A Neighbourhood with Heart! 🎄
This Christmas, Kreta Ayer comes alive - not just with twinkling lights and festive cheer, but with a shared purpose of giving back.
Tucked between Chinatown and Outram, our little stretch along Kreta Ayer Road has always been more than just a place of business - it’s a community built on heart, culture and connection. Once the bustling centre of Singapore’s early Chinatown, Kreta Ayer (Malay for “water cart”) was named after the bullock carts that delivered water from Ann Siang Hill to the residents here. Over time, it became a gathering place for artisans, opera performers and tea houses - a space where everyday life met tradition and artistry.
Today, that same community spirit continues to flow through its cafés, craft studios and social enterprises. And this December, we’re joining hands as neighbours to do something meaningful together - to raise funds for “60 Lights, One Future”, a local initiative supporting underprivileged children in Singapore through mentorship and education.
Through this event, we hope to show how small actions - a cup of coffee, a handmade gift, a visit to a local shop - can collectively make a big difference. It’s a celebration of heritage, heart, and hope, and a reminder that giving back can be as simple (and joyful!) as exploring your own neighbourhood.
Get your free Neighbourhood Map Passport and explore over 25 participating shops, cafés and heritage icons - each offering exclusive discounts, workshops, and festive treats.
🎉 Collect stamps, win rewards & lucky draw prizes.
🎄 Register early to reserve your map in advance. Limited maps available!
📍 Pick up your map at The Social Space (Blk 333 Kreta Ayer Rd #01-14)
🎁 Prizes & Collectables
🌟 Collect Limited-Edition Stickers
Celebrate the spirit of Kreta Ayer with our limited-edition sticker series, featuring charming illustrations hand-drawn by talented artists from our neighbourhood, inspired by the people, places and traditions that make this community so special.
Available only at selected partner shops - collect all 5 to complete the full set!
🎠 Spin the Gachapon Machine
Every 2 stamps on your Neighbourhood Map Passport earns you one Gachapon spin at The Social Space (Blk 333 Kreta Ayer Road, #01-14).
Win surprise treats, vouchers and gifts sponsored by our generous community partners - every capsule holds a little something to brighten your day!
🎉 Enter the Lucky Draw!
Complete 4 stamps or more to enter our Lucky Draw and stand a chance to win big!
GRAND PRIZE - 3D/2N Staycation at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Singapore (worth S$600++)
Consolation Prizes x 3 - a $500+ Local Festive Gift Hamper, packed with products and experiences from all your favourite Kreta Ayer shops.
Participate in our neighbourhood crawl to enter our lucky draw for a chance to walk away with a 3 Days 2 Nights Stay at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore’s Grand Deluxe Room with Breakfast for two worth over S$600++!
Every single one of our partners are donating a portion of sales, sponsoring prizes, and creating meaningful experiences - because when we come together, we can light up more than just Christmas lights; we can light up lives.
✨ As a community, we aim to raise $6,000 to light up young lives across Singapore. Every visit, every purchase, and every smile helps make a difference.
And if you can’t join us in person, you can still be part of the cause by donating directly to our Giving.sg fundraising page - all donations enjoy a 250% tax deduction.
Celebrating Our Partners’ Generosity!
☕ Happening at The Social Space
To set the tone for Kreta Ayer Gives Back, The Social Space will be hosting a line-up of festive experiences that celebrate community, creativity, and conscious giving.
These initiatives are part of a wider collective effort - with every neighbour along Kreta Ayer adding their own special touch. Together, we hope to showcase how our neighbourhood can make a real difference this Christmas season.
Swing by our hot chocolate stand just outside The Social Space - a fun festive pop-up serving rich, velvety Fair-Trade Belgian Hot Chocolate with Oatmilk, topped with fluffy marshmallows and Christmas cheer! 🎄
Donate $8 or more to enjoy a cup - 100% goes towards our charity fundraiser for SG Red Cross' Young Hearts Programme.
A limited-time collab between The Social Space, Oatside, Puro Fairtrade & Corniche, celebrating good taste and doing good together. 🌿
✨ Shop with purpose - 10% of sales go towards our community fundraiser.
📚 Read for a Cause
Delight in handcrafted wool journals and festive ornaments at this pop‑up. Every purchase supports education in rural Nepal, giving gifts that spark joy and empower communities.
