Few shopping destinations cater to both bargain hunters and designer label lovers as brilliantly as Singapore. The tiny island boasts over 170 shopping malls with stores ranging from local artisan vendors and designer knock offs to real-deal multi-level fashion labels, complete with personal shopping and valet services.
Singapore’s most beloved malls are centered around upscale shopping district, Orchard Road with other popular malls located near tourist hubs, Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa Island. Because even the most skillful shoppers can’t raid over 100 malls in 1 visit, this list details the 8 best shopping malls to visit in Singapore. Bring an empty suitcase for all the latest fashions, gadgets, jewelry and accessories you’re bound to acquire on your retail adventure.
1. Plaza Singapura
A mid-range, 9-story mall located on Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura features affordable international brands like Pandora, Swarovski, Cotton On, and the Body Shop. Each floor has a specific theme ranging from fashion to designer fashion, to beauty, to technology, to food. You’ll also find several fast food restaurants and coffee shops to refuel between spouts of retail therapy.
2. 313@Somerset
Also on Orchard Road is the 8-story 313@Somerset, offering a variety of fashion, lifestyle, and electronic stores. Shop your heart out at ZARA, Forever 21, Fossil, Lacoste, Ray Ban, T2, Sony, Samsung, and Smiggle to name a few of the more popular stores. When your tummy starts to rumble, choose between 3 dining precincts: Discovery Walk, Food Hall, and the level 5 Food Court.
3. Mandarin Gallery
Yet another Orchard Road mall, Madarin Gallery feels more like a showroom than a shopping mall. Low lighting and large open spaces highlight the unique fashion boutiques and beauty shops lining the corridors. Husbands can wait on cozy leather lounge chairs in designated family rooms while wives hit the 2-story Victoria’s Secret store for lingerie, sleepwear, and activewear.
4. The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
If the name sounds kind of fancy, that’s because The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is completely fancy. This is possible the largest collection of designer fashion stores you’ll find in one spot with brands including Hugo Boss, Bally, Cartier, Ferrari, Valentino, Prada, Luis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Tiffany & CO, Dior, Armani, Gucci, Burberry, and more. Many stores are multi-level and some even have separate stores for designer children’s wear. Also, within the mall are handful of celebrity chef restaurants like Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Wolfgang Puck’s CUT.
5. Sim Lim Square
This one is for the tech nerds. Sim Lim Square features 6 levels of cell phone repairers, gadget stores, camera stores, sound and audio stores, gaming stores, and computer stores. Here you’ll find everything from your next specialized camera lens or gaming laptop to quirky phone cables, watch bands, and USB sticks. So guys, when your wife asks for a day out shopping, make sure Sim Lim Square makes it onto your itinerary.
6. VivoCity
If you’re visiting Sentosa’s theme parks or staying at one of the man-made island’s luxury resorts but still want to fit in some shopping, VivoCity is the place to be. Located in the harbor-front precinct, just before the bridge to Sentosa, the 5-story mall features mainly mid-range fashion and lifestyle brands like Lovisa, Adidas, Crocs, Forever New, Kiki.K, H&M, and Bose, but it also has its share of designer labels like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. The mall’s modern architecture means it’s a bit tricky to navigate the different sections, but a benefit is the rooftop observation deck with a playground and shallow pool for kids.
7. ION Orchard
The 8-level ION Orchard caters to everyone with lower levels full of mid-range stores like Pandora, Levis, Uniqlo and H&M. Upper levels cater to label lovers with designer stores like Cartier, Tiffany and Co, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabana. The mall is located within a towering skyscraper and the 4th level concierge provides access to ION Sky, a Skydeck, multimedia experience, restaurant, and cocktail bar located on the 55th & 56th floors. Advance bookings are recommended.
8. Paragon
Back on Orchard Road, designer fashion and beauty stores line the corridors of Paragon. Brands include Calvin Klein, Guess, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Gucci, Armani Exchange, DKNY, Prada, and Clinique. Other shopping opportunities include art gallery and framing stores and jewelry stores, but the real hero is perhaps the dining opportunities with Michelin Star dim sum restaurant Din Tai Fung, located on the basement level. Bring your passport for tourist discounts and several stores and further savings when you join the Paragon Club.