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.

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.

This shopping mall with the reddish-brown polished granite façade is one of Southeast Asia's largest, housing the giant Japanese chain store, Takashimaya, and Asia's largest book store, Books Kinokuniya. Seven floors accommodate about 130 specialty stores retailing sporting goods, stationery, jewelery and designer clothes. Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Chanel, and Charles Jourdan are just some of the boutiques serving the more well-to-do shoppers. Top-notch restaurants of international flavors dominate on level four, while in the basement, Harrod's tea room and other food outlets present an eating experience of another kind.

Patronized by both locals and expatriates, this mall offers something different from the proliferation of designer labels along Orchard Road. Opened in 1995, Tanglin Mall has four stories of mid-range boutiques and specialty shops, selling everything from ethnic collectibles like scented candles and beadwork to furniture, clothing, kids' wear, comics and music records. For contemporary home furnishings, check out Tatty Marsh. There are also fast-food outlets, a well-stocked gourmet supermarket as well as health and beauty salons.

This six-story complex with avant-grade architecture is frequented by Japanese tourists, well-heeled locals and the middle class. This is not surprising since the well-stocked Japanese department store, Isetan, is housed here, offering fashion, sporting goods and household merchandise. Serving high-end consumers are designer boutiques such as Max & Co, Bally and Trussardi. The basement holds a supermarket and several inexpensive cafes, while Western and Asian restaurants can be found on the second and fourth floors. Spanning over three floors are escalators leading up to the Lido 8 Cineplex on the uppermost level where the latest movies are screened.