The Cathay mall reopening in 2025
There’s nothing that piques the interest of Singaporeans more than new mall openings on the Little Red Dot, and 2025’s just chock full of them. From Punggol Coast Mall to the upcoming WEAVE lifestyle and entertainment cluster in Resorts World Sentosa, frequent mall-goers have no shortage of fresh shopping haunts to hit up.
Well, there’s one more to swing by when you’re in town, as The Cathay at Dhoby Ghaut has finally reopened since shuttering over 2 years ago. Even though the mall is still in the midst of fully opening up, you’re still free to visit it as some stores are already open for business. Here’s all you need to know before heading down to this iconic landmark in Orchard.
What to know about The Cathay?
The old Cathay Building.
Image credit: Roots.com
The Cathay, originally known as the Cathay Building, was first opened all the way back in 1939, and served as the headquarters for the British Malaya Broadcasting Corporation, which was the first major commercial radio station in Singapore. Standing at a height of 83.5m, it was the first and tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia.
The Cathay Building was also known to house the very first cinema in Singapore, called Cathay Cinema, which became synonymous with the building. Through many rounds of redevelopment, most of the building and its emblematic cinema have since been lost to time, and in March 2006, The Cathay shopping mall took its place.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
In February 2023, The Cathay was announced to be closing for redevelopment, and after 2 years of renovation, the mall was finally reopened in late-March 2025.
How to get to The Cathay?
The most convenient way to get to The Cathay is to take a train and alight at Dhoby Gaut MRT station, and you’ll arrive at the mall after a quick 2-minute walk. You can also opt to take a bus and alight at Dhoby Gaut bus stop (stop ID: 08057); a couple of bus services that stop here include bus no. 7, 14, 77, 106, 502, 665, and 972, just to name a few. The walk over to The Cathay is then just 5 minutes.
What to expect at the newly revamped The Cathay?
Since the mall had just opened its doors to the public following the completion of extensive redevelopment works, The Cathay still needs a bit of time to fill out its directory. But, it’s reported that the mall and all its tenants will be fully operational by Q3 2025. As of writing, about 30% of the mall’s tenants are already up and running.
An artist’s impression of The Cathay’s atrium.
Image credit: Cathay Organisation
While the building retains its iconic facade, visitors to the revamped mall will also be wowed by the new 360° Multimedia Tower. It spans over 3 storeys and it’s a marvel to gaze at while you take a breather at the steps in the mall’s atrium. If you need to take a stroll after a hearty meal, head right to the mall’s Sky Garden which is located on Level 4.
Image credit: Hooke Wando via Google Maps
Speaking of which, there are quite a few eateries you can drop by for a meal at The Cathay. Currently, mall mainstays such as Saizeriya, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, and Starbucks are all open and welcoming diners, while restaurants like Yoshinoya and Wingstop will be gracing the mall in the near future. For even more options, Food Avenue is a food court where you can indulge in local delicacies.
Image credit: 24/7 Fitness
If you’re looking to work off those extra calories, there’s a 24/7 Fitness gym within the mall to work up a sweat; otherwise, get in a good gaming sesh at the Elixir Esports internet cafe. As for retail shops, Miniso and IUIGA are coming to the mall real soon, but in the meantime, you can pick up cute trinkets at Gift.ed by Turtle.
For a complete directory that includes both upcoming stores and stores that are already open for business, visit The Cathay’s official website.
Visit the newly reopened The Cathay mall
While The Cathay is nowhere as big as its neighbour Plaza Singapura, it’s nice to see this historic landmark make its return to Singapore’s cityscape. Who knows, perhaps even the Cathay Cineplexes cinema that closed down here back in 2022 is also slated for a comeback – only time will tell.
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For more mall-related reads:
- IOI Mall Kulai in Johor
- Malls & spaces in town with free places to sit down
- Things to do at Kada At Maxwell
Cover image adapted from: Wikimedia Commons, Cathay Organisation