the kitchen. He did not explain the reason why Peranakan shop houses are built the way they are, he did not show us home objects apart from family portraits and even with those portraits he was just introducing that "this is my grandmother" instead of telling the family hierarchy, traditions, or specific personal stories.
Though 15SGD per person is not a huge amount per se, I think it is a rip-off to charge so much when you just show a bit your house that is not even very historic but more a compilation of 40 years of junk.
Maybe this is an interesting experience for somebody who visits Asia for the very first time and just got off the tourist bus but definitely uninteresting if you know a bit about Asia / Singapore / Peranakan traditions.
A much better thing to do is to visit the Peranakan Museum. It is a beautiful old building in the Civic District, nice walk from the Armenian Church. It is very informative and interactive and both the permanent & the temporary exhibitions are very good.
Peter was very nice over the phone, assured me that he has "40 years of colorful stories" and he can talk about whatever we wish.
During the visit however, he only told us very basic Peranakan stories that we have all known already, since we all live in Asia for years. When asked more specific questions, he gave vague answers and used often the expression that "this is very complex and hard to explain".
When I invited him to tell us about whatever he feels comfortable with, he said, he prefers responding to our questions but again, our questions did not get proper & detailed answers.
The visit of his house consisted of going from the entrance to the living room and then peek into the inner court & the kitchen. He did not explain the reason why Peranakan shop houses are built the way they are, he did not show us home objects apart from family portraits and even with those portraits he was just introducing that "this is my grandmother" instead of telling the family hierarchy, traditions, or specific personal stories.
Though 15SGD per person is not a huge amount per se, I think it is a rip-off to charge so much when you just show a bit your house that is not even very historic but more a compilation of 40 years of junk.
Maybe this is an interesting experience for somebody who visits Asia for the very first time and just got off the tourist bus but definitely uninteresting if you know a bit about Asia / Singapore / Peranakan traditions.
A much better thing to do is to visit the Peranakan Museum. It is a beautiful old building in the Civic District, nice walk from the Armenian Church. It is very informative and interactive and both the permanent & the temporary exhibitions are very good.
Written 1 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwendoline_White
Sydney, Australia17 contributions
I visited Katong Antique House Singapore on the 3rd February 2010. The location is easy to find. It is along the main road of East Coast Road, not far away from the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church and Charlie Peranakan Baba Nyonya Restaurant. I stopped in Paya Lebar MRT Station and took a bus to Katong Village and from there I walked to Katong Antique House. The house is painted indigo blue and the structure is typical of old Singapore shophouse.
I pressed the bell when I arrived and a middle-aged lady opened the door. She was very helpful and hospitable. She explained, and gave me a photostat article about the owner and the history of Katong Antique House. The antiques were very beautiful and breath-taking. There were many framed old photos and embroidered Chinese silk items hanging on the wall, and the sitting room and back room are filled with old Baba Nyonya antiques such as decorative arts, attires, jewelleries, batik cloth, sculptures, porcelain wares, textile, fabrics, slippers made of beads, old gold-plated wooden carvings, inlaid mother of pearls furnitures, old paper/skin lanterns, Chinese calligraphy and many others.
I bought a Baba Malay Conversational Book and a DVD about Peranakan life in the 1960s and 1970s.There are so many things to see, and you could easily spend hours there. I met the owner Mr. Wee, a very nice man who introduced me to Peranakan Baba batik shirt and its fabric. He is very knowledgeable in Peranakan Baba Nyonya history, culture, antiques, social customs etc. Mr. Wee had written books on the Peranakan Legacy.
If you want to do a research on Peranakan Baba Nyonya antiques, or to buy them or to make a film, you can easily get the items here. Highly recommendable. The area is also very relaxing away from the noise of Orchard Road and City Hall. There are many old Chinese shops and restaurants outside and near Katong Antique House.
