Top Rated Shopping in Singapore

The largest Kinokuniya store outside of Japan, the Singapore location of this famous bookseller has an awesome inventory of books and periodicals-English, Japanese, French and German-and is a veritable rabbit warren of bookshelves. Shoppers have been known to need help finding the exit. Special in-house events in addition to the usual book signing sessions are held regularly. Wine-tasting, anyone? There is also a good in-house cafe where you can stop for a snack. The store also provides a website, Bookweb, which allows you to check if a title is in stock and reserve it before heading down to browse the shelves in-person.

Dubbed as the 'Champs-Élysées of Singapore', Orchard Road is a wonderland for shopping. A close-knit nexus of shopping malls, boutiques and stores, this brimming shopping boulevard stretches 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) long, and is said to have the largest concentration of shopping malls worldwide. Originally a nutmeg and pepper plantation, Orchard Road today is lined with ritzy malls, fashionable eateries, salons and luxury hotels from end to end. The more notable shopping centers include Ngee Ann City, Tangs Department Store, Wisma Atria, The Heeren and Centrepoint, these juxtapose with some entities of the bygone era like the Peranakan shophouses near Emerald Hill, built at the turn of the 20th Century. Peppered along the course of the road is a tapestry of scintillating establishments including art galleries, restaurants and bars which shine out in pleasant contrast with the brilliant retail establishments which frame its luxurious tenor. A canvas of unhindered luminescence and droves of excited shoppers come night, Orchard Road is a seamless amalgam of cutting-edge shopping facilities and a treasure trove of entertainment.

The Paragon Shopping centre features designer names like Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Escada, Lanvin, Fendi and Prada and some local boutiques like M)phosis and GG5. More fashion can be found at Marks & Spencer on the third level. Local department store Metro Paragon takes up three whole floors. Occupying the top level are some shops specializing in Chinese art and antiques. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located on the ground floor, with dining services in the basement area with food ranging from Indian and Thai to international cuisine.

Although largely scarred by redevelopment, Chinatown today still contains pockets of genuinely old shophouses where age-old trades like clog-making and calligraphy continue to be practiced. Paper effigies of cars, houses and other material objects are still being made for the deceased; these are then burnt, in the belief that they will raise the standard of living of the deceased in the next world. The many tea houses are a wonderland for the tea connoisseurs, as they do not just enable one to taste the authenticity of Chinese tea, but also promises an insightful escape into the the traditional art of tea-brewing. A stirring nexus of pleasant sights and aromas, Chinatown, at once, strikes as a bright scarlet canvas which is a soulful amalgam of history, culture and ancient architecture. Sheltering a treasure trove of religious places of worship including the Thian Hock Keng temple and Sri Marriaman Temple, Chinatown is embellished with various winding thoroughfares adorned with vibrant, historic establishments which have captured the imaginations of many. This teeming quarter also hosts a hive of hawkers, markets and restaurants serving up delectable, traditional cuisine. Its buildings awash in an amalgam of traditional, Victorian and Baroque architectural styles, Chinatown is especially enlivened with a million lights and fiery hues of red and golden during the Chinese New Year.

Awash with scents and sights reminiscent of the subcontinent, this is a microcosm of India where every imaginable Indian product can be found: trinkets, sarees, spices, sweetmeats, nose studs, flower garlands and anything else that an Indian household needs. Traces of Hinduism are found everywhere, from the elaborate temples to wall calendars with pictures of Hindu deities. On Sundays, Indian locals and foreign workers flock to the streets of Little India to eat, chat, shop and worship. Hard though it is to walk through the crowds, this is a unique spectacle you should not miss.

Covering an area of 83,850 square meters (902,553 square feet), Suntec City Mall is one of the largest malls in Singapore and has a large fountain to accentuate its grandeur. Three floors cater to the needs of locals and tourists alike, with upmarket boutiques from international brands, and a broad array of shops selling home furnishings, lingerie, leisure products, souvenirs and casual wear. French supermarket Carrefour takes up 13,000 square metres (139,930 square feet), offering economical consumer goods, from fashion and food to pharmaceuticals and car accessories. In addition, there are some 70 restaurants, pubs, fast food outlets and food courts to whet your appetite.