Straits
Heritage Hostel

Our Story

Housed in a Century-Old Shophouse

The building that houses Straits Heritage Hostel has stood on South Bridge Road for over a hundred years — witness to Singapore's transformation from colonial trading port to modern metropolis. We've preserved every detail of its heritage facade while creating a contemporary interior that honours the spirit of this remarkable address.

These shophouses were constructed in the 1930s in the Art Deco style — characterised by clean lines, geometric forms, and streamlined facades that were the height of modernity at the time. As was typical of the era, the ground floor served as a place of commerce while the upper floors provided living quarters for merchants and their workers. For much of the 20th century, this stretch of South Bridge Road was home to Leong Sen & Co — a wholesaler, importer, and exporter of clothing, footwear, and leather goods. Part of the Boat Quay Conservation Area, the street once teemed with traders and river merchants, its rooftop verandas overlooking the Singapore River below. Today, Straits Heritage Hostel carries that same spirit of hospitality and commerce forward — reimagined for the modern traveller.