Arab Street - Singapore

Visitors who enjoy a little bargaining will find it here among the historic shops selling textiles, perfume and more. Along with traditional Muslim food offerings, some Western restaurants have settled into the area, creating a Singaporean blend of cultures. Make sure to stop at the island’s largest mosque, the Sultan Mosque, a landmark in the Kampong Glam Malay Heritage District.

Photo by Severinus Dewantara on Unsplash

Arab Street was the name of a road and neighbourhood in Singapore. There are two explanations behind the name. The first one is that the area was owned by an Arab merchant, Syed Ali bin Mohamed Al Junied and that it was the site of an Arab kampong, hence the name Arab Street.

Singapore is one of the top travel destinations in the world as it has a diverse landscape and an amazing culture. The country is rightfully called the place where the east meets the west. It is a beautiful culmination of various cultures. One can find influences of not one or two but multiple cultures like Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian and more here. These cultural influences can be seen on the food too. The food here is quite flavorsome and tasty. Explore the local neighborhoods and famous streets of Singapore to experience all of this. One of these streets is the Arab Street. If you are in Singapore, head to the street, and places nearby. Read on to know of more things to do near Arab Street Singapore. There is a lot to explore and do. Have a look.

Arab Street is a neighbourhood in the Malay-Muslim Quarter of Singapore, north of the Singapore River. It is known for its eclectic mix of exotic stores selling crafts, accessories, textiles, and home furnishing from the Middle East; the trendy stores are frequented by fashion lovers and art enthusiasts.

Named after an Arab trader who had a port in the location, Arab Street is a part of the Kampong Glam neighbourhood and has gained prominence as a heritage site. The street splashed with colours and a vivacious, bustling, yet tranquil and entrancing atmosphere makes a great place for photographers and people curious about unique knick-knacks not found in ordinary malls.

Comprising of Bussorah Street, Haji Lane, Bali Lane, and Muscat Street along with Arab Street, the Muslim Quarter is a sizeable portion of Singapore. Sultan Masjid - the main attraction of Arab Street - is at the centre and draws huge crowds especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Arab Street is a road and neighborhood in Singapore and a quite popular one. It got its name from an Arab merchant, who once owned the area. The place is a famous hub for culture, food, and entertainment. It is a hippy neighborhood which celebrates the multiple ethnicities of Singapore. Keeping together the heritage, the place has quite progressed today. It is also referred to as Singapore’s Muslim quarter at times. One can shop for some amazing items here. There are Persian rugs, aromatic teas, fabrics, and textiles that one can shop for here. One can also spot street art here, which is not a common sight in Singapore. Thus, the place is full of surprises.

Arab Street, a thoroughfare and chirpy locality in Singapore, is situated between Victoria Street and Beach Road in the Kampong Glam area. History has it that Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Modern Singapore, has designated areas for individual communities to live in and allotted Arab Street for the Muslim community in 1882. The zone, which was once exclusively populated by Malaysians, Sumatrans, Yemenis, and Javanese, has shed much of its distinctive ethnic character due to urbanization and became the region’s main shopping centre.

However, traces of its cultural heritage show up in the form of old shophouses that market Persian rugs, handicrafts, aromatic beverages, textiles, homegrown flowers, etc and bucolic courtyards and quaint cafes that serve native signature dishes and iconic hookah pipe for smoking. The area retains its identity through street art and the wall graffiti, which is very rare in mainland Singapore. The place was home to the Sultan of Singapore and houses the famous and oldest Sultan Mosque, Malay Heritage Center, and restaurants. Marina Barrage, Helix Bridge, and the Suspension Bridge at Palawan Beach are the 3 beautiful bridges near Arab Street that allure nature lovers, couples, and families.

Marina Barrage, built at the union of 5 rivers, serves water, controls floods, and offers recreational actions. The 280 m Helix bridge designed in the shape of human DNA, is the World’s first curved bridge. It is built using 650 tonnes of stainless steel. At night with lights on, it presents a spectacular view. The Palawan bridge with 2 tall towers offers awesome views of the South China Sea and the surrounding area.

Attractions & Places to See 

The Projector

This alternative cinema venue prides itself on showcasing indie art films. With vintage décor and vinyl seats, The Projector screens an eclectic range of international and domestic films that portray the unconventional. This 40-year old theatre is a volunteer-driven initiative that is an interesting visit for tourists looking for something out of the ordinary.

