The historic Malay and Arab quarter centred on Sultan Mosque, with century-old murtabak restaurants, halal eateries, and Middle Eastern and Malay-Muslim food traditions.
Michelin Bib Gourmand nasi padang institution near Sultan Mosque. Traditional Malay and Indonesian recipes since 1992; buffet spread changes daily.
Signature: Beef rendang, Ayam bakar sunda, Lemak siput sedut
Order: Beef rendang and the lemak siput sedut (spiced snail in coconut curry), available only on certain days
Tip: Arrive before noon on weekdays; the best dishes sell out fast and the queue moves quickly once you know the system.
Singapore's most famous murtabak restaurant since 1908. A century of craft in the crisp, generously filled murtabak; mutton biryani runs close.
Signature: Murtabak, Nasi biryani, Roti prata
Order: The mutton murtabak: pan-fried flatbread stuffed with minced meat, egg, and onion, served with curry sauce
Tip: Order the murtabak for two even for a solo visit; the single portion is generous and the double is enormous.
Order: ['Truffle eggs', 'Grain bowl', 'Mushroom toast']
Tip: Dog-friendly terrace makes this a favourite for expat brunches on weekday mornings when it is quieter than weekends.
Order: ['Truffle eggs', 'Avocado toast', 'Flat white']
Tip: Open from 9am daily with Sunday hours until 7pm, weekdays until 9-11pm. Dog-friendly terrace, good for early weekend mornings.
Order: ['Almond croissant', 'Garlic twist with hot honey', 'Sourdough loaf']
Tip: Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. The second floor has seating with a pleasant view of the quiet lane below. Halal-certified.
Try: Murtabak and roti prata
Order: ['Mutton murtabak', 'Roti prata (plain)', 'Biryani']
Tip: Open daily from 7am to 11pm. The murtabak takes about 10 minutes to prepare; the roti prata is faster. The view of Sultan Mosque from the window table is excellent.
Try: Nasi padang
Order: ['Beef rendang', 'Sambal sotong', 'Sayur lodeh']
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday from 7.30am; closed Sundays. Lunch crowds arrive by 11.30am; arrive early or the best dishes sell out. The counter-service system is efficient once you know the format.
Tip: Class runs in three-hour windows on alternating menu days. Book through Traveling Spoon at least a week in advance; allergy and dietary requests are accommodated.
Tip: Open daily 7am to 11pm. Walk-in only. Arrive outside peak lunch and dinner windows (1.30pm to 6pm) for shorter waits.
Order: ['Symmetry Full Breakfast', 'Eggs Benedict', 'Waffles']
Tip: Weekend brunch is busiest 10am to 1pm. The weekday brunch menu is available from opening and draws fewer queues. Reservations available via Chope.