Disclaimer:
This review is based on our own experience and opinions at the time of our visit in June 2025.
1/6: Rice Field
Rice Field is a boutique-style, three-level showroom with a curated selection of tiles. We decided to check it out after a friend's recommendation. The whole showroom has a sleek, curated vibe and it is so premium Aesop coded LOL they even have an atas coffee machine where the staff will brew coffee for you.
Visits are by appointment only, so a tile specialist will walk you through the process and help you pick the best tiles for your space. Honestly, we were quite nervous at first because we thought the staff might try to hard sell us, but thankfully they didn’t! It was more about sharing with us on the different types of tiles than pushing for an immediate decision, which we appreciated. They will just take note of the tiles that you are interested in their system. That said, it was still a bit of a stressful experience overall given before the awkward moment when you are about to leave the place without really confirming anything LOL.
💡 Our Thoughts
• MATERIAL LAB – The MATERIAL LAB is an awesome feature! It lets you see how tiles look under different lighting conditions, which is SUPER helpful. We have definitely had moments where a tile looked perfect in the store but looked completely different at home. It’s good to bring some of your shortlisted tiles over and compare against the lighting.
• Prices: Given the premium vibe of the showroom, we expected the prices to be steep and they definitely leaned toward the higher end. However, they do carry only a handful of affordable China tiles (we found some under $3.50 per square foot). We were shown 600x1200mm Italian tile priced the same as a 600x600mm version, which was a rare as larger tiles typically come with a higher price tag. That said, installation might be more expensive since larger tiles require two people to lay them. Overall, we did find some tiles around the $3.50/psf before GST which matched what our ID quoted. Most of their collection consists of premium Italian tiles, which naturally come with a higher price point.
• Discount Section: There's a discount section along the stairway, but we didn’t take a close look, so we can’t speak much on the pricing.
• More about tile samples: Every tile sample has a QR code that lets you visualize the tiles in a full space. The tile samples come in duffle-style RICE bags which is a nice little touch!
*VERY IMPORTANT!* Deposit: Unlike other tile shops where you can reserve tiles without paying, Rice Field requires a 50% deposit upfront to secure the tiles you are interested in.
⭐️ Recommendation: If you're willing to invest more on premium tiles and must be comfortable with paying a deposit to reserve your tiles. Best suited for people who value a curated and guided experience else it might be a little stressful.
2/6: Lian Seng Hin (LSH)
Established in 1971, Lian Seng Hin (LSH) is one of Singapore’s oldest tile suppliers and we’re glad we decided to check it out. The showroom is spacious and since they welcome walk-ins, it was a relaxed experience where we could browse at our own pace. Tile specialists were available for assistance if needed, but we never felt any pressure to ask questions or make immediate decisions.
💡 Our Thoughts:
• Tile Selection: LSH offers a huge range of tiles, especially in more neutral shades which suits our tastes. At the back, there’s a bathroom pop-up section that showcases how different tiles interact within a space, which was incredibly helpful in visualizing the options.
• Pricing: Compared to other tile shops, the pricing here is very reasonable and we would definitely consider LSH a “will return” tile shop.
• Honest Advice: We appreciated the honesty of the staff, especially when they pointed out that longer-format wood tiles might create a "toe kick" effect, causing visual imbalance when laid down. This insight made us rethink our tile sizing considerations, which was extremely helpful.
• Nice Pantry Area: The showroom features a small pantry stocked with complimentary packaged biscuits and mini bottled waters. It's a thoughtful touch that made our visit more comfortable as we took our time to mull over all the options.
*VERY IMPORTANT!* Tile Reservation: One thing to note is the importance of your ID having an account with the shop. Without an account manager, you’re only given a two-week holding period for tiles which is just too dangerous to wait it out and wait till the last minute to go shop for the tiles that you like. However, if your ID has an account, you can reserve tiles as long as they are in stock, removing the uncertainty and hassle of limited availability.
‼️ TILE RESERVATION — A KEY TIP TO KNOW
One thing we didn’t expect: how crucial it is for your ID to have an account with the tile shop! 😬 Without an account manager, it appears that you're only allowed a 2-week holding period for your selected tiles, which is very risky because it is just too dangerous to wait it out and rushing may lead you to choosing tiles you’re not 100% in love with. However, if your ID does have an account, you can reserve any in-stock tiles. We learned this the hard way, thinking we had secured our perfect tiles after one whole month of tile hunting every weekend across SG… only to be shocked by this knowledge HELPS 😓 Now we really need a tile break. So, if you're just starting out, do clarify this early on as it can make a big difference!
⭐️ Recommendation: Highly recommend visiting if you're budget-conscious and leaning towards more neutral designs. Great alternative from Hafary and SBH.
3/6: Hup Kiong (Defu Lane)
Hup Kiong has a spacious, single-level showroom and walk-ins are welcomed too.
💡 Our Thoughts:
• Marble-Look Tiles: The first thing we noticed when we walked in was a display of glossy, marble-reflective tiles in the corner. It’s clear that their specialty is in luxurious marble-look tiles, which are great if you love that aesthetic. However, it wasn’t quite what we were looking for.
• Showroom Size: The showroom is spacious, but it felt a little smaller than we expected for a single-level space. We spent about an hour browsing, and we noticed a section near the pantry dedicated to the huge large marble reflective tiles, which just weren’t our style.
