The Podium Salon & Barber Co is a premium barber shop tucked into the corner of 36 Haji Lane, on Level 3, in the heart of Singapore's Bugis district. Built for the modern gentleman who wants more than just a haircut, it delivers a full experience: clean line-ups and signature fades sit alongside Korean perms, afro perms, colour work and scalp treatments, with every visit tailored to the individual. Ten-plus years in the craft have shaped a shop that treats grooming as ritual rather than errand.
The reputation rests on substance — a 5.0 rating built on more than 2,000 five-star reviews across Fresha and Google. Clients name names: Feezd for flawless skin fades and sharp line-ups, Kim for bold colour and custom Korean perms that fit daily life, Rai for clean scissor work and classic grooming, and Manblendz for blends and texturizing that sit perfectly. Whether you're in for a quick tidy-up or an afternoon transformation, the team's promise is the same: you leave looking and feeling your absolute best.
Beyond the chair, The Podium works hard at being a community hub — sharing notes on style and craft through its journal, and preparing to launch The Podium Academy, a hands-on training programme for the next generation of barbers taught by the senior team. Walk-ins meet a warm, welcoming crew; appointments can be booked on Fresha or by phone, and the shop opens daily from midday till late.
Step off Haji Lane and up to Level 3 of number 36, and you arrive at The Podium Salon & Barber Co — a premium barber shop that treats a haircut as an experience rather than an errand. Set in the heart of Singapore's Bugis district, the shop has spent more than a decade sharpening its craft, and today it pairs precision grooming with the easy energy of a genuine community hub. The idea is simple: every visit is tailored, whether that means a clean line-up, a signature fade or a full afternoon transformation.
The heart of the menu is the Premium Cut, a 50-minute session that opens with a proper consultation before the haircut, hair wash, hot and cold towel refreshment and final styling — work carried out by barbers with at least five years behind the chair. Around it sits a full range of modern salon treatments: Basic Colour for a low-maintenance refresh that skips the bleach, Creative Colour for bolder statements, the three-hour Korean Perm, and the Afro Perm, a four-hour transformation that builds maximum texture and tight curl definition before finishing with a haircut shaped to the new profile.
There are combinations for anyone making an afternoon of it — a Premium Cut with a hot towel shave, a cut with a relaxing scalp treatment, or a cut paired with highlights or creative colour. A dedicated Student Cut and a gentle Kid's Cut for children below three years old keep the whole spectrum covered, while the one-hour Relaxing Scalp Treatment rounds out the quieter end of the menu for clients who come as much to unwind as to look sharp.
Part of The Podium's appeal is that you can match the chair to the job. Feezd is the fade specialist, known for flawless skin fades and sharp line-ups that keep clients looking completely fresh. Kim is the perm and colour specialist, building custom Korean perms and bold colour that actually fit a client's daily style. Rai is the scissor specialist, valued for clean scissor work, classic grooming and a welcoming presence that puts clients at ease. Manblendz lives up to his name with an obsession for clean blends, sharp fades and texturizing that sits perfectly.
Clients seem to agree the system works. The shop holds a 5.0 rating across more than 2,000 five-star reviews on Fresha and Google, with visitors praising line-ups that stay sharp the next day, unhurried attention to every detail and — just as often — the vibes.
The Podium leans into its role as a hub. Its journal, Notes on Style & the Craft, shares the team's thinking on everything from asking for Brad Pitt's Fight Club 'warrior cut' to growing out a 90s flow haircut and stacking products for volume. The shop is preparing to teach as well: The Podium Academy, a hands-on training programme for the next generation of barbers taught by the senior team, is coming soon, with enrolment opening to those who enquire first.
The Podium sits at #03-01, 36 Haji Lane, Singapore 189229, and opens daily from 12:00 to 22:00. Appointments can be booked through Fresha or by phone, and with a following this loyal, booking ahead is the surest way to secure your preferred barber and time. Whether you're after a fresh skin fade, a Korean perm, a hot towel shave or simply an hour of scalp-soothing calm, this corner of Haji Lane — three floors up — delivers it with equal care.