Gelam, a gazetted National Monument. Monument. National gazetted a Gelam, and charming architecture. charming and Centre which is housed in the Istana Kampong Kampong Istana the in housed is which Centre Peranakan heritage, old-school stores stores old-school heritage, Peranakan sites, including Sultan Mosque and Malay Heritage Heritage Malay and Mosque Sultan including sites, FROM PAST neighbourhood’s the by captivated Be culinary delights, traditional shops and prominent prominent and shops traditional delights, culinary WNTOWN DO TO PRESENT of array an through bustle cosmopolitan its retains gems, spices and textiles. Today, Kampong Gelam Gelam Kampong Today, textiles. and spices gems, CHINATOWN for precious materials such as timber, ceramics, ceramics, timber, as such materials precious for BAYFRONT the area soon became a flourishing centre of trade trade of centre flourishing a became soon area the TELOK AYER TELOK traders from the region including Arab merchants, merchants, Arab including region the from traders RAFFLES PLACE RAFFLES from Rochor River to Beach Road. With the arrival of of arrival the With Road. Beach to River Rochor from CHINATOWN In Malay, the word Kampong means “compound”, palace, or istana, 56-acre a built and district the to KATONG & JOO CHIAT JOO & KATONG while Gelam refers to the the gelam tree which was family his brought he Company, India East the with found and used locally for boat-making, medicine treaty a signed Singapore of Sultan the when 1819, and historical architecture. historical and and even as a seasoning for food. In quarter. urban oldest Singapore’s is and town filled with traditional businesses businesses traditional with filled Kampong Gelam has its origins as a thriving port port thriving a as origins its has Gelam Kampong Indian immigrants, Little India is is India Little immigrants, Indian This thriving settlement was a home to diverse for hub community thriving A communities of immigrants and traders from Asia QUAY CLARKE and the Middle East, including India, China and the Malay Archipelago, all congregating to engage in a wide range of businesses, including education and philanthropy. ESPLANADE PROMENADE Kampong Gelam was known for its bustling streets HALL CITY of craftsmen and shops selling an array of items INDIA LITTLE from spices and silks, gold and precious stones to baskets and sarongs. While Bussorah Street might early Chinese immigrants. Chinese early BRAS BASAH BRAS now be known as a colourful street of restaurants, CC2 it was home to a range of businesses including to home once was Chinatown district, bookshops, blacksmiths, jewellery shops, and even historic conserved largest Singapore’s coppersmiths. On Arab Street, baskets and textiles GHAUT DHOBY were commonplace, while Haji Lane hosted Muslim BUGIS pilgrims on their yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the ‘Hajj’. KAMPONG GELAM KAMPONG Today, many of these heritage businesses still ROCHOR GELAM remain, giving Kampong Gelam its charm of CHINATOWN DOWNTOWN LINE DOWNTOWN colourful diversity that sits at the crossroads of DT CIRCLE LINE CIRCLE CC the traditional and the contemporary. Modern PRECINCTS LITTLE INDIA LITTLE EAST WEST LINE WEST EAST KAMPONG EW businesses and cafes sit side-by-side with heritage CULTURAL NORTH EAST LINE EAST NORTH tradesmen and eateries, within conserved NE OTHER OTHER LITTLE INDIA LITTLE JOO CHIAT JOO NORTH SOUTH LINE SOUTH NORTH NS shophouses along alleys peppered with vibrant & KATONG VISIT MRT LINES MRT street art. VISIT Photo Credit: One Kampong Gelam ADMIRE THE HOW KAMPONG GELAM STREET ART HAJI LANE / BALI LANE GELAM GALLERY TO OF SINGAPORE GET THERE discover Singapore’s MRT cultural precincts CC5 Nicoll Circle Line Highway Along the narrow street of Haji Lane, you can find the Singapore’s first outdoor art gallery, Gelam Gallery 12 EW eye-catching pop-art of artist PrettyFreakyFantasy can be found in the back alley adjacent to Muscat East West Line Bugis painted across Juice Clinic. Close by, Mexican Street. The out-of-the-box gallery displays over restaurant Piedra Negra showcases the huge works 30 artworks by local and international artists. Be of Columbian-born artist Didier Jaba Mathieu immersed in unique wall murals and framed art as 14 while The Singapura Club features a realistic you explore the artsy neighbourhood. DT Downtown Line Bugis monochromatic mural by artist Ceno2. SULTAN ARTS VILLAGE ALIWAL ARTS CENTRE Home to street art collectives like RSCLS as well as Singapore’s first physical graffiti store The Blackbook BUS Studio, Kampong Gelam is a regular haunt for street artists and has become Singapore’s street 2N, 4N, 12e, 48, 57 art capital. The vibrant neighbourhood boasts of to Ophir Road, Landmark Village Hotel (B01559) street art enclaves that feature the works of local and international street artists on charming shophouses. 