• Tile Variety: They have a dedicated 600 x 600 tile section. The Italian-imported tiles are showcased at the front of the rows, while more affordable options are displayed further inside, but we struggled to find neutral soft colours that matched our taste. We preferred LSH tile selection more and we spent lesser time here than expected.
• Patterned Tiles: They do carry some nice patterned tiles, but most of them are on the pricier side. We ended up picking up one sample for a feature wall, but that was about it.
• Wood Tiles: We did come across a wood tile section, and we noticed a couple of people seriously considering their options there. If you’re into that style, it might be worth checking out. However, we didn’t spend much time there ourselves, so we can’t really offer much feedback.
• Location: The showroom is located in an industrial area so if you’re not driving, you’ll need to walk a bit after you alight from the bus stop.
⭐️ Recommendation: Would recommend visiting if you're looking for glossy, polished surfaces with a premium look.
4/6: White Horse Ceramics
This tile shop was very far for us (since we stay in the East of the East haha) and it took a lot of time to get there. No appointment needed here either. The showroom is on Level 4 of Kranji Building. We decided to make the trip here after seeing positive online reviews.
💡 Our Thoughts:
• Tile Selection: The showroom isn’t huge and the tile selection is a bit limited. We didn’t spend much time here, but it is still worth a look if you do not stay as far as us.
• Texture: One thing we really appreciated was being able to feel different tile textures. We had a rough idea of what kind of texture we wanted but struggled to express it. Being able to physically touch the tiles and chat about them helped a lot. We were after non-reflective surfaces but weren’t sure what to call them but now we know got matte, polish, satin surfaces etc 🤭
• Helpful Staff: The staff that attended to us was friendly and helpful. If you’re looking for something specific, they’ll help you match it to what you already have or bring in samples because we went to other bigger tile shop who doesn’t do this so it is a plus.
• Tile Rack: The tile racks were a little tricky to push. Not sure if it was the placement or if they were just heavy, but we definitely noticed the difference after visiting three more tile shops the same day.
• Price – The pricing threw us off at first when we saw "$14.62/PC" without noticing the wording behind it: "[$3.80/SQFT]." At first, we thought $14.62 was for a single tile, 🧒🏻 really Chua tio lololol but then we realized the price listed was actually for 6 tiles, not just one.
⭐️ Would recommend if you are already in the area/live nearer to west side and haven’t found your ideal tile yet. But if you’re looking for a huge selection, this place might feel a bit limited.
The two shops we are going to share are some of the more popular tile spots that most people would consider. Most IDs work with Hafary & SBH, but they don’t limit your options, so you can still source tiles elsewhere. The major difference we noticed is that Hafary & SBH allow you to reserve tiles for up to ~6 months, whereas other tile shops we visited only give you a holding period of 2 weeks. If you want to hold tiles for a longer period, you would have to pay a deposit, and sometimes that deposit is non-refundable. A key takeaway from this experience: having an account with the tile shop makes a huge difference.
5/6: Soon Bee Huat (SBH)
Out of all the tile shops we visited, this was the largest, with a 3-level showroom. Walk-ins are welcomed.
• Level 1 was under renovation during our first visit but was open during the second visit in end Mar but it is still work in progress state.
• Level 2 was the busiest.
• Level 3 showcased large expensive marble tiles but was empty, likely catering to a more high-end market. We feel can entirely skip this section LOL.
💡 Our Thoughts:
Fast Turnover: We first visited with our ID, then came back thinking we might have missed something but still didn’t find the tiles we wanted. Some tiles we liked were already out of stock, which shows how fast things move here. Else, it will be bold statement designs which does not resonate with us. Important to check in with the staff about restocking plans, as one staff member casually mentioned that a tile that we liked had been discontinued due to quality issues. Honestly, it was so unexpected we thought we must have heard it wrong at first! 😂
No tile matching service: One thing we noticed is that they don’t seem to offer a tile matching service. We brought in our own tile sample, hoping they could help us match it with something in their collection, but the staff mentioned that they don’t assist with matching because there are just too many tiles to go through.
⭐️ Will recommend for starters as it is the largest tile shop we visited but be prepared for high demand/out of stock especially popular tiles. Best to reserve them quickly if you find something you like!
6/6: Hafary
This place needs no introduction. If you’re doing home renovation, you have either been here or heard about it from your ID.
💡 Our Thoughts:
Out of the six tile shops we visited, this was the only one where we didn’t get any samples, the staff looked super busy, so maybe better to book an appointment in advance. Weekends are their peak period, so if you need tile samples, you might have to wait 30 minutes or more.
Large pantry area with a coffee machine and plenty of tables and chairs for discussions.
Level 3 is more of a display area with higher-end (atas) tiles—when we brought our parents, they were impressed LOL, especially by the iconic spiral staircase area.
Lots of Italian tiles prominently displayed at the front, but most were over budget for us.
For 600x600 tiles, head to the back of Level 1, we saw a lot of people there with their IDs.
Plenty of showrooms showcasing how tiles look in different spaces, very useful for visualizing how everything comes together.
📌 Best suited for:
Definitely a must-visit for renovation. If you’re looking for variety and showroom displays for inspiration, this is the place. But if you need personalized attention, it might be best to book an appointment to avoid long wait.
Lastly, after-tile service is just as important, but we don’t have full visibility on that yet. We’ll be sharing more about our tile journey, including what we have learned and our reflections in another post perhaps.