A cultural trail through Singapore’s Bras Basah.Bugis

Dating back to Singapore’s early colonial years, Bras Basah was one of the city’s oldest and most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, while nearby Bugis grew from a bustling 19th-century trading hub into a vibrant centre of nightlife and street culture after World War II.

Today, the district brings together museums, historic landmarks, galleries and creative spaces within a compact, walkable neighbourhood.

With the annual Singapore Night Festival returning in August and September 2026, filling the streets with immersive installations, performances and cultural events, it’s an ideal time to experience this vibrant cultural precinct.

Once Singapore’s book quarter, Bras Basah.Bugis remains home to a thriving network of independent bookstores and publishing spaces.

Housed in Bras Basah Complex, Basheer Graphic Books has been around for more than 30 years. Helmed by its second-generation owner, the store is a beloved trove of books and magazines on design, art, photography and architecture.

For lovers of print, Knuckles & Notch is both a risograph publishing house and print studio. Using a high-speed stencil printing process with eco-friendly inks, the studio produces vibrant, fluorescent prints inspired by pop culture.

Beyond its publications, Knuckles & Notch also hosts risograph workshops and exhibitions, and stocks a curated selection of art books and independent publications.

The creative journey continues at Objectifs, a non-profit arts charity dedicated to photography and film. Through exhibitions, screenings, workshops and artist development programmes, it champions visual storytelling while supporting emerging photographers from the region.

Next, gain a deeper understanding of Singapore modern art by pioneer masters and leading painters at Artcommune Gallery. Committed to showcasing local artists, it also holds exhibitions and talks on the art market for aspiring collectors.

For cinephiles, Oldham Theatre – located within the National Archives of Singapore and operated by the Asian Film Archive – is a gateway to discovering Asian cinema. The theatre hosts the Archive’s curated programme of screenings, exhibitions and talks, showcasing films and experimental works featuring Singapore’s own cinematic heritage.

Bugis was historically where Hainanese immigrants settled, a heritage that still lives on in its culinary landscape. Head to Chin Chin Eating House, a shophouse institution since the 1930s, for Hainanese chicken rice and pork chop.

Nearby, All Things Hainanese preserves family recipes through traditional Hainanese snacks, including its signature yi bua – a rare sweet glutinous rice kueh once made by the founders’ grandmother, one of the few people in Singapore to keep the tradition alive.

One of Singapore’s pioneering cafés, PS.Cafe began in 1999 as a dining spot within a clothing boutique. Take a break at its Raffles City outlet, designed as a double-storey greenhouse, and enjoy favourites such as truffle fries, sticky date pudding and brunch classics.

For more information on PS. Cafe, click here.