The best iftar in Singapore is in Arab Street and the Kampong Glam quarter around Masjid Sultan. You break your fast a two-minute walk from the mosque, you have halal food on every corner and the whole town is moving to the rhythm of Ramadan. Anatolia Restaurant at 58 Arab Street puts you in the heart of everything for a sit-down Turkish iftar with charcoal grills and fresh kunefe.
Why this question is harder than it looks
Every Ramadan, the same search runs across thousands of phones across the island. Where are we breaking our fast tonight? That sounds straightforward. It's not.
This isn’t simply about choosing a restaurant. You're choosing a place that respects the maghrib time, is convenient to a prayer space, has a table for six on a Friday, and has food worth breaking a 13-hour fast for. Most “best iftar in Singapore” lists offer you thirty places from Jurong to Changi and call it a day. Good if you have a car and not a plan. Not helpful if you truly want to be somewhere that feels like Ramadan.
This is the deal. It everything happens at once in one community. Arab Street and the surrounding streets of Kampong Glam are the closest Singapore gets to a living Ramadan neighbourhood. This tutorial is about why that matters, where to sit, what to order, and how to do iftar there without the rookie blunders.
We have a separate page for only the daily times which is regularly kept updated. Check the precise Maghrib and Suhoor times on our Iftar Time Singapore guide before you venture out. The where, not the when, is what this guide is about.
Why Arab Street is the answer
Let’s look at what really makes a great iftar.
You break fast next to the mosque, not a 20-minute drive from one
Masjid Sultan is located in the middle of Kampong Glam. Bussorah Street, Baghdad Street, Kandahar Street and Arab Street branch out around it, lined with restaurants, cafes and shops. When the azan calls, you can sit at your table with dates and water, and then stroll to the mosque for maghrib and terawih without having to move your car. That distance, or absence of it, is the whole deal for families dealing with food and prayer.
The food is halal by default, not by exception
In most Singaporean places you verify, double check and check again if it is suitable. Kampong Glam is filled with halal and Muslim-friendly food outlets. Within a few hundred metres you have the Turkish, Lebanese, Arab, Malay and Indian-Muslim. Filtering takes less energy while picking takes more energy.
It feels like Ramadan
This you can't fake with a buffet line in a hotel basement. The streets fill the last hour before nightfall. Families get early tables. The fragrance of charcoal and barbecued lamb wafts down the alleyways. Lanterns are raised. People who have fasted all day are sitting side by side, waiting for the same signal. That mutual expectation is what visitors remember and residents return for. This is the answer, not an alternative, which is why Arab Street is the answer.
Pro tip: If this is your first Ramadan in Singapore, head to Kampong Glam at about 6.30pm just to experience the process of preparing to iftar. It is one of the city's most authentic cultural experiences, even if you are not fasting.
Where exactly to sit: Anatolia Restaurant, 58 Arab Street
In the middle of all this, Anatolia Restaurant is built for a traditional Turkish iftar.
It is a Turkish and Lebanese kitchen on Arab Street, a short walk from Masjid Sultan and an easy walk from Bugis and Haji Lane. The meal is cooked on a real charcoal grill, not some gas shortcut, and that is why the kebabs taste the way that they do. All of our products are manufactured with 100% halal ingredients, so when you sit down to break your fast you don’t have to second-guess anything.
What makes it work for Ramadan specifically:
- You are close enough to the mosque to break fast, eat, then walk to terawih.
- The menu suits both a quiet family dinner and a big group reunion.
- There is a dedicated Ramadan iftar menu so you are not building a feast from scratch after a long fast.
- Premium dates are part of the welcome, in line with the sunnah of opening the fast with dates and water.
You can hold a table ahead of time through the reservation page. On Friday and Saturday nights through Ramadan, tables go fast, so booking 48 hours ahead is the safe move.
What to order for iftar (so you order right the first time)
Choice fatigue is real after 13 hours without meals. So here is a clear order of play that opens the stomach slowly and finishes strong.
Start gentle
Begin with three dates and water, then move on to soup and cold mezze. There is a reason why lentil soup is the standard Ramadan opener: it is warm, light and friendly to an empty stomach. Cold appetizers and salads which freshen the palate without full you before the main event, with hummus, ezme and fattoush.
