Hidden Gems of Little India

A kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells, Little India is a place like no other you’ll find in Singapore. Head to Serangoon Road and you’ll come across streets lined with flower shops, Indian sweets, gold jewellery, and the very famous Mustafa Centre. 

It’s the area to go for authentic Indian food, to explore heritage sites such as temples, and to find out the history of the Indian migrants who first came to this island. 

But, that’s not all! We’ve walked the colourful inner lanes to find you the hidden gems of Little India.

Meatsmith Little India

Meatsmith Little India is American barbecue from the south, with an accent of Indian flavour. With its colourful façade and street artwork, think Meatsmith, think southern hospitality, think backstreets of Delhi.

The menu combines the technique of slow cooking and barbecue, using wood and fire to grill, smoke, char, roast and burn the best ingredients from the local Tekka market and around the world. We highly recommend their Oyster & Gooseberry Gazpacho, Veal Brisket Chapati, Foie Gras & Tumeric Donut, Soft Shell Crab with Coconut Curry, Lamb Ribs and Kerala Beef Ribs, and last but not least their Crab Briyani. 

Address: 21 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209894

Rogue Trader

Wander up a side entrance of Meatsmith and you’ll find a little bar known as ‘Rogue Trader’. With a colonial India ascent, this sophisticated gem will be welcoming to thirsty travellers and restaurant patrons. Think tea time and tonics, think adventure tales and spice trade; embracing the ingredients readily available in the area. Rogue Trader is perfect for a nightcap after a meal at Meatsmith. Some crowd favourites include Sesame Old Fashioned (Sesame Oil Fat Washed Bourbon, Bitters), F.T.S.F.W (Mezcal, Midori, Key Lime, Coriander, Agave, Salt, Fire Water) and Kaapi (Cognac, Coffee, Averna, Cinnamon, Oat Milk Foam).

Address: Level 2, 21 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209894

The Great Madras

On the little red dot, in Little India, sits a little great hotel. The Great Madras is small in size, just 34 rooms, but it is great on attitude, personality, and service. Most of all, it gives you a sense of adventure with its Insta-worthy decor, neon signs and inspirational quotes littered on walls all over the hotel such as “Do Epic Shit”.

The hotel also has its own retro barber in the lobby that can help you look as sharp as a tack with a good ol’ gentleman’s haircut. There’s a bistro that serves up some tasty Halal food, where you can kick back, relax and lounge around. Not forgetting, a modest swimming pool.

Address: 28 Madras St, Singapore 208422

The Wired Monkey

The Wired Monkey is a speciality coffeehouse that customises their own coffee blend. Think of coffee with flavours that are fruity and juicy from Honduras; sweet and light-bodied flavours from the tropics of Costa Rica; or the chocolatey, nutty notes from the land of Brazil. Not into coffee? The Wired Monkey has tied-up with Infusion-De-Vie to serve organic herbal teas. Pastries, muffins and croissants are also baked fresh in-house every morning.

Step inside the coffeehouse and you’ll be greeted by a unique elevated seating arrangement made to maximise the space in the narrow passageway. A German theme unifies the decor with its bulleted walls and funky graffiti wall painted by Clogtwo inspired by the Berlin Wall. Free wifi and extra sockets make it a place friendly for entrepreneurs, backpackers and tourists.

Address: 5 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209335

The Malayan Council

The Malayan Council was founded in August 2015 serving western food with a traditional Malay twist for every generation. Located within the oldest street in Singapore at 22 Dunlop Street, the halal restaurant is steadily growing.

The best-selling dish is definitely the Smoke Duck Lemak chilli padi - linguine pasta tossed with mushroom, cherry tomatoes in a lemak chilli padi sauce with the generous portion of smoked duck. Other best-sellers are the Roti Kirai Beef Rib and Ondeh-Ondeh Cake.

Address: 22 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209350

Wanderlust

Housed in a conserved 1920s heritage building along Dickson Road in Little India, Wanderlust, known by travellers and locals alike, has been completely transformed through conscientious design and distinct vision, an accommodation concept for the new generation. Wanderlust boutique hotel allows guests to slow down and settle in with its calm and inviting ambience, merging old-world charm with modern-day comforts.

Feel welcomed with an adorned façade of original Peranakan tiles and enter the lobby to a mix of contemporary textures in a palette of warm and cool tones, discovering a naturally peaceful and welcoming environment, a wonderful dichotomy to the vibrancy of the neighbourhood. Then relax in the open-air veranda overlooking charming Dickson Road, taking in the bustling streets of Little India from a private oasis.

With access to the Downtown MRT Line within a few convenient steps, guests find themselves minutes from the bustling city centre while immersed in the historic urban montage of Little India. Evolving from an under-the-radar hipster hangout, the up-and-coming Jalan Besar neighbourhood has quickly become a hot spot in Singapore to see and be seen.

A foodie haven with an impressive collection of restaurants, bakeries and cafes, the hip district also boasts some of the city’s best Third Wave coffee shops and trendy shops, perfect for a relaxed weekend afternoon within minutes of the oasis of Wanderlust.

Address: 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494