Kampong Glam

Singapore’s Kampong Glam neighbourhood plays two distinct roles in the city-state; firstly as the Muslim counterpart to Chinatown and Little India and secondly as a hipster enclave full of chic boutiques and trendy watering holes. Many will say that Kampong Glam is where modernity meets tradition. Sightseers will enjoy the picturesque streets with their beautifully restored shophouses, while shoppers are in for a treat with a selection of Singapore’s best offbeat boutiques selling cult labels and vintage clothing. The area is also home to the Malay Heritage Center, with its nine galleries showcasing the history and culture of Singapore Malays.

Public transport and amenities in Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam is the Muslim centre of Singapore and is traditionally home to mosques, carpet shops, and Middle Eastern cuisine. More recently, the area has seen a surge in boutique cocktail bars and funky restaurant openings. However, what many people do not realize is that Kampong Glam has a long history as the place to live and worship before it became the go-to place for twenty-somethings looking for somewhere to spend a relaxing Saturday.

Historically one of Singapore’s oldest urban quarters, Kampong Gelam is a neighbourhood where age-old traditions and trendy lifestyles come together in a heady blend. The word ‘kampong’ means “compound in Malay, while “gelam” or “glam” refers to the long-leaved paperbark tree, commonly found in the area and used for boat-making, medicine, and even as a seasoning for food. The district has a history that dates back to Singapore’s colonial era when Sir Stamford Raffles allocated the area to the Malay, Arab, and Bugis communities. 

Since then, the area has evolved into a haunt for hip travellers and connoisseurs of culture alike. As the Muslim centre of Singapore, Kampong Glam is home to the city’s biggest mosque, the Masjid Sultan (or Sultan Mosque). Its huge golden dome and four minarets cannot be easily missed. Bussorah Street is one of the most picturesque streets in the whole of Singapore, with its tiled pedestrian area, heritage architecture, and palm trees, while Kandahar Street around the corner is home to some of the most beautifully restored and elaborate shophouses in the whole city. 

Stay - Kampong Glam

For tourists alike, Kampong Glam is traditionally associated with budget accommodation, with Sleepy Sam’s on Bussorah Street being a long-term favourite with backpackers to Singapore, although it has since been superseded by more high-tech offerings in Chinatown. The Sultan, housed in ten historic shophouses with a distinct Arabic slant to its design, will appeal to boutique hotel lovers looking to enjoy affordable accommodation in an ethnic atmosphere. 

Long-term residents occupy nearby HDB flats and a number of private condominiums in the vicinity. If you are interested in private housing in Kampong Glam, 99. co recommends some newer developments for you to check out. These include: City Gate and Concourse Skyline. Older ones that are still available in the market are Southbank and The Plaza Apartment.

Eats and Drinks - Kampong Glam

Foodies taking a stroll around the neighbourhood will find local delicacies and global dishes to feed their cravings for new flavours. Kampong Glam is traditionally associated with Middle Eastern cuisine. Therefore, you can expect to find an abundance of reasonably priced Lebanese, Turkish and Egyptian restaurants here. 

Many establishments are Halal; so do not expect to enjoy a beer with your kebab, although you are welcome to smoke a shisha after dinner. If you are hankering for other global flavours, Italian cuisine at Tipo Pasta Bar and Swedish food to fill your belly at the Fika Swedish café and bistro.

Kandahar Street is famous for its Nasi Padang restaurants, a cheap and cheerful option for a buffet-style Malay/Indonesian fare, with Sabar Menanti as a standout choice. Locally-inspired cocktails can be found at Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall, while The Singapura Club and Piedra Negra are both popular dinner spots for hungry travellers looking to knock back a tipple and soak in the bustling ambience.

When you are done with your shopping spree, you will want to stick around until nightfall. Kampong Gelam takes on a whole new life after the sun sets, with live music bars and hip restaurants abound along Haji Lane. Until recently, much of Kampong Glam’s nightlife centred around apple tea and shishas in the area’s alcohol-free cafes. Blu Jaz Café has long bucked the trend, with its packed calendar of live music & comedy nights, and cheap beer & cocktail deals. 

More recently the area has seen a surge in boutique cocktail bars and restaurants springing up within the heritage shophouses. These bohemian, edgy establishments target the city’s media and ‘cool’ crowd and make a welcome change from the glitz and glamour of the city centres roof bars and trendy nightclubs.

Shop - Kampong Glam

Besides being a foodie paradise, Kampong Glam is home to both traditional tradesmen and trendy modern retail. Make a beeline for Haji Lane to lose yourself in a world of multi-coloured street art and hip boutiques. You will find uniquely Singaporean trinkets at Craft Assembly, home décor, and elegant accessories at Hygge and beautifully crafted jewellery at the Silver Triangle.

Treasure hunters looking for traditional wares may want to visit Sifr Aromatics for custom-made perfumes, Molkan Fabrics for silks, scarves and textiles or the Malay Art Gallery—an emporium of artifacts like the kris (traditional daggers with distinct wavy blades), plates, and brooches.

Many people head to Arab Street for its abundance of carpet and fabric shops. While Bussorah Street is home to a string of souvenir shops, with the odd antique or jewellery store in amongst the mix. The area is also known for its vintage clothing boutiques, and Haji Lane is one of Singapore’s hidden gems for shoppers. This narrow shabby lane is lined with offbeat boutiques selling cult labels and vintage clothing stores and offers a different world of shopping from the glitzy shopping malls that Singapore is famous for.

