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Shopping is a serious business in Singapore. Designer fashions, handcrafted jewelry, Khmer objets d‘art, cutting-edge electronics, Indian spices—the variety of goods sold in Singapore is likely to impress even the most seasoned shopper.
Here you’ll find an island well suited to full-day retail expeditions, from the mile-long strip of shoulder-to-shoulder mega-malls along dizzying Orchard Road to clusters of boutiques housed in the renovated shophouses in ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown and Kampong Glam. A growing number of independent shops are popping up within hip neighborhoods like Tiong Bahru and Little India, adding some welcome variety. Dempsey Hill, best known for its wining and dining, is also home to warehouse-like galleries filled with Southeast Asian antiques, artwork, furnishings, and housewares.
Bargain hunters should mark their calendars for the Great Singapore Sale, an annual eight-week extravaganza held from late May through July. At this time all of Singapore’s shopping centers and many independent stores slash prices by up to 80%. It pays to come early, though, as the biggest bargains are quickly snapped up by hawkeyed locals and zealous shoppers from around the region who flock to the island specially for the event.
Spread across eight shop spaces, Haniffa Textiles has made a name for itself with its stock of saris. Try this silk shop for a cornucopia of richly colored and ornamented fabrics, scarves, bedspreads, and the like, often at surprisingly affordable prices.
Singapore's expats frequent this shopping complex, where they pick up lightweight clothes perfect for tropical weather, coral-encrusted handbags and flip flops from Bali, jewelry, and second-hand books. Lim's Arts and Crafts carries Southeast Asian houseware, furniture, and linen and rattan.
A swanky, modern mall in the heart of Katong is packed with all sorts of retailers, from cafés and bistros to a dance academy for children, fashion stores, and homeware furnishings.
Owned and operated by a family whose history in the business dates back hundreds of years, Jehan Gallery specializes in exquisite, custom Oriental carpets and rugs, and also offers a good selection of indoor and outdoor home furnishings.
A popular mall with a range of dining and shopping options also has a ten-screen cinema complex, rooftop gardens on level 7, and alfresco dining options on Jem Street. Jurong East MRT is connected to Jurong’s mall complex, making all the malls here very accessible.
Take a trip back to Singapore in the 1980s at this retro two-complex shopping center filled with stores bursting at the seams with fabric, home furnishings and a hodgepodge of kitchenware. It’s a chaotic riot of color and a lively change from the slick, polished malls of Orchard Road.
Funky, refurbished vintage furniture is the highlight of the fun indoor and outdoor housewares at Journey East. Such a store is best for those living in or moving to Singapore, but the staff can also arrange for purchases to be shipped worldwide.
You'll find a number of men's and women's tailors in the Tanglin Shopping Centre, but Justmen's has a well-earned reputation as being one of the best.
Explore this large retail space and family club for designer kids' clothing, featuring collections from Stella McCartney Kids and Bobo Choses, and cute kid-friendly gifts and toys.
This female collective concept store housed in a Peranakan shophouse along Joo Chiat Road sells hip local and international products ranging from dresses and pumps to chalk paint, leather bags, and foulards, to outdoor candles and incense sticks.
One of Singapore’s most well-loved family lifestyle brands has an “in real life” concept store at Downtown Gallery. If you are looking for high-quality kids clothing or gifts, this should be your first stop.
One of the best independent bookstores in Singapore, this cozy Duxton Hill favorite not only curates a fantastic range of books, but the staff are approachable and eager to recommend.
This boutique grocer specializes in sourcing high-quality produce from independent suppliers in Australia and Europe. The shelves are lined with everything from Barossa Valley wine to artisanal French cheeses and breads. The store also works with local Singaporean growers and food artisans, so it’s a good spot to look for some quality food souvenirs. Aside from the grocer's, there’s a café with outdoor seats here, which makes a great place to stop for brunch or an afternoon drink.
You'll find plenty of colorful eye candy at this cluster of shops near the Little India MRT. Jewelry, music, Indian-style sweets and snacks, and fabrics are all available. Across the street at the Tekka Market, you can also walk through a bustling food market and feast on cheap Indian eats at the hawker stalls.
Oversized, gem-encrusted pendants, bracelets, rings, and other glitzy wearables are on offer at this shop, one of a number of high-end jewelers in the upscale Paragon shopping center.
An old Orchard Road mainstay that now seems somewhat out of a place among the area's more modern and fashionable megamalls, Lucky Plaza is packed with six floors and a basement full of trinkets, clothing, jewelry, luggage, fashion accessories, and electronics—some of questionable authenticity. On the weekend, it's packed with locals looking for a bargain.
There are two outlets of this trendy women's clothing boutique across Singapore, one of which inside Compass One mall in Sengkang. With all the chic handbags, footwear, and stylish tops and skirts available, you'll have no trouble pulling together a fashionable, reasonably-priced outfit.
Create your own unique perfume at this Parisian boutique perfumery on Duxton Hill. There are a range of atelier, or workshops, to create the perfect fragrance, including bridal, family, and love. Each is led by an expert scent designer to guide you on your eau de parfum discovery.
Home to more than 250 shops and restaurants, Marina Square was once the largest shopping mall in Singapore, an honor that now belongs to VivoCity. Banks, convenience stores, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a large food court, coffee shops, and spas and salons are all here. Some nearby hotels and attractions, including Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay, Pan Pacific Singapore, and Suntec City, can be accessed directly from here via underground walkways.
Near Suntec City in Millenia Singapore, this upscale complex has a mix of audiovisual stores—including the sprawling flagship store of electronics retailer Harvey Norman—designer house-ware boutiques, quirky retail outlets, and a clutch of Japanese restaurants and contemporary cafes.
Part retail store, part bagel shop, this throwback is devoted to the California lifestyle the founding husband and wife team missed when moving to Singapore. Now alongside freshly baked bagels is a curated marketplace of quality American-made goods, including clothing, homewares, and wines.
Handmade and beautifully imperfect, the ceramics from this shop make perfect mementos. The bowls, plates, vases, and other items are so popular that even local eateries—including Burnt Ends, Le Binchotan, The Ottomani—use them. You can plan ahead to attend one of their classes, or get a piece delivered to your hotel. Custom orders are accepted, but all visits must be scheduled.
Expect works from some of the world's most-renowned contemporary artists at Opera Gallery, one of a dozen global branches of this elite Parisian art dealer.
Magnificent Persian carpets and rugs fill the Orientalist Carpet Gallery's large showroom. Custom-made carpets can be arranged, and you can learn more about the history of Persian carpets and how they're made by attending a "carpet appreciation" workshop.
Found in Great World City, this local boutique label creates comfortable everyday wear inspired by nature. Working closely with local artists, the patterns and prints are unique, and create a distinct look for their signature dresses.
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