Beyond the CBD skyscrapers, Bugis’ colourful streets and Clarke Quay’s buzzing nightlife lies a deeper story – one that weaves through trades, traditions and time. As Singapore celebrates SG60, there’s no better moment to rediscover the city through a fresh lens.
This heritage trail uncovers the layers of Bugis Town, Funan and CQ @ Clarke Quay, where the old meets new in surprising ways, from heritage shophouses and underground art corridors to godowns-turned-bars. Along the way, you’ll meet homegrown makers, local legends and cultural gems hiding in plain sight.
Bugis Town is a layered part of Singapore with a personality bigger than its postcode. Long before it became the shopping destination we know today, Bugis was a thriving maritime hub where traders from Sulawesi docked their ships to barter sandalwood, tortoiseshell and spices – a nod to this storied past lives on in the sailing ship featured on Bugis Junction’s logo.
By the early 1900s, a community of Hainanese settlers brought their own energy into the mix, shaping the area’s flavour – literally and figuratively. Hylam Street, for one, still carries its name, and if you crane your neck while strolling through Bugis Junction, you’ll see the preserved shophouses sheltered beneath the skylit roof, proudly showing off the neighbourhood’s old bones beneath its modern gloss.
The original Bugis Street – known in the mid-20th century for its lively and bustling nightlife – once ran right through where Bugis Junction stands today. With its relocation and rebranding just across the road, the spirit of Bugis Street didn’t disappear – it evolved. You’ll see fewer neon signs, more weekend markets, street art and curated finds with a retro edge.
While you’re here, take a wander down Art Lane and you’ll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of stories told in paint and pastel. Those colourful spiral staircases? They once served a very unglamorous purpose – waste removal – but have since become iconic backdrops for photos and murals done by the Mural Lingo.
Over at Bugis Junction, look out for the street signs embedded into the mall’s pathways, marking where Hylam, Malay and Malabar Streets used to be. Beneath your feet and above your head, hints of old Singapore are everywhere – if you know where to look.
Of course, heritage isn’t just about buildings. It’s in the businesses, the food, the everyday rhythms of people making and creating. At Bugis+, Lau Wang Claypot Delights keeps the flame of hearty Singaporean comfort food burning strong. What started as a humble coffee shop in Yishun is now a beloved name citywide, serving up sizzling claypots of sesame oil chicken, frog leg herbal soup, sambal kang kong, and more.
If you’re craving something a little more active, Boulder Movement is where you can climb walls in a space that turns passion into place-making. It’s also a great place to meet like-minded folks.
Over at Bugis Junction, Scent by Six bottles more than just fragrance – it distils stories, memories and emotions. Take Hikaru, a scent co-created with beneficiaries from the Singapore Association of Mental Health. Inspired by the serene landscapes of Ehime, Japan, it captures the quiet joy and contentment of sun-dappled days. The brand has also teamed up with Singapore Airlines to craft a signature scent laced with floral notes from blooms featured in the airline’s new batik motif.
Remember when Funan was the place to get your hands on a modem or a motherboard? Reimagined as a Creative Intersection in 2019, the mall now channels its techy past into a bold, culture-driven present. It pulses with energy, from fashion and food to theatre and tech, with many firsts in the city: a dedicated 200-metre cycling lane with end-of-trip facilities, a cinema with multi-sensory experiences, and the Kinetic Wall, a state-of-the-art multimedia installation with over 1,200 motorised light blades.
City Hall MRT station – it’s also a gallery. As part of Singapore’s major art festivals like Light to Night, Singapore Writers Festival, and Singapore International Festival of Arts, this underground artery showcases everything from digital art to multimedia installations.
Walk towards the Hill Street entrance and you’ll come face to face with Central Fire Station, Singapore’s oldest fire station. Still standing tall in its signature red-brick glory, it’s a symbol of the city’s resilience and a picturesque reminder that heritage doesn’t always need to shout to be heard.
Funan’s respect for local culture doesn’t stop at its walls. Inside, you’ll find Wild Rice, one of the city’s most iconic theatre groups, staging plays that challenge, entertain and reflect who we are.
Hungry? Ya Kun Kaya Toast has you covered with its signature all-day breakfast, including crispy kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and a strong kopi that hits the spot every time.
For a spot of shopping, homegrown fashion favourite Love, Bonito delivers effortlessly stylish pieces made for the modern woman, while Beyond The Vines brings playful minimalism to the everyday with cult-favourite Dumpling Bags and cleverly designed lifestyle essentials.
You probably know CQ @ Clarke Quay for its riverside bars and pulsing nightlife. But look beyond the lights, and you’ll find a district steeped in sweat, trade, and good old-fashioned grit. Back in the 19th century, Clarke Quay was where goods were hauled, pineapples canned, and godowns (that’s warehouses, for the uninitiated) bustled with activity.
Built in 1870, The Riverhouse was once a Chinese mansion, then a godown, then a school, and now a sleek, two-storey lifestyle spot with the exquisite Mimi Restaurant and the eclectic live entertainment venue YIN and Pulse. Talk about a glow-up.
Wander a little further and you’ll hit Tan Tye Place and the adjoining Art Deco warehouses, now adorned with a vibrant, hand-painted mural, The Journey of the Fire Fish, a collaborative piece by local artists Yip Yew Chong and Tobyato. These buildings used to store sundries and supplies. Today, they’re home to trendy stores and gourmet eateries. There’s no denying that CQ @ Clarke Quay has done something not many places manage: preserved its gritty bones while embracing its contemporary future.
Rooted in Clarke Quay’s rich trading past, Red House Seafood Nanyang serves up a masterclass in Nanyang-style seafood. While the signature chilli crab is a must, the real showstopper is the giant grouper fish – a CQ exclusive – prepared in a variety of ways, from delicate steamed renditions to golden deep-fried perfection.
Just around the corner, Kopi and Spells fuses Asian and Pan-Asian flavours in unexpected ways – think kopi fries, roti john croissants, and cocktails with smoky, spiced or herbaceous notes and a dash of theatrics.
On the other side, Swee Lee Clarke Quay hits all the right notes – literally. Set in a restored warehouse with a rich live music legacy, this next-gen music hub is part retail haven, part creative playground, and part café and bar. Sip on coffee or cocktails, dig through records, chill at the Artist Lounge, or catch an intimate performance at The Great Hall.
What are you waiting for? Head out and reconnect with the city you thought you knew with this SG60 heritage trail.
