Kult Yard
Photograph: @kultyard

The ultimate guide to Pearl's Hill Terrace

Home to the coolest creative workshops and hidden gems

Cheryl Sekkappan
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The imposing building at 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace used to be the upper barracks of a police station. What was once the centre of surveillance and control (over the crime-ridden alleys of Chinatown), is now a hub of freedom and creativity. There's something poetic about that.

In sanitised and 'straight' Singapore, places like 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace are true gems, and one can easily spend a whole day there exploring the many unique creative workshops and studios, or even the occasional fair. This week, we urge you to clear some time in your calendar to check out something off our list of the best things to do in Pearl's Hill. 

RECOMMENDED: We went tufting at Singapore's only pet-friendly tufting studio and 12 best karaoke and KTV bars in Singapore

DO

  • Shopping
  • Home decor
  • Chinatown
Sally’s Room
Sally’s Room

Specialising in niche soy candles, Sally's Room carries a total of 11 comforting scents like peach, jasmine, lavender, and lime coconut. These are available in 180g sizes ($35), in gorgeous holders that you can customise – choose your preferred style of jar holder, scent label, and candle lid colour. Sally's Room has also branched out into diffusers and room sprays, and you can even buy materials to make your own soy candle. But if you prefer guidance, attend one of its candle-making classes and learn to make coffee candles, pressed flower candles, or even gel wax and palm wax candles (intermediate). 

  • Things to do
  • Classes and workshops
  • Chinatown
The Potter’s Guilt
The Potter’s Guilt

The only guilt you'll get at The Potters' Guilt is for making far too many beautiful ceramics. And it doesn't help that the teachers there are incredibly nice, patient and helpful. Located on top of Pearl's Hill Terrace, the studio beckons you to its wood-toned and minimalistic space, where you can begin your pottery journey with a pottery-on-the-wheel experience ($58) – or jump right into an eight-week Basic Potters' Wheel course ($535). Perfect for eager novices, the curriculum includes lessons in centering, throwing, trimming and glazing, yielding six to 10 fired pieces to bring home. 

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  • Things to do
  • Bishan

Not many people are likely to think of taxidermy as a date idea – but that's what will make it memorable for you and your partner (or friend). At Black Crow Taxidermy & Art, taxidermist Vivian Tham turns insects, reptiles and even small mammals into works of preserved art. You can try your hand at this incredible practice too, through the studio's range of workshops, including butterfly dome or frame making, beetle or butterfly pinning, chick/duckling dome making, and animal dissection workshops. It's fun, engaging, and educational – and you get to walk home with a DIY decor piece. And in case you were wondering, all animals are ethically sourced. Check out our experience at a Black Crow Taxidermy & Art session

  • Things to do
  • Games and hobbies
  • Chinatown

Film cameras are all the rage today – and if you're just getting into this hobby, then you have to get acquainted with Hands On Film. This independent studio and film lab manually develops and scans each and every film roll received, ensuring that your precious babies are treated with the utmost care. It costs $10 develop and scan a roll of 35mm colour or black and white film, with top-ups for 120mm film, various file formats and scan resolutions. If you are into doing things yourself, take up their film developing workshop ($60) for a helpful primer on how to load film into a developing reel, all the way through to the scanning process. Hands On Film also sells film cameras and film rolls, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the craft. 

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  • Things to do
  • Chinatown

Ever wanted to be a tattoo artist? You can give the practice a shot at State of Shiok. For $68 per person, you get three hours in a private space with friends, some 'fake skin', unlimited art supplies, and visual guides to help you create a tattoo masterpiece of your own. You can even frame it up for an additional $15. For something more free-flowing, try the studio's We Paint Bears class ($48/pax), and splash paint to your heart's content on some bear mannequins. A great playlist and good vibes included. 

  • Things to do
  • Classes and workshops
  • Chinatown

Slow down for the weekend with an art jamming session at Art Nooq. At this cosy space, you can get a whole studio to yourself (minimum two pax), for a guided or unguided session of canvas painting. If that's too 'boring' for you, then try out the studio's more unique offerings – including a macaron art jam. Art that's good enough to eat!

