Village Hotel Katong Peranakan Family Experience {Review & Giveaway}

"Unless you know where you came from, what your ancestors have been through, 

you have no reference point. What makes us different from say the Thais, 

or the Filippinos, or the Sri Lankans? The difference is how we came here, 

how we developed, and that requires a sense of history." 

~ Lee Kuan Yew

I have to say that I've never been good at history. Not being fond of that subject doesn't mean that I am not proud of my past, my culture and my roots. In fact, in a world where boundaries are ceasing and traditions are fast disappearing, I like to take the opportunity to learn, and at the same time teach my kids, more about history and heritage.

Back in Sweden, we would still occasionally watch some of the local dramas and one that particularly caught my attention was 小娘惹 (The Little Nyonya) - the story of a Peranakan family in Malacca which is set in the 1930s. No, we are not a Peranakan family (though I do love to eat Nyonya kueh and Otak Otak). However, there is something unique and exquisite about this hybrid culture that impels me to find out more about it. 

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Village Hotel Katong

When we were invited to review the Peranakan Family Experience at Village Hotel Katong (read our previous review of the hotel here), I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to learn some new things and teach my children more about Peranakan history and culture. It would definitely be something different as opposed to our usual weekend activities like visiting zoos or playing at the beach.

The Family Room features a warm fuschia Peranakan colour on a backdrop of grey motifs which makes it feel homely and cosy the moment you enter. The room size ranges from 31 to 44 square metres with two queen beds and is ideal for families with children. It also comes complete with complimentary wired Internet, unlimited Wi-Fi access and a 46-inch LED TV with in-built port access to portable electronic devices. There is also an accessible balcony so that there is plenty of space for children to run around.


See, the fact that one kid kept sleeping and the other refused to get out of bed showed how comfortable they felt in the room.

What I loved most about the room was actually the bathroom! Partly because of the eye-catching motifs and partly of the standing rain shower which helps guests to refresh and rejuvenate. Trust me, that shower felt heavenly even though I had two excited kids sharing it with me.

The lobby of the hotel, with its warm yellow lighting, sleek black furniture, striped carpeting and bright-coloured cushions, is an ideal place to hang out or rest while waiting for family members to gather.

As one of the few hotels located in the eastern region of Singapore, what makes Village Hotel Katong so convenient is that it is located within a 10-minute drive to the Singapore Expo and 15-minute drive to Changi Airport.



To make things even better, it is directly linked to Katong V - a mall inspired by Katong's Peranakan heritage featuring lifestyle stores, retail shops, educational centres and even a supermarket. Of course, if you prefer to venture out, there is plenty of things for you to explore in the heart of Katong - including cafes, restaurants, pubs, shopping malls like 112 Katong and Parkway Parade, or you can even walk to East Coast Park if you want!



For those who prefer to stay in the hotel, you can also dine in the Katong Kitchen which serves Nonya, Macanese, Asian, Local Chinese to Western fare. International buffet lunch and dinner are available daily and prices range from $38++ to $58++ (adult) and $19++ to $29++ (child).



We had our breakfast here on the second morning and what caught my eye more than the food was the modern Peranakan decor. As the flagship Village Hotel, it is evident that Village Hotel Katong, in more ways than one, reflects the strong Peranakan heritage of the surrounding Joo Chiat and Katong district.


Well, it's not always that you find Otak Otak or Nasi Lemak at a breakfast buffet, right? While the kids were busying tucking into cereal, bread, ham and cheese, the hubby and I were just glad we were able to find some savoury food to fill our tummies.



What's the best thing to do on a hot afternoon? Swim, of course! Or rather, dip was what we did. While the hotel might not boast a long list of facilities, it does provide a cosy, open-air swimming pool and a gymnasium - we particularly liked the steam room!


The pool might not be huge but it sure kept these two water babies delighted for hours. Do note that since it is open-air, the winds might be rather strong and the water might be a little freezing even though the sun is high up in the sky. But if your kids are like mine who just like to dive into the water again and again regardless of the temperature, then I guess you will have as much fun as we did.

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The Peranakan Experience

Moving on the the highlight of our stay, we went for a 2-hour Peranakan experience at Kim Choo Kueh Chang which is a 10-minute walk away from the hotel.

More than just a restaurant, Kim Choo is a showcase of the Peranakan history and culture, thus it makes the perfect place for us to embark on our learning journey.

The first thing that caught my attention when we stepped in was the charming and exquisite setup of the place, including Peranakan themed porcelain, accessories, beaded slippers and tea sets. It didn't feel like we were in a store but more of like we just arrived in somebody's home - somebody who takes pride in being a Peranakan.

We were there with a lovely French couple and our friendly guide was Edmond from Kim Choo. Yes, it was great that we had a guide because we had so many questions to ask and didn't know where to start. The first big question was, of course, "Who are the Peranakans?" which I had a lot of trouble in explaining to my 5-year-old.

"The term ‘Peranakan’ is commonly known as ‘local born’ or ‘local descendants’ 

and is thought to have been used by the local people of the Straits Settlement 

and Malay Archipelagos to address foreign immigrants whom established families 

and businesses in the Straits of Southeast Asia.

