Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Singapore. The historic neighborhood is the main reason we chose to live in the Bugis neighborhood, which is the larger surrounding area of the area, now being rebranded as the new “Midtown” of Singapore.
Numerous nights we were either walking the vibrant streets of Kampong Glam, enjoying one of the many outstanding restaurants the neighborhood has to offer, or we were sipping on a cocktail with some apps, enjoying live music on Haji Lane.
SL Update: The neighborhood has mellowed a bit since Covid, but it is still a festive scene, and the mix of history, culture, and music is why we keep coming back.
Haji Lane
Haji Lane was our spot for a of couple years leading up to Covid. This fun pedestrian street was always full of live music, from early in the evening, until late into the night. We had our favorite musicians that we would seek out on various nights, but the majority of the buskers on the street were incredibly talented. We also became friends with a lot of the staff, and being that the festive lane was about a 3 min walk from our condo, it was pretty easy to find ourselves there on a random night for dinner and/or drinks.
We’ve been back a few times post pandemic and it’s apparent the live music scene has not returned in full yet. Many of the musicians were from neighboring Malaysia and left the country during the COVID lockdown. For now, it seems they’re making do with piped in music, and the occasional live band, rather than the competing musicians that used to fill the street.
Still, Haji Lane has a lot to offer. Great restaurants, tiny local boutiques, gift shops, and cafes adorned with colorful murals, all spilling into the street. It may be narrow in size, but it is larger than life in personality.
The Muslim Quarter, A Sultan, and A Heritage Center
Prior to colonization by the British in 1819, the area of Kampong Glam was home to the Malaysian aristocracy of Singapore. Suddenly it became more prominent and populated after the signing of a historic treaty, which gave the right for the British East India Company to set up a trading post in Singapore.
Under the Raffles Plan of 1822, Singapore was divided according to different ethnic groups which included European Town, Chinese, Chulia, Arab and Bugis kampongs. The word Kampong translates to “village” in Malay.
Kampong Glam was designated for the Sultan and his household, as well as the Malaysian and Arab communities, many of whom were merchants. It was situated east of what was then the European Town.
Today, the Malay Heritage center sits in the heart of Kampong Glam and is a wonderful museum detailing Malaysian history in the area, and the Sultans who used to live and rule there.
The Malay Heritage Center is currently closed for extensive renovations and set to reopen to the public in 2025.
Sultan Mosque
Masjid Sultan anchors the neighborhood with its gleaming golden dome and minarets, and the wafting sounds of the call to prayer 5 times a day.
The mosque is located at Muscat Street and North Bridge Road, and was named after Sultan Hussain Shah. The mosque was only two-thirds complete when it was formally opened on 27 December, 1929. The mosque was fully completed in 1932, and in 1975, Singapore designated it a national monument.
The palm lined street that leads up to the mosque is teaming with numerous restaurants and shops. Many of the restaurants specialize in halal middle eastern cuisine, and offer outdoor seating with gilded cushions and mocktails, reminiscent of streets in Istanbul or Marrakech.
The food is excellent, and the vibe is very festive. It is a wonderful place to grab lunch or dinner and take in the view.
Best Way to Access the Neighborhood
Like most areas in Singapore, Kampong Glam is very easy to access by the metro (MRT). You can take the Downtown Line (Blue Line), or the East-West Line (Green Line), and get off at Bugis. It is a short walk from the MRT, and you can enter Haji Lane from Beach Road on the southeast side of the street, or North Beach Road from the northwest side. You can also take the Circle Line (Orange Line) and get off at Nicholl Highway, which is not far from the eastern side of the neighborhood, closer to Jalan Sultan. Kampong Glam is also easy to access by car and bus. There are parking spots in the neighborhood that you pay by the hour, and there are parking lots nearby that you can pay to enter. The bus system is very efficient in Singapore, and there are bus stops on most corners in and around Kampong Glam.