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  • Music
  • Raffles Place

A true hidden gem, Wild Pearl is a music production studio in Pearl's Hill Terrace. Music creators are free to rent out the space in two-hour or whole-day slots to record budding masterpieces. Wild Pearl also hosted community nights, where they throw their doors open to revellers. Expect live DJs, panel discussions and refreshments from local brands like Boujee Botanicals and Crust. Keep updated on all its latest happenings via Instagram

EAT

  • Bakeries
  • Chinatown

Opened by the same people behind Asaru Studio, this café transports you straight to Japan with its zen-like ambience and delicious bakes. The menu is built around shokupan, which is honestly the star of the café. Get your shokupan with eggs ($11 for poached, $13 for scrambled) or with homemade jam ($8). You can choose from add-ons like portobello mushroom ($5) or thick-cut bacon ($6). For the sweet-toothed, go for Paaru's French toast shokupan ($12) accompanied by kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) and cacao nibs, finished with sea salt and fresh cream. 

Also, don't forget to pop over to Paaru's bakery at #01-18 for freshly-baked cakes and plain shokupan at just $12. Small bakes like financier and madeleines are also available at $2 each. 

  • Mexican
  • Chinatown

For a casual but flavourful meal, head to Lavi Taco, a charming alfresco Mexican place situated at the heart of 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace. Its menu features – unsurprisingly – a spread of tacos for meat and veggie lovers alike. A highlight is the birria taco ($25 for two) made with oxtail and brisket that has been slow-cooked in a spicy and savoury strew of herbs and spices. Besides chicken and seafood options, there are also plant-based tacos like the grilled vegetable taco ($16 for two) and pulled mushroom taco ($18 for two). 

 

DRINK

  • Shopping
  • Specialist food and drink
  • Chinatown

Do your gut some good and try out the drinks at Boujee Botanicals, which specialises in kombucha and more herbal elixirs. At its 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace venue, you can attend its kombucha omakase ($22/pax), a five-course tasting session available from Tuesdays to Sundays. Try out interesting flavours like apple pie, mojito, and hawthorn chamomile (they switch it up). Once you fall in love, it's time to watch its Instagram page for weekly drops of bottled kombucha ($12). Boujee Botanical's kombuchas contain live cultures and are rich in gut-healthy probiotics and antioxidants – don't we all need more of that? 

  • Bukit Merah

You've probably heard the nursery rhyme that goes: Jack and Jill went up the hill to party. No? Well, there's definitely a new bar up a hill in the bustling Chinatown. New nightlife hangout, Kult Yard, now calls a former police barrack at 195's Pearl's Hill Terrace home. Brought to you by the brains behind Kult Kafe, it's a brand new cool sanctuary for musicians, design studios and makers. Find a secret flight of stairs that lead you to refreshing cocktails, aptly named Kultails, that blends local flavours like gula melaka and sambal belacan.

SHOP

  • Shopping
  • Chinatown

Not exactly your run-of-the-mill shop, Asaru Studio is the place to go to for curated Japanese items and handmade food. Sift through the racks of Japanese-branded clothing, accessories, and lifestyle items – all simply and tastefully done in true Japanese fashion. And if you found getting to 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace a hassle, you'll be glad to know it was worth the reward if lovingly made drinks and treats like strawberry daifuku, matcha Swiss roll, and pour-over coffee made with beans from a roastery in Kyoto. 

This cosy joint allows no more than five visitors at any given time, so you're recommended to book a slot before heading down. 

  • Shopping
  • Fashion
  • Chinatown

Syne Studio was started as a response to the fast fashion industry. At this shop, kimonos sourced directly from Japan find a new lease of life. Damaged kimonos are lovingly restored, while offcuts and small pieces of cloth are repurposed to create charming bags and accessories. 

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  • Shopping
  • Lifestyle
  • Chinatown

Another shop that you can visit to satisfy that shopping bug is The Everyday Club. Here's where you can find a good range of quality tote bags, pouches, masks and other accessories. Designs and colours at The Everyday Club lean towards neutral and minimalistic, but you can certainly satisfy your craving for some colour with the Courier-ful collection. For something roomier, get the signature double tote bag. 

  • Shopping
  • Chinatown

If crafted goods are your weakness, then swing by A Tiny Dream. This cosy studio is run by jagua artist Cyann (@heycyannand visual artist Ian Mun (@ianmun.thebunas a cosy space for local creators. Here, they gather carefully curated lifestyle goods like soaps, fragrances, ceramics, accessories, and more. Visit A Tiny Dream to admire the work of talented crafters in Singapore and pick up a gem or two. 

More to explore

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