With Singapore stretching a mere 49km from east to west, it is inevitable that the almost 6 million people living on the Little Red Dot will feel claustrophobic from time to time. This writer swears that the weekend queues at both the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints are eternal, and that a crowdless Bishan MRT simply does not exist.
Naturally, malls are also perpetually filled to the brim with people shopping in Singapore; NEX, VivoCity, and Tampines Mall, I’m looking at you. But look hard enough, and you’ll find a couple that have yet to be infiltrated by fervent shoppers. From quaint heartland malls to overlooked ones in the city, have a look at these lesser-known malls in Singapore.
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Let’s be honest, we only know Kovan as just another stop on the North East MRT line. After all, most of the fun is to be had in the relatively new neighbourhoods of Sengkang and Punggol. As a result of new BTO owners flocking to fresh openings like Sengkang Grand Mall, The Promenade@Pelikat does not see much footfall at all.
|Image credit: @pika_poka_gelato via Instagram
And frankly, that might be for the better. There are a ton of hidden gems here as far as desserts and baked goods go. The 3-storey building is chock-full of start-up bakeries. For ornate cakes that taste just as good as they look, swing by Miss Muffet (#B1-95). Ice cream lovers can also hit up Pika Poka (#B1-16) to dig into sinful scoops of handmade gelato.
Address: 183 Jalan Pelikat, Singapore 537643
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6280 8524 | The Promenade@Pelikat website
Located on the fringes of downtown, Burlington Square is a haunt that most overlook in favour of the bustling Sim Lim Square. The mall is usually only frequented by students from the nearby art school, so it’s not too busy even during peak hours.
It houses a popular photo lab called Triple D Minilab Centre (#01-07), which specialises in black and white film processing, so head here to get your reels developed in competent hands. Gamers can also rejoice as they can drop by Khakabo (#01-58), an internet cafe that charges a measly $3/hour, a rate that’s pretty hard to beat these days.
Image credit: @haolaiwusg via Instagram
Food-wise, there’s a Burger King (#01-01) conveniently tucked at the entrance of the mall for quick bites, but for those with time to spare, head on further in to visit Hao Lai Wu Steamboat & BBQ (#01-57).
While indulging in their steamboat buffet (from $27.80) you can even grab traditional Chinese garb off their costume rack to snap pics for the ‘Gram, completely FOC.
Address: 175 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189649
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6334 2535 | Burlington Square website
Image credit: @mark9plus1 via Instagram
Speaking about photo ops, Oasis Terraces is filled with them. No, it’s not the name of a boujee condominium; it’s a towering 7-storey complex that’s a 10-minute walk away from the picturesque Punggol Waterway Park.
Image credit: Oasis Terraces via Facebook
The hints of green architecture blend the mall seamlessly with nature. If you need some peace and quiet, head upstairs to find a rooftop garden with a view that overlooks the nearby river to unwind at. For those with restless kids, there’s a free-entry water playground for them to scamper about.
The sprawling community plaza on L1 can also get quite happening from time to time. They’ve hosted events such as snow-spouting Christmas celebrations and the occasional pasar malam, so swing by during festive periods to make the most out of your visit.
Address: 681 Punggol Drive, Singapore 820681
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6229 3261 | Oasis Terraces website
The premium leather seats at Eagle Wing Cinematics are equipped with an adjustable footrest, and are capable of reclining back for comfortable viewing.
Image credit: @mr.edwin.lim via Instagram
If King Albert Park Mall is known for one thing, it’s their independent cinema Eagle Wings Cinematics. Although its halls and screens are not as massive as the ones you’d find at other movie theatres in Singapore, their premium seats make for a cosy viewing experience. These even come with a table so you can dig into your meals as your movie plays.
Plus, their Gold and Platinum Halls seat just 12 and 18 pax respectively – perfect for movie dates. Some customers have even popped the question and proposed in this intimate cinema.
If you’re looking for a boost of productivity, book a study sesh at City On A Hill (#B1-01). It’s a co-working space fitted with individual booths, charging ports, and free Wi-Fi at your disposal when you want to hunker down and get work done. There are even nap pods and a recreational area with air hockey and ping pong for break time.
Address: 9 King Albert Park, Singapore 598332
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: King Albert Park Mall website
It’s unfortunate that The Adelphi has its customers pried away by the neighbouring Funan Mall. But for us introverts who’d rather shy away from the masses, we see this as an absolute win. A peek into the mostly still mall will reveal an audiophile’s haven, as you’ll find a plethora of shops that deal with high-end audio equipment.
Visit AV One Group (#01-01), which has everything you need to bring your audio game to the next level – think portable amplifiers, and headphones with prices that creep into the thousands. Record collectors can also rejoice, as Intermix Records (#B1-13) is stocked full with rare and vintage vinyls from artists like Metallica, Nirvana, and Blink-182.
Address: 1 Coleman Street, Singapore 179803
Opening hours: 8am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6339 9179 | The Adelphi website
Don’t forget to take a ride in Cuppage Plaza’s futuristic-looking capsule elevators.
