Best Places To Shop

1494

Welcome to Singapore, where shopping is a “national pastime”! The city-state is known as a shopper’s paradise with its many malls, shopping centres and shops offering something for everyone.

Luxury Shopping

Singapore is a haven for those shopping for luxury goods and high-end products. These malls house some of the world’s best-loved luxury labels.

• ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard

ION Orchard
Photo: ION Orchard

Singapore’s first multi-sensory experiential shopping and lifestyle mall houses fashion-forward brands such as Alice & Olivia, Club21 x Play COMME des GARCONS, Giuseppe Zanotti, Loro Piana, Maje, Miu Miu, Moncler and Monica Vinader spread across eight levels. Six of the world’s top luxury brands – Cartier, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffany & Co – have signature flagships in duplex units at the mall.

• Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Stations: Orchard and Somerset

Mandarin Gallery
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board

Big brands Bimba Y Lola, Boss, Clé de Peau Beauté, Cortina Watch, Michael Kors, Rimowa, Superdry and Victoria’s Secret have street front shop units facing Orchard Road in this upscale mall. The four-storey mall, which is linked to Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel, also houses independent local labels such as Béjwl, Beyond The Vines and Choo Yilin Jewellery, and Japanese lifestyle and furniture store atomi.

• Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Stations: Orchard and Somerset

Ngee Ann City
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board

A prominent landmark on Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City is like a city-within-a-city, showcasing seven levels of shopping and gastronomical adventure. The shopping complex is home to anchor tenant Takashimaya Department Store as well as over 130 specialty stores, with luxe labels such as Celine, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Piaget, Shanghai Tang and Van Cleef & Arpels; and multi-label stores like Rue Madame and SocietyA.

• Paragon
290 Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Stations: Orchard and Somerset

Paragon
Photo: Paragon

This six-storey, all-glass façade mall is known for its suite of luxe brands including Balenciaga, Balenciaga, Burberry, DKNY, Ermenegildo Zegna, Givenchy, Gucci, Miu Miu, Moschino, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Tod’s. Spanish fashion house Loewe’s first Casa Loewe concept store, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, is also here. Other premium brands include Bread & Butter, CK Calvin Klein, Diesel and Ted Baker. The mall also houses Paragon Medical which offers a range of specialist medical services.

• Scotts Square
6 Scotts Road
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard

This upscale mall houses premium brands such as Alexander McQueen, Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood, Christian Louboutin, Delvaux and Niessing, as well as luxe multi-label boutiques Lusso Italiano, OCD, Pedder on Scotts and Trixilini.

• The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Nearest MRT Station: Bayfront

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Photo: Timothy Hursley

Boasting an unmatched mix of renowned luxury brands, new store concepts and emerging labels, this mall is truly a fashionista’s paradise. With over 800,000 sqft of retail and restaurant space, it is Singapore’s first large-scale luxury shopping destination. One of the mall’s star attractions is the Louis Vuitton Island Maison store – housed in a one-of-a-kind, glass and steel floating Crystal Pavilion – where shoppers enter via an underwater tunnel.

Family Friendly

Need to do some shopping but the kids are with you? These malls have shops for both parents and children, child-friendly services or amenities, as well as play areas to occupy restless kids.

• City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road
Nearest MRT Station: Farrer Park

City Square Mall’s playground
Photo: City Square Mall

Located close to Little India, the mall sits on the site of Singapore’s must-see heritage marker, “The New World” Gate. It is home to some 200 retail, entertainment and lifestyle stores including Best Denki, Daiso, Decathlon, Golden Village, Toys“R”Us and Uniqlo, as well as over 50 food and beverage outlets. Besides family-friendly facilities such as diaper-changing stations, nursing rooms and parents rooms, the mall also offers complimentary use of its baby strollers, kiddy carts, wheelchairs, blood pressure monitor, first-aid kit, magnifying glass reader and sewing kit. It also has an outdoor playground with a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and swing seats with safety harnesses.

Forum The Shopping Mall
583 Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard

Forum The Shopping Mall is home to over 60 specialty stores that cater to the needs of sophisticated shoppers and families with young children
Photo: Forum The Shopping Mall

This family-oriented mall houses fashion boutiques, food and beverage outlets, as well as toys, enrichment, educational and lifestyle centres. Shop for international designer labels such as CK Calvin Klein and Pleats Please Issey Miyake Bao Bao Issey Miyake, as well as Acne, Helmut Lang, McQ by Alexander McQueen and Comme des Garcons at Club21 Forum. A must for the kids is Toys“R”Us and the Hip Kids Play Playground on Level 2 (next to the Information Counter).