🎒Made for Everyday Adventures
Celebrate the art of slowing down with joyful stickers, keychains and pouches from The Everyday Club. Their timeless, functional pieces are built for everyday comfort and remind us that sustainability starts with daily choices.
☘️ Happiness in Little Pots
Tiny pots, big joy: Little Botany brings eco-conscious gardening to life. Explore semi-hydro planting kits and repurposed jar planters, perfect for newcomers and hobbyists looking to green their space and spark creativity.
📄 Designed with Heart, Inspired by Nature
Brighten your desk and home with Papercranes’ papergoods, coasters and bags. Every piece is playful, colourful and designed to inspire connection, spark joy, and make everyday moments more meaningful.
💍 Jewellery for Every Mood
Celebrate your mood with Moodchild jewellery, made for the expressive and unapologetic. With playful words and phrases, each piece shows off your personality. From 1 to 4pm, swing by their customisation bar to add a cheeky ‘word’ charm.
🎄Ornaments with a Purpose
Decorate with purpose this festive season with MADE51’s handmade ornaments. Crafted by refugee artisans, each piece supports livelihoods, tells a story, and adds beauty, resilience and meaning to your home.
🇳🇵Handmade Stories from Nepal
All Things Felt’s handmade felt ornaments empower women artisans in Nepal, preserving traditional craft and providing flexible, sustainable income. Each charming piece supports families and adds a playful, meaningful touch to your festive décor.
🧩 Fun That Brings Us Together
Turn screen-free time into meaningful engagement with A Piece of Mine Puzzles. Each puzzle features original artwork by a local artist, encouraging creativity, collaboration and supporting community through play.
🪵 Creativity in Cardboard
Step into a playful world with Paper Carpenter, where eco-friendly cardboard furniture and décor come to life. Perfect for adults and kids, their interactive festive creations combine sustainability, joy and creativity.
Collect Them All: Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Stickers 🎨
We’re bringing a little piece of Kreta Ayer to your hands (and notebooks!) with our exclusive series of collectable stickers, lovingly hand-drawn by talented artists from our very own neighbourhood.
Each sticker celebrates a slice of Kreta Ayer’s rich heritage - from its iconic temples and shophouses to the familiar sights and sounds that make this community so special. 🌸
Join our Neighbourhood Crawl and visit participating partners to redeem these limited-edition designs. Every stop gets you one step closer to completing your collection - and along the way, you’ll discover the stories, people and places that keep our neighbourhood’s spirit alive.
✨ Sticker designs will be revealed soon. Stay tuned!
Meet Our Neighbourhood Partners 🏘️❤️
Get to know the amazing small businesses and creatives that make Kreta Ayer and the surroundings so special! Each partner brings their own story, passion and heart to the neighbourhood - and together, they’re joining hands to give back.
Discover the exclusive discounts, treats and promos they’ve prepared just for this weekend, and learn how every purchase also contributes towards our fundraising campaign.
✨ Explore, connect and support the community that makes this neighbourhood home.
*For partners with "*", participants are required to take a selfie at the store to claim a stamp, redeem at The Social Space.
💅 Beauty with Purpose
The Nail Social: A socially conscious salon offering non-toxic manicures and pedicures in a calm, cozy setting. Every session supports women from disadvantaged backgrounds - beauty that gives back.
10% off gift card purchases (min. $150, in-store or online)
Open 10am - 7pm.
🖤 Wear your story with pride
Vagabond Ink is a contemporary studio known for its artistry and storytelling. Each design is thoughtfully crafted, turning skin into a canvas for creativity and self-expression.
Limited-edition Kreta Ayer collectible stickers made with love by the team
Open 12pm - 5pm.*
✨ Light a candle that changes a life
Gentlehands Craft is a heartfelt candle studio empowering young adults on the autism spectrum through creative craftsmanship. Each handmade candle carries purpose, scent, and a story of inclusion.
Free scented tealights (Dual Xmas Pack) worth $5, in-store Bundle offer
Open 1pm - 4pm.*
💫 Dress with comfort, confidence and care
Will & Well is an inclusive fashion label that redefines dressing, designing adaptive, accessible clothing for all bodies - where comfort, style, and dignity come together beautifully.
