Jalan Besar

Jalan Besar is Singapore's most concentrated craft beer neighbourhood and, for many serious beer drinkers, the most compelling reason to lace up your shoes and walk somewhere. The district runs roughly from Jalan Besar Road east to Tyrwhitt Road and south along Horne Road — a compact grid of pre-war shophouses, old provision shops, and the kind of low-key character that Singapore's more polished neighbourhoods have long since traded away. What sets Jalan Besar apart is density and quality in combination. Three of Singapore's best multi-tap craft beer bars sit within a few minutes' walk of each other on or near Horne Road and Tyrwhitt Road, making this the natural home base for any serious craft beer crawl in the city. The bars here tend to attract regulars rather than tourists, and that local loyalty has allowed each to develop a distinct personality and tap selection rather than competing for the same crowd. The neighbourhood itself is unpretentious and slightly rough around the edges in the best possible way — there's a boxing gym, hawker stalls, a heritage stadium, and the old Singapore Chinese Druggists Association shophouse that famously became one of the area's anchor craft beer venues. Little India is a short walk north, making this an ideal post-dinner destination after a meal on Serangoon Road or Race Course Road. Jalan Besar MRT is on the Downtown Line, meaning the neighbourhood is easier to reach than its off-the-beaten-path reputation might suggest.