The Charming Arab Quarter Of Singapore

Nestled in the heart of Singapore, the Arab Quarter, or Kampong Glam, is a must-visit area of Singapore, with its vibrant tapestry of culture, street art, atmosphere, many restaurants, and its history. Once the home of Malay royalty, today it offers a unique blend of Malay traditions and Middle Eastern influences. With the striking golden dome of Sultan’s Mosque rising majestically against the skyline, streets lined with quaint, colorful shophouses, trendy boutiques, hip cafés and, surprisingly, cool cocktail venues, it invites exploration. This post covers the Arab Quarter of Singapore, where you can discover its rich past and dynamic present.

The Arab Quarter Of Singapore

Haji Lane

While Arab Street is the main street in Kampong Glam, little Haji Lane steals the limelight with its offbeat boutiques, vintage clothing stores, and hip cafés. And despite the fact that it gets its name from the ‘Hajj’, the pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims to Mecca, you can also get a cocktail here…and a tattoo! This street is vibrant by day, but really comes alive after dark, popular with the ‘cool’ crowd, with many eateries and boutique cocktail bars.

An interesting fact on Haji lane is that it is reputedly Singapore’s narrowest street. This gives it an extra cozy feel. Especially at night with its colorful street art and the ambiance of its lights. Plus there’s history here as its shophouses were once home to pilgrims traveling through Singapore.

Arab Street

Arab Street is the main street of Kampong Glam, and because of this, the Arab Quarter is sometimes referred to as Arab Street. Like other core streets here, Arab Street is lined with charming shophouses, but these are filled with colorful textiles, carpet shops, and Middle Eastern goods, as well as many restaurants and cafés.

While there are plenty of eateries on this street featuring Middle Eastern food, like the House of Kebab, Anatolia Restaurant, and the cute little take-away spot, Opah Satay, on the corner, there are also other great places, like Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro, which I was very impressed with, 白蘭閣街蝦麵, which often has a line, and Wooly’s Bagels, which I stopped at for a late breakfast one day.

The Murals @ Muscat Street

The large, colorful Kampon Gelam Mural, or Murals @ Muscat Street, is often one of the first things you see when entering the Arab Quarter of Singapore. Especially if you arrive via the Bugis MRT Station. It is on Muscat Street (near its intersection with Arab Street), which was named after the capital of Oman from the historical trade between the two here.

This is another mural by artist Yip Yew Chong (you can see more on him in my post on Chinatown). It showcases the early days of the Kampong Glam area, when it was on the seafront, and trade that happened here between Singapore and Oman. You can see the original Mosque in the mural, with its pointed roof, rather than its current dome, as well as the Sultan’s Palace, and a variety of workers and traders in shops lining the street.

Other Street Art In The Arab Quarter

As you wander the Arab Quarter, you’ll see a lot of street art. Especially on Haji Lane and Bussorah Street, but there is vibrant artwork tucked all over the Arab Quarter, making it very colorful and charming.

Because of this, the lively nightlife, and younger vibe, the Arab Quarter was my favorite of the three main cultural areas in Singapore: Kampong Glam, Chinatown, and Little India.

Sultan’s Mosque

Sultan’s Mosque, or Masjid Sultan, is the largest mosque in Singapore, and the central place of worship for the Muslim community. Its golden dome acts as a beacon for the from a distance.

The mosque welcomes all visitors from 10 AM to noon, and again from 2 PM to 4 PM. Entry is free. Conservative dress is required, but there are full length smocks to borrow for entry.

Sultan’s Palace

Sultan’s Palace, which was once the residence of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar, in the 19th century, is now the Malay Heritage Center.

The building dates to the mid 1800s and is known as Istana Kampong Gelam. Unfortunately, it is currently closed for renovation until 2026. It features exhibits showcasing the history, culture and contributions of the Malay community in Singapore.

Note the use of both Gelam and Glam in names in Kampong Glam. Gelam refers to its more historic aspects, while Glam represents its modern impression.

