When someone mentions Chinatown, chances are your first thought goes to People’s Park Complex. But unbeknownst to most, there’s actually an arts enclave right behind People’s Park Centre. 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace is home to a bustling arts community, with plenty to see and do.
We went down to check it out ourselves – here are some highlights worth keeping an eye out for.
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Image credit: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace
195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace saw its beginnings back in 1934. Back then, it was known as the Upper Barracks, and married officers in the Straits Settlement Police’s (SSP) Sikh Contingent called this place home.
Even after the SSP disbanded in 1946, this building continued as a centre for police activities. A bombproof annexe was even built in 1956, acting as the nerve centre for police communications.
The annexe’s Combined Operations Room. If you ever dialled 999 back in the 1960s, this is where your calls would have ended up.
Image credit: Singapore Police Force via Facebook
The building also became home to government offices after Singapore’s independence, starting with the Ministry of Interior and Defence in 1965-1970. When the ministry split into the current Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs, the latter continued as tenants until 1977.
After the MHA moved out, the Singapore Police Force headquarters set up base here in 1989, before moving to their current Police Cantonment Complex in 2001.
Currently, the Singapore Land Authority owns 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, which has been converted into an arts enclave by a thriving community there. Just last year, tenancy of this historic building was extended to March 2028 – a welcome lifeline for the creative community here.
Antinormal is a studio owned by husband-and-wife duo Nicholas and Kezia – a cosy space for people to come by and enjoy the art of creation.
They run workshops to build a community of creators, starting with their Pok-a-Kid needle felting workshop. For $65 and about 3-4 hours of your time, you’ll walk away with your very own felt child.
If you’ve ever gotten one of those needle felting kits from Daiso and turned what was supposed to be a cute little dog into some ambiguously-shaped entity, you’re not the only one. But don’t worry, because you’ll be guided through basic needle felting tools and skills to successfully build your felt child from wool, from balancing the different-sized parts to choosing a nice colour combination.
While you’re there, take home some of the other crafts on display in their little shop corner – gift your friends some quirky greeting cards ($7), or adopt your favourite Paramooch keychain (from $22).
While the studio currently only offers the needle felting workshop, they’re working on more, such as a kid-friendly water felting workshop. Stay tuned to Antinormal’s Instagram page to find out when new workshops drop.
Antinormal doesn’t have fixed studio times, but you can drop them a DM on Instagram to check when they’re open.
Book your needle felting session on Antinormal’s website.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #03-64, Singapore 168976
Walk a little further, and you’ll arrive at CraftBeast Handmade. Step into their studio and you’ll find adorable decor all around, and a wall stocked with charms for you to select for your creation.
Try your hand at decoden, the studio’s main offering. If you’ve never heard of it, it works kind of like piping icing onto a cake – the cream tubes even look just like icing bags. Workshop prices depend on what you choose to decorate – options include a phone case ($35), a standing mirror ($41), or a table lamp ($51).
This studio may have started as just a decoden studio, but they’ve also expanded to offer other craft workshops. Make yourself a new phone strap with their beading workshop (from $28), or create some 8-bit style art with the pixel art perler bead workshop (from $15).
Book a session on the CraftBeast Handmade website.
Bought too many blind boxes and have duplicate figures lying around? Turn it into a bag charm over at Poison Studio, where you can try out their DIY Bag Charm Workshop ($30) for a hands-on experience.
For each bag charm, you’ll get to pick out a key ring and 4 different charms, and if you’ve brought your own little figurine to hang on your bag, you’ll even get to add it to your charm at no extra charge.
Once you’ve finalised your selection, you’ll be taught how to use their tools and guided through the process of creating your charm.
Or if you’re less confident in your crafting skills, leave the assembly to the professionals for just $15 – don’t worry, you’ll still have a say in the charm’s design.
There are also other crafts available that you can DIY, like claw clips ($20) and denim pocket frames ($50).
Learn more about the different workshops on the Poison Studio website.
Asaru Studio is a haven for fans of Japanese crafts, stocking practical products from a curated range of Japanese brands.
When we arrived, we were greeted by the calming aroma of a burning incense stick by APFR – you can bring home a pack of these for $33.
Also worth checking out are the clothes by The HINOKI, displayed right next to the door. These are crafted with 100% cotton, but be prepared to spend a bit – just for reference, a shirt that caught our eye cost $179.
Digital streaming may be the norm now for all your music needs, but Avant Culture Club is preserving and promoting the art of physical media.
You’ll be able to find all sorts of records here, from the latest releases like Joji’s Piss in the Wind and the Marty Supreme soundtrack, to harder-to-find prints like the Japanese edition of Charli XCX’s brat.
