If shopping is your thing, you have to come to Singapore most popular shopping district – Orchard Road! Your Singapore travel won’t be completed without a stop in Orchard Road. Get ready your credit cards and dress up for the ultimate shoppers paradise!
Back in the mid-1800’s Orchard Road was only gambier and pepper plantations in this area, later nutmeg plantations and fruit orchards predominated, here comes its name.
Even the dog love to pay a visit at Orchard Road! Did you notice his head is pretty small? He is smart as he waited for me to take picture and turn away.
The 2.2 kilometre-long boulevard, is the retail and entertainment hub of Singapore. It has more than 20 shopping malls, which includes Orchard Central – the tallest vertical mall in Singapore, 313@Somerset which has leading global and local brands like Zara, Uniqlo, Forever 21, New Look, Cotton On and Esprit.
The Centre Point – Metro Department Stall
Peranakan Place at Orchard Road
The yellow building will get your attention for sure, it is the Peranakan Place. It is formerly known as Peranakan Corner, comprises a row of six two-storey shophouses built in 1902 for the early Peranakans. The beautiful architecture is now used for commercial as well as food and beverage outlets. Bee Cheng Hiang Bak Kwa/ bbq slice meat occupied one of the shop there now.
Beside shopping, you may want to explore these heritage buildings around Orchard Road.
Visitor Centre
Do drop by the Singapore Visitor Center at Orchard Road, to get information or purchase tickets for tours.
Address : 216 Orchard Road
Orchard Gateway Link Bridge
313@Somerset
Shopping in the Garden City
The tree cutting was in progress in the Sunday morning while I was there. There are in total about 2 million trees planted around whole island of Singapore. To look after and keep these trees healthy is not easy. It is also not cheap maintaining these greenery babies but it is important because it helps keep us cool in a hot and humid country. I like to look at trees as it give me a sense of calmness and serenity.
Robinson Orchard
Victoria’s Secret
Michael Kors
Ngee Ann City
Ngee Ann City is the largest shopping mall along Orchard Road. Takashimaya Department Store and Kinokuniya Book store occupied some of the space in Ngee Ann City. Originally, the land that Ngee Ann City sits on was a burial ground, owned and managed by Ngee Ann Kongsi.
Wisma Atria
The Wisma has over 100 specialty stores including the leading Japanese department store Isetan, international fashion brands such as Gap, Cotton On, Dorothy Perkins, Esprit, Forever New, G2000, Lacoste, Miss Selfridge, Seafolly, TAG Heuer, and local favourites Charles & Keith. Yes, don’t forget the local food paradise – Food Republic which owned by the BreadTalk Group.
Lucky Plaza
If you think everything in Orchard Road is expensive then go check out shopping mall at Lucky Plaza. Plenty of cheap stuff and souvenirs shops, but don’t expect too high quality. You get what you pay for 🙂
Lucky Plaza has many remittance stalls so this place is packed with domestic workers, especially during weekends, all come here to remit money or gathering with their friends. If you love Filipino food, do check out the food court in Lucky Plaza.
Ion Orchard
Another upmarket shopping mall which offer most of the luxury brands around the globe. Standby your credit cards.
I would prefer to enjoy the sculptures in Ion which totally cost nothing. Few art sculptures I discovered along Orchard Road are : –
1.Doggy John – by Julien Marinetti
The French painter created Doggy John and gained global popularity in 2006.
2.Urban People – by Kurt Laurenz Metzler
The Swiss Sculpture also known as KLM loves to use multi colors in his artwork but sometimes can be plain. Spotted a family from Indonesia was talking pictures in front of the beautiful sculptures.
3.Nutmeg & Mace at ION Orchard by local artist Kumari Nahappan
You will see the two-tonne bronze sculpture here outside of Ion because Orchard Road used to be nutmeg farm in the 1800s 🙂
4. Budak-Budak – by local sculptor Mr Chong Fah Cheong
“Budak-budak” is a life-sized bronze sculpture specially commissioned by Chee Swee Cheng of Companies to commemorate SG50, Singapore’s 50th year of independence. The sculpture depicts four energetic children known as “Budak-Budak” in Malay playing together. Three of them are pushing and hoisting their friend onto an enormous “kamcheng”. A “kamcheng” is a traditional Peranakan covered porcelain jar used to store food. It often serves as a precious family heirloom which is handed down through the generations. The “kamcheng” symbolises the wisdom, culture and assets that are carefully passed down from generation to generation. The “Budak-budak with their boundless energy, represent the trailblazers of the next generation. The “kamcheng’ look very pretty.
Shaw House
Shopping can be a torture for men, so there is a place for men while waiting for their lady. Go grab a movie and popcorn at Shaw House.
Tangs Plaza
Tangs is one of the oldest and first department stores in Orchard Road. Tangs Plaza used to be called as CK Tang but renamed into Tangs. The name came from founder Tang Choon Keng known as CK Tang in the early 1920s. Tang started humble, as a door-to-door salesman peddling hand-made lace, embroidery and linen product. Later he became rich and established department stores in 1932.
Co+nut+ink
After all the walk, I need to have some refreshment. Spotted another Co+nut+ink in Orchard Road. There is one outlet at 1 Esplanade.
The blend coconut juice with ice-cream was pretty refreshing, it did quench my thirst.
How to get here?
- Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT
Click on other places of interest nearby in Singapore