Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
166
ORCHARD ROAD AREA
The malls on O rchard R oad ar e a tourist attraction in their o wn right, with smaller
boutiques and specialty shops intermingled with huge depar tment stores. Takashimaya
and Isetan have been imported from Japan. John Little is the oldest department store in
Singapore, followed by Robinson's. Tangs is significant, having grown from a cartful of
merchandise nurtured by the business savvy of local entrepreneur C. K. Tang. Boutiques
range from the younger styles of Topshop and Miss Selfridge to the sophisticated fashions
of Chanel and Salvatore Ferragamo. You'll also find antiques, oriental carpets, ar t galler-
ies and curio shops, HMV music stor es, Kinokuniya and Bor ders bookstor es, video
arcades, and scores of restaurants, local food courts, fast-food joints, and coffeehouses—
even a few bars, which open in the evenings (see chapter 9). It's hard to say when Orchard
Road is not cr owded, but it's definitely a mob scene on w eekends, when folks hav e the
free time to come and hang ar ound, looking for fun.
Centrepoint Centrepoint is home to R obinson's depar tment stor e, which first
opened in S ingapore in 1858. H ere y ou'll find about 150 other shops, plus fast-food
outlets and a Times bookstore. 176 Orchard Rd. & 65/6235-6629.
Far East Plaza At this cr owded mall, the bustle of little shops will sell ev erything
from CDs to punk fashions, luggage to camera equipment, ey ewear to souvenirs. Mind
yourself her e: M ost of these shops do not display prices, but rather gauge the price
depending on ho w w ealthy the customer appears. I f y ou must shop her e, use y our
shrewdest bargaining powers. It may pay off to w ear an outfit that has seen better days.
14 Scotts Rd. & 65/6235-2411.
The Heeren Thanks to the opening of a S ingapore branch of B ritain's HMV music
stores, the Heeren is the big hangout for teens. The front entrance of the mall hums with
towers of video monitors flashing and blaring the latest in American and B
8
ritish chart
toppers. There is also a nice pub on a balcony o
verlooking the busy intersection. 260
Orchard Rd. & 65/6733-4725.
Hilton Shopping Gallery The shopping arcade is the most ex clusive in Singapore.
Gucci, D onna Karan, M issoni, and Louis Vuitton ar e just a fe w of the international
design houses that have made this their Singapore home. 581 Orchard Rd. & 65/6737-2233.
Lucky Plaza The map of this place will take hours to decipher , as mor e than 400
stores are here. It's basically known for sportswear, camera equipment, watches, and lug-
gage. If you buy electronics, please make sure you get an international warranty with your
purchase. Also, like Far East Plaza, Lucky Plaza is a notorious rip-off problem for travel-
ers. Make sure you come here prepared to fend off slick sales techniques. It may also help
to take the go vernment's advice and av oid touts and offers that sound too good to be
true. 304 Orchard Rd. & 65/6235-3294.
Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya Shopping Centre Takashimaya, a major Japanese
department store import, anchors Ngee Ann City's many smaller boutiques. Alfred Dun-
hill, Chanel, Coach, Tiffany & Co ., R oyal Copenhagen, Waterford, and Wedgwood
boutiques are found here, along with many other local and international fashion shops.
391 Orchard Rd. & 65/6738-2411.
Palais Renaissance Shops here include upmarket boutiques like Prada, Versus, and
DKNY. 390 Orchard Rd. & 65/6737-1520.
Paragon Another upmarket shopping mall, with tenants including D iesel, Emanuel
Ungaro, Escada, and Ferragamo. 290 Orchard Rd. & 65/6737-6993.
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