When in Singapore: Kampong Glam

Singapore’s diverse culture makes in an interesting country to visit. For one, the Kampong Glam is an area in Singapore where you can experience a taste of the Middle East and feel the Islamic vibes without really going out of Southeast Asia.

Arab Street

From lamps to carpets, from patterned floor tiles to colorful printed attires, the Arab Street is a stretch of shophouses selling products from the Middle East. It isn't a mandatory to buy anything in these shops, but a curious eye is always welcome. At night, more shops become available along Baghdad Street as some vendors pull out their products to sell in an outdoor setup at the Arabian night market.

Arabian restaurants can also be seen around, mostly designed with beautiful tiled walls and flooring, Moroccan inspired chairs, and lamps that look dramatic at night. Also, you might get caught by Middle Eastern waiters when walking along Bussorah Street who eagerly say "hello" and invite you to enter their restaurant.

Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque)

Located at Muscat Street and North Bridge Road, the Masjid Sultan is a standout in the area with its beautiful Malay-Islamic architecture.

This mosque was built by Sultan Hussain, the leader when the British came to Singapore in 1800s. When the British allocated Kampong Glam for the Malays and other Muslims living in Singapore, the sultan decided to build a mosque in the area.

The mosque is open to the public (including non-Muslims) during non-praying times.

Visiting hours:
Saturdays to Thursdays: 10:00AM-12:00PM and 2:00PM-4:00PM
Fridays: 2:30PM-4:00PM

Haji Lane

This mural is perhaps one of the most photographed in Singapore, which is popular among millennials for this portion of a colorful wall that clearly makes it Instagram-worthy. Haji Lane is an alley with side-by-side shophouses for fashion boutiques, and some were converted into restaurants, cafes, and pubs.

The neighboring alleys are also as interesting as Haji Lane. Street art is seen much in the area.

It’s best to visit Haji Lane in the morning before 9AM to avoid the flock of tourists. Nevertheless, it’s also interesting at night since it’s a good place for night life.

Where-to-eat tips

If you’re in a hunt for the cheapest restaurant in the area, the Kampong Glam Café serves affordable Asian dishes from hot noodles to rice dishes. The price starts at SGD 4.5 only, a meal price that’s honestly quite hard to score not only in Kampong Glam but in entire Singapore.

Also read: How I Spent Less Backpacking in an Expensive City Like Singapore

For example, this chicken char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles) is only SGD 4.5 while warm teh tarik (milk tea) costs SGD 1. Very cheap la! Kampong Glam Café is located at Baghdad Street corner Bussorah Street.

Also, the oldest biryani restaurant can be found in Kampong Glam area. Located at North Bridge Road, the Islamic Restaurant has been serving the best biryani in town since 1921. A biryani set ranges from SGD 10 and up.

How to get there

The Bugis MRT station is the nearest train station to Kampong Glam. It’s served by Downtown (DT14) and East West (EW12) lines.

Shelly Viajera Travel