Games, Clothing Embroidery & More!
Check out our 'Activities' section for more details!
🌼 Pause, breathe and heal from within
Health Yoga is more than a yoga studio, its a healing space. Specialising in therapy-based yoga, it supports physical recovery, emotional wellbeing, and inner stillness through mindful movement and care.
Yin & Yang Yoga Class and Free Body Diagnostic / Emotional Health Check
Check out our 'Activities' section for more details!
🎨 Create something that’s uniquely yours
Weekend Worker is a pottery and ceramics studio that celebrates the beauty of handmade craft. With its warm workshops and earthy charm, it’s a space for anyone to slow down, create, and reconnect through clay.
$30 ceramic pottery painting workshop
Check out our 'Activities' section for more details!
❄️ Light & perfectly sweet mochi
Xiao Gege's handcrafted mochi snowballs are a local favourite. Soft, chewy and just the right sweetness. Each bite is freshly made and delicately balanced - proof that less sugar can mean more flavour.
20% off (min. spend $20) + 1 free mochi (except durian) when you collect 3 stamps
Open 11am - 6pm.
💈 Sit back, relax, and look sharp
The British Barbers: Classic cuts meet British charm at this sleek, no-nonsense barbershop. Skilled barbers deliver precision grooming with style and care, offering a refined retreat for the modern gentleman.
10% of appointments, and free waxing of face/ hair wash / eyebrow threading for men
Open 9am - 8pm.
🥁 Experience the roar of tradition
Hok San Association is Singapore’s oldest lion dance troupe, famed for their skill, spirit, and storytelling through movement. Every beat of the drum and leap of the lion, proudly keeps heritage and tradition alive.
Shophouse tour + Lion Dance experience
Check out our 'Activities' section for more details!
🏋️ Train with purpose, move with heart
Push Pull Give is a fitness studio with heart, combining strength training with social impact. They offer classes that empower both body and community through movement and purpose.
10% off Reformer Trial Pack, 2-week trial pack at $99
Open 10am - 5pm.*
🥐 Slow down and enjoy a taste of France
Henri Boulanger Bistro is a charming French bakery-bistro serving pastries, coffee, and comfort classics. Slow down, savour, and enjoy a little taste of France right here in the neighbourhood.
$6 Latte & Croissant bundle
Open 9am - 10pm.
🖌️ Paint, unwind, and find your flow
LACA Art Academy is a creative sanctuary that turns art into a restorative escape. Welcoming artists of all levels to paint and experiment, spark joy, relaxation, and a sense of calm through creativity.
$15 Christmas Watercolor Card Making
Check out our 'Activities section for more details!
🍓 Pause for something sweet
Fieldnotes is a minimalist bakery that celebrates nature through flavour, form, and feeling. Each cake and tart is infused with nature-inspired notes and thoughtfully crafted to bring comfort and quiet joy.
10% off total bill, in-store discount
Open 11am - 10pm.
🛠️ Ride in rugged, roll out refined
Big Bad Wolf: More than a haircut - it’s an experience. This biker-inspired barber shop fuses vintage style with modern cuts, offering sharp fades, smooth shaves, and a bold dose of attitude in every seat.
10% off pre-booked appointments / walk-ins
Open 12pm - 8pm.
🌿 Slow down and taste tradition
Tea Chapter is Singapore’s first traditional teahouse, inviting you to slow down and savour Chinese tea culture through mindful brews and elegant teaware - a timeless space for calm and conversation.
10% off retail products, in-store discount
Open 11am - 10pm.
🥔 Ink up! One piece at a time
Potato Parlour is a cosy, creative studio celebrating individuality - from bold statement pieces to fine line works. Each piece celebrates self-expression and individuality - turning ink into a playful, personal art form.
Limited edition flash tattoo designs available in store, 6th & 7th Dec, walk-ins only.
Open 1pm - 7pm.*
🔥Come for barbeque, stay for bonds
Don Dae Bak is the neighbourhood go-to for authentic charcoal Korean BBQ, bringing Seoul’s smoky, sizzling spirit to Kreta Ayer. Known for its hearty grills and generous banchan, it’s a cosy spot to share food, laughter, and connection with loved ones.
10% off 90 mins free-flow charcoal Korean BBQ + 'Wishing Wall' photo booth
Open 1130am - 5am.
