We stayed in a colonial-era heritage shophouse in Jalan Besar and we liked it

Back in November 2017, we had the opportunity to stay a night in a quaint Airbnb loft in Jalan Besar. This double-storey “Fitzroy Loft” can be found in one of the restored late-style colonial-era shophouses that make up the colourful block along the quiet stretch of Petain Road. Like the ones found along the famous Joo Chiat Road and Emerald Hill, the elegant row of Petain Road shophouses is often used as a backdrop for #ootd photos on Instagram.

This heritage shophouse is more spacious than you think

The self-contained loft we stayed in encompasses the fourth floor and attic of the shophouse. The two-storey space includes a living area, two bathrooms, two sofa beds, and one king bed. Styled in bright and funky colours, the living room is as retro as it gets. In direct contrast, the upper room with the king bed is toned down with monochromatic colours and hints of dark blue.

We didn’t take too many photos of our living space — we were too busy ooh-ing and aah-ing at everything. However, we were eventually distracted by the bedroom one floor below us. It was drenched in beautiful natural light that day, so I sneaked a few pics.

Heritage shophouse communal living: A unique staycation experience

The communal area downstairs is for sharing… and as a bonus, it’s an interior designer’s delight! There’s an indoor pond with lush plants, curious movie posters framed with good intention, and some very cool trinkets on display. Everything in the shophouse screams well-placed eclectic charm. Hungry? There’s a complimentary-access kitchen at the back with full cooking facilities and utensils for your food prep. Just remember to wash up after yourself.

We stepped into Two Bakers for light bites

If you’re feeling peckish, you can pop into any number of eateries to get your dose of Singaporean food. This is Jalan Besar territory after all. We chanced upon Two Bakers at 88 Horne Road, an artisanal bakery-cafe that specialises in pastries and desserts. They also serve up some good coffee and decent fresh food options. It’s five minutes on foot from Petain Road, so there’s no reason not to enjoy this cute little cafe. Petain Road itself is a stone’s throw from Farrer Park MRT and City Square Mall.

The above is a revised article. The original version can be found on the author’s personal blog.

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