I pressed the bell when I arrived and a middle-aged lady opened the door. She was very helpful and hospitable. She explained, and gave me a photostat article about the owner and the history of Katong Antique House. The antiques were very beautiful and breath-taking. There were many framed old photos and embroidered Chinese silk items hanging on the wall, and the sitting room and back room are filled with old Baba Nyonya antiques such as decorative arts, attires, jewelleries, batik cloth, sculptures, porcelain wares, textile, fabrics, slippers made of beads, old gold-plated wooden carvings, inlaid mother of pearls furnitures, old paper/skin lanterns, Chinese calligraphy and many others.
I bought a Baba Malay Conversational Book and a DVD about Peranakan life in the 1960s and 1970s.There are so many things to see, and you could easily spend hours there. I met the owner Mr. Wee, a very nice man who introduced me to Peranakan Baba batik shirt and its fabric. He is very knowledgeable in Peranakan Baba Nyonya history, culture, antiques, social customs etc. Mr. Wee had written books on the Peranakan Legacy.
If you want to do a research on Peranakan Baba Nyonya antiques, or to buy them or to make a film, you can easily get the items here. Highly recommendable. The area is also very relaxing away from the noise of Orchard Road and City Hall. There are many old Chinese shops and restaurants outside and near Katong Antique House.
Written 8 February 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James L
Richmond, Canada61 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
Sadly the owner passed away last year. We happened to be by chance walking by when we overheard another person contacting a house representative to confirm their arrival for their appointment. Fortunately for us the representative allowed us to enter along with the other two (who had pre arranged entry). While not a full tour, we only saw the bottom floor (entry way, dinning table, stairs foyer and the kitchen) - thus was still a fascinating glimpse into an hundred year old terrace House filled with Peranankan goods and photos of a bygone era. Appreciate the hospitality of the house representative. Thanks.
Written 13 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cherrybrookchick
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia98 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
I made a point of visiting this place, because I am interested in the Peranakan culture, and had read other reviews, and partly because I was staying in the area. I was really keen to see an old fashioned shohouse. I was very disappointed. I entered the building only to find two women sitting at a table with an assortment of biscuit in jarsarranged on all available space for sale. I was given a one page history of the House. I was not allowed to see past the foyer, and so ended my visit.
If you want to see beautiful Peranakan pieces - costumes. Jewellery, beaded shoes and ceramics, go to Rumah Bebe a little further up the road opposite 112 Katong Shopping Centre. It will better meet your e Pe tattoos. The Peranakan Museum in the city, near Fort Canning, is also a must.
If you want to see beautiful Peranakan pieces - costumes. Jewellery, beaded shoes and ceramics, go to Rumah Bebe a little further up the road opposite 112 Katong Shopping Centre. It will better meet your e Pe tattoos. The Peranakan Museum in the city, near Fort Canning, is also a must.
Written 29 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iamboring
Singapore, Singapore28 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
I visited the Katong Antique House today for the first time. It was closed but you can just ring the bell for assistance. The owner Peter Wee and his assistant showed us around. The Katong Antique House is a house museum (the second level is his home and is not open to the public anymore) and many of the items they have are collections given to the museum. When you go into the inner room / dining hall, you will get to see may portraits, and some even of Peter's ancestors. The kitchen and kueh-making area are also available for viewing. Overall, thanks to Peter's generous explanations and stories (he even provided the story line for popular drama "The Little Nyonya") it was really an interesting experience. Recommended for all tourists and Singaporeans who want to know more about the authentic Peranakan culture. We spent about 30 minutes in the museum.
Written 17 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
margaret826
Auckland Region, New Zealand29 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
Our hotel recommended we visit this antique shop, it definitely was a welcome contrast to new Singapore. If you like history and antiques then it is a great experience. We enjoyed the graciousness of the shop , its owner and the past it represents.
Written 22 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mali886
Singapore, Singapore146 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
This beautiful little museum of sorts reopened earlier this year. It is a lovely place to visit. Eric our guide was so patient and informative telling us about different Peranakan items and also the history of what constitutes Peranakan culture etc. Spent a lovely hour here. Lots of beautiful antiques, earthen ware, gadgets, shoes, clothing etc to be explored. Would love to see the upstairs open up to what Peranakan bedrooms looked like.
Written 19 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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