Who are the Peranakans?
Peranakans (also called Straits Chinese) descend from early Chinese immigrants who settled in the Malay Archipelago and intermarried with local communities, blending Chinese, Malay and later European influences into a distinct culture — its own language (Baba Malay), cuisine, dress, and architecture.
The architecture
The pastel-coloured shophouses of Katong and Emerald Hill are the most visible legacy — ornate tile work, carved timber shutters, and colour schemes that were, at the time, a genuine status display among Peranakan merchant families.
The food
Peranakan cuisine (often called Nyonya food) blends Chinese ingredients with Malay spice pastes — laksa, ayam buah keluak, and kueh (bite-sized cakes) are its best-known exports, and Katong remains the most concentrated place to try them properly.
Where to see it today
The Peranakan Museum gives the clearest single introduction; Katong and Emerald Hill are the best places to see the architecture in situ; and a proper Nyonya meal in Katong ties the two together.