I walked through an enclave of 150 historic shophouses just off Singapore's famous shopping street. It was clear to see why the homes are coveted by the city-state's rich.

Katie WarrenAug 17, 2021, 07:25 IST

Emerald Hill is a quiet, affluent neighborhood tucked away in the bustling heart of Singapore.Katie Warren/Insider

Emerald Hill is a historic residential neighborhood tucked away in central Singapore.
Once a nutmeg orchard, the area is known for its "Chinese Baroque" shophouses that are now multimillion-dollar homes.
The area's exclusivity is fueled by the fact that there are only 150 homes, according to local real-estate broker Kaizar Karkaria.

Emerald Hill is an historic residential neighborhood tucked away between the skyscrapers in central Singapore.

Katie Warren/Insider

It's just off Orchard Road, Singapore's busiest and most famous shopping street, where the shopping centers are full of Louis Vuitton and Rolex boutiques.

Katie Warren/Insider

Despite the hustle and bustle of the nearby shopping street, Emerald Hill exudes a certain calm.

Katie Warren/Insider

The homes on Emerald Hill feature ornate facades and plasterwork and are part of an architectural style known as "Chinese Baroque," according to Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Katie Warren/Insider

The homes on Emerald Hill feature ornate facades and plasterwork and are part of an architectural style known as "Chinese Baroque," according to Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority.

This turquoise shophouse with brown shutters is listed as a rental for SG$18,000, or $13,275, per month.

Katie Warren/Insider

Many of the homes on Emerald Hill feature pops of bright color.

Katie Warren/Insider

Most of the shophouses have continuous covered walkways known as "five-foot ways" thanks to their width of about five feet, which are often lined with chairs and plants.

Katie Warren/Insider

Most of the shophouses have continuous covered walkways known as "five-foot ways" thanks to their width of about five feet, which are often lined with chairs and plants.

Many of the homes have also retained their "pintu pagars," or fence-like pairs of revolving doors.

The presence of Ronald McDonald on Emerald Hill Road remains a mystery to the reporter. Katie Warren/Insider

As it meets Cairnhill Road, Emerald Hill Road does have a few apartment buildings - and the apartments don't come cheap, either.

Katie Warren/Insider

Toward the other end of Emerald Hill near Orchard Road, some of the historic buildings have been transformed into cocktail or wine bars.

A bar's outdoor seating area on Emerald Hill Road. Katie Warren/Insider

Foreigners are largely banned from buying landed properties like shophouses in Singapore, so Emerald Hill's historic homes mostly belong to "Singaporean families who love the rich history" of the homes, Karkaria said.

Katie Warren/Insider

Foreigners are largely banned from buying landed properties like shophouses in Singapore, so Emerald Hill's historic homes mostly belong to "Singaporean families who love the rich history" of the homes, Karkaria said.

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I walked through an enclave of 150 historic shophouses just off Singapore's famous shopping street. It was clear to see why the homes are coveted by the city-state's rich.

Emerald Hill is an historic residential neighborhood tucked away between the skyscrapers in central Singapore.

It's just off Orchard Road, Singapore's busiest and most famous shopping street, where the shopping centers are full of Louis Vuitton and Rolex boutiques.

Despite the hustle and bustle of the nearby shopping street, Emerald Hill exudes a certain calm.

The homes on Emerald Hill feature ornate facades and plasterwork and are part of an architectural style known as "Chinese Baroque," according to Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority.

This turquoise shophouse with brown shutters is listed as a rental for SG$18,000, or $13,275, per month.

Many of the homes on Emerald Hill feature pops of bright color.

Most of the shophouses have continuous covered walkways known as "five-foot ways" thanks to their width of about five feet, which are often lined with chairs and plants.

Many of the homes have also retained their "pintu pagars," or fence-like pairs of revolving doors.

As it meets Cairnhill Road, Emerald Hill Road does have a few apartment buildings - and the apartments don't come cheap, either.

Toward the other end of Emerald Hill near Orchard Road, some of the historic buildings have been transformed into cocktail or wine bars.

Foreigners are largely banned from buying landed properties like shophouses in Singapore, so Emerald Hill's historic homes mostly belong to "Singaporean families who love the rich history" of the homes, Karkaria said.