• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • Lion City university application fairCareer guidance & help with university applications
        • Facing University challenges university in singaporePrepare your child for university in Singapore
        • Hari Raya Puasa bazaarHari Raya Puasa 2023 – how is it celebrated?
        • By Fable Farewell Gifts copyFarewell gifts for colleagues and friends in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Water play areas singapore vivo city shopping centresFree water playgrounds & water parks in Singapore!
        • FIBA 3X3What’s on this week and beyond
        • Hari Raya Puasa bazaarHari Raya Puasa 2023 – how is it celebrated?
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Lion City university application fairCareer guidance & help with university applications
        • Water play areas singapore vivo city shopping centresFree water playgrounds & water parks in Singapore!
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
        • Mental health support for toddlers to teens
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Contemporary Rugs and Floor Coverings – who bought what?
        • Havana Interiors home stylistsNeed decorators, home stylists or an interior designer?
        • Bedrooms: Bed frames, bedding & bedside tables!
        • Affordable art in SingaporeBuying affordable art in Singapore – it is possible!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • property in sydneyBuying property in Sydney
        • international health insurance for singapore expatsHealth insurance for Singapore expats
        • Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • Chloe from E&A InteriorsBuilding a holiday villa in Sri Lanka from start to finish!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • easter brunches and buffets singaporeEaster Brunches – Easter food buffets & free-flow!
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • All you need to know about Crab Bee Hoon in Singapore
        • local desserts in singapore - Rainbow ice cream breadMust-try local desserts in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Niessing gold jewellery in SingaporeI discovered a 150-year-old jeweller in Singapore!
        • slimming facial massage review facial ginzaWe review a Japanese slimming facial massage!
        • yun nam hair care abd scalp treatmentYun Nam Hair Care Reviews DIY Treatments
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
        • Here’s why sleep is so important
        • core exercises in singapore7 Singapore Pilates studios for core exercises & more!
        • at-home personal training yoga in singaporeYoga classes in Singapore, and the benefits!
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

Haji Lane: Hidden shops, indie boutiques and trendy bars

12th February 2020 by Expat Living 2 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/haji-lane-singapore-hidden-shops-indie-boutiques-and-trendy-bars/

Haji Lane’s emergence as a cool shopping destination began in 2005, as independent boutiques began to pop up along it. Even the New York Times noticed the phenomenon; it described the Haji Lane district in 2009 as “a meeting place for the city’s anti-mall crowd” – a place where Singaporeans come at night to window-shop and smoke shisha in Middle Eastern joints. The smoking might have stopped (shisha was banned in 2014), but there’s still plenty to do, see, shop, eat and drink. Here’s a little history about the quirky thoroughfare, and some highlights.

The shops along Haji Lane
The famous Blu Jaz bar, excellent for live music
Colourful Mexican bar Piedra Negra on Haji Lane
Haji Lane is a pocket of quirky and eccentric shops in Kampong Glam
Heading up Haji Lane by night

Tucked away in the Arab Street district, or Kampong Glam, the atmospheric little lane is lined with pre-war shophouses. The narrowness of their facades is deceptive; the interiors stretch way, way back. Building in this style made sense at a time when the government taxed property owners on the number of windows they had.

Old to new

In the sixties and seventies, we’re told, Haji Lane provided accommodation for poor Malay families. Devout pilgrims doing the annual “haj”, or pilgrimage to Mecca, would also lodge here – hence the name of the lane. In intriguing contrast to that history is its position as an artistic and creative hub for Singapore’s hipster teens and 20-somethings – not to mention bars such as Bar Stories where you pay as much as $25 for a cocktail.

Interestingly, a recent furore over street art in Haji Lane saw the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) back down on its instructions that a vibrantly colourful new mural next to the perennially popular Blu Jaz Café be painted over to restore the traditional pastel tones of period shophouses.

Don’t bother visiting in the morning. The lane only starts to come alive in late afternoon, and dusk – from 5pm to 7pm – is a good time to do some shopping. Browse eclectic clothes and furniture in the quirky indie stores, have drinks or dinner, even get a little tattoo if you’re so inclined; it’s like nowhere else in Singapore.

Some of our favourites along Haji Lane:

For women’s clothes and shoes, try Modparade (68 Haji Lane), which is a haven for all things minimalist and chic. SSFW (75 Haji Lane) has cool accessories, including new items made especially for masks. Meanwhile, Fickle Store (62 Haji Lane) sells funky flip-flops, and Bella Kini (69 Haji Lane) is the spot for beautiful new swimwear.

Find trendy menswear at SUP Clothing (34 Haji Lane), which is incredibly popular with teens and young people the island over. Other options include Goodluck Bunch (26 Bali Lane) and Grammah (66 Haji Lane), which contains amazing vintage pieces for both men and women.

For homeware, Hygge (37 Haji Lane) contains all sorts of adorable knickknacks in a cosy setting. Craft Assembly (61 Haji Lane) is all about handmade Singaporean goods. A Thousand Tales (55-57 Haji Lane) also has a bar and café upstairs; and the vibrant Drunken Balloon (84 Haji Lane) is full of quirky novelty items.

As for food and drink, if you’re peckish or thirsty, Haji has you covered. It’s chock-full of great spots! Piedra Negra (241 Beach Road) is a classic for all things Mexican; and Bergs (10 Haji Lane) serves up some of the best gourmet burgers on the island. For something lighter, try The Singapura Club (26 Haji Lane) for drinks inspired by the Little Red Dot. Or pop into Meomi Cat Café (668 North Bridge Road) for snacks surrounded by furry friends.


Read on for more helpful tips on where to go in Singapore and where to eat.

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Living here Living in Singapore Tags: Haji Lane

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

Facing University challenges university in singapore

Prepare your child for university in Singapore

Artificial Intelligence sendhelper and property guru

Use of Artificial Intelligence to Improve Women’s Lives

Arete Culture XCL World Academy fitout

Check out this fabulous school fitout!

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.