Side Quest’s pitch is ‘creativity without expectations’. It’s a small studio up a flight of stairs at 481 Joo Chiat Road, where you choose one thing to make and stay until it’s done. You don’t need art experience, and walk-ins are welcome during opening hours. The useful question is which craft fits the time you have.
At a glance
Neighbourhood
Joo Chiat and Katong
Best for
Low-pressure dates, friends’ catch-ups, teens and solo crafters
Budget
S$18 to S$38 per person, depending on the craft
Time to allow
1 to 2 hours
Nearest MRT
Eunos (EW7) or Marine Parade (TE26), then a bus or a walk; check the map
Good to know
Tue to Thu 12pm to 7pm, Fri and Sat 12pm to 9pm, Sun 3pm to 9pm, closed Mon. Check Side Quest’s Instagram for the latest hours
Why go?
It’s walk-in friendly, so it works as a spontaneous rainy-afternoon or after-dinner plan in Joo Chiat.
Prices are clear and per activity, from an S$18 one-hour bag-charm bar to S$38 for two hours of canvas painting.
It’s a young local business with a story. Founder Jessica Tay ran Side Quest as a mobile craft service for parties before opening the studio, and she has given some activity proceeds to the Singapore Association for Mental Health.
What to do
01 · One hour: the quick crafts
The Bag Charm Bar (S$18, one hour) and Postcard Bar (S$25, one hour) are the shortest sessions. They’re good before dinner, or when one person in the group is less keen.
02 · Ninety minutes: figurine painting
Figurine painting is S$28 for 1.5 hours. You pick a hand-cast figurine and paint it your way, and the studio provides the materials.
03 · Two hours: the bigger projects
Tile coaster painting (S$35), tote bag painting (S$35), plant pot painting (S$32) and canvas painting (S$38) each run two hours. Choose these if you want something useful to take home, or to make a date out of it.
Plan your visit
Address
Side Quest, 481 Joo Chiat Road, #2F (second storey), Singapore 427685
Opening hours
Tue to Thu 12pm to 7pm; Fri and Sat 12pm to 9pm; Sun 3pm to 9pm; closed Mon
Getting there
Buses run along Joo Chiat Road. Eunos (EW7) and Marine Parade (TE26) MRT are the nearest stations, so check the map for the best link
Tickets or booking
Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours; bookings can be made on the website. Phone +65 8819 8532 or email contact@sidequest.com.sg
Accessibility
The studio is on the second storey of a conserved shophouse. Contact Side Quest about step-free access before visiting
Before you go
- Side Quest’s FAQ covers reservations, age suitability, mixed activities within a group and food and drink. Read it before bringing a big group or young kids.
- Come hungry and walk to lunch first: our 328 Katong Laksa guide is nearby.
- Afterwards, walk past the pastel terraces in our Koon Seng Road guide, or book The Intan Peranakan home museum.
- Planning a party or team event? Side Quest also hosts private events and can bring its crafts to your venue; ask through its contact page. Want more art-jamming options? See our Ralovs Café creative studio guide.
Joo Chiat
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Sources and disclosure
Information checked: 27 October 2026 · Side Quest – home page and art café prices (official) · Side Quest – contact and opening hours (official) · Side Quest – about the founder (official)
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under the licences shown in each caption (images resized): Tabledreamer (CC BY-SA 4.0); Terence Ong (CC BY 2.5); William Cho (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Disclosure: Not a firsthand visit. Prices, durations, hours and background come from Side Quest’s official website, checked on 27 October 2026. The studio says to check its Instagram for the latest hours. Photos are freely licensed Joo Chiat street views, not the studio itself. We weren’t paid or hosted, and there are no affiliate links.