Kampong Glam: Hip Heritage

From Bugis MRT station, walk down Victoria Street and make a right at Arab Street. At the junction of Arab Street and North Bridge Road, you'll see the impressive Sultan Mosque. Built in 1826 by the Sultan of Johor, Hussein Shah, it fell into a state of disrepair after a hundred years before a new one was built in 1928 to support the growing Muslim community. The largest mosque in Singapore and a national heritage site, it has remained relatively unchanged since. Turning left into Muscat Street will bring you to the entrance of the mosque and, if you'd like to explore within, check out the mosque's dome base, formed out of many glass bottles collected by devotees; an impressive sight to behold. Note: Appropriate attire is to be worn in order to enter the mosque. Don't fret, there are cloaks available free of charge should you not be dressed appropriately.

Mosque Visiting Hours
Monday-Sunday 9.30am-12pm, 2pm-4pm
Friday: 2.30pm-4pm
Admission is free

Address:
3 Muscat Street
Singapore 198833

Phone:
(+65) 6293 4405

Outside the entrance is Bussorah Street, a short pedestrian alley with two-storey shophouses filled with Middle-Eastern cafes, souvenirs and traditional clothing stores selling batik materials, as well as boutique spas and funky stores selling vintage curios. Jamal Kazura Aromatics is not to be missed here. A family business for more than 80 years, this intimate fragrance boutique offers a wide range of Arabic perfumes, Egyptian perfume vials, massage oils, scented body soap and shower creams from the Middle East, India and Europe. --

Hours : Monday-Saturday: 9am - 7pm

Address:
21 Bussorah Street
Singapore 199726

Phone:
(+65) 6293 3320

Across North Bridge Road is the 20-year-old nasi padang stall HJH Maimunah. Famous among locals, it has been featured on celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's television show No Reservations. The beef in the rendang, a dry curry, is especially tender while the tauhu telor--fried beancurd coated with egg and drizzled with kechap manis, a sweet black sauce--are favourites here. --

Hours : 7am - 8pm daily

Address:
11 & 15 Jalan Pisang
Singapore 199078

Phone:
(+65) 6291 3132

After lunch, head off to Arab Street where you can get some of the most exquisite fabrics like Malay and Indonesian batiks (intricately dyed patterns on fabrics) as well as Chinese and Thai silks. Ali Baba Fabrics, Royal Fabrics and Sheila & Co are some of the best and most affordable stores along the street.

A small, unmarked lane along Arab Street will bring you to Haji Lane, Singapore's narrowest street at approximately 3.5 metres across. Here, you enter the hip and trendy side of the area where you can find small, quirky shops that you won't find in established malls. One of them is Dulcetfig which sells vintage clothes for the modern girl, while KIN is a stylish menswear boutique. There's also style emporium, Pluck, which even boasts a great ice cream parlour with some fantastic homemade strawberry champagne sorbet. If walking fatigue is setting in, Going Om, which does tarot card readings and yoga classes, has a cafe with a tranquil interior for a restful break. If you fancy something stronger, Bar Stories, also on the same street, is a quirky little cocktail bar that serves a mean Mojito sorbet.

As evening approaches, head to the corner of Beach Road and Arab Street and eat at Fika, an intriguing eatery serving home-style halal Swedish food like pickled herrings and meatballs in cream sauce, with lingonberry jam. -- Hours : Monday-Wednesday: 11am-10pm Thursday-Saturday: 11am-11pm Sunday: 11am - 10pm

Address:
257 Beach Road/Arab Street
Singapore 520728
Singapore

Phone:
(+65) 6396 9096

For good music and drinks, head to Blujaz, an indie-style bar housed in a three-floor shophouse on Bali Lane. Populated with a casual and cool crowd, the live bands and DJs play anything from funk, soul to pop music and occasionally jazz. If you prefer something quieter, Twine, a stylish new wine bar, is a few doors down.

The other alternative is to walk back down Baghdad Street and head to Pasha on Aliwal Street. Though decked out in white modern interiors, the Moroccan food they serve is largely traditional, with well done favourites like kebabs, couscous and tajines. --

Restaurant: Monday – Sunday: 12pm – 2pm, 6.45pm – 10.30pm
Bar: 5pm onwards daily

Address:
64 Aliwal Street
Singapore 199940

Phone:
(+65) 6723 7117

Finish the night round the corner at The Studio, a trendy cocktail bar, with a 'home away from home' vibe. Frequented by hip 20-somethings, their signature cocktail, a Bacardi 151 and grapefruit juice concoction called The Landlord, is satisfyingly moreish. --

Hours : Opens at 6pm

Address:
778 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198746

Phone:
(+65) 6396 6345

On your way back to Bugis MRT Station, stop by the Bugis Street "pasar malam" or night market, Singapore's largest outdoor shopping street where you can find trendy streetwear and accessories, cafes and street hawker snacks. --

Address:
4 New Bugis Street
Singapore 188868