Go big on the grill
That's where a Turkish kitchen earns its reputation. The charcoal grill is the essence of an Anatolia iftar Adana kebab, mixed grills and lamb are taken from the flames with that smokey sear you can't get from an oven.
Plan on the Testi Kebab, a boneless kebab slow-cooked and sealed inside a clay pot, then cracked open at your table. It combines theatre and food together and photos nicely if you are capturing the night. We wrote a comprehensive story about it here: what is Testi Kebab and why it is so popular.
Finish sweet
End the night with kunafa, the warm cheese-and-syrup dessert that defines a Turkish table, or baklava with Turkish tea. The dessert menu is where a slow, satisfied iftar should land.
A simple iftar order at a glance
| Course | What to order | Why it works for iftar |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Dates and water, lentil soup | Gentle on an empty stomach, follows the sunnah |
| Mezze | Hummus, ezme, fattoush | Light, fresh, easy to share while the grill works |
| Main | Adana kebab, mixed grill, Testi Kebab | Charcoal-grilled, generous, the reason you came |
| Dessert | Kunefe, baklava with Turkish çay | Warm finish, slows the night down |
The full Anatolia menu is online if you want to see more of it before you make a reservation. You can also order sets to be delivered if you are having iftar at home. The online delivery sets cost about $100 for two, $115 for three, and $175 for five. This makes it easy to plan an Iftar meal at home for the whole family.
Beyond Ramadan: it still works as a dinner spot
Just a quick, honest note, since not everyone reading this is fasting. Arab Street is also a great place to have dinner at other times of the year. Kampong Glam keeps coming up when people in Singapore look for dinner spots with halal food, a good vibe, and something more interesting than a mall food court.
If you visit Anatolia during Ramadan and then want to come back in July for a normal Friday dinner, you can. The charcoal grill and the kunefe are always there. A good place for iftar is likely to be a good place for dinner as well. There is no difference between the two.
The practical stuff nobody tells you
This is the part that turns a good iftar into a smooth one.
Timing and crowds
The hour before maghrib is the rush. Tables in Kampong Glam fill from about 6:00 PM onward, peaking right before the azan. If you want a calm seat and proper service, arrive 45 minutes early or book ahead. Weekends are busier than weekdays by a wide margin. For the exact maghrib time on the night you are going, use our Iftar Time Singapore page rather than guessing.
Getting there
The easiest route is by MRT. Bugis station (Downtown and East-West lines) is about a five to seven minute walk to Arab Street. Nicoll Highway and Lavender are also walkable. Driving during Ramadan evenings is the hard mode option: parking around Kampong Glam is tight once the iftar crowd arrives, so public transport saves you the stress.
Prayer facilities
Masjid Sultan is right there for maghrib and terawih. Smaller prayer spaces exist around the quarter too. The plan most families run: break fast with dates at the table, eat the lighter courses, step out for maghrib at the mosque, then return for the mains and dessert. It works because the distances are tiny.
Budget
You can do iftar in Kampong Glam at almost any budget. Street-style and bazaar food keeps it cheap. A full sit-down Turkish dinner with grills and dessert is mid-range and worth it for a special night or a family gathering. Sharing platters and mixed grills stretch further across a group than ordering one main each.
Bringing the family
Big tables, shared plates and a relaxed pace make this an easy area for kids and grandparents. If you are planning a larger family iftar or a reunion dinner, Anatolia handles group bookings through its family dining page, and booking ahead beats turning up with eight people on a Saturday and hoping.
Photos worth taking
Three easy shots: Masjid Sultan glowing at dusk from the top of Bussorah Street, the lanterns and shopfronts along Arab Street after dark, and the Testi Kebab being cracked open at the table. Shoot the mosque just after sunset when the sky still has colour behind the dome.
What's nearby, so you make a night of it
Iftar does not have to be the whole evening. Kampong Glam rewards a wander, and most of it is a few minutes on foot from your table.
- Haji Lane sits right behind Arab Street. Narrow, painted with murals, lined with independent shops and dessert spots. Good for a slow walk after you eat, especially once the lights come on.
- The Ramadan bazaars are the seasonal pull. The Kampong Glam streets fill with stalls, and the bigger Geylang Serai bazaar is a short ride away if you want the full market experience with lights, clothes and street food.
