Shop guide to Singapore
Singapore Shopping Centre is a general-purpose mall
Singapore and shopping have become virtually inseparable and every first time visitor will be unable to resist the lure of its cavernous shopping malls or the many animated street markets. It may not be the cheapest place to shop in Asia but the sheer range and quality of goods cannot be matched.
Singapore lags behind New York and Dubai only as the world’s premier shopping destination and once you have browsed the indulgent malls of Orchard Road and Marina Bay, it is not difficult to see why. There is no shortage of luxury shopping and every major haute couture label has a presence in the city. Penny pinchers need not fear too much as there is more than enough opportunity to haggle for decent quality bargains and even a few large shopping malls that pride themselves on low prices.
The days of Singapore’s street markets awash with fake Rolex watches and pirated DVDs are now virtually over and you can pretty much guarantee original, well made products even at the lower end of the market. Only in the plethora of cheap gift stores and ‘one dollar’ shops found in Little India and the back streets of Chinatown are you likely to find suspect workmanship.
Singapore’s malls and street markets are open until late in the evening and a couple of places even trade 24 hours a day. The options are virtually endless whatever you are shopping for, but help is at hand with our comprehensive glossary of shops and shopping in Singapore that ensures all visitors know the best places in the city for all manner of goods.
Glossary of shopping in Singapore
Chinatown markets stock gaudy trinkets
Handicrafts in Singapore
The best places to seek out locally made crafts are the ethnic markets such as Kampong Glam for fanciful batik textiles, sarongs and shirts. You will also find elegant pottery and pewter items here at haggle-friendly prices. Chinatown market is awash with eccentric wood carvings, traditional Chinese opera masks and handmade lanterns. Yue Hwa (Eu Tong Sen Street, Tel: +65 6538 4222, info@yuehwa.com.sg, open: Sun-Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat 11:00 – 22:00) is a vast emporium packed to the rafters with an eclectic range of traditional crafts, pottery and weird and wonderful Chinese knick knacks.
Souvenirs and novelty items in Singapore
Bugis Village tourist market is the place for cheap and cheerful mementos to take home such as the ubiquitous 'Singapore is a fine city' t-shirts and iconic 'Merlion' ornaments. You will also find symbolic orchid jewellery designs in silver and gold at very keen prices. There is a whole host of fanciful items on offer besides such as Singapore logo baseball caps with flashing lights or boxes of sweet candy flavoured with the infamous durian fruit. More on souvenirs.
Electronics and computers in Singapore
If you are in the market for a top of the range mobile phone or laptop, then Singapore’s dedicated IT malls are the place to go. Funan Digitalife (109 North Bridge Road, tel: +65 6336 8327, Open: 10:30 – 22:00 daily) is packed with hundreds of mostly brand name stores. Sim Lim Square mall in Little India has probably the cheapest prices in town and has a good mix of locally manufactured and imported gear. More on electronics.
Antiques in Singapore
Antique period furniture and pottery tends to be Chinese in origin but reproductions in all styles are abundant and good quality replicas can be excellent value if you know your stuff. Tanglin Shopping Centre (19 Tanglin Road, between St Regis & Orchard Parade Hotel, tanglinsc@anysituation.com.sg, open Mon-Sat 12:00 - 18:00) is a treasure trove featuring dozens of dealers in Oriental furniture, pottery and collectables.
Akemi Gallery (Tanglin Shopping centre no 02-06, Tel: +65 6735 6315, info@akemigallery.com, open: 10:00 – 18:30 daily) is worth a browse for Japanese lacquer ware, ceramics and textiles. Probably a more enjoyable browsing experience can be had at the self styled ‘antiques enclave’ of Holland Village where you can rummage through mountains of old bric and brac and memorabilia to your heart’s content. More on antiques.
Clothing and fashion in Singapore
Fashionistas with deep pockets will find heaven in the opulent malls of Orchard Road where flagship stores from Armani and Versace rub shoulders with trendy local brands such as Ashley Isham or Charles and Keith. For quirky street wear and retro fashions, Haji Lane in the Malay quarter is second to none and Little India’s Serangoon Road is still the best place for cheap denims and sportswear.
Food and drink markets in Singapore
There is a surprising lack of really good food markets in Singapore, the best being the ethnic Malay market of Geylang Serai in the suburb of Aljunied. However Little India and Chinatown offer plenty of exotic fruits and spices, and the latter especially has several charming shop house emporiums selling exotic Cantonese pre-mixes so you can continue the Singaporean culinary experience back home. Wine and spirits are heavily taxed in Singapore and expensive even for Western standards. More on restaurants.
