Traditional culture with a modern twist

Word to the wise: Make like a local and settle in for a people-watching session in a shisha pipe cafe on Arab Street. This buzzing thoroughfare also boasts terrific halal restaurants.

A walk along the beautifully conserved streets of Kampong Glam transports you to the Middle East, with towering mosques and textile shops filling the sidewalks and alleyways of this former fishing village. Despite the old world side to Kampong Glam, this area populated by trendy cafes, independent and vintage fashion boutiques and art galleries has a definite youth appeal.

The artfully-grafitti'd Haji Lane is a fashionista's dream, while Arab Street is the place to find everything from Persian carpets to semi-precious stones and handicrafts.

When stores close in the evening, Haji Lane morphs into a chill-out zone bathed in shisha smoke, with most cafes open until 3am.