50 best shops in Singapore

This multi-label boutique in Tanglin Mall stocks up a curated collection of trinkets, clothing, lifestyle products and more. Expect pretty, sexy and hard-to-find lifestyle items – there are bags and clutches, home scents and candles, linen napkins and shell-shaped teaspoons, ruffle dresses and lingerie, body oils and jade face rollers. You'll want to carve out time to give this shop a good browse. 

The plates that you serve with matter almost as much as the food you put on them. Add style and flavour to your home feasts instead with beautiful dining ware from Table Matters. Expect vibrant and intricate designs inspired by nature and elements of Asian culture – from ceramic dessert plates fashioned with Japanese-inspired blue waves to salad bowls imprinted with ethereal camellias to capture the elusiveness of spring, there's a piece to match any household. 

 Great lighting can add new dimension to your home. There are a great many lighting shops in Singapore, particularly around Balestier Road, so where do you even start looking? If your dream home leans towards minimalist, industrial, or Scandinavian chic, then Light + Form Concepts might have what you're looking for. 

Indulge in some secondhand retro-chic at Lorgan's the Retro Store. The shop is stacked to the ceiling with homeware and knick-knacks from yesteryear, including '40s art-deco ashtrays, '60s remote-control tin toy cars and '70s cantilever dining chairs. Lorgan Wong has been restoring colonial furniture with his father since he was just a child, and now flies in pre-loved possessions from as far as Europe, which he takes pride in restoring to as close to their original state as possible. 

Step away from the endless consumer economy and put your penny to pre-loved, thrift items instead. Threadlightly is the fairly new kid on the block – starting out as an online pop-up, it now lives in a small space at Queensway Shopping Centre. Here you can shop from three lines of clothing: Rehome, Reclaim and Rework, featuring handpicked vintage wear, pre-loved items, and personally tie-dyed and handmade goods. There's even a Local Corner where you can pick up accessories and trinkets from Singaporean makers like Bologna Jam. 

Chinese bookstores are few and far between in Singapore, but ZALL Bookstore makes up for it. ZALL is a Chinese bookstore, art gallery and café all rolled into one, taking up a full two storeys of space at Wheelock Place. Lovers of Chinese culture and literature have more than 30,000 literary works to browse – have a relaxing read at the multi-functional reading space on the first floor, or head to the café to enjoy a variety of coffee blends, Chinese chu tea and Taiwan tea. 

The Kampong Gelam precinct is buzzing with cool shops these days, and Nonmainstream is one of them. This hip vintage store is stocked with bright Nike windbreakers, retro sporty sweatshirts, oversized polo shirts and graphic tees to complete your retro look. The prices are comfortable here, though opening hours are limited – the shop is only open on Fridays and weekends, so do follow its Instagram account to avoid making a wasted trip.

Give your home an authentic Peranakan touch with vintage and replica tiles from Peranakan Tiles Gallery Singapore. These tiles were salvaged by owner Victor Lim when shophouses were being torn down back in the day, with more beautiful pieces from England, Belgium and Japan. 

Fashion and sustainability can indeed go hand in hand. Aligned with their mission to champion conscious living, expect to find quirky items like handcrafted necklaces and shoes made from recyclable material amongst other eco-friendly gems like compost bins and reusable sandwich wraps. If you're exploring eco-friendly skincare options, there are plenty of choices of face scrubs, face mists and more in-store. Browse the ethically made creations of more than a dozen of homegrown and international brands. 

Behind every batik fabric is a story. The meaning of ‘batik’ itself refers to the technique of making intricate patterns onto a piece of fabric. It is a delicate art and often a time-consuming one because so much thought and skill is put into making a sheet of batik fabric. The motifs on each piece of cloth also have meaning behind them – and this is what owner Oniatta Effendi showcases with every collection she releases. Whether it is a Merdeka jacket with parang (blade) prints which symbolises victory and power or a men’s shirt with the Garuda (a mythical bird) print which represents masculinity, it’s a joy to learn the stories being the garment you’re wearing.

