Smith Street, Singapore: Address, Phone Number, Smith Street Review: 4/5
Smith Street
Smith Street
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The area
Neighbourhood: Outram
How to get there
- Telok Ayer • 7 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
7,512 within 5 kms

Merci Marcel Club Street
195
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • French • European • Healthy

Zazz Pizza
196
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • European

Takeshi Noodle Bar
558
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Asian • Fusion

Cure
234
0.4 km$$$$ • Irish • European • Vegetarian Friendly

Rhubarb
430
0.4 km$$$$ • French • European • Vegetarian Friendly

Heart of Darkness
182
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • International • European • Vegan Options

My Awesome Cafe
1,248
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • French • Bar • Cafe

Fat Belly Social Steakhouse
99
0.5 km$$$$ • Steakhouse • Gluten Free Options

Tippling Club
541
0.3 km$$$$ • International • European • Vegetarian Friendly

Alati Divine Greek Cuisine
322
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Mediterranean • Greek
Attractions
764 within 10 kms

Chinatown
14,408
26 mNeighbourhoods

Kreta Ayer Square
9
27 mScenic Walking Areas

Temple Street
48
53 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

Chinatown Heritage Centre
1,099
0.1 kmSpeciality Museums

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
6,427
0.1 kmSpeciality Museums • Religious Sites

Sri Mariamman Temple
1,029
0.1 kmReligious Sites

Pagoda Street
95
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Chan Ngee
36
0.2 kmAntique Shops

Sago Street (Street Of The Dead)
79
92 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Chinese Opera Teahouse, Chinese Theatre Circle
14
0.1 kmOperas • Theatres
Contribute
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kim buay p
Singapore, Singapore11,016 contributions
Feb 2021
Lai Chun Yuen was the main landmark on Smith Street. It was built in 1887 and was a very popular theatre for Cantonese opera. It was designed by Regent Alfred Bidwell from Swan and Maclaren. In fact, the nickname given by the Chinese for this street is "theatre street". However it is probably named after Sir Cecil Clementi Smith who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements. He was very popular with the Chinese community.
Smith Street was a well-known red-light district in the early 1900s. Lai Chun Yuen was the epitome of vice and there were private cubicles designed for discreet activities and opium smoking was a common sight in the theatre. The most notorious brothel was located at No 65 which has been demolished to build the Chinatown Complex.
Now Smith Street is popular with tourists due to Chinatown Food Street.
Yip Yew Chong painted three murals here:
1) "My Chinatown Home" -It depicts his first home in Sago Lane. His grandmother was portrayed sewing a patchwork blanket. The children playing Ludo were the artist and his siblings. His mother was frying the new year sticky cake in the kitchen. He also painted common things used long ago such as the cassette player, the cane, mosquito coil, door bell, wall gecko and the rat trap.
2) "Detective Conan in Chinatown"
3) "Letter writer"-in olden days, letter writers often wrote letters for the migrant workers to their families back in China. They also wrote calligraphy for Chinese New Year couplets. he painted this mural with his two children.
Many of the Chinese Baroque shophouses here have secondary pilasters, Corinthian capitals. cornices and Regency fanlights
Smith Street was a well-known red-light district in the early 1900s. Lai Chun Yuen was the epitome of vice and there were private cubicles designed for discreet activities and opium smoking was a common sight in the theatre. The most notorious brothel was located at No 65 which has been demolished to build the Chinatown Complex.
Now Smith Street is popular with tourists due to Chinatown Food Street.
Yip Yew Chong painted three murals here:
1) "My Chinatown Home" -It depicts his first home in Sago Lane. His grandmother was portrayed sewing a patchwork blanket. The children playing Ludo were the artist and his siblings. His mother was frying the new year sticky cake in the kitchen. He also painted common things used long ago such as the cassette player, the cane, mosquito coil, door bell, wall gecko and the rat trap.
2) "Detective Conan in Chinatown"
3) "Letter writer"-in olden days, letter writers often wrote letters for the migrant workers to their families back in China. They also wrote calligraphy for Chinese New Year couplets. he painted this mural with his two children.
Many of the Chinese Baroque shophouses here have secondary pilasters, Corinthian capitals. cornices and Regency fanlights
Written 4 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Smith Street
- We recommend booking Smith Street tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Smith Street tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Smith Street:
- (0.01 km) Jinshan Hotel
- (0.02 km) Hotel 1888 Collection
- (0.02 km) Hotel Calmo Chinatown
- (0.03 km) Hotel 1888 Collection
- (0.03 km) Hotel 1888 collection
- Restaurants near Smith Street:
- (0.02 km) Smash Fusion Kitchen & Bar (DD Eatzakaya)
- (0.02 km) Da Dong Restaurant (Fatty Weng)
- (0.02 km) Fatty Weng Restaurant
- (0.03 km) JJMnoodleplace
- (0.03 km) Tai Wah Cooked Food