Mohammed Sultan Road

Mohammed Sultan Road – My first impression was a name belongs to the royalty. The name keeps popping out from the lip of my colleagues every Friday weekend. My visit to the place raised furor that I have missed the development of this district in Singapore. That was almost like 10 years ago.

The name of the entertainment district was name after Mohammed Sultan Road which came into existence about 1898. Again my impression was that this place was ever graced or lived by a great Sultan, unless the Sultan likes entertainment or he is a DJ by himself… I later discovered that the area was a residential place with no pubs and bars.

How on earth the whole place has been transformed really beats me. The first pub was opened in 1992, named Front Page (owned by veteran landlord Peter Wong and still owns various outlets in the area) and it didn’t look back after that.  Pubs and Bars started to mushroom in breakneck speed and of course some did not survive for long. Competition was steep and those that survived have provided new emblem and creativity to woo the returning drinkers.

Mohammed Sultan Singapore has a magnetic force that thrills the most ardent drinkers. It is the core of Singapore’s clubbing scene. All the bars and clubs are concealed in the furry of those old structure shop houses that resemblance the 1960s Singapore old traditional townhouses. Those modern noises of ear deafening music clubs are hidden in a conservationist old façade set up. Once you step in, remember to flash a smile to the gate warrior – also known as the bouncers- and you’ll have to prepare for a washing good time if you do not behave properly after a few boozes. In recent years, however, Mohammed Sultan Road has seen a new form of establishment carrying cleaner and trendier look.

There are in total about 10 clubs along the 2 sides of the street. If you are here on the weekdays, you will be disappointed as most clubs are unlikely to be filled. The drinkers need to work too; they aren’t full time drinkers! If you really want to drop by Mohammed Sultan during the weekday night, you can try Siam Supper Club. They might just be the only one with the queue…

Mohammed Sultan is also a busy street during the day as it is in the night. There are many companies that choose to locate their offices around the area. Not just because there are many pubs but more so as a centralize location providing a great picturesque view of the Singapore River.

In addition, those non-drinkers but rather culturally refine workers can attend drama and theatre performances.  Mohammed Sultan is the home of Singapore Repertory Theatre and Theatreworks. There is also the office of Singapore Tyler Print Institute, which publishes the work of many visual artists and on-going exhibition around the area.  Some renowned companies setting up there are the buildings of United Engineers and Shell House. Hmm… talking about employees benefits, these companies certainly choose their location well to de-stress their staffs.

Some of my favorite hunt in Mohammed Sultan hotspot area includes:

Next Page Pub (No 17)
Its popularity lies in its oriental ambience that sets a distinctive tone apart from the other clubs in Mohammed Sultan. The soothing lighting, Chinese lanterns, stucco decorated walls and the island bar are special features of the club. The regulars here are mostly executives that are more mature than that of the neighboring clubs. The music you can expect includes a mixture of energetic pop numbers and other pulsating trance.

Sugar Bar (No 13)
If you’re tired of the conventional and wanted to try out something funky, checkout this gay club in Singapore. This club is one of the few hippest club that attracts in a more creative and avant-garde crowd as well as the flamboyantly gay. Every couple of months, the management makes it a point to have a makeover on the decorative theme to freshen up the look and feel of the club.

Madam Wong’s (No 28/29)
Madam Wong does not suggest any old married lady. On the contrary, the club is a remodeled and re-furnished warehouse. The decoration of the club is cleverly put on, giving an oriental feel and it plays mostly Retro music.)

Butter Factory
The Club is situated in Mohammed Sultan Road, near Robertson Quay. The music here is mainly R&B and hip-hop. However there is a chill-out Art bar that plays indie and house music. You will enjoy the ambience and the crowd.

The list is not exhaustive, I could have go on and on, but I would prefer you to explore and walk around Mohammed Sultan Road and jump into any club that appeal to you.