The best toy stores in Singapore

The little store in OUE Downtown Gallery is shop decor is quite a delightful visual treat, with its pastel decor and curated range of products. Le Petit Society started out as an online store peddling children's wear but soon opened some physical stores in Paragon and Downtown Gallery. Assorted Jellycat bunnies and stuffed animals sit at the storefront and the shelves in the kids' lifestyle store are shaped like miniature buildings. You can find more Jellycat plush toys in the shop, as well as illustrated building blocks, puzzle games, water colouring sets and more.  

The Better Toy Store believes that all good toys share one common trait: the ability to engage and build, rather than fragment, a child’s attention span. With that in mind, this chain stocks a huge array of toys selected for their play value, functional design and impact on the environment. There are toys for kids as young as three months all the way to teens, with a modest selection of collectibles and limited edition giant teddy bears for adults. 

This board game store has been around for over a decade and is the place to go to for the largest collection of board games. Indulge in roleplaying games like the popular Dungeons and Dragons or invest in miniature wargames like Warhammer. Buy game sets, miniature figurines and the team at Games@PI also paint models – and love that you join them. Be warned, you will be spending a lot of time on these games...

Like its online store, Playhao’s brick-and-mortar outlet specialises in open-ended toys that children can experiment, discover and learn with. There are toys for most age groups: ride-ons for toddlers, role-play toys like dollhouses for older children, and even cognitive and creative toys – think drones, puzzles and construction sets – for pre-teens. Playhao also carries a few rarer, high-tech gizmos, such as build-it-yourself remote-controlled cars and the SMARTGurlz doll ($199): it’s a robot that kids can learn to code and control via a smartphone app. Yes, as though dolls weren’t creepy enough. 

The oldest toyshop in the world – also known as London's favourite toyshop – has closed its megastore at Plaza Singapura but can still be found at Marina Bay Sands. Fitted with its very own Build-A-Bear Workshop, plenty of soft toys, dolls and action figures, the store is the perfect place to pick up a new friend that'll last a lifetime.

Hidden on the sleepy second floor of China Square Central is a treasure trove of collectible toy shops – there were at least eight on our last count. If you’re a Transformers fan, head straight to Fat Toys Corner (FTC), a small but well-organised shop beckoning passers-by with shelves of customised versions of Optimus Prime, Megatron and their fleet of ‘bots. Basic Transformers toys for newbies or kids start at $15 but long-time regulars go for die-cast masterpieces that cost upwards of $60 a unit. Hot Toys’ products are quite popular among regulars, with prices ranging from around $100 to $400. FTC also accepts consignment items from customers, so dig out all your vintage collectibles if they're collecting dust in your storeroom.

If you like your toys to be a little more thoughtful and practical, homegrown brand KYDZ specialises in fun and educational toys that are fun for all – some of which are designed by the owner himself. Find all sorts of puzzles, Montessori-approved toys and also toys for kids with special needs at the store and stock up to keep the kids occupied all weekend. 

ION Orchard doesn’t just have fashion boutiques and a crowded food hall. Head to Das Erzgebirge-Haus where its curious assortment of exquisite wood crafts, miniatures, figurines and collectibles will keep you fascinated for hours. The store is not hard to find – it’s the one that looks like an old Bavarian cottage. Most of its toys come from the Erzgebirge region of Germany but some of them are also sourced across Europe. If you’re ever looking for a nutcracker, dollhouse miniatures, a guardian angel, painted ceramic houses or a musical box in the middle of Orchard, this is the place to check out.

Bricks World carries all the basic building blocks your child needs, and, for the parents, collectible LEGO sets. The stores are as family-friendly as they come: there are interactive play areas for parents to build castles with their children and a custom-built fixture lined with cylindrical canisters – they’re filled with LEGO bricks and other elements shoppers can use to bring to life their designs and imaginations. The latest outlet in Plaza Singapura, is home to Asia’s first Digibox, a 3D digital experience based on augmented reality where you can hold a LEGO set up to the box and watch the contents come to life. 

Your kids will be rubbing their hands in glee as they race down the aisles of this massive toy store in Suntec City. Carrying over a hundred popular toy brands as well as child- and baby-friendly accessories, Toys ‘R’ Us really requires no introduction. Give your tyke a treat when you pick up the bestsellers: Wham-O Fun Hula Hoop ($4.98), Nerf Super Soaker Freezefire Blaster ($21.99) and Mattel’s Hot Wheels five-car gift pack ($18.99).

This chain of toy stores (five around the island) boasts all things zany: trinkets to attach to your mobile, colourful plastic clocks, stuffed animals that double as pillows. It’s not a classic toy store, but it’s definitely the place to buy a random, kitschy gift that would make even the crankiest person smile.