“Di Tanjong Katong, airnya biru.” Haha! Here we’re at Katong! This has to be one of the most unique staycations we’ve ever had. It’s rich in Peranakan heritage and located in the Katong district – a place where we seldom venture into. Thanks to Far East Hospitality, we truly enjoyed ourselves in our recent staycation at Village Hotel Katong.
Before I share with you more about the hotel, let me give you a short introduction to Peranakan. The term Peranakan generally refers to people of mixed Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage. Many Peranakans trace their origins to 15th-century Malacca where their ancestors were thought to be Chinese traders who married local women.
Peranakan males are known as babas while the females are known as nonyas (or nyonyas). A typical image of a Peranakan lady is one elegantly attired in a semi-transparent kebaya complete with kerongsang, hair tied up in a chignon bun with a cucuk sanggul, and wearing hand-beaded slippers.
Peranakan cuisine has strong Malay and Indonesian influences, which can be seen in the use of spices and coconut milk. They are also well known for their sweet cakes, often referred to as nonya kueh.
In recent years, there has been a resurgent interest in Peranakan culture sparked by the highly popular television drama series, The Little Nyonya (2008), as well as the growing popularity of Peranakan cuisine.
Hence, we were so thrilled to experience our very first Peranakan-theme staycation!
Village Hotel Katong
Village Hotel Katong is a flagship Village Hotel that is located in the heart of the Peranakan district. It has a great location with many shopping malls in its vicinity – Parkway Parade, 112 Katong and Roxy Square, just to name a few.
We stayed in a Family Room that is SO spacious with a perfect blend of Peranakan heritage and modern comfort. The size of the room is 35sqm, and it comes with two queen size beds, standing rain shower, 46” LED TV with cable TV channels, mini bar, and complimentary WIFI access. The room is extremely clean and smells fresh too! (Yes, I’m not joking!) I’ll give it full marks in terms of cleanliness.
The “Throwback Family Weekend” package at Village Hotel Katong also comes with buffet breakfast at Katong Kitchen, one set of Peranakan high tea and local desserts at Lapis Lounge, Kids Pack & Amenities, and a collectible Singapore traditional family game set.
The room has an accessible balcony that gives us an excellent view of Marine Parade, East Coast and culturally rich Katong district.
I’m a big fan of nonya kuehs, imagine my delight when I see these yummy local treats delivered to my room with a pot of hot tea and chrysanthemum tea! =)
I also loved the Peranakan themed decorations at the hotel lobby.
We took a walk around the hotel and reached the outdoor swimming pool on the 4th floor. There’s also a gym next to it.
Buffet Breakfast at Katong Kitchen
Katong Kitchen is a halal-certified Peranakan paradise in Katong. It exudes a nostalgic vibes from its wooden flooring to marbled coffee table tops. The buffet spread isn’t huge but it emphasizes a lot on local flavours. I was SO glad to find my favourite fried mee tai bak here. Nonetheless, there’s still a decent selection of American-styled breakfast.
Around The Hotel
The connected mall Katong V is run by the same management, so you’ll notice the rather seamless interior design extended from the hotel to the mall. There’s a Fairprice supermarket too, so you can pick-up some snacks, drinks or fruits conveniently.
As mentioned above, there are a few shopping malls within walking distance from the hotel. For guests who are interested to explore more about Peranakan heritage, they can visit the Katong Antique House which is a restored Peranakan home filled with traditional furniture and other antiques and heirlooms from crockery to clothing.
For dinner, guests can explore authentic Peranakan cuisines at places like Glory Catering, Peranakan Inn & Lounge and Kim Choo Kueh Chang, which is just 5 minutes away from the hotel.
My Verdict
Overall, it was an enjoyable stay with a clean, huge and comfortable room. The location is interesting too, especially for us to experience the Peranakan heritage for the first time. I’ll give some extra bonus points to the delicious nonya kuehs included in the package.
The “Throwback Family Weekend” promotion is available in two packages – 2D1N package or 3D2N package. The package includes:
• Breakfast for 2 Adults and 2 Children at Katong Kitchen • Kids Pack and Amenities • Afternoon High Tea Set for 2 Adults and 2 Children at Lapis Lounge • Collectible Singapore Traditional Game Set
Price starts from just $250++ per room per night. Promotion Period: 19 March – 29 Dec 2017 (Friday to Sunday only) – blackout dates apply. For more details, please visit Far East Hospitality website.
