ARAB STREET

Arab Street is a famous Muslim area located in Singapore which is popularly known for their speciality shops and delicious Muslim dining places. The place has been recognized as the hippie market of Singapore, hosting beautiful cafes and shops selling Persian rugs, aromatic teas, etc. Known for its lively atmosphere, the place welcomes people from all ethnicities and celebrates life.

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. If you're interested in exploring this vibrant area, consider checking out Singapore tour packages for a comprehensive experience.

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 pipes 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. 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.

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Highlights

• Explore the specialty shops of the Arab streets, which are known for their artistic value and high quality material.
• Grab a bite at special Halal Muslim restaurants, which also offers many vegetarian options, while serving Turkish to Mediterranean cuisines.
• Discover the contemporary art and graffiti in Arab Street Singapore, which is a rare sight to find in the country.
• Spend some time for retail therapy as the place is filled with shops offering high quality Persian rugs, aromatic scents, and much more.

How To Reach

 -One can get to Arab Street Singapore via Taxi, Metro rail or public transport bus. 

- The quickest way to reach Arab Street is by engaging a Taxi.

- Bus No. 12, 2, 33, 133, and NR7 carry visitors’ to Arab Street Singapore from different areas.

- Most regions in Singapore are well networked through MRT. Bugis Station is the nearest MRT station to Arab Street. One can reach the Bugis MRT station by taking the Green Line Metro train.

- Arab Street is at a 5-7 minute walkable distance from Bugis MRT station.

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Best Time To Visit

Arab Street looks different during the day from what it looks like at night. It appears quiet and surreal early in the morning, which is perfect for shopping. During the day the place witnesses an unending stream of tourists, lines of cars awaiting green light and street hawkers & shoppers setting up their products on the pavement. 

For all the party enthusiasts one can visit this street at night, when it buzzes with activity as bars, restaurants, and music remain open till wee hours. The roads around Arab Street remain closed for traffic on weekends starting from Friday evening. 

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Other Essential Information

Here are Few Places to Eat at Arab Street Singapore

a. Nasrin Restaurant: Nasrin with its comfy lounge area at the top floor and outdoor seating on 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.

b.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. They serve 13 varieties of Burgers, selective savory snacks and sweets, gastronomic brunches, milkshakes, icecreams, and other beverages that make visitors visit this joint again and again.

c.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.

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d.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 Kafta, lahem meshwi, marinated chicken cubes, mashed egg potato, rice, etc.

e.House of Kebabs: A Turkish restaurant serving one of the best Shawarma sandwiches in town, offering a lively and hippie atmosphere for all its visitors. Explore different flavors of the continent from Lebanese to the Mediterranean, they offer halal and vegetarian dishes as well. Situated in a white and blue outdoor and indoor setting the place provides a good dining experience.

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Places to Shop at Arab Street Singapore

a.Sifr Aromatics: Sifr Aromatics is run by Johari Kazuri, a descendant of the 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 for deodorants, balms, fragrant incense sticks, and classic perfume bottles.

b.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 of 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.

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c.Royal Fabrics: It is an 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.

d.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 conducting Gem Rock Challenge for kids.  

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Hotels to Stay in Arab Street

a.ParkRoyal on Beach Road: Located in proximity to Haji lane, Malay Heritage center, Sultan Museum, etc, ParkRoyal 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 fresh drinks and beverages.

b.Andaz Singapore: Azdaz Singapore, a Hyatt Group of Hotels, is located just a stone’s throw from culturally rich areas such as Kampong Glam, Little India, and Bras Basah Bugis. The 342 Andre Fu designed suites & guestrooms reek 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 detail such as freestanding bathtubs, double rain showers, double sink vanities, a swimming pool with lounge chairs, etc.  

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c.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.

d.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 Nicoll Highway MRT stations and Golden Mile bus terminal. All categories of rooms from Standard Single Room to Super Deluxe Double Room & Family Room with basic facilities provide a comfortable stay at an affordable price. Visitors can find different varieties of food from various restaurants located near the hotel.

e.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.

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Things to Do near Arab Street Singapore:

1.Visit Sultan Mosque: Sultan Mosque, which was built in 1824 for the first Sultan of Singapore, Sultan Hussein Shah, is a prominent mosque in Singapore. Funded by Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore, to the tune of S$3,000, the imposing religious structure was built as a single-storey building with giant golden domes, a large prayer hall, and a 2 tiered roof. 

Not only the affluent section but lower-middle-class Muslims too contributed to the Mosque construction, by way of denoting glass bottle-ends that were used to adorn each dome of the Mosque. The Mosque, which was restored in 1932, was accorded National monument status in 1975.

2. Explore Malay Heritage Center: The palace was built 160 years ago (in the 1820s) by Sultan Ali and was later converted into a heritage center to showcase the rich history and culture of the Singapore Malay Society. The six galleries covering 2 floors of the Heritage Center display stories, historical artifacts, synergistic multimedia, and colorful exhibits resourced from Singapore’s National Collection and the local Community.

Enjoy Trapped, a horror-themed game that tests your problem-solving and IQ skills in overcoming obstacles and finding a way out of the room. It forces you to become Sherlock Holmes, who decipher hidden clues, uncovers mysteries, conquers zombies, finds concealed passages and tunnels, and succeeds in escaping innovative concept rooms.

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3. Enjoy Trapped: a horror-themed game that tests your problem-solving and IQ skills in overcoming obstacles and finding a way out of the room. It forces you to become Sherlock Holmes, who deciphers hidden clues, uncovers mysteries, conquers zombies, finds concealed passages and tunnels, and succeeds in escaping innovative concept rooms.

4. Watch a movie at The Projector: The Projector is an old-fashioned movie theater, where you can go and watch a newly released movie or an old classic movie. The schedule of the movie changes from time to time, so grab your beverage and choose your favorite cinema to watch and enjoy with your loved ones. 

5. Shop at Trippies / Children Little Museum: One of the most famous vintage shops in Singapore, combined with a unique toy store on the first floor, this place is a must-visit place for all tourists. You can shop for some beautiful apparel along with vintage postcards and old-fashioned cameras. 

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Tips for Visiting Arab Street Singapore

- 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. 

- 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 a signboard that says “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.

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