Kampong Glam

Indulge in Heritage and Hip Happenings From cultural landmarks to superb eats and indie boutiques to bespoke cocktail bars, there’s something for everyone in .

t’s a strange paradox that START two-storey shophouses filled one of the oldest precincts with chic Middle Eastern cafés, Iin —an important From Bugis MRT station, souvenirs and traditional gathering area for the original walk down Victoria Street clothing stores selling batik settlers in Singapore, the Malay and make a right turn at Arab materials, as well as boutique and Muslim communities— Street. At the junction of Arab spas and funky stores has over the years embraced Street and North Bridge Road, selling vintage curios. modern shops that are you’ll see the impressive 2 Jamal Kazura bohemian and alternative. 1 Sultan . Built in Aromatics is not to be missed This curious mix of trendy 1824 by the Sultan of , here. A family business for and traditional means that you Hussein Shah, it is the largest more than 80 years, this could be eating nasi padang mosque in Singapore and intimate fragrance boutique (Indonesian dishes flavoured a national heritage site. offers a wide range of Arabic with spices and served with rice) Turning left onto Muscat perfumes, massage oils, in a century-old conservation Street will bring you to the scented body soap and shower shophouse, shopping for entrance. If you’d like to explore creams from the Middle new wave boutique clothing the interior of the mosque, East, India and Europe. and chilling out at a brand- check out the mosque’s dome Across North Bridge new bar on the same visit. base, formed out of many glass Road is the 20-year-old nasi That’s what creates the bottles collected by devotees— padang stall 3 Hjh Maimunah. buzz in this place and it’s why an impressive sight to behold. Famous among locals, it has people keep coming back Outside the mosque’s been featured on celebrity chef to the area, whether they’re entrance is Bussorah Street, Anthony Bourdain’s television hipsters or history buffs. a short pedestrian alley with show No Reservations. The beef in the rendang (dry curry), WELD ROAD

ROCHOR CANAL RD

ARAB STREET SUNGEI ROAD 9 JALAN SULTAN 3 NORTH BRIDGE ROAD OPHIR ROAD MALAY OPHIR ROAD ALIWAL STREET KANDAHAR STREETHERITAGE CENTRE ROCHOR ROAD 8 VICTORIA STREET MILTON RD

SULTAN GATE ROCHOR D A JALAN CENTRE O SULTAN GOLDEN R 1 MUSCAT STREETISTANA E CENTRE QUEEN STREET LANDMARK G KAMPONG OPHIR ROAD ID R 4 PAHANG STREET B GLAM MUSCAT STREET H JAVA ROAD T RAFFLES R 2 RAFFLES O HOSPITAL N BALI LANE VICTORIA STREETHOSPITAL 5 ARAB STREET BUSSORAH STREET BAGHDAD STREET THE CONCOURSE

START OPHIR ROAD BEACH ROAD QUEEN STREET 10 FRASER STREET 7 HAJI LANE BUGIS VILLAGE ROCHOR ROAD 6

BUGIS PARVIEW JUNCTION SQUARE PLAZA PARKROYAL is especially tender, while the decor items and made-in- tahu telor—fried beancurd Singapore artisanal foodstuff coated with egg and drizzled like jam and granola. If you’re with kicapNORTH BRIDGE ROAD manis, a sweet black looking for old-school frocks sauce—is a favourite here. and accessories, don’t miss 5 After lunch, head off to Arab Dulcetfig, which sells vintage Going Om Street where you can buy some clothes for the modern girl. of the most exquisite fabrics If walking fatigue is setting like Malay and Indonesian in, Going Om, which does batiks (intricately dyed tarot card readings patterns on fabrics) and yoga classes, as well as has a café with a Chinese and Thai tranquil interior for silks. 4 Ali Baba a restful break. Fabrics and Royal Threadbare & Fancy something Fabrics are some Squirrel stronger? Bar Stories, of the best and most also on the same street, affordable stores along the is a quirky little bar that street. There’s also Threadbare serves mean cocktails. & Squirrel, an indie multi- As evening approaches, label store which stocks a you can stay in the area and 6 wide range of trendy clothes. eat at Fika Swedish Café Shop Wonderland A small, unmarked lane and Bistro, an intriguing halfway along Arab Street eatery serving home-style There are also plenty of will bring you to the quaint halal Swedish food like pickled great café options around Haji Lane, one of Singapore’s herring and meatballs in cream this area. Just down the alley narrowest streets at just 3.5 sauce with lingonberry from Blu Jaz is CAD Café, metres across. Here, you can jam. After, head to 7 Blu a eclectic, hole-in-the-wall find small, quirky shops that Jaz, an indie-style bar in a place with a vintage vibe, craft you won’t find in established hip shophouse for drinks. beers and great coffee. Or, if malls. Two of the latest Populated with a casual and you walk back down Baghdad additions are eclectic little cool crowd, the live bands Street, there’s Maison stores Shop Wonderland and and DJs play anything from Ikkoku on Kandahar Street, Mondays Off, both purveyors funk, soul to pop music a charming hangout serving of locally designed home and occasionally jazz. up a distinctively smooth Kampong Glam

cuppa. (Tip: head upstairs for interiors to classic dishes their hidden gem of a cocktail like chicken and waffles. bar.) Alternatively, there’s 8 On your way back to Bugis A for Arbite on Aliwal Street. MRT station, stop by the Decked out like a cute, cheerful 10 Bugis Street pasar malam classroom, this establishment (night market), Singapore’s is where you can enjoy bistro largest outdoor shopping fare like porcini mushroom street, with shops opening as and duck rillette fettucine. late as 10 or 11pm. Here you Finish the night round can find trendy street wear the corner at 9 The Beast, a and accessories, cafés and trendy bourbon bar that takes street hawker snacks. What inspiration from the American a vibrant finish to the night. Blu Jaz South, from its rocker-inspired

Address Book A for Arbite Dulcetfig Mondays Off #01-01 Aliwal Arts Centre, 41 Haji Lane. 76 Haji Lane. 28 Aliwal Street. (65) 6396-5648. www.mondays-off.com (65) 8321-2252. www.dulcetfig.com www.arbite.com.sg Royal Fabrics Fika Swedish Café and 65 & 94 Arab Street. Ali Baba Fabrics Bistro (65) 6396-5801. 61 Arab Street. 257 Beach Road. (65) 6392-1621. (65) 6396-9096. Shop Wonderland www.fikacafe.com 37 Haji Lane. Bar Stories (65) 6299-5848. 57A Haji Lane. Going Om www.wonderland.com.sg (65) 6298-0838. 63 Haji Lane. www.barstories.com.sg (65) 6396-3592. www.going-om.com 3 Muscat Street. Blu Jaz (65) 6293-4405. 11 Bali Lane. Hjh Maimunah www.sultanmosque.org.sg (65) 6292-3800. 11 Jalan Pisang. www.blujaz.net (65) 6297-4294. The Beast www.hjmaimunah.com 17 Jalan Klapa. Bugis Street pasar malam (65) 6295-0017. (night market) Jamal Kazura Aromatics www.thebeast.sg 3 New Bugis Street. 21 Bussorah Street. (65) 6338-9513. (65) 6293-3320. Threadbare & Squirrel www.bugis-street.com www.jamalkazura.com 660 North Bridge Road. (65) 6396-6738. CAD Café Maison Ikkoku www.threadbareandsquirrel. 23 Haji Lane. 20 Kandahar Street. com www.cad.sg (65) 6294-0078. www.maison-ikkoku.net