🎨 Hands-On Fun: Workshops & Activities
Roll up your sleeves and dive into craft, culture, and creativity, and take home something meaningful - explore our workshop line-up!
🏮 Heritage Highlights: Discover Kreta Ayer
Nestled between the cultural enclaves of Chinatown and Outram, our flagship space along Kreta Ayer Road offers a peaceful escape from the city’s buzz — where old traditions meet new ideas.
Dating back to 1822, this area was part of Singapore’s first town plan by Sir Stamford Raffles. Among the four sub-districts of Chinatown, Kreta Ayer quickly became its beating heart. The name itself — “Kreta Ayer,” Malay for “water cart” — was inspired by the bullock and ox carts that once carried water from the wells of Ann Siang Hill to local residents in the mid-1800s.
Many of the early settlers here were Cantonese immigrants, who brought with them the rich cultural customs that continue to shape the neighbourhood’s character today. Once famous for its teahouses and opera theatres, Kreta Ayer remains the cultural soul of Chinatown — where nanyin music, lion dance, and wushu are still proudly practised.
As you explore the map, take a moment to slow down and discover the stories that live within these streets. Take a moment to soak it all in — the sights, sounds and stories that make Kreta Ayer such a special part of Singapore’s cultural landscape.
🎨 Chinatown Murals
Beautiful hand-painted scenes telling stories of samsui women, letter writers, and street barbers who once filled these lanes.
🛕 Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple
One of Singapore’s oldest Hindu temples, known for its vibrant architecture and intricate sculptures.
🏛️ Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery
Learn about the history and heritage of Kreta Ayer, and highlights the area’s rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage.
🎭 Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre
A beloved venue for Cantonese opera and cultural performances that keep old traditions alive.
🐉 Hok San Association
Established in 1920, this clan is the first lion dance troupe in Singapore. Join in their training every Sunday from 10am to 1pm.
🏯 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Just a stone's throw away, this temple is the architectural marvel and spiritual landmark at the heart of Chinatown.
Need to Know: FAQs
Register online and collect your Neighbourhood Map Passport at the following locations:
- The Social Space (Blk 333 Kreta Ayer Rd #01-14).
- The Nail Social (Blk 333 Kreta Ayer Rd #02-15
You can also walk in during the event weekend to pick one up while stocks last!
Yes! The neighbourhood crawl is free for everyone — simply bring your map, curiosity, and festive spirit.
All participating partners will be donating a portion of their weekend sales or selected products towards our fundraising goal of $6,000 for 60 Lights, One Future under the Singapore Red Cross’ Young Hearts programme.
Of course! We love seeing your snapshots of the day — just remember to tag us and our partners so we can share your stories too. 📸
Yes! The Social Space offers vegetarian, vegan, and some gluten-free options. Just look out for the signs or feel free to ask the friendly vendors - they’ll be happy to help.
It’s super accessible by both bus and MRT.
- 106, 131, 166, 175, 502, 857. Nearest stops: Middle Rd - Sunshine Plaza (07571) and Bencoolen St - Bef Bencoolen Stn Exit A (04029).
- Bencoolen MRT (DT12) is just 2 mins away, Bras Basah MRT (CC2) is 6 mins, Rochor MRT (DT13) is 8 mins, and Dhoby Ghaut MRT (NS24|NE6|CC1) is an 11 min walk.
If you’re taking a taxi or private hire, indicate '11 Prinsep Link' and alight at the pick-up point via Prinsep Link.
Yes! There’s outdoor parking behind Blk 333, indoor parking at Blk 334, and street parking in front of Blk 5 Banda Street and along Keong Saik Street.
Yes, definitely! You can walk in to collect your map at The Social Space during the event. Registration just helps us prepare enough maps and goodies for everyone.
No worries — most stops have sheltered walkways or indoor spaces. Just bring an umbrella, and we promise the fun (and good vibes) will go on rain or shine! ☔
We’d love that! Please tag us @thesocialspace.sg and include #KretaAyerGivesBack so we can see and share your post. For media or collaboration enquiries, drop us an email at hello@thesocialspace.sg
We’re here to help! Send us a message on Instagram @thesocialspace.sg or email hello@thesocialspace.sg






