AT A GLANCE
Singapore’s malls
Singapore’s Malls
After a S$40 million revamp, Orchard Road’s shopping strip is even bolder and swankier. Nicole Tia gets down to the nuts and bolts of the newly-opened shopping and eating meccas
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| ION ORCHARD | 313@SOMERSET | ORCHARD CENTRAL | MANDARIN GALLERY | |
| GENERAL VIBE | Futuristic-looking behemoth on Orchard Road’s busiest junction |
Sophisticated mega-mall located right above Somerset MRT station |
12-storey high, avant-garde monolith overlooking Orchard |
Small but lavish shopping arcade connected to the Meritus Mandarin Hotel |
| SHOPPING HIGHLIGHTS |
Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, Cartier, D&G, Sephora, Topshop |
Zara, Forever21, Uniqlo, HMV, New Look |
TYAN boutique, Levi’s, Dr Martens |
Y3, Just Cavalli, Bread & Butter, Vertu, Mont Blanc, Emporio Armani |
| WHO SHOPS THERE? |
The Gucci-toting socialite on Levels 1–4, and the regular shopper on B1–B4 |
Young women, whose shopping frenzy tends to occur at the four-storey Forever21 emporium |
Rock-and-rollers and young punks attracted by the Dr Martens flagship store |
Fashion-forward, indie cool kids and well-heeled tourists and expats are the target market |
| STATS | With 335 stores spread over 59,500sqm across eight floors, ION Orchard is unquestionably the biggest and best |
Eight retail levels, 177 stores, over 27,000sqm, and a huge Food Republic outlet with 21 stalls and five restaurants |
23,000sqm of retail space, over 300 stores, a total of 12 glass lifts and 46 escalators, including six super-escalators |
152m of Orchard Road frontage and 103 stores across four levels, with Mandarin Gallery targetting the affluent |
| QUIRKY ADDITION |
The ION Art Gallery features art, design and multi-media exhibitions by both local and international artists |
The Sky Terrace connecting to the food court at Level 5 has a mini playground – perfect for the kid who can’t sit still |
Asia’s first Via Ferrata climbing wall is inexplicably found here. Have a go at the 30m wall for S$25 a pop |
Rest areas with a collection of themed sofas on Levels 2, 3 and 4 – perfect for resting sore feet. How thoughtful! |
| INSIDER TIP |
Head to bookstore Prologue for their cute café, Jam. It’s a hidden gem overlooking the treetops of Orchard Rd |
Fashion lovers will lap up the exclusive Jil Sander collection at Uniqlo’s largest store in South- East Asia |
Experience sky-high dining at Vietnamese restaurant NUOC, nested in the Level 12 Rooftop Garden |
Aussie food emporium Jones the Grocer has opened their second outlet in Singapore on the top floor |
| FOOD FANS | Gourmands will love the ION Food Hall and 1,765sqm eating area, Food Opera, made up of 80 stalls |
Whet your appetite at Discovery Walk @ Level 1, which features an eclectic mix of international and homegrown dining venues |
Head to Levels 7 and 8, home to eateries serving everything from Japanese to Indonesian to Thai cuisine |
Debuting in Singapore, Ippudo, Thai Thai, Japanese Restaurant Suju and Wild Honey are sure to satisfy hunger pangs |
| TIME TO VISIT | After dark, when the exterior is lit up |
Weekends if you like busy, weekdays if you like quiet |
At night for views of the Orchard skyline |
Weekends for people-watching |
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