During the late nineteenth century, Chinese communities who settled in 

Southeast Asia adopted the term Peranakan to distinguish themselves from 

the new immigrants, whom they referred to as Sinkeh (new guest) or, in 

Indonesia, as totok (migrant). More specifically, male descendants were called 

Babas and female descendants Nyonyas while senior females were recognized as 

Bibiks. Most of these descendants, although retaining their Chinese beliefs, also 

adopted local indigenous lifestyles. Thus, giving birth to the unique practices of the 

Peranakans and even their own variation of the Malay language called Baba Malay.

While the term Peranakan is most commonly used among the ethnic Chinese for 

those of Chinese descent also known as Straits Chinese, there are also other, 

comparatively small Peranakan communities, such as Indian Hindu Peranakans 

(Chitty), Indian Muslim Peranakans (Jawi Pekan) and Eurasian Peranakans."

  - Source: Kim Choo

When I asked Edmond to give a simpler, easier to comprehend definition, he said Peranakans are "descendants of foreigners". Right, still two big words which my girl does not understand but at least it made it easier to break up the information for her to digest.

While we were enjoying the chat about the history of the Straits Settlement and the Peranakan culture, we were also treated to a delightful tea with Peranakan cuisine including Otak Otak, Nyonya dumpling and Nyonya Kueh.

"A typical Nyonya kitchen would not be without condiments like turmeric, 

 ginger, galangal shallots, chives and shrimp paste. Lemon, limes, tamarinds, 

green mangoes, citrus leaves and coconut milk are also used to up the 

epicurean experience. Rempah, an exciting blend of ingredients pounded 

together in a mortar and cooked in oil to release its flavour is used for a 

variety of dishes. It’s this special combination that sets Peranakan food 

apart from the rest. And because of their ingenuity to improvise traditional 

dishes with spices and herbs, Peranakans have produced tasty local treats 

like achar, curry fish in banana leaves, buah keluak, chendol, Nyonya 

kuehs and many other delights."

- Source: Kim Choo

I have to say that the food tasted much more authentic and flavourful than many of those sold elsewhere. Angel's favourite was peeling and eating the 9-layer Kueh layer by layer which symbolises enjoying life layer by layer instead of devouring it all at once.

After that, we went upstairs and it was time for a hands-on session - Dumpling making! Yes, after having so many Nyonya Chang in my life, it was finally time to wrap my own.

The demonstration was clear and the steps looked simple enough, but once we were left to try on our own, we realised it was harder than we imagined! It might be a case of the leaves going out of place, too much glutinous rice, too little, or somehow we just couldn't fold in the leaves as neatly as we wanted. There was definitely a sense of achievement when all of us managed to wrap the dumplings and tie them up securely.

The good thing about having an intimate group is that we got to interact more with each other and whenever we needed guidance, Edmond would be prompt to assist too. I must say the fun part was in the trying and this was the most interesting part of the afternoon for the kids who thoroughly enjoyed themselves at this station.

Lastly, it was time to find out more about Peranakan fashion! The clothing of the Babas and Nyonyas retained most of their ethnic and religious origins but assimilated the Malay culture. We learnt about the delicate craftmanship of the Sarong Keyaba (traditional Nyonya costume) and Kasot Manek (Peranakan beaded slippers). I was really impressed by the details on the slippers and could only imagine how much time, skill and patience go into the sewing of these tiny faceted beads onto the canvas.

Before we called it a day, it was time to transform our little ones into Little Nyonyas! How do you think they looked in the Sarong Kebaya?

While the hubby and I both thought that Angel would shine more in a cheongsam (traditional Chinese dress), we felt that Ariel pulled off the Peranakan look really well!

All in all, we had a great time at the Peranakan Family Experience and wish to express our thanks to Village Hotel Katong and Kim Choo. I do think that bigger kids (aged 6 and above) will stand to benefit and gain more knowledge from this experience but when it comes to exposing our next generation to different cultures and history, it's probably never too early to start.

For more details about the Village Hotel Katong Peranakan Family Experience, go here. Runs from now to end of July 2015.

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Now, for those who are keen, here's how you can bring your family for this Peranakan Experience too! I'm so happy that I managed to get the chance to host this giveaway for you!

Terms and Conditions
1) This family package is for 2 Adults and 2 Children only.
2) One winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. He/she will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be picked.
3) The voucher has to be redeemed by 31 July 2015.
4) Accommodation date is subject to availability and is not valid on Public Holiday and eve of Public Holiday.
5) Late check out at 3pm is available but subject to availability.
6) This giveaway is open to all readers residing in Singapore only.

To participate, leave a comment in this blog post with your name, email address and tell me why you wish to stay at Village Hotel Katong. Indicate in the Rafflecopter widget that you have done so and to increase your chances of winning, you can choose to carry out the rest of the options. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: We were invited to review the Peranakan Family Experience at Village Hotel Katong and received a complimentary stay. All opinions are our own.