Haji Lane And Kampong Glam: A Walking Guide To Singapore's Indie Quarter
Haji Lane is the one-block street that runs parallel to Arab Street, linking it to Baghdad Street. It became a boutique shopping destination through the 2000s as local designers and vintage retailers moved into the narrow shophouses. Today it is one of the most photographed streets in Singapore, and for good reason.
The lane is barely wide enough for two people to pass, walled in by shophouses drenched in murals and bold paint. By day it is boutiques and cafes. By night the bars switch on their fairy lights and it turns into a buzzy nightlife strip.
What To Shop For On Haji Lane
The boutiques on Haji Lane sell things you will not find at Changi Airport or Orchard Road. Dulcetfig is an original vintage and upcycled clothing store that has been here for years. In Good Company is a local Singaporean fashion label with clean, architectural cuts. Garcon Garcon is another local label doing contemporary menswear.
Musicology Records at 66 Haji Lane is the vinyl shop, stocking everything from local indie pressings to imported jazz. The Digicam Depository at 43 Haji Lane sells second-hand cameras of all sorts, from point-and-shoots to SLRs. Both are worth browsing even if you are not in the market.
Prices for clothing items run from $30 to $80, which is moderate by Singapore standards. The quality is better than chain retail, and you are buying from the people who designed or curated the stock.
Arab Street: The Original Trading Spine
Arab Street is the original commercial artery of Kampong Glam, predating Haji Lane's reinvention by a century. The shophouses here have traded in textiles, batik, rattan, and basket-weaving materials since the early 20th century. Some of these businesses are still family-run.
If you need batik fabric, brassware, or prayer rugs, this is the place in Singapore to buy them at non-souvenir prices. Hadjee Textiles and Sun Hong are the surviving old-school names. Bargaining is part of the game on larger purchases, so chat with the owner and do not accept the first price.
The attar shops sell concentrated, alcohol-free perfume oil, often by the drop into tiny glass bottles. A good shopkeeper will dab a few scents on a card for you, including sandalwood, oud, and rose, and let you take your time. It is a fun, low-cost souvenir that actually smells like the place.
Sultan Mosque And Bussorah Street
Sultan Mosque, built in 1932, is one of the most beautiful buildings in Singapore. The golden domes and minarets are visible from the end of Bussorah Street, which is the pedestrian mall leading up to the mosque entrance. The mosque is open to visitors outside of prayer times, typically 10:00am to 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm on weekdays. Dress modestly and remove your shoes.
Bussorah Street itself is lined with Middle Eastern restaurants, souvenir stalls, and shisha cafes. The restaurants here are the reliable ones for murtabak, kebabs, and biryani. Avoid the most tourist-facing stalls and walk one street over to North Bridge Road for Hjh Maimunah Restaurant, which serves proper Padang-style food and is Muslim-owned.
Practical Details
- Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW12/DT14), Exit B or C, 5 to 7 minutes walk
- Hours: Streets accessible at all times; Sultan Mosque visitor hours 10:00am to 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm weekdays; Haji Lane boutiques typically 11:00am to 8:00pm
- Price: Free to wander; Sultan Mosque entry free; meals $8 to $20 per person; boutique shopping $30 to $80 per item
- Best time: Weekday mornings before 11am for photography; weekday late afternoon for shopping; evenings for bars and restaurants