Get all your beauty needs under one roof at escentials. The multi-label store carries luxury and contemporary beauty and fragrance brands from around the world including Floraïku, Byredo, Diptyque, and Jeffree Star Cosmetics. It also offers unparalleled personalised service the minute you walk through its doors.

If you have big hopes and dreams for your living spaces and constantly scour interior design magazine pages for inspo, it's time to get out there and start shopping. Lucky for you the collection at Affordable Style Files is pretty extensive and huge – whether you're looking for a beautiful rug to fill up the space or shopping for blinds in the dining room. Everything in the store is curated and picked by Australian stylist Hong Henwood. It's quite clear that she has impeccable tastes because you'll soon notice that you want to buy everything in the store 

If you want a piece that is truly yours, get a contemporary cheongsam made at the hip Studio HHFZ at Katong's creative co-making hub, MOX. You start with a consultation with dressmaker, Ruixian Hu, and the magic begins to happen. From her portfolio, you'll see traditional designs made fresh and elegant again – sometimes with a modern twist. Details like the mother-of-pearl buttons, tweed fabric cheongsam and extra pockets make the creations stand out. In true bespoke fashion, Ruixian not only makes cheongsam but other outfits as well. The key to a good cheongsam is the fit so getting one done just for you is a must. No two pieces at Studio HHFZ are the same – bring your own fabric (or shop for the perfect one with the dressmaker herself), customise your own buttons, add some pockets, fluttery sleeves – you can also choose to make it a jumpsuit if you prefer pants. 

After a seven-year tenancy at Cluny Court, the home interiors and accessories store that specialises in the 'tropical bungalow' look have found a new home in the lush Dempsey Hill neighbourhood. All items in the store are specially curated and sources from around the globe by the owner Nina Beale herself. Browse through the beautiful collection of lamps, hand-painted prints, pendant lighting, rugs, armchairs, small furniture pieces and decorative accessories to make your space feel like home. On top of that, Nina also gives consultation services if you need some hand with styling your dream home, as well as help with custom upholstery, cabinets, wardrobes, furniture & kitchens.

It all started as a hobby of collecting vintage memorabilia when a trip to Japan inspired two youths, FJ Sai and Isaac Ang to open a physical store in Singapore. Experience a blast from the past as you peruse its curated collection of ’80s and ’90s apparel like plaid shirts (and pants), graphic tees and sports jackets from your favourite sports brands like Nike, Adidas, Fila and more. Prices start from $15 for caps and t-shirts – also look out for special edition threads available in-store.

Loosely translated from Chinese to “the convenience store”, this shop in Far East Plaza stocks almost everything. Except for snacks. Here’s where to go for cool streetwear with a hint of nostalgia in Orchard. There are graphic tees, canvas jackets, bowling shirts, pieces with horseshoe prints and more. Browse around and you might even find retro gadgets, old-school trinkets and vinyl records. So why would you ever go to another high-street fashion chain again?

In a world of fast fashion and following trends, avant-garde and edgy boutique Super Freak is a definite stand out with its range of clothing, shoes and accessories that is unusual and bold. The store and its collection is a celebration of everything maximalist – there are platform shoes with a rainbow unicorn horn as the heel, the pair of Gangsta socks that Beyonce donned in her Pretty Hurts music video, retro-coloured windbreakers and more eye-catching things. On top of the repertoire of cult brands and local designers, Super Freak also has a corner for pre-loved clothes. Let your freak flag fly high.

With pastel-coloured walls and high ceilings, what draws you in the store is how much it looks like a museum. In Good Company offers visitors a retail experience beyond just clothes. The curated collection includes its womenswear, menswear and children's wear which is known for its timeless silhouettes and quality fabrics; and also books, accessories, scented candles and chocolates. When you're done with shopping, grab a scoop from ice-creamery Birds of Paradise known for gelato created from herbs, spices and botanical ingredients. Think flavours like Masala Spice, Earl Grey & Lemongrass and White Chrysanthemum.

