You’re walking along bar-lined Prinsep Street with some friends when a brightly-lit mama shop catches your eye.
Source: Google Maps
The snacks are calling out to you but there is no one there. What’s the deal?
To the surprise of many, it’s the storefront of a speakeasy bar called Mama Diam.
A TikTok clip posted by Mama Diam on 1 Feb showed what looks like a well-stocked mama shop selling nostalgic snacks and childhood toys.
However, the caption reveals that the mama shop is not at all what it seems.
The ‘fake’ mama shop prompted a barrage of questions in the comments section.
For some users, it was their first time hearing of Mama Diam and so, they were blatantly confused.
Source: TikTok
Others who have seen the façade in person shared their experience.
Source: TikTok
A few users specifically voiced their interest in buying the goods but were unsure if the products were for sale.
Source: TikTok
Speaking to MS News, Mama Diam’s owner, Sebastian Ang, said,
The goods at the Mama Shop are not for sale.
He explained that this is because “some of the goods are hard to replenish” and are intended purely as display pieces.
According to their website, Mama Diam is a speakeasy bar with multiple nods to Singapore’s unique heritage.
For the uninitiated, speakeasy bars typically have hidden entrances and Mama Diam’s secret entrance lies behind a magazine shelf.
Source: Google Maps
The bar did not hold back when it came to setting up the convincing storefront.
Ang reveals that all the goods on display are authentic and sourced from traditional snack shops in Singapore and Malaysia.
They apparently went to all that trouble because they wanted to have a local speakeasy that “preserves a part of Singapore’s heritage”.
While the bar’s façade sparked mass confusion online, business seems to be doing well for Mama Diam since Singapore opened its borders.
Since border restrictions were lifted, Ang observed an increase in foreign patrons attracted and amazed by Mama Diam’s storefront.
While a more common sight for locals, the exterior is undoubtedly a novelty to foreign eyes, which could explain the appeal.
If you’d like to check out the speakeasy for yourself, here are the deets:
Mama Diam
Address: 38 Prinsep Street, Singapore 188665
Opening hours:
4pm – 12am (Fri & Sat)
4pm – 10.30pm (Sun to Thurs)
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen Station
Using such retro props to decorate a speakeasy’s entrance is surprisingly refreshing.
Not only does it attract inquisitive patrons, but it also helps to promote our unique Singaporean culture.
Kudos to the folks behind Mama Diam for marrying both elements into their façade.
We hope it’ll continue to attract more customers as the world continues opening up in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Mama Diam on Facebook and Shout.
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