The Singapore shopping edit you didn’t see coming

Let’s face it: shopping in Singapore often begins with the classics. Orchard Road’s glassy façades, the atrium-like interiors of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, and a roll call of global brands that need no introduction. It’s efficient, impressive, and perfectly executed.

But Singapore’s retail story no longer ends at the mall. It spills into former schools turned creative hubs, into shophouses reclaimed by local designers, into neighbourhoods like Tiong Bahru and Joo Chiat where indie labels, record stores and craft ateliers are quietly redefining what you carry back home in your suitcase. A couple of decades can radically rewrite a shopping landscape. Nineties kids will remember when the pinnacle of high-tech shopping was a trip to Mustafa Centre. Today it’s the Apple’s floating store rising out of the water at Marina Bay Sands. This is a city nation that shapeshifts, and keeps reinventing itself—as all vibrant cities must.

Here are the places that should be on your radar.

Stop 1: Orchard Road and Marina Bay Sands

ION Orchard’s sculptural façade houses everything from Gentle Monster’s futuristic eyewear to Cartier’s jungle of panthers and precious stones. The newest reason to pause is Prada Caffè, where pastries, sandwiches and high tea arrive dressed in muted palettes, meticulous detail and that unmistakable triangular logo.

Stationery fiends should make a pilgrimage to Takashimaya; treat yourself to a scoop of the viral Korean tofu gelato by Tofu G between stops. Head over to Books Kinokuniya, where the real prize is the selection of indie and international magazines. For beauty lovers, C-beauty brand Joocyee has opened its first flagship store outside China at Wisma Atria. Is it the first of many Chinese brands driving a trend? Check it out yourself and decide. A short hop away is COMO Metropolitan’s COMO Shambhala spa, where you can soothe tired feet with an acupressure foot massage.

Over at Marina Bay Sands, American athleisure label Alo has opened its first Singapore store, making it a prime stop for elevated activewear. Across the three-storey mall, Acne Studios and Hublot beckon, as does a meal at Roberta’s Pizza, the Brooklyn cult favourite’s first international outpost.

Beauty aficionados, make time for Design Orchard—showcasing over 60 local fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, perfect for discovering independent labels and accessories you won’t find in traditional malls. Our picks include vegan skincare, haircare and bodycare brand Handmade Heroes and self-care brand Benew (for their signature sugar scrub balls).

Stop 2: New Bahru

Once the classics have been covered, explore a brave new Singapore.

Set inside a former school campus, New Bahru is Singapore’s newest creative playground. Classrooms have been transformed into studios and storefronts showcasing the country’s design-forward talent.

Browse homegrown labels like Sojao (thoughtful home textiles), Make by Ginlee (where you can buy elegant womenswear featuring their signature pleats, or book one of their two make-your-own-bag experiences), and Crafune, where you can sign up for workshops to craft your own leather charms or bags. It’s shopping with a side of skill-building.

Next, pop into Kotuwa, Chef Rishi Naleendra’s Sri Lankan restaurant, where bold flavours take centre stage, from street food to rich curries. Order the chilled rasam, crab curry and fluffy egg hoppers, and you’ll know exactly why the restaurant was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Stop 3: Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is where old-school Singapore meets new-wave taste.

Start with Jian Bo Shui Kweh’s cult radish cakes at the hawker centre, then explore indie favourites like Crumb & Go by Tiong Bahru Bakery (cool tees, cooler totes, small-batch scents and tiny croissant iron-on patches) and Sideway, a new ceramics boutique with quirky bowls and playful zines.

Cat Socrates is a cult bookstore-cum-gift shop filled with illustrated journals, ceramics and clever stationery. Nearby Ronggeng Records is a crate-digger’s dream. If music is your jam, a 10-minute taxi ride will take you to Swee Lee Clarke Quay, the Singaporean outpost of the Indonesian musical instrument retailer where you can listen to records while sipping a Kaya Cloud tea.

Stop 4: Bras Basah and the Museum Mile (For the cerebral collector)

For travellers who prefer their souvenirs with a side of culture, head to Bras Basah.

Basheer Graphic Books in Bras Basah Complex is a mecca for independent magazines, art books and beautifully designed publications from around the world. Just across the way is The Hungry Traveller, a cult favourite. Part bookshop, part storytelling space, it specialises in antiquarian and vintage books, including rare first editions, curated around food and travel.

At the National Gallery Singapore, which houses the world’s largest public collection of modern art from Singapore and Southeast Asia, the museum store turns art into everyday objects: elegant catalogues, indie children’s books and puzzles, and design-forward gifts that feel anything but generic. The programming is powerful too.

Final stops: Outlet runs and airport retail therapy

If bargain hunting is part of your travel ritual, IMM is the city’s most popular outlet mall, where you'll find everything from local favourite Charles and Keith to international mainstays including Boss, Coach and New Balance. Fuel up at the cult dim sum eatery Din Tai Fung, then grab a kopi from Toast Box before you continue to browse the sprawling multi-level complex.

For a grand finale, arrive early at Jewel Changi Airport, where rainforest installations sit alongside flagship stores and destination dining. But the real insider stop is FairPrice Finest. A fixture on Singapore tastemaker Renjie Wong’s travel itinerary, the supermarket is where you stock up on salted egg potato chips, bottled sambals and ready-made sauces—edible souvenirs that let you extend your Singapore trip a little longer.