Shophouse The Social Hostel is Singapore’s “first indie boutique backpacker hostel.” The brainchild of 28 year-olds, Calvin Seah and Mustaffa Kamal – both NUS graduates – Shophouse was inspired by their own travels and experiences.
Located right along popular tourist destination Arab Street, getting to the Shophouse should not be too much trouble for locals, or travellers armed with a map. This is convenient for backpackers looking to settle in the heart of one of Singapore’s cultural districts, being just a quick walk away from the rows of textile stores selling cloth in kaleidoscope colours, and rich scents and flavors of the local food sold at every turn. The choice of location was a deliberate one – according to Calvin, as Arab Street provides the “location, charm and less mess” associated with traditional tourists hotspots like Chinatown or Little India. Shophouse has five floors in total, with the first floor is rented out to nearby Café Le Caire, where guests can conveniently grab a bite at any time.
Six different dorms are housed on the second floor onwards, outfitted with themes such as that of the six-bed mixed dorm called ‘Arab St’ – an Arabic themed room featuring kooky light fixtures and a cushioned lounge area.
The third level comprises of exclusively female-only dorms. Quirkily termed ‘No Man’s Land’, requiring special key card access to enter and features both eight-bed and twelve-bed female dorms, as well as private bathroom facilities and powder room. The rooms themselves are spacious, fully air-conditioned and equipped with individual lockers and Wi-Fi (as the whole hostel is), as well as comfortable beds outfitted with clean sheets. What could be exhausting though, is tromping up and down the central spiral staircase, which cannot be helped given the nature of the place as part of a heritage site.
Shophouse has a wide rooftop area – the ‘Social Terrace’, decorated with an eclectic mix of charmingly mismatched furniture (including a table fashioned from a door) – that encourages casual mingling among guests. This space is a big selling point for the hostel – and one can easily see why. The open space offers a great view of the Kampong Glam area, and relaxed seating space encourages interaction between guests during the day or night. The pantry offers all-day breakfast food, while more communal spaces can be found in the ‘Social Lounge’. The Lounge is equipped with books on travel, movies, a couple of iMacs and even a PS3 for guests’ use.
Nightfall is arguably when Haji Lane is most alive. From the Social Terrace you can hear strains of distant conversation and thumping beats of music streaming out from bars, and the heady scent of flavored smoke that tinges the air. The view from the rooftop is quite a sight – overlooking bright streetlights of the Arab Street district and being surrounded by towering buildings. This shows how the location of Shophouse works in its favour – being located in the heart of areas buzzing with activity at night lends to the electric feel of the place along streets that do not sleep. This could be both a perk and a drawback – guests can seamlessly delve into the bustling night scene Arab Street has to offer, yet those disturbed by faint traces of music filtering into the rooms can grab foam ear plugs readily available at the front desk.
Possibly the answer to the appeal of the place was right in its name. That the Shophouse markets itself as – and lives up to – being a “social hostel,” is an enticing draw. You meet a myriad of people and get glimpses into their lives – from the American man here for research purposes, to our Thai roommate in Singapore on her business trip, or the German boys that settled in after a day of sightseeing around the city. The appeal of such an open environment is that it fosters a comfortable and familial spirit in a place. Part of the thrill of travelling is meeting new people whose lives can be so different or similar in many respects to your own, and have that translate into the camaraderie of shared experiences.
For locals, the social experience is almost akin to going abroad – with creature comforts of home still at your disposal. Mustaffa told us of how some guests check in alone, and through engaging with other guests, they find like-minded travellers to explore Singapore with, and ultimately leave as friends. Friendly staff and owners that make it a point to learn the guests’ names add to this social experience. This is something that sets Shophouse apart from other forms of accommodation, being beyond just a cheap place to crash, and this contrast is most starkly felt as you have warm conversations on the Social Terrace looking out at looming hotels that seem almost impersonal in contrast.
The place sees a diverse range of visitors from a myriad of places, as seen in the photos of past guests that adorn a ‘Wanderwall.’ While the targeted demographic of this place is young backpacking travellers, the place seems quite a lure for locals as well, with the Shophouse having seen bachelorette parties in the female-only dorms.
Calvin and Mustaffa have plans to further expand the social element of the Shophouse by hosting regular social activities – such as movie nights, festivals and the like. So why not have a go at being a tourist in your own country – Shophouse would be a wonderful place to consider doing so.
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Shophouse the Social Hostel is located at:
48 Arab Street
Singapore, Singapore 199745
Prices begin at $28, with NUS students and friends enjoying $4 off published rates.
Find out more on rooms and rates at www.shophousehostel.com