From the bustling nightlife of Ann Siang Hill to the pretty colourful shophouses of Tanjong Pagar, Chinatown has certainly made a name for being much more than a traditional Chinese enclave. Adding to the list is 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, the district’s secret artsy neighbourhood.
Once the home of our police HQ, Pearl’s Hill Terrace has become a charming stretch of shops and studios, including some unconventional haunts you can’t find elsewhere. Here are some things to explore in this hidden treasure trove.
For more features of Pearl’s Hill Terrace:
Image credit: @stateofshiok
While we may have zero intentions of getting our own tat’, admiring a person’s sleeved arm as they walk past, or our friend’s mini hand-poked design is something we all do.
Whether you’re one with an affinity for sketching tattoo designs or just curious about the process, let your creative juices flow and try your hand at inking some pseudo skin in a tattoo workshop offered by State of Shiok.
Even if you can’t draw to save your life, you can choose from their range of beginner-friendly tattoo stencils and get sagely direction from actual tattoo artists on how to properly wield a tattoo gun and shade.
Image credit: State of Shiok
Unlike some sterile tattoo studios out there, State of Shiok’s eclectic Southwestern-inspired interior is “organised chaos” that will have most of us whipping out our phones for. The good news is, they also do studio rentals. For $600/8 hours, their laidback rooms can be used for anything from your next artsy photoshoot to a special birthday party with friends.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #03-69, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: 12PM-9PM, Daily
Telephone: 9030 7284 | 9646 1157
Price: $58 (Students) | $68 (Adults)
Image credit: The Glass Hut
Tucked away at the back of Pearl’s Hill Terrace is The Glass Hut, a creative courtyard and studio where anything under the artsy sun can happen – from pop-up markets to gallery shows.
Various workshops are also conducted within the space itself, such as the Ice Dye Workshop (from $30/pax) where you’ll get to breathe new life into your white tees with geometric patterns. Kiddos get to enjoy the Little Hut Adventures ($25/pax), where they can get artistic with sensorial activities such as sponge painting and cloud dough.
Image credit: @theglasshutsg
If you and your friends would rather not jam at home lest your neighbours complain, The Glass Hut has got you covered with studio rentals ($30/hour) for music jamming. With the whole band set, a ZOOM mixer and intergalactic neon vibes, you and your band can indulge in some escapism from the real world while creating good music.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-46A, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: 24 Hours, Daily
Telephone: 9656 0504
Image credit: @artnooq
Whether it’s for a fun date activity or for some much-needed destressing, art jamming somehow always works wonders on us. At The Art Nooq, you can jio up to four other friends to follow you for the Art Jam – Guided ($42/pax), where you all will be given all the needed materials, and will get the whole studio to yourselves for two hours.
If you prefer to jam freestyle without any guidance, or are coming alone, you can sign up for the Art Jam – Unguided ($37.50/pax) or the Shared Art Jam ($33/pax) respectively.
Image credit: @artnooq
Besides painting, The Art Nooq also has a Macaron Painting workshop at $60/pax, where you’ll get to paint five macarons, on top of receiving professional guidance throughout the session. The end result would be so pretty, you’ll be hard-pressed to dig into your sweets.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-58, Singapore 168976
Opening hours: By appointment only
Telephone: 8186 0019
Learn pottery with your colleagues as a team-building activity
Image credit: @thepottersguilt
When it comes to team-building activities with our colleagues, I’m sure we’ve done it all with the usual escape room and laser tag activities. Switch things up a lil by booking a round of pottery with The Potters’ Guilt, a ceramics pottery studio that offers specially curated sessions for you to bond with your work mates.
Image credit: The Potters’ Guilt
Beyond the team-building sessions, The Potters’ Guilt also offers regular sessions – depending on whether you’re a noob to pottery or a Da Vinci more experienced with the craft, you can sign up for either the Pottery Do-It-All ($88/three-hour session) or the Pottery on the Wheel Experience ($58/1.5-hour session).
If you’ve completed a workshop there before, you and your crew (maximum 10 pax) can rent an open studio to pottery-jam OTOT with sessions starting at $30 for three hours.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-03, Singapore 168976
Image credit: @blackcrow_taxidermy
If the faux lizards your friends throw at you on April Fools’ day already makes your hair stand, then you’ll be in for the real test of courage at Singapore’s only commercial taxidermist store, Black Crow Taxidermy & Art.
You get to bring home your creation after the Butterfly Frame workshop
Image credit: @blackcrow_taxidermy
To bring back a slice of Frankenstein, you can shop Black Crow’s catalogue which comprises taxidermies such as Atlas Moth Frame (from $165), as well as accessories such as Canine Molar Earring ($38) if you’re one with an adventurous fashion sense.