107, 107M to Jalan Sultan, Opposite Textile Centre (B01231) Wander along the streets of Kampong Gelam and you will be able to uncover street art ranging from 7, 7A, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197 striking realist murals to colourful futuristic murals. If to North Bridge Road, Before Sultan Mosque (B01229) you are lucky, you will be able to catch street artists in action as they practise and paint. Located at 71 Sultan Gate, the arts enclave bursts The multi-disciplinary arts hub is decorated with 100, 107, 107M, 961, 961M, 980 with urban art by local and international artists. Next vivid murals by local street artists — a testament of to Beach Road, Opposite Plaza Parkroyal (B01521) to The Blackbook Studio is a 14-metre-long wall their support for local budding creatives. Check out where artists practise and paint — the perfect place the wall of artwork behind the centre that changes 2, 2A, 7, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 63, 80, 130, 133, to watch them in action. Look out for the original every one to six months and the multi-coloured 145, 175, 197 batik piece by artist Slacsatu near Kiah’s Gallery that batik-inspired mural by Slacsatu near the entrance of to Victoria Street, Stamford Primary School (B01121) has been readapted all around Kampong Gelam. the centre. THINGS TO SEE/ DO HERITAGE DISHES PLACES TO STAY A1 Crafune JALAN KUBOR 38 Haji Lane, #02-02, Singapore 189231 H1 Aliwal Park Hotel H7 Hotel NuVe, Bugis Express your creativity in a leather craft workshop. A3 MALABAR MOSQUE JALAN SULTAN H2 Andaz Singapore H8 PARKROYAL on Beach Road A2 Gelam Gallery H3 Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel H9 Rest Bugis Hotel Along the back lanes of Muscat Street NORTH BRIDGE RD Uncover over 30 diverse artworks by local and foreign artists. H4 Hotel 81 Heritage H10 The Sultan A3 Malabar Mosque H5 H11 JALAN KLAPA Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan Village Hotel Bugis 471 Victoria Street, Singapore 198370 Admire the mosque’s charming blue and white façade. H6 H12 ROCHOR CANAL RD H12 Hotel Clover 769 North Bridge Road XY HOTEL BUGIS A4 Malay Heritage Centre 85 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198501 H9 Nasi Padang Learn about Malay culture and heritage at this museum. JALAN KUBOR VICTORIA LN Work up an appetite while exploring A5 Sultan Arts Village Kampong Gelam and stop for a hearty 71 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198496 meal of nasi padang, or rice with a medley MADRASAH Explore an enclave of art and retail spaces. A7 H6 ALSAGOFF of Malay dishes. Heritage establishments JALAN KLEDEK C1 AL-ARABIAH A6 Sultan Mosque you can choose from include Warong Nasi 3 Muscat Street, Singapore 198833 Pariaman (B11), Hjh Maimunah (B4) and ALIWAL ST Marvel at the national monument’s ornate gold detailing. H1 Sabar Menanti II (B8). JALAN PISANG A7 Vintage Camera Musuem ARAB ST NORTH BRIDGE RD B4 8C, 8D Jalan Kledek, Singapore 199263 B8 H10 THE SULTAN Enter a world of vintage cameras and old-school photography. B5 QUEEN ST A4 C6 VICTORIA STJALAN PINANG KANDAHAR ST MALAY HERITAGE FOOD & BEVERAGE H7 CENTRE B11 H4 B1 Bhai Sarbat Stall 21 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199439 Enjoy a cup of freshly pulled traditional milk tea (teh tarik). ARAB ST B2 Blu Jaz Café 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848 OPHIR RD H11 A5 P ALIWAL ARTS CENTRE Socialise with drinks amidst live music and good vibes. B10 B7 JALAN SULTAN B3 Briyani B9 H5 Good Luck Beerhouse SULTAN MOSQUE B6 A6 9 Haji Lane, Singapore 189202 For a mild fiery kick in your meal, sample Chat with friends over dim sum and local craft beer. the Indian rice staple briyani—a spiced rice GEDUNG KUNING dish that comes with meat or vegetables—at B4 Hjh Maimunah Islamic Restaurant (B5), Victory Restaurant 11-17 Jalan Pisang, Singapore 199078 ALIWAL ST PAHANGP ST Try special nasi padang dishes like Sundanese grilled chicken. (B10) or Singapore Zam Zam (B9). The eateries can be easily found along the MUSCAT ST SULTAN GATE GOLDEN LANDMARK B5 Islamic Restaurant stretch of North Bridge Road. H3 735 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198713 Savour halal Asian heritage food like dum briyani. B1 ARAB ST C7 B6 BALI LN P Rich & Good Cake Shop A2 24 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198887 HAJI LN Bring home baked goods and pastries with a local twist. BUSSORAH ST B7 Rumah Makan Minang BAGHDAD ST 18 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198884 C2 Taste Minangkabau flavours in Indonesian fare. C4 B8 OPHIR RD Sabar Menanti II ARAB ST 737 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198705 B2 BUGIS BEACH RD NICOLL HIGHWTuck into heirloom dishes like ikan bakar (charcoal grilled fish). C5 B9 C3 Singapore Zam Zam Murtabak 697-699 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198675 B3 A1 Dig into briyani at the family-run eatery established since 1908. Stuffed with egg, onion and mutton or chicken, murtabak is a South Indian flatbread B10 Victory Restaurant H8 dish that can be enjoyed on its own or 701-703 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198677 paired with a side of savoury curry.