Haji Lane

Nestled in a corner of Bugis Street, Haji Street is the 'boujee' place to be for fashion enthusiasts and Instagrammers – the beautifully painted walls and murals are great photo-ops. The brightly coloured shops are charming to look at and boast of an eclectic collection of items - Haji Lane hosts a number of cafés, bars, book stores, gift stores, and boutiques. Don’t miss the karaoke sessions at Haji Lane’s many bars!

Trippies/Children Little Museum 

Also called Grandfather’s Collection, the Children Little Museum takes visitors on a trip down memory lane to Singapore in the mid-twentieth century – with charming enamels, novelty items, dolls, technology, toys, and games from the 1960s. Collected and curated by Patrick Neo, a photographer, the Museum endeavours to capture the nostalgia of Singapore in the twentieth century, complete with an iconic Tin Man statue at the entrance.

Places to Eat at Arab Street Singapore

1. Nasrin Restaurant: 

Nasrin with its comfy lounge area at the top floor and outdoor seating at the ground floor provides a perfect ambiance for both revelers and families alike. The delicious soups, an array of salads, mouth-watering appetizers, succulent traditional Turkish Kebabs, steaming stews, Biryanis, Pizzas, Burgers, and refreshing desserts leave visitors mopping up their plates.

2. Working Title: 

The chic indoors and airy outdoors impress both, those who want to catch a quick bite as well as others who like to relax and enjoy the food. 13 varieties of Burgers, selective savory snacks and sweets, gastronomic brunches, milkshakes, icecreams, and other beverages make visitors visit this joint again and again.

3. Alsaeed: 

The bistro run by the award-winning Chef and TV host, Chef Syed boasts of a wide variety of cuisines, which includes Spanish, Mediterranean, Arabic, Indian, Western, and native delicacies. Though the must-tries include a long list of dishes, Bamboo Biryani stands out as the most sought after dish by the epicurean visitors.

4. Tabbouleh Lebanese Café & Restaurant: 

A café-style restaurant for foodies with a penchant for Turkish and Middle Eastern non-veg food. Visitors can devour a bowl of yummy Lentil soup followed by household hummus dip or tepid Falafel balls for appetizers and Lamb chops for the main course. One can try other delectable authentic Lebanese dishes like lamb Kofta, lahem meshwi, marinated chicken cubes, mashed egg potato, rice, etc.

5. The Hangar: 

Hanger is a cozy restaurant specialized in serving fine Australian coffee from home-roasted fresh coffee beans and spicy nibbles like home-produced granola with Greek Yogurt and unique sumptuous breakfasts.  

6. Comestival Dessert: 

A perfect place for sweet tooths, this place serves smooth Nutella Cheesecake, Nutella brioche, Pandan Gula Melaka cake, Thai milk tea cheesecake, etc.

Places to Shop at Arab Street Singapore

1. Sifr Aromatics: 

Sifr Aromatics is run by Johari Kazuri, a descendant of Kazura family, who were in the perfume industry from 3 generations. Johari Kazuri synergized his traditional learning with a professional course in the perfume industry in France to wring scientific research into traditional methods in manufacturing new concoctions. A haven for hedonists, visitors get to experience the exquisite range of perfumes including his Heady East, which is a mix of oud, rose, amber, and neroli. Customers can book a prior appointment and get their bespoke fragrances on order. Apart from scents, visitors can shop deodorants, balms, fragrant incense sticks, and classic perfume bottles.

2. Mahaco Impex: 

Mahaco Impex located at 51 Arab Street is an import/export textile business segregated into 3 verticals (Men, Women & Home Furnishings) that cater to diverse functions and customer segments. It was set up in  January 1988. Visitors can look for a range of fabrics from cotton to very high-quality silk material. Buyers can expect to be treated by the friendliest staff to a huge variety of shawls, pashminas, bedspreads, scarves and many other authentic products.

3. Royal Fabrics

It is the ultimate sartorial address for fashionistas looking for fabrics, designed reflecting Middle Eastern & South Asian themes on a variety of cloth types such as silk, linen, cotton, polyester, etc in pastel rich colors. Teng Joo Textiles markets exclusive Asian garments, sewing accessories, and other tailoring stuff.

4. The Gem Museum: 

The first private Gem Museum in Singapore that astounds visitors with its trove of precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, spinel, emeralds, tourmaline, and a variety of colored diamonds. It amazes guests by showcasing the 4-stage processing of gems, giving hands-on training on Gem equipment, teaching Kids about Gem Mining and bracelet making, and conducts Gem Rock Challenge for kids.  

