Things to do in Orchard
“Girls, we just want to get pampered, y’know?” – a sentiment that most ladies would probably resonate with. Amidst all that girl-bossing at work, we do deserve to treat ourselves once in a while. On your next day off, live it up by gathering your girlfriends at Orchard Road and becoming tai tais for a day.
Of course, retail therapy is so-named for good reason. But besides shopping, there are tonnes of things to do in Orchard for you and your besties to see and do to live your best life. The best part is you won’t have to worry about paying for everything at one go on your tai tai journey when armed with the DBS Woman’s Card, coupled with DBS’ My Preferred Payment Plan.
Read till the end to find out how you can score exclusive DBS/POSB Cardmember perks – such as 5X bonus points or 10 miles, and 0% interest monthly instalments – on tai tai-worthy things to do, see and eat in Orchard.
1. Off Duty Pilates – Beginner group classes in an aesthetic studio
Kickstart the day by stretching out your tense muscles in a pilates class at Off Duty Pilates, an aesthetic fitness studio at Palais Renaissance with pretty pink shades, neon lights and terrazzo tiles. You and your gal pal will get to show off your prettiest loot from activewear stores, all while clocking in your workout for the day.
Pilates involves a lot of core exercises which will get you to feel the burn straight away.
The unacquainted can start with Off Duty’s Beginner classes. This will allow your body to get used to the mechanics of pilates as well as the special equipment that’ll be used, like the nifty reformer machine which aids in resistance-based exercises.
If you and the girlfriends are looking to sweat in privacy, check out the studio’s private classes that host friend groups in an exclusive studio.
After the intense workout sesh, snap a pic with your bestie at the neon sign. It’ll act as a certificate of sorts to flex on social media that you did, indeed, work out. And in such a glamorous studio, to boot.
Address: 390 Orchard Road, #04-02 Palais Renaissance, Singapore 238871
Opening hours: Off Duty Pilates class schedule
2. Merci Marcel – French brunch in a cosy setting with alfresco option
Image adapted from: Merci Marcel Orchard
Post-workout, you won’t have to travel far to refuel. Head to Merci Marcel, a quaint French cafe on the first floor of Palais Renaissance. Take your pick from indoor seating by the bar, or in the outdoor space to soak in the warmth from the morning sun.
Image credit: Merci Marcel Orchard
On the breakfast menu, find classic dishes like Benedict Eggs ($23), grain bowls (from $9), or salads (from $19) for a light meal after pilates class. For something more substantial, order some hearty options like the Ravioles de Royans (from $19) – ravioli with Swiss cheese; or the Tarte Flambée ($26), a pizza-like dish with a vegetarian variant.
Address: 390 Orchard Road, #01-03/4 Palais Renaissance, Singapore 238871
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am-12am | Sun 8am-11pm
Telephone: 6735 2608
3. Emerald Hill – Picturesque enclave with colourful shophouses
Next up on the itinerary is a leisurely stroll through Emerald Hill. Saunter the food coma away and snap some photos to document your BFF day out, all while getting a dose of Vitamin D and working on a healthy tan.
Emerald Hill Road spans approximately 200m, lined with brightly coloured shophouses and unique mouldings greeting the girls. There’s no judgement if you’re tempted to whip out your phones or even film cameras to take some photos for your next social media post; this entire area is an IG dream come true.
In the spirit of girls-day-out, you and your BFF can have a full-fledged #OOTD photo shoot.
Find Emerald Hill on Google Maps.
4. LifeSpa – Massage & facial treatments at Orchard Gateway
After a nice stroll and photo shoot session, it’s time to retreat into Orchard Gateway @ Emerald just next door and into LifeSpa. The treat-yo’self shebang continues with spa treatments, including facials to soothe any pesky mask-ne and massages to knead our aching muscles.
Ladies who wield the DBS Woman’s Card can enjoy special LifeSpa promos on their first visit. For $30 nett, unwind with a 75-min Age Reversal Stem Cell Facial with Eye Treatment (U.P. $315). Or if you prefer a massage, pick between the 60-min White Tea Sensory or Sandalwood Body Massage (U.P. $260).
Spa regulars here won’t be left out of good deals either. DBS Woman’s Cardmembers returning for more spa treatments can score a 35% discount on a la carte services.
With your skin and body feeling refreshed and recharged, chill at the spa’s lounge area on its plush chairs and sip on a cup of complimentary ginger tea. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural sunlight for a pretty post-facial pic, and you get to watch the buzz on the streets of Somerset before you and your bestie carry on with the day’s activities.
Address: 218 Orchard Road, Level 11 Orchard Gateway @ Emerald, Singapore 238851
Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Fri 10am-9.30pm | Sat-Sun & PH 10am-7pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Telephone: 6737 6766
5. Lady M Champagne Bar – Outlet-exclusive high tea sets
Besides shopping, having afternoon high tea is a quintessential aspect of living the tai tai life. The chic Lady M Champagne Bar at ION Orchard is the perfect place for the girls to gather for crêpe cakes and bubblies.
We’re all familiar with Lady M’s delicious crepe cakes but exclusive to the Champagne Bar outlet is the Champagne Mille Crêpe ($25). It’s a level-up from their regular signatures, with generous amounts of champagne gelee topping.
You can also get the crowd favourite Green Tea Mille Crêpe ($14), covered in finely milled matcha powder over layers of crêpe and matcha cream.