Who says everyday wear has to be dull and boring? Think whimsical prints and bold colours that are not over the top. The sophisticated but unique pieces from Our Second Nature inject a little more fun in your daily wardrobe. Shop wide-leg pants, breezy blouses, kimonos, midi dresses and more from the collection. The prints are one-of-a-kind too – the brand works closely with artists to produce art that will set the tone for the collection. If looking artsy, fashionable and effortless at the same time is something you seek, drop by the cafe and boutique at Holland Village. 

Local lingerie brand Perk by Kate is known for her dreamy and feminine bralettes that are beautiful but comfortable as well. For the first time, the brand will now actually have a physical studio where customers can drop by to try and check out the collections in-store. The intimates and lingerie are meticulously created and it shows in the quality of the pieces. 

If you think vintage shopping is about second-hand duds and 80s clothes, A Vintage Tale will prove you wrong. This little gem in Joo Chiat stocks genuine vintage threads, some from way back in the '50s. Dig up brands like Gucci, Valentino, Moschino, pick from accessories and clothes and also bring home your collection of treasures at the end of it all. 

If you’re looking for the latest designer fragrance, you won’t find it at SIFR Aromatics. What you will find are gorgeous, uniquely shaped bottles that house a myriad of scents, all lovingly handmade by owner Johari Kazura. Far from your ordinary, run-of-the-mill perfumery, the shop offers a unique, customised approach where a range of ingredients are presented and used to get the right scent.

‘For the common good, and goods for the common folk.’ That’s the mission of this local brand, and we’d gladly dress our home with all its furniture – if our pockets allowed it. You’ll find environmentally sustainable pieces here from small brands and craftsmen from around the world, including Fred and Bobo, Everyday Studio, and VIJ5, with prices starting at $220. We’re particularly taken with Studiohiji’s Net series (from $340). The Jakarta-based design studio incorporates strands of rattan cores into its pieces, and the result’s a series of lightweight furniture that’s built to last and sustains the rattan industry.

A Singapore institution, Mustafa is open round the clock, offering 75,000sq ft of bargains, not to 
mention a hotel, café and supermarket.  It’s a treasure trove of discount shopping, carrying everything from skincare and electronics to sportswear and luggage. Sumptuous sari fabrics can be found in basement 1, and beauty products and appliances at ground level.   Mustafa Centre was included in our recent One Night Stand feature.

Dim lighting and a crowded display space lend this independent retail shop a cosy feel. Cat Socrates carries a variety of knick-knacks such as terrariums (and planters for making your own), tote bags, clothes, homeware, fabric, books by homegrown writers, postcards, Singapore-themed products like local music albums, and, of course, a section of cat-related merchandise. Bonus points if you manage to lure resident cat Chestnut out from his favourite spot under a red table. Cat Socrates’ second branch, in Katong, also has a store kitty: Zoo-Zoo.

Stepping up to the door, Nana & Bird gives off that rare hole-in-the-wall charm. Iron bars still protect the windows and the original tiled floor is intact. Beaded necklaces, feather earrings, tote bags and polka-dot blouses, as well as local labels Aijek and Yumumu, are all on display. The fashion-loving duo behind the humble shop also encourages people to sit down for a cuppa to discuss fashion.

This minimalist husband-and-wife co-owned souvenier shop is the perfect place to pick up thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts for that special someone (or yourself).Think asymmetrical bowls, dimpled cups and painstakingly handpainted plates inspired by modern Singapore culture. Because most items are available in limited quantities, your best bet’s to pop in and find out what’s in stock.

Since its inception in 2010, The Farm Store has been collaborating with local up-and-coming designers to showcase Singapore design at its best. Each piece you find in the store links back to our Singaporean identity – whether it’s a chilli crab coaster or a vintage Peranakan tile table runner – so if you’re looking for a unique keepsake, you’re in luck.