Image credit: @birdeatbird via Instagram
With crowd favourite malls like ION Orchard, Orchard Central, and 313@somerset scattered along Orchard Road, you can’t really blame us for missing out on Cuppage Plaza. Past its shabby exterior, however, lies some of Singapore’s most esteemed Japanese cuisine.
Image credit: @kemurisg_official via Instagram
The 41-year-old mall houses many authentic eateries like Kemuri (#04-02), a yakitori joint that’s famous for their “until you say stop” style omakase ($99/pax). Yes, you heard right, that’s not a marketing gimmick, and they’ll stay true to their word and serve you skewer after skewer of decadent meats till you’ve had your fill.
Image credit: Eatbook
In contrast, Ebi Bar (#B1-21) is a familiar option amidst the throng of Japanese establishments. They pride themselves on their prawn noodles, as their umami-packed broth is simmered using 40kg of prawn heads and shells.
Address: 5 Koek Road, Singapore 228796
Opening hours: 9am-11pm, Daily
Contact: 6235 2411
We wouldn’t be surprised if most people didn’t know of the existence of Wisteria Mall. After all, it’s a tiny mall consisting of just 2 levels that’s hidden deep within Yishun. With everyone opting to instead patronise the vibrant Northpoint City, it’s no wonder that Wisteria Mall’s not as happening.
Image credit: @thenooodlesfamily via Instagram
That’s not to say it’s a completely boring mall. For starters, it’s quite kid-friendly as the lil’uns can have a blast at the Cow Play Cow Moo (#B1-02) arcade. There’s also an indoor heated swimming pool by OtterSwim Aquatic (#B1-21), which specialises in providing swim classes for children and toddlers.
As far as F&B options go, it’s not as bare-bones as you’d think; you’ll also find your standard mall mainstays here if you prefer to dine in peace. Surprisingly, there’s a KFC, Yoshinoya, and Burger King on L1, while B1 boasts a Subway and a Wingstop. To curb late-night hunger pangs, grab supper at Siam Square Mookata (#01-37) that’s open till 6am.
Address: 598 Yishun Ring Road, Singapore 768698
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6359 0255 | Wisteria Mall website
Those staying in the Tanjong Katong neighbourhood will find no shortage of malls to satisfy their inner shopaholic; you’ve got Parkway Parade, as well as the newly-renovated i12 Katong. For a trip down memory lane, there are 2 laopok options in the area, namely Roxy Square and Katong Shopping Centre.
Image credit: @happybellybuddy via Instagram
Both of them have withstood the test of time much like the aforementioned Cuppage Plaza, but it is the latter that is the more peculiar of the 2. Katong Shopping Centre is pretty famous for its Katong Mei Wei Boneless Chicken Rice (#B1-85), which provides free double-boiled Cantonese-style soups and achar to accompany their chicken rice.
Curiously, there’s also a resident exorcist within the mall that has caught the attention of many passersby. Although they may not be who you wanna call if you bump into any one of Singapore’s scariest ghosts, Ghostbuster (#B1-27) does provide services like spirit and curse removals in addition to regular feng shui consultations.
The mall was also recently relaunched for an en bloc sale back in July of 2023, so drop by soon for a glimpse of its archaic charm.
Address: 865 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 437844
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6345 0322 | Katong Shopping Centre website
Image credit: @singaporebuildings via instagram
Another hidden gem located just outside the city centre is Fu Lu Shou Complex. This haunt is perfect for those who’d like to employ the otherworldly powers of feng shui, as the mall is stacked with stores that dabble in the occult.
Kang Li Mineral Kingdom (#01-08) is basically a haven for crystal girlies – crystal trees, figures sculpted from rare minerals, and sparkling geode caves line tier shelves. If mere stones aren’t enough to sway luck in your favour, they also have extensive feng shui consultation services that delve deep into picking the right wedding dates and baby names.
There’s a 4-faced Buddha you can make offerings to in the form of lighting a candle for $2 at Fu Lu Shou Si Mian Fo (#01-18). The shop which sells religious artefacts also doubles as a Buddhist temple.
You can even place your faith in a wealth bowl that you can purchase from Jin Yu Man Tang (#01-13) – fill it up with items that represent prosperity like gold ingots to usher in good fortune when it comes to making that moolah.
For a break from the spiritual, swing by Top Shop Electronics (#01-22) if you’re looking to build your very own KTV lounge. The father-son duo that runs the shop knows their stuff when it comes to karaoke systems, plus they’ll even offer to set everything up in your home so you don’t even have to lift a finger.
Address: 149 Rochor Road, Singapore 188425
Opening hours: 7.30am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6336 6308 | Fu Lu Shou Complex website
Occasionally, we just can’t be bothered to wrestle through the masses while navigating through a mall on weekends. If you’re one to value your personal space, pay a visit to one of these lesser-known malls. Who knows, you might discover your next favourite haunt nestled within their unassuming premises.
For more mall-related escapades, check out our guides to:
Cover image adapted from: @haolaiwusg via Instagram, The Promenade at Pelikat Shopping Mall
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