Grandlink Square: A Quiet Mall At Paya Lebar That Was Once Queen’s Theatre

Grandlink Square

Singapore has its fair share of vintage malls that feel like they’ve quietly resisted every mall renovation around them. Think places like Katong Shopping Centre, where you’ll find old-school shops, hidden eateries, and corridors that seem to exist in their own time zone.

Here’s another one you might not have heard of: Grandlink Square, a quiet mall at 511 Guillemard Road, within walking distance of Paya Lebar MRT. This super quiet mall might look a little out of place at first glance, but it actually has a very interesting past, and some “hidden gem” food spots with authentic regional food.

A quiet mall near Paya Lebar that feels frozen in time

Image credit: C Lim via Google Maps

Located a 4-minute walk from Paya Lebar MRT and surrounded by popular malls like PLQ and Kinex, Grandlink Square feels like it’s frozen in time. You might even be thinking, “wait, this place is still open?”

Image credit: Benson Kong

From the outside, it looks slightly out of place beside the river, with its old-school facade and quiet entrance. Step inside and the vibe is even more unusual. It’s very quiet – in fact, too quiet for a mall in Singapore.

Image credit: Riva P via Google Maps

Some shops near the entrance are shuttered, while the rest of the mall is home to a very random mix of tenants, including maid employment agencies, a TCM shop, a music store, a tattoo studio, a gym, and even a place where you can play pool in the basement.

You won’t expect to find big-name retail brands or polished atriums here. But if you like poking around Singapore’s older, quieter corners, Grandlink Square has that slightly forgotten charm that makes you want to slow down and explore.

It used to be Queen’s Theatre in the 1930s

Image credit: Remember Singapore

Before Grandlink Square became this quiet little mall near Paya Lebar, it had a much more glamorous past life as Queen’s Theatre.

The cinema first opened in 1930 as Wembley Cinema, before being renamed Ritz Cinema in 1933. By 1939, it became known as Queen’s Theatre, and went on to become one of the main entertainment spots in Geylang from the 1930s till its closure in 1982.

Image credit: Remember Singapore

Back then, this was where residents in the area would head to catch movies, including Malay, Indonesian, and even Egyptian films. It was also said to be one of the grander entertainment venues of its time in Southeast Asia, with modern air-conditioning that was considered pretty advanced back then.

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Today, the old cinema is no longer around, but its front facade has been conserved and incorporated into Grandlink Square. Look closely, and you’ll still spot its old-school architectural details, from vertical fluting to geometric patterns and a prominent entrance that hints at the building’s pre-war grandeur.

Authentic regional cuisine, from Filipino lechon to Vietnamese pho

Image credit: Weijie Aw via Google Maps

Grandlink Square might be Singapore’s quietest mall, but it’s surprisingly decent for regional food. One of the main draws is Don Lechon, an authentic Filipino restaurant that started here before opening its second outlet at Alexandra Central Mall. You’ll often spot Filipinos dining here too, which is usually a good sign that the food is the real deal.

Image credit: Eatbook

As its name suggests, the lechon is the star. The Lechon Sisig ($13) comes with minced lechon stir-fried in butter, onions, and green chilli, then served on a sizzling plate. There’s also the Chopped Lechon Belly ($13), a bestseller with crispy skin and tender roasted pork belly. Just like how it’s traditionally prepared in the Philippines, the suckling pigs are spit-roasted over a flaming charcoal grill.

Image credit: Ivan Chin via Google Maps

Then there’s Little Vietnam, a popular Vietnamese restaurant with dishes starting from $4 for 2 pieces of fresh rice paper rolls with rice noodles, prawns, and vegetables. If you’re craving something more filling, noodle dishes like pho start from $8.70.

Image credit: @weiofthefood via Instagram

For Thai food, Soi 72 serves affordable lunch sets, including a basil chicken rice and milk tea set from $9.90. There’s also a Mizu Kirei Shin Izakaya in the mall, if you’re in the mood for drinks and small plates instead.

And of course, what’s a vintage mall in Singapore without a hipster coffee roaster? You’ll find one of Brawn & Brains Coffee Roasters’ 3 outlets on level 1 of the mall.

Explore this old-school mall in Paya Lebar

Grandlink Square probably won’t be your next full-day mall hangout, but that’s part of the appeal. Between its conserved cinema facade, regional food spots, and very specific tenant mix, it feels like one of those old-school malls that somehow still has a bit of everything.

So if you’re around Paya Lebar and enjoy poking around places with a bit of forgotten history, Grandlink Square is worth a short detour. And of course, you can’t skip the lechon while you’re there.

Address: 511 Guillemard Road, Singapore 399849