Bras Basah Complex

28/July/2025 Visited this place for lunch & took the opportunity to visit this long standing building that I used to spend my weekends. Lots of interesting shops, especially books shops. Comes with a food court &: several F&B outlets. Natural ventilation building.

The place has many vintage bookstores with books unique old second hand books, the bookstores sell at a cheaper price than normal bookstores. There is also the central popular bookstore so it is worth a look for locals and tourists alike. Overall, the experience there was enjoyable.

It's slightly different now, but it used to be heaven because I love books. There were stores and stores full of books and I could spend hours roaming through them. Now, when everything changes to digital and the interest of book has unfortunately dwindled down, and some of my favorite shops are gone, I don't visit this place as often. At least, it has Art and Friends here, which is probably one of the last interest. There is still a bookstore, but the charm of weird and wonderful collections of books is not as what it used to be. It is still charming though, a older style of shopping complex with its unique shop compared to modern malls that populate the rest of Singapore. Come here by City Hall or Brass Basah MRT. There is motorcycle and car parking as well.

Went to the art and craft segment of popular bookstore (edit: Artfriends) and found this on the way! Love these very Chinese and traditional ancient book supplies and content.

🟦Bras Basah Complex 231 Bain Street, Singapore 180231 🟥 Location =🟥 Alight at City Hall MRT station. ➡️Walk 3 blocks down. ● Carlton Hotel --> Odeon 333----> Bras Basah Complex. 🟦 I used to visit Bras Basah Complex in the late 1970s and early 1980s when I was in secondary school. I was in the Arts Stream and had to buy acrylic paints and other arts and craft materials here. 🟩 I haven't been here for ages. ● And today, I visited this arts hub again, because I came here to drink coffee at two indie cafes, and went looking for used books at the bookstores here. 🟣 Today's visit was nostalgic because it brought back memories of my teenage years. ➡️ I strolled around and saw bookstores that sells new and used books, stationery shops, printing shops, signboard making shops, cafes and arts and crafts shops. 🟡 If you want to look for art materials, this is the place to visit. ❇️ Sept 18th, 2025 Thurs

1. “A Book Lover’s Paradise!” Bras Basah Complex is an absolute gem for book lovers! It’s a haven of second-hand bookstores, niche bookshops, and specialty art stores. I always discover hidden treasures and unique titles that you can’t find elsewhere. The retro vibe of the place adds to its charm—perfect for a relaxing afternoon. 2. “Great for Art Supplies and Stationery!” This is my go-to place for all things art and stationery. From professional-grade materials to affordable supplies for hobbyists, Bras Basah Complex has it all. Art Friend is a standout store here, offering a wide variety of products. The staff are knowledgeable and always ready to help. 3. “A Slice of Old-School Singapore!” Bras Basah Complex offers a nostalgic experience. The mix of independent stores, cozy cafes, and niche shops feels like stepping back in time. It’s a refreshing break from modern malls and a great spot to find unique items and support local businesses. 4. “Perfect for Collectors and Hobbyists!” Whether you’re into vintage books, rare comics, or musical instruments, Bras Basah Complex has something for everyone. I’ve found amazing deals on preloved books and vinyl records. The shop owners are friendly and passionate about what they sell. 5. “Hidden Gem for Unique Gifts!” If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind gifts, Bras Basah Complex is the place to visit. From beautifully crafted notebooks to handmade art pieces, there’s something special for everyone. It’s a treasure trove of creativity and culture!

Besides book stores , there are musical instruments, sports and “treasure” stores. PRICES ARE NEGOTIABLE for some stores so please don’t feel embarrass to make offers to make a deal 🤝

Many shops had moved or closed down leaving the complex quiet on a weekday afternoon. More shops on musical instruments, art pieces and restaurants and lesser bookstores. Popular is still around and few second hands/ small scale bookstores are still operating. Overall it has downscaled to a quiet area.

I'm surprised at the lack of reviews for this place. I'm also surprised that I have a list called "Bras Basah Complex" and it doesn't even include a review on Bras Basah Complex! I come here for various reasons- either I need to get business done, or I'm just waiting for someone in the City Hall area and I need a place to browse (that isn't Raffles City Mall.) The location is prime- it's near City Hall MRT, Bras Basah MRT, landmarks like Raffles Hotel and the National Library, along with Seah Street and Purvis Street for food. Since there are a lot of print shops, I've come here to get name cards done (when I was still a tai tai and networking like crazy to find a job.... ah, those were the days) and most recently, to get some signage made for work. There are also a lot of arts and crafts shops here. Art Friend on the 3rd floor is probably the biggest one, though I'm not too much a fan of that outlet. There's Popular bookstore, but for something a little less mainstream, Basheer Graphic Books on the 4th floor is the way to go. Also check out the super cute Cat Socrates if you have a chance- a great spot to get gifts and Singapore souvenirs that aren't tacky!

This is the place to go when you need art-related supplies, and also office supplies. Arts Friends is there, but not only that one, there are many other shops that sell supplies. A few shops that sell acrylic displays, and many shops that offer printing services. Some of those shops offer online services, so I can submit my artwork by email, get a quotation, arrange the printing, and then I just go to collect the work. That's neat! Parking is a big problem at lunchtime, and unfortunately that's the only time that I can go there, so I sometimes park in the other building just across the road (I forgot its name)

This old building is THE place for Arts students cos here is where you can get endless supplies of material needed for school work etc at Art Friend and also the multiple print shops that can help to print out your posters, sign board etc within an hr or so. Besides stationery supplies, as one explores the various shops, there's a mixture of really old retro shops like Kai Ming Entreprises to the ever amazing Basheer Book Store and new hippie shops like Cat Socretes. Music fans can also check out the music and instrument stores while Tecman offers one of the widest variety of christian literature and merchandises. There's something for everyone! Every now and then there'll be book fairs, stationery fairs or even antique fairs with vendors displaying a wide array of merchandises that you cannot miss checking out. Bras Basah Complex may be very old but it somehow never goes out of trend.

If you're searching for books, art supplies, sports equipments and even guitars, then Bras Basah is the place to check out. The biggest Art Friend is located here and they carry an astounding range of art and craft supplies, from easel's to canvas, and even styrene sheets that hobbyists use for model making. There's also a five-storey Popular outlet here that carrys textbooks, assessment books and cheap stationeries. There's a Swee Lee here as well, so after you're done with looking for art supplies, you can check out violins, guitars, and even drums. Once you're done shopping, you can head down to the food court to grab a bite and drink and the food on offer here is your standard local fare, albeit a tad pricer, but taste wise is pretty okay.

Bras Basah Complex is an old building, very near the National Library. The main things people go here for are: 1. Photocopying / printing services : there are a number of shops mainly on the ground floor offering printing services for reasonable prices (IF you print in bulk) and photocopying as well. There are also a few photo development shops. 2. Opticians: a lot of optical shops on the first floor, and always quite a few sales for contact lenses, so go hunting. 3. Second-hand books: This complex is known for its second-hand bookstores and I've patronised them since I was a student. There are also past -year exam papers from different schools - convenient if you give tuition - hunt around the 2nd and 3rd floors, also one on the ground floor. The second-hand book deals aren't terribly great though, and you aren't saving very much for a used book. One good thing however is, if you buy a lot in one go, the they might give you a substantial discount. 4. Cat Socrates / Art Friend / Basheer Graphic : Several stores for the creative crowd and lots of art students go to the huge Art Friend... it's awesome for craft work!