This cutting-edge, multi-label store is filled with quirky, eclectic items from labels like Freitag, Boy London, Fjallraven Kanken and Lazy Oaf, offering everything from apparel and shoes to bags and accessories.

Take a step back in time and learn craftsmanship the old-fashioned way: with your hands. With The General Co’s range of workshops, learn how to build terrariums, craft leather accessories, arrange bouquets and more. There’s also a retail space where you can pick up local design goodies, be they skateboard decks, quirky charms or handprinted tote bags.

The multi-label store – the fourth in the world after London, Tokyo and New York – stocks 25 designer brands that range from Comme des Garçons and Anti Social Social Club to Céline and The Row. Housed in a converted army barracks with high ceilings, black cage-like grills as racks, and a colourful ‘cashier’ hut, you’d be forgiven if you mistake this for an art gallery.

Apparel, accessories and footwear from brands around the globe feature here, alongside an array of lifestyle goods. For raw denim aficionados, look out for pieces by labels like Engineered Garments, Human Made, Orslow, Ten C and Sync Made by Medicom.

The largest high-fashion chain, Club 21 runs a string of mono-brand boutiques for the likes of Armani, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Paul Smith (to name a few). Its 
flagship multi-label store carries the best of the prêt-à-porter collections from Dries Van Noten; Viktor & Rolf; Alexander McQueen; Martin Margiela and more. The shop directly opposite, Club 21 Men, is a three-storey, sleek temple of metrosexual style .

As its name suggests, The Prestigious is a well-known bespoke tailor often consulted by the well-heeled and well-dressed community. All commissions suits are crafted in-house in the atelier by a team of 7 tailors and apprentices, mentored and personally supervised by master tailor Thomas Wong, a veteran who has over five decades of experience in the industry. There's no outsourcing and no secret factory here – The Prestigious is one of the only places in Singapore where the pieces don't leave the premises except in the client's hands (or body). To up the Savile Row experience, a personal tailor is assigned to each patron who is tasked to measure, fit, draft, cut and construct the pieces. 

Here’s a new tailoring boutique to add to your shopping hit list. The Bespoke Club, a local start-up that caters to the business wardrobes of men and women, finds its flagship home in an elegant space at Suntec City. Furnished with warm wood interiors, plush leather couches, and neat rows of ready-made accessories such as bow ties, pocket squares, cufflinks and lapel pins, the shop offers professional style consultants to stitch up your bespoke creation. Choose from fabrics in various shades, patterns and textures to craft your one-of-a-kind suit, shirt or shoes. It’s all about the perfect fit here. 

Get your bespoke menswear at Q Menswear, which provides both ready-to-wear and tailoring services to create that perfectly fitted suit. The local outfit also stocks a slew of accessories such as lapel pins, pocket squares and everything in between so that you can look your spiffiest in the shortest amount of time.

Tuckshop and Sundry Supplie offers the discerning Singaporean man a wide selection of apparel, footwear, leather goods, accessories and various other gentlemanly requirements, including shoe oil and hair products. Brands featured include Iron Heart from Japan, Rising Sun from the US, China’s Red Cloud and even its very own local OBBI Good Label, which specialises in handcrafted leather wallets, belts and pouches.

Spread over 35,000 square feet, Decathlon’s largest store in the region offers over 95,000 affordable products for more than 50 different sports from 20 in-house brands, and features indoor testing zones, an outdoor playground and a basketball court. You get to try out gear for sports like table tennis, mini golf and cycling (or get your two-wheeler fixed at the bicycle repair workshop). Even our self-professed, non-athletic, inertia-driven selves are psyched.

It’s smack in the middle of Tiong Bahru, so you know the kind of Hipster 101 albums this hole-in-the-wall stocks. Still, you’ll be able to pick out a few good finds – albeit at ludicrously high prices – like a rare first-press of Nirvana’s In Utero.

Browsing books promises to be a fun affair in this charming two-storey shophouse-turned-bookshop. The indie bookstore carries titles across all genres that range from specially selected literary, non-fiction, travel narratives, and award-winning children's books. Additionally, the books on sale – ranging from bestsellers and literary classics to children's titles – are actually quite affordable, or at least cheaper than you'd expect from other bookstores.  