The area indeed has a unique flavour. There is not anywhere else on the island you will find such a rich tapestry of Arab textile and carpet shops tucked between mod cafes and graffiti-painted walls. And even if you do not buy anything, it is still interesting to grab an ice cream along the pedestrian-friendly Haji Lane and watch the diverse crowd go by. It is the perfect setting to just dig in or chill out.

Play - Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam is a place designed for heritage vacations. As you explore this historic neighbourhood, let the golden dome of the majestic Sultan Mosque be the landmark that guides you along its busy streets and bustling byways. Built in 1824 by Sultan Hussein Shah, this magnificent place of worship is one of Singapore’s most prominent religious buildings. Tours of the mosque’s grounds are available in a variety of languages.

For a deeper dive into the Kampong Glam’s history, pay a visit to the Malay Heritage Centre. This institute of Malay heritage sits on the grounds of a former palace and boasts six permanent galleries as well as a range of exciting cultural activities. Get a glimpse into the intricacies of traditional Malay seafaring vessels, learn about Kampong Gelam’s status as a regional printing hub, and admire a range of beautifully-preserved artifacts once used by royalty.

Street art aficionados in search of inspiration should also consider a visit to Gelam Gallery—Singapore’s first outdoor gallery is home to 30 works of street art and wall murals by local and international artists.

Learn - Kampong Glam

Serving the community nearby, Madrasah Aljunied Al Islamiah is one of the top choices for Muslim families. Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah is a full-time private Islamic institution of learning in Singapore, one of the six such madrasahs in Singapore. 

Through its years, it has gained eminence for its high standard of Arabic language and Islamic scholarship in the region. Madrasah Aljunied boasts an illustrious line of alumni of prominent Islamic religious leaders in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Other than the Madrasah Aljunied, there is also the Alsagoff Arab School. Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah, another name that goes by it, is the island’s oldest surviving madrasah. 

The architectural design of the school is partly influenced by the Dutch-Indies, and also reflects the local culture and climate. Alsagoff is recognized as one of Singapore's heritage schools. For non-Muslim families, there are other schools in the vicinity including the Stamford Primary School, Boston Business School, and PCF Sparkletots Preschool.

Move - Kampong Glam

Residents of the Kampong Glam neighbourhood and nearby areas will benefit from two MRT stations: Bugis MRT and Lavender MRT Station. Bugis MRT Station serves the East-West Line and Downtown Line and is an underground interchange station bordering the Bugis and Victoria planning subzones. 

Meanwhile, Lavender MRT Station is an underground station along the East-West Line. It sits within the nearby Lavender planning subzone, adjacent to the Crawford, Kampong Bugis, and Kallang Bahru subzones, and is physically located underneath Kallang Road, near the junction with Lavender Street / Crawford Street. These MRTs will connect you to offices, shopping centres, commercial and residential developments, preserved shophouses, and places and worship.

Parks and Garden - Kampong Glam

There are several neighbourhood parks in Kampong Glam that offer a quick escape from the bustling city. These open spaces are a perfect place to do a little jogging or just a leisurely stroll in the afternoon. Parks in Kampong Glam include the Kampong Glam Park, Sultan Gate Park, North Bridge Garden, and Rochor River Park.

Sports Facilities - Kampong Glam

Tucked away in the bustling vicinity of Kampong Glam, the tennis courts at Kampong Glam CC offer a pleasant respite from the heat and crowds. Kampong Glam Community Club is conveniently located along Beach Road next to the Army Market and Golden Mile Food Centre. It is the only CC in Singapore with a tennis court, and it is a good venue to have your private tennis classes.

There are also numerous other facilities available at the Kampong Glam Community Centre which are open for use. However, the tennis court is still a hot favourite for those living or working in the central location. How to book a court? The court booking is under onePA and is open 15 days before the day. You are required to book 2 hours at a time and it costs $14 to $20 for non-peak hours and $24 to $36 for peak hours. Please note that there are only 5 booking slots available per day. If you want to book, you will need to be on your toes once the court is open for booking!

Public Library - Kampong Glam

Residents of Kampong Glam and other nearby neighbourhoods such as Whampoa and Jalan Besar get the privilege of having the access to Central Public Library right at their fingertips. The Central Public Library, having a total floor area of 6,407 square meters, has the largest English fiction collection in the network of public libraries with more than 30,000 unique titles. 

The Literary Arts Collection is one of the library’s highlights along with its International Collection which showcases the following countries: Saudi Arabia, Australia, Taiwan, the US and France. As for Children Collections, the library has 45,000 children’s fiction and non-fiction titles with a distinct focus on the themes such as environment and recycling.

The Central Public Library indeed is home to My Tree House, the World's 1st Green Library for Kids. This library is the first in the world to be steered by green principles in all facets from design and infrastructure to collection and programming. Forming the centerpiece of the eco library, the striking treehouse canopy is constructed with recycled bottles while its steps and surrounding platform are built with recycled timber. Other green features in the library include refurbished bookshelves, carpets made from recycled materials and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Another highlight from the library are the Gardens. There is the Bamboo Garden which houses 5,000 bricks from the former National Library at Stamford Road. Also located within the garden are life-size bronze figures by Chong Fah Cheong featuring four children in various reading poses, poised on white marble rocks.