Noteworthy Eateries in Kampong Glam

Other popular restaurants, in addition to the ones noted above in Arab Street, include the following:

• Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant is one of the most popular Indian Muslim restaurants in Singapore. It’s located on Beech Road near Sultan’s Mosque. They are known for their Byriani and Murtabak.
• Victory House is next to Zam Zam and offers health Indian Muslim food. Also known for their Byriani and Murtabak.
• Al-Tasneem is another great Indian Muslim place. It’s on the same street as Zam Zam and Victory, but directly across the street from Sultan’s Mosque.
• Piedra Negra is a popular Mexican restaurant with margaritas and cocktails on the corner of Beech Street and Haji Lane. In the evening, tables are set outside beside the brightly painted mural walls here, offering a very lively atmosphere.
• Madd Pizza is another lively place on Haji Lane after dark with bruschetta, ficcocia, pizza, pasta, and cocktails.
• Punjaby Dawat is around the corner from Madd Pizza and you can actually order both from the MADD Pizza location. It’s tandoor style Indian food and is delicious.
• Black Sheep & Co is across from Madd Pizza and Punjaby Dawat on Haji Lane. They offer a wide variety of food, beers, and cocktails.
• Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique is the ideal place for a gelato break, with interesting flavors like white chrysanthemum and lychee raspberry. This gelato shop is also noted in the Michelin Guide so it’s a must-try.
• 2050 Coffee is a futurist coffee shop from Kyoto that offers coffee on tap.
• Blu Jaz Cafe is a hotspot in the Arab Quarter with live events and international food. See the link for scheduled events.

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Where To Stay In Singapore

Arab Quarter, Or Kampon Glam

If you want to stay in the Arab Quarter of Singapore, here are a few places that get great reviews.

• The Sultan offers affordable, boutique rooms in renovated shophouses on Jalan Sultan Road, providing the charm of Singapore in the Arab Quarter.
• Heritage Collection on Arab has affordable, clean rooms on Arab Street. It offers the convenience of self-checkin (using their app), but staff is always available if you need anything.
• For something more exclusive, stay at Andaz Singapore by Hyatt. Not technically in the Arab Quarter, it’s just a 2-minute walk from Haji Lane. this Sleek high rise also has a rooftop bar.

The Civic District

The Civic District is just a 15- to 20-minute walk away from the Arab Quarter in the heart of Singapore. I loved staying in this area as it provided a more authentic Singaporean experience (rather than just staying in the touristy areas). Plus there are a lot of great restaurants and cafes to discover here as well.

• Raffles Hotel is a well-known luxury hotel, located in the city center. Named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern singapore, it offers historic charm and outstanding service. And of course you must visit the Raffles Long Bar for the obligatory Singapore Sling experience.
• Heritage Collection on Seah is located in the city, close to the City Hall MRT. The rooms are exceptionally clean and most have a loft. It’s just a few minutes walk from Raffles Hotel. Like the Heritage Collection on Arab, they offer self check-in, but staff is always available if you need anything.

Chinatown

Chinatown is another great place to stay in Singapore. It’s just a short ride away in the Blue Line of the MRT and if fairly affordable.

• The Scarlet Singapore is set in renovated pre-war shophouses near the Maxwell Center food center. It offers elegantly appointed, colorful rooms with a rooftop restaurant, a fitness gym, and an outdoor hotub. All at an affordable price.
• The Claude Hotel offers affordable rooms and is located about a 5-minute walk from the Chinatown Complex.
• If you want something really inexpensive, try one of their capsule hotels in Chinatown. Capsule Hotel on Smith Street is super cozy, but gets very high reviews and is very clean.
• If you want to stay near the Telok Ayer region of Chinatown, stay in the beautifully restored heritage shophouse Ann Siang House, The Unlimited Collection managed by The Ascott Limited.

Marina Bay

For the ultimate in Luxury, stay in the Marina Bay area. It’s also just a short ride away from the Arab Quarter on the MRT.

• Marina Bay Sands is the ultimate splurge experience of Singapore. Even if you only stay a day or two. I stayed 3 nights here and thought it was 100% worth it! The rooms are stunning and overlook either the twinkling city or Garden Bay on the opposite side. They have several amazing restaurants, a fitness center, and the rooftop entertainment area which includes free access to the infinity pool (which is the real gem of the hotel with its incredible view).
• If you would prefer luxury on the opposite side of the bay, by the Merlion Statue, consider staying in the 5-star Fullerton Bay Hotel. Some rooms feature views of the lovely Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

For a full list of the best places to stay, at a variety of price points, see my post on The Best Places To Stay in Singapore | The Ultimate Guide.

Want To See More Of Singapore?

For all my favorite places in Singapore, see the following posts.

• Experience The Best Of Marina Bay | Must-See Waterfront Experiences
• Hidden Treasures & Things To Do In Chinatown Singapore
• 7 Must-See Sites in Little India Singapore
• Joo Chiat Road | Colorful Shophouses, Culinary Wonders & Cultural Fusion
• Is It Worth Visiting Sentosa Island?

Safe Travels!

Julie