5. Haji Lane:

The lane got its name from the many Arab-pilgrim agents, who arrange Haj yatra for the Muslims in Singapore.  The place abounds with a lot of shophouses that run boutiques, cafes, bars, and restaurants such as Juice Clinic, Lima, The Singapura Club, GoodLuck Beerhouse, Hygge, The Silver Triangle, Crafune, SSFW, etc.

6. Goshen Art Gallery: 

An international art gallery that showcases around 8000 art pieces by famous local and international artists to the world. 

Hotels to Stay in Arab Street

1. Park Royal on Beach Road: 

Located in proximity to Haji lane, Malay Heritage center, Sultan Museum, etc, Park Royal is the ideal destination for upscale vacationers and business people. Accommodation in the form of Queen Room, Twin Room, Triple Room, Family Room, and Accessible Room (for differently-abled persons) with pleasing interiors and customer-friendly amenities provide a cozy stay.  Folklore & Lobby Bar, the in-house eatery and bar satiate the visitors' hunger with native heirloom dishes and choicest drinks and beverages.

2. Andaz Singapore: 

Azdaz Singapore, a Hyatt Group of Hotels,  is located just a stone’s throw from the culturally rich areas such as Kampong Glam, Little India, and Bras Basah Bugis. 

The 342 Andre Fu designed suites & guestrooms reek of elegance, comfort, and convenience. The floor to ceiling window frames not only ushers plenty of sunlight but provide a picturesque view of the Singapore skyline above and a bustling town below.

Hyatt heightens the visitors' comfort levels exponentially through its world-class facilities and eye for details such as freestanding bathtubs, double rain showers, double sink vanities, swimming pool with lounge chairs, etc.  Andaz features 14,800 sq. ft. Alley on 3, for conducting special events such as Weddings, Corporate meetings, etc in either of the 4 event spaces; The Glasshouse, an outdoor Garden Studio, or two other smaller studio spaces.

3. Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan: 

A 2-stored-renovated shophouse with plush verdant meadows, elegant wooden interiors, selective furnishings, and art pieces provide comfortable accommodation. An array of 10 types of rooms with modern facilities such as 24 hr Gym, restaurant, and laundry service suit the budget and tastes of the upper-middle class.

4. Aliwal Park Hotel: 

It is a budgetary hotel located in the center of Kampong Glam area, at a walkable distance from the city's main attractions, 3 metro stations; Bugis, Lavender, and Nicoli Highway MRT stations and Golden Mile bus terminal. All categories of rooms from Standard Single Room to Super Deluxe Double Room & Family Room with standard facilities provide a comfortable stay at an affordable price. Visitors can find different varieties of food from various restaurants located near the hotel.

5. Hotel Boss: 

Hotel Boss is a 19-storey building with 1500 ultra-modern guestrooms belonging to 11 different categories ranging from Standard, Superior, Twin, Triple to Family and Premier. Visitors for once will feel pleased to experience a state of indecisiveness in selecting the rooms that are high on comfort but considerably low on budget. The contemporary amenities like 40-inch LED TV with internet option & cable channels, mini-bar, coffee & tea vending machine dental kit and toiletries, Sky Terrace, outdoor swimming pool, Gym, and an in-house restaurant that serves halal and non-halal food provide more than money’s worth comforts.

Essential Information

Location: Kampong Glam, Next to Queen Street Bus Terminal, Singapore.

Timings: Arab Street remains open 365 days and 24 hrs.

Tips for Visiting Arab Street Singapore

• Visitors are advised to dress appropriately. Men & Women are recommended to dress conservatively while undertaking a trip to Sultan Mosque.

• Tourists should respect the religious sentiments of the locals and follow etiquette. Abstain from touching anyone’s head, showing off one’s feet to others or pointing fingers at any person.

• Chewing Gum and e-cigarettes in Singapore are considered illegal and may land one in trouble if bought into the country or used inside the country. 

• Cameras and Video cameras are not allowed inside the Sultan Mosque. Visitors should switch off their Cell Phones and Pagers inside the mosque.

• Non-Muslim tourists are not allowed to enter the main prayer hall.

• Visitors will be condoned only twice for littering trash on the street. If he/she commits the same mistake a third time, he/she will be forced to clean up the roads wearing “I am a Litterer”.

• Smoking is prohibited at most public spaces such as bus shelters, markets, and car parks.

• Visitors are advised to take plenty of water to keep themselves hydrated and avoid ill-effects of the tropical climate.

• Visitors should bear in mind not to visit mosque between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, as it is the Sabbath day