• Funan
107 North Bridge Road
Nearest MRT Station: City Hall

The revamped Funan is a high-tech social retail space for discovery, learning and shopping
Photo: CapitaLand

It’s more than shopping and eating at this new-gen mall which houses over 190 brands centred around the themes of Tech, Craft, Play, Fit, Chic and Taste. There’s an indoor rock climbing gym; a 200m indoor cycling path that runs around the mall and a Bicycle Hub which has shower cabins, lockers, a bicycle repair and pump station; Singapore’s first fully unmanned futsal facility; a rooftop urban farm where you can learn how vegetables are produced and harvested; a cooking studio; and Virtual Reality pods showcasing popular games and cinematic content at Golden Village Funan. The 25m-tall Tree of Life, the mall’s design centrepiece, houses 20 retail pods for brands to showcase their products and crafts, and for entrepreneurs and design ateliers to conduct classes and workshops. New-to-Singapore brands include Alibaba’s Taobao, Dyson’s first Demo Store – Beauty Lab, British folding bike manufacturer Brompton Junction’s first Southeast Asia flagship store, Nikon’s first standalone outlet and flagship Experience Hub which includes the Nikon School, Afuri Ramen and Milksha.

• Jewel Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard
Nearest MRT Station: Changi Airport

Jewel Changi Airport houses over 280 shops and eateries, offering something for every type of shopper and traveller
Photo: Jewel Changi Airport Devt

Changi Airport’s newest attraction is a 10-storey dome-shaped complex which houses over 280 stores and food and beverage outlets. New-to-Singapore brands include Emack & Bolio’s, JW360˚, Läderach Chocolatier Suisse, Lavender, OYSHO and Pokémon Center Singapore, the game franchise’s only permanent retail store outside of Japan. Beer fans must check out the first-in-the-world Tiger Street Lab which offers exclusive seasonal brews.

• United Square Shopping Mall
101 Thomson Road
Nearest MRT Station: Novena

Positioned as a “kids learning hub”, the mall is equipped with kid-friendly features and services including a nursing room, complimentary stroller use for three hours, colour-themed levels, spacious corridor walkways, play features and even animal-shaped rubbish bins. On the second Saturday of every month, from 1pm to 5pm, Molly the Mobile Library makes her appearance stocked with children’s books.

• VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
Nearest MRT Station: HarbourFront

VivoCity’s open-air playground
Photo: VivoCity

Singapore’s largest lifestyle mall is located just across Sentosa Island. It is home to fashion boutiques including Desigual, Kate Spade New York and Ted Baker, family-friendly stores like Toys“R”Us, Cotton on Kids, Fox Kids & Baby, Kidstyle and Mothercare and eateries such as Akimitsu, Jamie’s Italian and Mrs Pho. The mall is also home to Golden Village VivoCity, Singapore’s largest cinema multiplex. Its open-air playground on Level 2 has engaging play areas and activities such as kiddy rides and kids arts and crafts, while its Sky Park on the rooftop has a water feature and paddle boat rides. Kids can also hop onto the electric Mini Express Train for a scenic view along the waterfront Promenade.

Local, Indie, Cult Labels

Tired of mainstream labels? Check out these places for home-grown brands, cult brands and cool wares from around the region.

• Haji Lane
Haji Lane
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis

Haji Lane
Photo: maodoltee/Shutterstock

Located in the colourful and historic neighbourhood of Kampong Glam, this narrow atmospheric lane is lined, on both sides, with hole-in-the-wall, independent fashion boutiques, cool lifestyle stores, barber shops, tattoo parlours, hipster cafes and chill bars housed in pre-war shophouses. Look out for funky murals and capture those Insta-worthy shots.

• Design Orchard
250 Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Station: Somerset

Design Orchard
Photo: Design Orchard

Shop for unique items from over 60 new, emerging and established Singapore brands at Orchard Road’s newest retail showcase. On the shelves are womenswear from Esse, Ginlee Studio, Matter and The Missing Piece; leather goods and accessories from 72 Smalldive and Gnome & Bow; cushion covers from Onlewo; stationery from The Paper Bunny; iron-on and sticker patches with a local slant from Pew Pew Patches; scented candles from Artisan of Sense and more.

• Dover Street Market Singapore
Block 18 Dempsey Road
Nearest MRT Stations: Farrer Road and Orchard

Dover Street Market Singapore
Photo: Dover Street Market Singapore

Southeast Asia’s first Dover Street Market is the only one housed on one floor and in a former army barrack with the highest ceiling ever seen in any Dover Street Market. Known for its trailblazing approach to art, fashion and retail, the store carries luxury fashion, streetwear, sneakers, jewellery, sunglasses and watches from cult brands such as COMME des GARÇONS and BLACK COMME des GARÇONS; and luxe designer labels like Thom Browne and sacai.

• Gallery & Co.
#01-17 City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore
Nearest MRT Station: City Hall

Not your typical museum store, this space showcases Singaporean and Southeast Asian products including T-shirts featuring works by local artists, scarves by Matter, art books, design collectibles and prints, homeware, children’s products and exhibition soap.