Alternatively, you can have your own DIY taxidermies by attending their Butterfly Workshops (from $99/pax), where you can choose to store your final product in a frame or dome. There are even workshops for children at $65/pax, should your kid be one craving for adventure.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-10, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Wed – Sun 1PM-7PM (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Telephone: 8950 1432
Black Crow Taxidermy & Art’s website
Image credit: @neonbooth.sg
If you’re not one for the standard B&W or dress-up studios, Neon Booth gives you a little novelty with their neon-lit backdrops. With props such as the classic Lightsaber from Star Wars, you and your bestie can capture images for prosperity, all with a touch of the futuristic.
At $45 for 2 persons, you’ll get to enjoy a Self-Service Neon Booth Studio Shoot for 25 minutes, where you can take pics with neon rainbows and ‘good vibes’ signs, as well as other props like industrial cage grills. Once you’ve snapped till your heart’s content, you and your partner get to bring home one GIF and four instant printout pictures.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #02-08A, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 12PM-9.30PM | Sat & Sun 10AM-9.30PM
Telephone: 9236 5652
Double Pocket Signature Tote in Khaki Green ($38.90) and the Canvas School Sling in Khaki Green ($41.90)
Image credit: @theeverydayclub.sg
Speaking of retail therapy, few things can make a better investment than a good everyday bag for work or school. That said, The Everyday Club is yet another quirky retail addition you’ll find in Pearl’s Hill Terrace selling bags that are both minimalistic and chic, and can pretty much match any outfit or style.
Mini School Sling in Pebble Grey ($36.90)
Image credit: @theeverydayclub.sg
Notable collections include their Double Pocket Signature Totes (from $38.90) handmade with heavy-duty Japanese canvas to ensure durability. If you prefer something with a colourful pop, there’s the Courier-ful Sling collection made with similar material, but comes in a range of colourblock combinations.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-16, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Fri 3PM-8PM | Sat & Sun 12PM-8PM (Closed on Mondays to Thursdays)
Image credit: @lion_heartlanders
To most of us who have mugged through the local system, words like “Konfrantasi” or “Chinese Middle School Riot” will probably give us major TB vibes from our secondary school history lessons. Now, we get to see where these events took place IRL at the Former Combined Operations Room.
A historical site of the Singapore Police Force, the Former Combined Operations Room has guided exhibition tours, which last for 30 to 45 minutes and are free of charge for you to explore the place. Since there are only a handful of slots each session, you are encouraged to make a booking on their website.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, Courtyard, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Tue – Sat 10AM-5PM (Closed on Mondays & Sundays)
Telephone: 9893 5140
Admission: Free
Former Combined Operations Room website
Image credit: @kultyard
No matter the number of art studios or galleries, a neighbourhood only deserves to be crowned the all-too-powerful word hipster if it has a good bar with nice aesthetic and chill vibes. At Pearl’s Hill Terrace, it is Kult Yard that offers up that final piece of the puzzle.
Dinnertime feastin’ with food from Argentinian BBQ Gourmet
Image credit: @kultyard
On top of their very own selection of drinks known as Kultails (from $20), meat-lovers can dig into some solid BBQ fare by Argentinian BBQ Gourmet – the Sharing Platter ($88) comprises grilled Argentine steak and other sides such as halloumi cheese and chorizo. It’s made to satisfy a company of four, and is available on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of Public Holidays.
Image credit: @sing.streetart
Of course, your dining experience won’t be complete without some Haji Lane-type aesthetic murals, perfect to sum up the neighbourhood’s artsy character.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-54, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Wed – Sun 3PM-10.30PM (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Telephone: 8361 1848
Image credit: @195pearlhillcafe
Besides Kampong Lorong Buangkok, you can also experience some good ol’ kampong vibes at 195 Pearl Hill Cafe. The store was known for its ‘Tiong Bahru Satay Man’ , who used to operate his stall along the streets illegally from the 1980s up till the 2010s.
The main signature dish to enjoy would be the Pearl Hill Satay ($11/10 sticks) – a local staple that you can’t go wrong with. Top it up with a cup of Iced Nanyang Coffee ($3.60) to get your caffeine fix settled – traditional style.
Be sure to visit soon as the cafe is closing down on 19th February 2022. A retail store will take its place.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-56, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 11AM-5PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 9748 9904
Image credit: Eatbook
Name drop as many local hawker favourites as you like, but nowadays, it’s a good bowl of mala that holds the key to a Singaporean’s heart. Located at People’s Park Food Centre just across Pearl’s Hill, Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo is the place to go for a good spice-numbing fix.
Vegetables, seafood and meat start from $1, $2, and $3 respectively, and portions are pretty generous, making a trip here all the more worth it.
Address: 32 New Market Road, #01-1152 People’s Park Food Centre, Singapore 050032
Opening Hours: 10AM-9.30PM, Daily
Many new cafes and concept stores have been popping up in Chinatown, giving it that edge in style beyond its usual traditional offerings. Perhaps after your brunch appointment at Everton or during your coffee break at work, a walk to 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace could give you some date ideas that are unique and fun.
Check out these other neighbourhood guides:
Cover image adapted from: @artnooq, @sing.streetart, @blackcrow_taxidermy
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