Kampong Glam and Arab Street Restaurants

Predominantly Islamic in atmosphere, the Kampong Glam and Arab Street precinct bristles with Malay, Indonesian, Lebanese, Egyptian, Turkish and other Middle Eastern eateries. Ethnic restaurants mingle with nondescript hole-in-the-wall outlets offering a disparate mix of eating experiences. A must-try for visitors is the ‘teh tarik’. This ‘pulled tea’ is made with sweetened condensed milk. A skilled, if not somewhat theatrical tea maker pours tea from on high, thus producing a frothily delightful taste. For local dishes, try the satay or rice with assorted dishes. One popular stop here is the Kampong Glam Café for Malay cakes and meals.

By night, the shishas or hookas (water pipes filled with aromatic tobacco) together with cushions and carpets make their appearance in some of the restaurants, producing a laid-back Middle Eastern charm.