Kampong Glam

Originally, Kampong Glam used to be a dwelling place for the wealthy class of Malay. It was after the colonial period that this village became populated by several Asian ethnic groups that have contributed to the rich culture held in the neighbourhood to date.

Today, Kampong Glam has been restored with many new shops and restaurants now located in Arab Street, Baghdad Street and Bussorah Street.

The most famous attraction you will come across in Kampong Glam is the Sultan Mosque. It was designed by Denis Santry, an Irish architect. Its construction was completed in 1928 and was built using materials donated by Muslims from different walks of life. The rich donated gold, whilst the poor donated glass bottles. Gold was used to construct its massive two dome base and the glass bottles were used to construct other structures or to decorate it. The Sultan Mosque is fenced with iron rails. In 1975, the mosque was gazetted as a national monument due to its religious and historical importance. The Sultan Mosque has massive prayer hall that can accommodate up to 5000 Muslim faithful.

Kampong Glam is also known as a great market centre where visitors can pick up souvenirs to remember their time in Singapore. Those wanting to pick up some unique items should head to Arab Street which is famous for selling Persian carpets, assortments of decorative gems and a number of handicraft items that can be bought for just a couple of dollars.

For the culinary enthusiast, there are a number of restaurants in Kampong Glam including Salero Mundo, Zam Zam and Rumah Makan Minang. These are just a few of the local restaurant that serves authentic Malay delicacies. Make sure to stop by Maison Ikkoku on Kandahar Street which has an excellent rooftop cocktail bar where you can sit and relax after a tasty meal.

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