For something to spruce up your home, head over to Press Only.
The brand focuses on fragrance products, so have a whiff of some of their soothing scents while you’re browsing. We personally enjoyed their Latte candle ($36), but if you want to try out various scents before committing, the Mini Cream Bundle Set ($22) comes with 3 candles, including Apple Cider, Burnt Cookie and Latte.
Other lifestyle products are also on display – bring home an adorable seashell accessory ($48), or update your fit with some jewellery (from $29) by Soft Room.
Image credit: Eatbook
After a day of workshops and shopping, take your hungry stomachs down to the courtyard for some vibey outdoor dining.
Sip on a drink or 2 from Kult Yard as the sun sets. Fans of the classics can opt for a good old pint of tap beer (from $13/pint) or take some shots of spirits (from $16/shot).
Image credit: Eatbook
Or if you’re feeling adventurous, try one of their unique cocktails – Bloody Belachan ($20) puts a local spin on the Bloody Mary by replacing tabasco with sambal belachan, while Jamu Sour ($20) takes a Whisky Sour and adds jamu, a traditional Indonesian herbal medicine. And don’t worry if you’re not much of a drinker, as selected cocktails like these are also available in alcohol-free versions ($10).
Plan ahead if you’d like some free entertainment to go with your meal, because Kult Yard runs different programmes each day of the week, from Wednesday trivia nights to Saturday jam sessions.
Image credit: Eatbook
For food, grab a savoury bite from Lavi Taco to go with your drinks. Their signature dish is the Quesabirria Tacos ($24), available in Signature Beef or Masala Lamb. If you’re with a group still in a crafting mood, you can also DIY your dinner with the Taco Meat Platter – from $69 for 2-3 people, you’ll get 3 different meats and assorted condiments to customise your tacos.
Vegetarians are well catered for too, with options like Grilled Vegetable Tacos ($15) and Jalapeno Poppers ($14).
Can’t wait until the evening to fill your stomachs? Then pop by Paaru, a quiet little Japanese cafe in the corner of Level 1.
Try their Matcha Latte ($7.50), or beat the heat with a refreshing glass of Housemade Craft Cola ($10). Anyone looking for a hearty meal can also get the Udon Carbonara ($18), available in bacon or mushroom spinach.
As we walked through the corridors of 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, we could really feel how much life the artists and creators here have put into this space.
Take a peek at the courtyard, and you’ll notice massive murals painted on the facade, watching over everyone who sits and dines below. Smaller murals line the corridor walls too, popping up when you least expect them. These murals were all painted by local artists – the ones at the courtyard were created by artists like Wayward Clouds and BarelyDada, but some of the walls in the corridors were painted by the tenants themselves too.
Beyond murals, you’ll also find the occasional statue – we lowkey got jumpscared by a massive Goku statue as we were looking for the stairs.
Image adapted from: Andrea Chandra Putri
When we visited, we were also pleasantly surprised to see so many feline friends roaming around. These cats run the area – don’t be shocked if you find one lounging inside a store or studio.
As we wandered around the building trying to find all the spots on our list, we noticed quite a few sitting areas tucked into the corridors.
Various tenants have set up these little spaces, free for anyone to take a seat and relax for a bit. Just make sure to stay considerate while using these spaces, and don’t leave a mess when you’re done here.
Take a break from the heat and everyday stress at Stranger Conversations, a community-run public living room. Park yourself on a couch and make yourself at home with their cosy set-up to get some work done while you’re here, or just take a chill pill if you feel like it. There are books and card games that are free to use as well.
Have a chat with others who’ve stopped by too – we were encouraged by the volunteer to live up to the space’s name and strike up a conversation with whoever else was around.
While entry is free, donations are welcome to help keep the space running.
Don’t follow Google Maps’ instructions to get there if you’re taking public transport – it’ll tell you to walk from Outram Park MRT, but there’s actually a shortcut from Chinatown MRT.
Head out of the station through Exit C, and walk through the food centre at People’s Park Centre. Once you’ve gotten to the other side, you’ll find a flight of stairs that’ll lead you straight up to the entrance. Just be prepared for this considerable hike up, as it is quite a distance up the hill.
If you’re looking for somewhere to break out of the mundaneness of everyday life, or you’re looking to be part of a new community, then 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace is the place to be. While we’ve only scratched the surface of what this enclave has to offer, what’s certain is the warmth you’ll feel from the people keeping this place and the local arts community alive.
Check out more local guides:
Photography by Ashley Hoon.
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