Welcome to Kampong Glam

While I am no longer located in Kampong Glam, it remains a place where I spent over 12 years and have lasting and pleasant memories of this unique part of Singapore. Despite not being in this amazing cultural centre of Singapore, I am still very much in business and now provide all of my therapy services online via Zoom. I also intend to expand my range of hypnotic recordings and will at some point start a Podcast for people who are interested in the magic of this old and mystical art, the Art of Managing Life to its fullest!

Kampong Glam was land set aside for Sultan Hussein Mohamed Shah and 600 family members in 1824 after he signed the treaty that ceded Singapore to the East India Company.⁵ He instructed the Temenggong Abdul Rahman to build his palace here – a large attap-roof Istana (palace).⁶ Aside from the sultan’s family, residents of the area included the Bugis, Arabs, Javanese and Boyanese. By 1824, at least one-third of the residents were Chinese.⁷ Muslim immigrants were allocated to reside at Kampong Glam. These migrants settled amongst their own ethnic groups, which gave rise to different “mini-kampongs” such as Kampong Bugis, Kampong Java and Kampong Malacca. Stamford Raffles himself donated $3,000 for a “respectable mosque”, which served the community until 1924 when the current landmark, Sultan Mosque, was built. The location of Kampong Glam caused a rift between Raffles and William Farquhar – the latter believed that the land would be better used as the island’s business centre.⁸ Kampong Glam was developed in 1831 by 200 convict workers in eight months, at a total cost of $500.
Article source

As the Muslim centre of Singapore, Kampong Glam is home to the city’s biggest mosque, the Masjid Sultan (or Sultan Mosque) - its huge golden dome and four minarets cannot be easily missed. Bussorah Street is one of the most picturesque streets in the whole of Singapore, with its tiled pedestrian area, heritage architecture, and palm trees, while Kandahar Street around the corner is home to some of the most beautifully restored elaborate shophouses in the whole city. The area is also home to the Malay Heritage Center, its nine galleries showcasing the history and culture of Singapore Malays. 

Kampong Glam is traditionally associated with budget accommodation, with Sleepy Sam’s on Bussorah Street being a long-term favourite with backpackers to Singapore, although it has since been superseded by more high-tech offerings in Chinatown. The Sultan, housed in ten historic shophouses with a distinct Arabic slant to its design, will appeal to boutique hotel lovers looking to enjoy affordable accommodation in an ethnic atmosphere. Budget business travellers to Singapore often choose to check into the nearby Park View Hotel on Beach Road. 

Kampong Glam is traditionally associated with Middle Eastern cuisine – and you will find an abundance of reasonably priced Lebanese, Turkish and Egyptian restaurants here. Many establishments are Halal; so don’t expect to enjoy a beer with your kebab, although you are welcome to smoke a shisha after dinner. Kandahar Street is famous for its Nasi Padang restaurants – a cheap and cheerful option for buffet-style Malay/Indonesian fare, with Sabar Menanti a standout choice. Blu Jaz Café is a long-term favourite for budget bar food and beer, while Piedro Negra on Haji Lane is a relative newcomer offering Mexican cuisine and cocktails. 

Until recently much of Kampong Glam’s nightlife centred around apple tea and shishas in the area’s alcohol-free cafes. Blu Jaz Café has long bucked the trend, with its packed calendar of live music and comedy nights, and cheap beer and cocktail deals. More recently the area has seen a surge in boutique cocktail bars and restaurants springing up within the heritage shophouses. These bohemian, edgy establishments target the city’s media and ‘cool’ crowd and make a welcome change from the glitz and glamour of the city centre's roof bars and trendy nightclubs.