- Bussorah Street is the postcard view of Masjid Sultan. Even if you are not praying, walk to the top of it after dark for the dome lit against the sky.
- The fabric and carpet shops along Arab Street itself are a reminder of why the area is called what it is. Many stay open late through Ramadan.
The smart move: break fast, pray, then take a slow loop through Haji Lane and the bazaar stalls to walk off the meal before dessert and tea back at the table. That is a full Ramadan evening, and you never needed a car for any of it.
A little local etiquette
You are welcome to visit during Ramadan as long as you are not fasting. Just a few small things will keep it polite. In the last few minutes before maghrib, try not to eat loudly in front of people who are clearly waiting to break their fast. Don't wear too much if you want to go into the mosque. Also, if you can, give the table to the family that has been fasting all day. This is not hard at all. The season feels the way it does because of the same kindness.
The Anatolia Restaurant Kitchen Team
A few steps from Masjid Sultan is Arab Street, where we run a Turkish and Lebanese kitchen. We have been cooking through Ramadan in the middle of Kampong Glam for years. This is all based on what families order, when the groups come, and how to break the fast properly, as it was done every night during the holy month. We don't write these guides at a desk; we do it on the floor of a restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to have iftar in Singapore?
Arab Street and the Kampong Glam quarter around Masjid Sultan. You get halal food on every street, prayer facilities a short walk away, and the strongest Ramadan atmosphere in the city. For a sit-down Turkish iftar in that area, Anatolia Restaurant at 58 Arab Street is a solid pick.
Why is Arab Street famous during Ramadan?
It sits beside Masjid Sultan, Singapore's most iconic mosque, and the surrounding streets are packed with halal restaurants and cafes. During Ramadan the whole quarter comes alive in the hour before sunset, which makes it the natural gathering point for breaking fast.
Is the food on Arab Street halal?
Halal and Muslim-friendly kitchens are the norm across Kampong Glam, which is one of the reasons the area is so popular for iftar. Anatolia Restaurant cooks with 100% halal ingredients. If certification matters for a specific venue, it is always worth a quick check with that restaurant directly.
Can tourists visit Arab Street during Ramadan?
Yes. Visitors are welcome, fasting or not. It is one of the most authentic cultural experiences in Singapore. A little courtesy goes a long way: dress modestly near the mosque and be mindful of people waiting to break their fast.
What time should I arrive for iftar?
Arrive about 45 minutes before maghrib if you want a calm table, or book ahead. The crowd builds from around 6:00 PM and peaks right before sunset. Check the exact time for your date on our Iftar Time Singapore page.
What should I order for iftar at a Turkish restaurant?
Open with dates, water and a light soup, move to cold mezze like hummus and fattoush, then go big on the charcoal grill with kebabs or a Testi Kebab. Finish with kunefe and Turkish tea. It opens the stomach gently and ends on a high.
How do I get to Arab Street by MRT?
Take the MRT to Bugis station, then walk about five to seven minutes to Arab Street. Driving is harder during Ramadan evenings because parking around Kampong Glam fills up fast.
Do I need a reservation for iftar?
For weekends and Friday nights through Ramadan, yes. Tables fill quickly in the hour before sunset. Booking 48 hours ahead is the safe move. You can reserve a table at Anatolia here.
Is Arab Street good for a family iftar?
Very. Big shared tables, generous platters and a relaxed pace suit families and large groups. For bigger gatherings, book ahead through the family dining page.
Can I order iftar food for delivery instead?
Yes. If you are hosting at home, Anatolia offers set meals for delivery, with sets sized for two, three or five people, so you can put a full Turkish iftar on the table without cooking all day.
Final word
During Ramadan in Singapore, there is one neighborhood that has safe food, a great mosque, and a real sense of occasion at night. It's best to break your fast on Arab Street, with warm kunefe and kebabs cooked over fire. You can do this just a few steps from Masjid Sultan.
If you want to make a night of it this Ramadan, book a table at Anatolia or explore the Ramadan iftar menu before you go. And while you are planning, our other food guides on halal food in Bugis and Turkish kebabs in Singapore are good places to start. Ramadan Mubarak.