Basheer Graphic Books is no stranger amongst the art types in Bras Basah. A regular haunt for graphic designers and illustrators, the bookstore stocks the best and latest in disciplines that range from graphics and architecture to fashion and animation. There are also regular discounts offered on specialised magazines and publications. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Leave your name, number and the desired title(s), and you’ll be notified once it arrives.

The store houses over 30 luxury lifestyle brands in its massive showroom. Reliable favourites – such as B&B Italia and Vitra – sit alongside yet more options, each set in home interior environments to show off Space’s extensive selection. We like the unfussy pieces from SP01’s Outdoor Collection ($400-$6,035), dreamt up by Australian designer Tom Fereday. They aren’t all looks, either: built (in Italy, no less) to withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight and sea spray, these’ll hold up just as well on your balcony or patio.

You’d be hard-pressed to find more good-looking furniture than at Noden. The independent store sources for mid-century and Scandinavian design pieces from the ’40s to ’70s, meaning you’re guaranteed a one-of-a-kind classic that could, for all you know, become a family heirloom down the line. Expect furniture not unlike the refinished Danish Bureau ($2,190) – the ’60s teak piece from Denmark comes complete with tambour sliding doors, drawers and a pull-out desk, plus sculpted teak handles. And stock’s replenished every two to three months, too, with prices starting from $200 – although that depends on factors like the condition, designer, year, maker and rarity of your chosen piece.

The furniture addicts behind Castlery take obsession to a new high, and in the best way. So while there are dining and study tables, sectional sofas, loveseats and all sorts of lamps, there are also basic (and complimentary) customisation options if you want your furniture a little off-kilter. That includes reupholstering and replacing the legs of your chosen sofa set with your colours of choice, for example. 

With attitudes loosening around lounging around on second-hand furniture, stores like Hock Siong and Co are suddenly top-of-mind to score home goods at a steal. (No one at the sprawling Tai Seng store is actually named Hock Siong – the name was coined by the company’s old-school towkay.) The goods – tightly and neatly packed into three units – cover a wide range of styles, from vintage rosewood to mid-century to the downright opulent. The products are hand-me-downs from hotels and show flats, furniture shops that have closed down, and the occasional beautifully appointed home. Oh, and make sure to bargain – the staff will happily knock down prices. Talk about retail therapy. 

Furniture shouldn’t cost an arm and leg, and HipVan knows it. The homegrown store prides itself on fair pricing across more than 5,000 designs: think L-shaped sofas and other sectionals, lounge chairs, hammocks, chest drawers, and bookshelves, as well as homeware such as planters and wall decals. While most of its furniture is sold online, a selection’s available for viewing at HipVan’s flagship store – or else, it’s free returns (by way of store credits) within two weeks of purchase on its website. 

No home is complete without an art piece or two and that’s where Wandewoo comes in. The brainchild of Singaporean space stylist Sonny Boey and his two siblings, this home and lifestyle accessories store stocks one-of-a-kind items made by talented designers from around the world.

Need a home makeover but can’t find the time to do it? Let Arete Culture’s interior design services create your dream space with homeware sourced from around the world. You can browse through a huge variety of designs including cushions, lamps and mirrors from The Luxe Hotel Collection, textiles from Linen and Moore, luxury bed linens from Sleep Naked, and artworks from Urban Road, Karen Charmoille and Christina Jensen at its flagship store. 

The simple, IKEA-esque homeware with a quirky twist on display in this hip concept store stands out – and it’s all made by local talent.

This store on the Duxton block recreates Los Angeles’ beachy vibe in its shop that’s part retail and part café. On its retail front, you’ll find American menswear labels such as Katin and Alex Mill that have yet to make its way into the mainstream Singapore market. When you’re done browsing, grab a cup of speciality coffee or nosh on artisanal bread at the café.