Peranakan Tiles Gallery (娘惹砖家)

This company hails from Indonesia—a tile manufacturer. The catty and flamboyant seller there will put on his simpering smile and approach you to make small talk, introduce their tiles, etc. But once he detects you have some knowledge and interest in tiles origin and history or you demonstrate an active and inquisitive mind about some of their tiles' origin, he will suddenly turn defensive and evasive—immediately cut the conversation short with some random offhand curt remark and then scuttle away—even though you were polite, humble with your own partial knowledge of tiles and did not assume to know better or more than him. Trying to learn more about their tiles, you only asked one or two questions—and he became immediately on edge because you demonstrated genuine curiosity and perhaps, a little more insight to some of their tiles than what he was prepared or willing to acknowledge. Tiles displayed on their browsing panels appeared to be in pristine condition, and there were hundreds of them—all squeaky clean, undamaged and almost spanking new—in numerous designs of uniform size with identical pieces all channeling the same retro style and vibe. He claimed all of them were at least 100 years old salvaged antiques pried from walls of demolished old houses. Their high prices were supposed or implied to reflect that. Whatever you say, babe! I have seen such tiles on old gravestones in the local Bukit Brown Cemetery, large parts of which—more than 4000 graves—have been exhumated and demolished a decade ago to give way to construction of the eight-lane Lornie Highway south of MacRitchie Reservoir.

Peranakan Tiles Gallery (娘惹砖家) is a hidden gem in Chinatown that celebrates the rich heritage of Peranakan design through beautifully crafted tiles, homeware, and collectibles. The shop is small but full of character, offering a curated selection that blends traditional patterns with modern sensibilities. What really stood out for me was the friendly, passionate staff who were more than happy to share the stories behind the tiles and the cultural significance of the designs. Their warmth and knowledge added so much to the experience. A definite 5 out of 5 — a must-visit not just in Chinatown, but for anyone looking to connect with a unique part of Singapore’s cultural identity.

I came to this shop to just browse but I was very enthusiastically welcomed by the friendly staff who explained the history and manufacturing behind the Peranakan tiles. I love that this business started out of passion for the tiles from a collector. Aside from a shop it’s also a mini museum. Well worth a visit!

Maybe my favourite place to visit in our five days in Singapore, the only place in the world you can see some tile collections from many different cultures.

Beautiful tiles from antique to new in a variety of price ranges. Everyone was very kind and helpful. When I make my millions I will fill my house with these antique tiles... I left with one 6x6 reclaimed antique tile and four 4x4 new tiles. There was a beautiful wall set, around 2k, I'll be back for it one day if it's still there...

Expensive mass-produced tiles that are dubious in origin. Peranakan tiles are basically imported tiles with production and manufacturing techniques copied from multiple other cultures from outside of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It's a cultural transplant that had started from the middle east and was later heavily modified and influenced by several other cultures and nations outside of Southeast Asia. Apart from a few "Chinese" motifs, it's nothing original, local or Southeast Asian—and inauthentic at best. A tourist trap basically for undiscerning foreigners and locals profiteering off the highly curated, commodified and manufactured hype and "exotic" image of a highly fetishized and over-romanticised version of Peranakan culture appropriated, watered down and edited for modern mass tourism taste.

What a unique place in sg! Made in sg! If you are traveling to sg… come here for a visit! The team very friendly and explain to you on the tiles ^ if you are looking for something unique for you home…. Definitely here will be the best collection. One and only in Singapore ‘ 🇸🇬

(Update May 2023) This shop is absolutely fascinating, offering an extensive collection of Peranakan tiles along with other antiques and handcrafted items. Recently, my wife and I made a substantial purchase of tiles totaling thousands of dollars for our home renovation project. We were fortunate to have Victor assist us throughout the process, and his friendly demeanor, patience, and professionalism stood out. He took the time to thoroughly explain the distinctions between wall and floor tiling, ensuring that we made informed decisions. The quality of the Peranakan products available here is truly impressive, and we are already looking forward to future purchases from Victor. Without a doubt, this shop has earned our trust and loyalty. (Update June 2023) The wet work has been completed, and nearly all of the Perankan tiles have been successfully installed, with the exception of the doors. Despite this, our family's cherished spot remains the balcony, where we continue to enjoy the beautiful tiling suggested by Victor.