• Naiise
Three stores: 112 Katong | Wisma Atria | Cathay
Nearest MRT Stations: Paya Lebar & Dakota | Orchard | Dhoby Ghaut

At home-grown lifestyle store Naiise, you’ll discover a wide range of products proudly made or designed by Singapore artists, designers and artisans. On the shelves are clothes, stationery, home décor items, bakeware, cookware, tableware, local snacks, skincare and cosmetics, jewellery, phone or laptop accessories and quirky Singapore souvenirs.

Value-For-Money Shopping

If you enjoy hunting for good bargains and deals, make your way to these shopping spots.

• Bugis Street
3 New Bugis Street
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis

Bugis Street
Photo: reinkadesign/Shutterstock

Singapore’s largest street shopping location in the arts and heritage district of Bugis is home to over 600 concept stores that offer a vast range of products across three levels. Shop for trendy clothes, jewellery, shoes, bags, eyewear, home and kitchen appliances, home décor items, electronics, local souvenirs, gifts, flowers, toys, needle craft items, food and more at wallet-friendly prices.

• Changi City Point
5 Changi Business Park Central 1
Nearest MRT Station: Expo

Changi City Point
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board

Located in the eastern part of Singapore, this mall houses a large variety of outlet stores of popular brands offering wallet-friendly deals and discounts on clothing, sportswear, shoes and more. Stores include adidas Outlet, asics Factory Outlet, Branded Outlet Store, Clarks Outlet, Crocs Outlet, Esprit Outlet, G2000 Outlet, Hush Puppies Outlet, Lacoste Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Onitsuka Tiger Factory Outlet, Puma, Royal Sporting House Outlet. There’s a dry and wet playground as well as a tree-house trail comprising a small park built in a “tree house” on Level 2.

• Hock Siong & Co.
153 Kampong Ampat, #01-03 Junjie Industrial Building
Nearest MRT Station: Tai Seng

Pick up pre-loved furniture from hotels, restaurants and show flats, home appliances, home décor pieces, vintage items and knick-knacks at a steal from this second-hand furniture store. Stocks change daily so grab what you like for it may not be there tomorrow. Though prices are listed on each item, you can bargain for a better price. Check Hock Siong’s Facebook page for its latest finds.

• IMM
2 Jurong East Street 21
Nearest MRT Station: Jurong East

IMM
Photo: C. Wee

Shop at Singapore’s largest outlet mall to enjoy up to 80 percent discount on designer labels, high-street brands, sportswear, fragrances, skincare products, electronics, homeware and furnishings all year round. The mall houses over 90 outlet stores featuring brands such as adidas, COACH, Furla, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Onitsuka Tiger and The North Face.

Cameras, Electronics & Gadgets

Singapore is a great place to shop for electronics. Choices abound, with the latest makes and models readily available, prices are competitive and the chances of being ripped off are low. Shop with confidence at these stores.

• Cathay Photo
Peninsula Plaza #01-04 to 08/#01-11 to 14 | Marina Square #02-215 to 216
Nearest MRT Stations: City Hall | City Hall, Esplanade and Promenade

A household name with photographers and photography enthusiasts, this store stocks a wide selection of cameras, video cameras, lenses, filters, flash systems, and camera accessories and tools. The store, which started in 1959, is also known for its friendly sales staff who know their stuff very well.

• Mustafa Centre
145 Syed Alwi Road
Nearest MRT Station: Farrer Park

Mustafa Centre is open round the clock
Photo: Singapore Tourism Board

A must-visit when exploring Little India, Mustafa Centre is Singapore’s only 24-hour store. It sells almost everything under the sun (it even sold cars some years back!) and is known for pricing its goods below the recommended retail price. Its electronics section is fairly big, with all the major brands represented.

• Parisilk
#01-01 Parisilk Building (Holland Village) | 208 New Upper Changi Road
Nearest MRT Stations: Holland Village | Bedok

This family-owned store, located in the heartlands of Singapore, has been selling consumer electronics for over four decades. It prides itself on offering quality IT and digital products as well as home appliances at unbeatable prices coupled with the best personalised service from its knowledgeable staff.

• Sim Lim Square
1 Rochor Canal Road
Nearest MRT Stations: Bugis and Rochor

As one of Singapore’s oldest and largest IT and electronics malls, this six-storey mall is usually the first stop for those looking for the latest gadgets, shopping for good bargains or repairing their devices. However, the mall has a few blacklisted shops that tried to scam tourists in the past, so shop only at stores that display the CASE Trust logo and patronise stores on the upper floors instead of the ones on the ground level which often use aggressive sales tactics.

• The Adelphi
1 Coleman Street
Nearest MRT Station: City Hall

Audiophiles will feel right at home in this mall which is known as Singapore’s hi-fi hub. It is home to a number of audio studios which carry reputable brands of hi-fi systems and offer high-quality products including turntables, record players, stereo amplifiers, speakers, cartridges, phono preamps and audio accessories.