The Afternoon Tea Set ($60) that’s only available at the Champagne Bar.
Image credit: Lady M
As you can guess from its name, this high tea cafe doesn’t limit bev choices to tea or coffee – feel free to order a glass of champagne (from $19/flute) to truly relish in the tea spilling sesh with your girlfriend.
If you’d like some tasty treats to accompany the chit-chat, go for their Afternoon Tea Set ($60) which comprises delectable tarts and sweet puff pastries, and champagne for 2.
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #03-32/33 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Sun-Thu & PH 11am-10pm | Fri-Sat & eve of PH 11am-10.30pm
Telephone: 6509 0790
6. Takashimaya & The Heeren – Must-visit shopping spots in Orchard
A tai tai’s work isn’t quite done until her hands are full of shopping bags. Besides facials and massages, this type of therapy will definitely help with de-stressing as well. Along Orchard Road, there’s no lack of malls to shop at till you drop.
If you’ve gone through ION Orchard’s stores till you have the mall directory memorised, give more low-key haunts like Takashimaya Shopping Centre and The Heeren a visit.
Takashimaya Shopping Centre is home to many beauty brands, and DBS Woman’s Cardmembers are given the privilege of up to 50% discounts at participating specialty stores such as Sephora, Diptyque, and Byredo.
Head to Sephora to doll up with your bestie and get products from beauty brands such as Tom Ford, Clinique, and Sephora’s own line. A minimum spend of $120 on regular-priced items at Sephora allows Cardmembers to knock $12 off the bill.
Address: 391 Orchard Road, #B1-05 to 09, Singapore 238872
Opening hours: 10am-9.30pm, Daily
Telephone: 6836 5621
The newly opened COURTS Nojima at The Heeren is the largest COURTS store to date. You know what they say, only the biggest and the best for tai tais. This retail outlet takes up 6 floors with items like electronics and home furnishings for sale.
Pick up beauty appliances here like hair dryers and styling tools, as well as epilators and IPL kits so that you and your BFF can continue to maintain the tai tai look even when at home. There are even massage chairs and handheld massage guns for quick knead breaks while you WFH.
Tip: To avoid feeling the pinch on more big-ticket purchases such as appliances and even furniture, split your payment into instalments that are interest-free for up to 6 months with DBS’ My Preferred Payment Plan. It also allows you to rack up to 5X bonus points or 10 miles.
Address: 260 Orchard Road, Singapore 238855
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Telephone: 1800 222 6868
7. Les Amis – 3 Michelin-starred dinner with IG-worthy desserts
Now that you and your bestie have worked up an appetite from shopping, strut down the streets of Orchard Road and admire the cityscape at nighttime. With your newly-acquired hauls, make your way towards Shaw Centre for dinner at Les Amis.
The restaurant serves premium mains featuring caviar and roasted French duck breast.
Image adapted from: @mi_lil_foodie
Helmed by a 3-Michelin Star chef, the party can expect cuisine fit for an epicure at this French restaurant. Take your pick of entrées and mains from the dinner menu which includes delicacies like caviar and veal chop.
If you and your bestie can’t decide what to have, go for the set menu instead with Classic ($375) and Tasting ($460) versions to indulge in premium courses curated by the chef.
Best prep your IG Boomerang function as you smash the dessert sphere open, allowing candied strawberries and meringue to flow out.
Image adapted from: @ronaldwilbert
The perfect conclusion for the day is in the form of an uber chio dessert that resembles a giant pearl. The La fraise Gariguette ($46) – a French strawberry dessert – is one that’ll invite oohs and aahs on social media. This delectable dessert can be cracked open to reveal French strawberries & meringue.
Address: 1 Scotts Road, #01-16 Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208
Opening hours: Lunch 12pm-2pm | Dinner 7pm-9pm, Daily
Telephone: 6733 2225
Pamper yourself while enjoying perks with the DBS Woman’s Card
It’s always a great time to hang out with your BFFs, especially on your hard-earned day off. Although this itinerary might be a bit exorbitant, the ladies can look to the DBS Woman’s Card to split up price tags into smaller instalment payments and the DBS My Preferred Payment Plan.
The payment plan allows us to earn up to 5X DBS points or 10 miles (for every $5) when we break up bigger purchases like appliance shopping or having a fancy restaurant dinner. Better yet, these instalments interest-free for up to 6 months.
DBS points can then be used to offset future spending by redeeming merchant vouchers. DBS Woman’s Cardmembers who divide their purchases into instalments of at least 12 months with My Preferred Payment Plan can also earn a $50 cash rebate, valid till 31st July 2022.
If you aren’t a DBS/POSB Credit Cardmember yet, apply online for the DBS Woman’s Card from now till 31st Jan 2023 and you’ll be rewarded with $150 cashback. Charge a minimum of S$800 within 60 days from Card Approval Date and bam, free cash.
The good news for us gals is that we don’t have to live vicariously through Netflix reality shows like Bling Empire.
Armed with the DBS Woman’s Card, we can be our own enablers to head out and pamper ourselves with retail therapy and high tea sets in the streets of Orchard Road. All while having the freedom to split our expenditure into manageable instalments, and earning card rewards which will pave the way for more tai tai experiences to come.
Find out more about the DBS Woman’s Card here
This post was brought to you by DBS.
Photography by Loo Jie Ling.
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