City Guide: DJ Rah Azizan’s favourite spots in Singapore
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN T
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Singapore’s a little misunderstood and has a lot of layers. Those who stick around long enough to get to know her will discover secret spots and create magical moments.”
Here at Fashion Journal, we want to unearth the hidden spots in Australian cities that only the locals know about. There’s no gatekeeping here – this is a breakdown of the best bits of our cities. We want the underrated date spots, favourite restaurants, treasure trove op shops and the bars people will always want to go back to.
This week, we’re exploring Singapore with DJ Rah Azizan. While she might’ve just moved to Melbourne for work, Rah’s spent “all her life” exploring the dynamic landscape of her home country. “What I love about Singapore is the creative and alternative community that gives it a bit of personality and makes the city a little more colourful. The food is delicious.”
Have a trip or move coming up? Head to our city guide to find the best spots.
When it comes to uncovering the best bits of Singapore, Rah says it might take some time. ‘[Singapore’s] a little misunderstood and has a lot of layers. Those who stick around long enough to get to know her will discover secret spots and create magical moments.” Read on for her recommendations.
Eat
Smith Street Hawker Centre, 46 Smith Street, Chinatown
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“I like the food more than the people in Singapore,” Rah tells me. “The flavours are sensational… so soulful and affordable. Hit the local joints for an authentic experience.” For local craft beers and freshly-steamed fish, Rah recommends Smith Street Hawker Centre in Chinatown. With a wet market in the basement and over 260 stalls upstairs, there’s a flavour for every palette.
Udipi Ganeshi Vilas, 10 Ceylon Road, Singapore
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For the best rava onion masala dosa, Rah recommends Udipi Ganeshi Vilas or Komala Vilas. Offering high-quality vegetarian Indian food from Monday to Sunday (excluding Wednesdays – we all need a day off), Upidi Ganeshi Vilas is a “stone’s throw from the magnificent Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple”.
The best of the best
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Rah’s restaurant recommendations span a plethora of different cuisines and dishes. “[I suggest heading to] Ole Ole Bumbu for nasi padang (mixed rice) and Yong Huat Delight for mushroom chee cheong fun (rice noodle roll). Head to Casuarina Curry for Prata and fish curry and Golden Mile Complex for Thai. Also, Swee Choon for late-night dumplings. Chef’s kiss!”
Shop
Olive Ankara, 79 Chay Yan Street, Singapore
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Rah’s colourful wardrobe is a reflection of the vibrant fashion scene in Singapore. Slow fashion label Olive Ankara melds the beauty of African fabrics with the classic silhouettes of Italian style. “For shopping, Olive Ankara has cool African prints,” Rah says. “And they have a pretty cool studio in a quaint neighbourhood, Tiong Bahru.”
Dover Street Market, 18 Dempsey Road, Singapore
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For elevated designer wear and limited-edition archival pieces, Rah suggests checking out Singapore’s own Dover Street Market. With the store’s concept and direction led by designer Rei Kawakubo, it’s worth checking out just for the interior design details alone.
Secondhand gems
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As every conscious shopper knows, secondhand and consignment stores are where it’s at. Rah recommends The Fifth Collection on Syed Alwi Road for “curated secondhand designer goods” (think Louis, Chanel, Hermès and Prada). And for all your other pre-loved needs, Rah says to head to Carousell.
Record stores galore
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As a vinyl DJ, Rah has a few spots she likes to hunt for quality records. Red Point Record Warehouse in the Kapo Factory Building offers floor-to-ceiling stacks of collectable vinyl, while Choice Cuts Goods & Coffee (on Joo Chiat Road) and Analog Vault (on Raffles Avenue) stock more curated record selections.
Rah’s ideal day
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“It would be a balmy afternoon well spent on my bicycle. I like to start the day with yoga at Yoga Movement either at East Coast or Orchard, cook some lunch at home, maybe do a bit of reading and cycle along East Coast Park for the sunset. Have one drink [never one] at Kult Kafe or No Sleep Club to end the evening.”
Listen
Wild Pearl, 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, Singapore
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Wild Pearl is a creative embassy and production studio available for music creators to rent out in two-hour or full-day sessions. “It’s run by a great bunch and is a great example of a community-driven space,” Rah tells me. “It’s also close to Kult Yard, which is a great place for drinks.” And if you’re not a musician, there’s the option to enjoy great DJs on Wild Pearl’s open house nights, which you can find out about via Instagram.
Projector X, 30 Merchant Road, Riverside Point
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“Projector X and The Projector venues also host some pretty cool events like drag shows, music gigs and live performances,” Rah says. “Also music collectives Revision Music and Strange Weather throw great parties.”
A five-star experience
Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore
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For a day like no other, Rah suggests checking out Haw Par Villa, a unique open-air theme park originally built in 1937. “It’s a kitschy theme park on the ten gates of hell in Chinese folklore,” Rah explains. “There’s really nothing like it in the world; it’s so bizarre, trippy and wonderful. Highly recommend – five stars.”
Check out more of Rah’s adventures here.
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