Occasions
When Ramadan arrives, Kampong Gelam transforms. The streets around Sultan Mosque fill with families, the bazaars light up, and the whole neighbourhood gathers for iftar — the evening meal that breaks the day’s fast. It is one of the most beautiful times of year to be in this district, and one of the busiest for every kitchen in it.
A Turkish iftar has its own rhythm. It opens gently — dates, water, perhaps a warm lentil soup to wake the stomach kindly. Then the table fills: meze platters for sharing, fresh pide straight from the oven, and the grill — Adana, shish, lamb chops — arriving as the conversation grows. It ends the Turkish way, with something sweet and a glass of çay, unhurried.
At LAYALI, iftar is the season we cook for all year. Our grand banquet floor and private Sultan lounge host family iftars and company gatherings, with set menus built around sharing. Ramadan tables book out weeks ahead — if you are planning an iftar in Kampong Gelam, reserve early. We will keep the dates, the soup and the grill ready.
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Everything we write about, we cook daily — 10:00am to 1:00am at 257 Beach Road, Kampong Gelam. Charcoal-fired, family-owned, five minutes from Bugis MRT.