Malls
ION Orchard
Opened 2009, this is the largest new shopping mall on Orchard in years, extending four floors both above and under ground. While the spacey, pulsating, neon-lit facade is dominated by high-street flagships for Louis Vuitton and co, the interior has plenty of more affordable options including Japanese retailers Uniqlo and Muji. The fourth floor has the ION Art gallery, while the basement 4 Food Opera food court, while a bit pricey by Singapore standards, is enormous and very popular. Located on levels 55 and 56, at 218 metres, ION Sky offers a 360-degree view from the highest point on Orchard Road. It houses an observatory and contemporary restaurant Salt grill, helmed by Australian chef Luke Mangan.
Lucky Plaza
Most visitors end up in Lucky Plaza thanks to the dubious street-level camera and electronics stores, which are legendary for ripoffs and poor customer service, and are best avoided unless you really know your stuff. However, there's more to the mall than that: cheap souvenirs 2nd floor, low cost salons that offer most services such as manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and hair services fourth floor, off-season designer perfumes and cosmetics most floors and a cheap and surprisingly good food court in the basement. Lucky Plaza is also the favorite hangout spot for the Filipino community and gets packed on weekends.
Paragon
Long one of Singapore's flashiest malls, packed with Prada, Gucci and other luxury brands, although ION has stolen some of its thunder.
Wheelock Place
Previously notable primarily for the giant Borders bookstore that used to occupy the entire ground level, which is slated to be replaced by a Marks & Spencer department store. There's a smallish Marks & Spencer branch buried in the basement and a pretty good selection of restaurants on the 2nd floor.
Plaza Singapura
Singapore's oldest air-conditioned shopping mall, located just above the MRT interchange and recently given a thorough facelift. Huge Carrefour multilevel hypermarket, numerous eating options and a large cinema complex on the top floors.
Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Where the tai-tais wealthy ladies of leisure hang out. Expensive branded goods on the first floors, more affordable shopping in the two basement floors. Also features Kinokuniya, Southeast Asia's largest bookstore, on the 3rd floor.
Orchard Central
Modern, soaring twelve-story mall with a funky series of outdoor escalators and nice views from the terraces. Floors 7 and above are devoted to food, with restaurants including Korean barbeque masters Nolboo and Japanese set meal specialist Ootoya. The mall also houses the world's tallest indoor Via Ferrata climbing wall, a collection of public art installations by acclaimed international artists and a 24/7-operational Roof Garden.
While most malls in Orchard are distinctly upmarket, there are one or two that still cater to the average Singaporean wallets. A selection of malls, from west Orchard MRT to east Dhoby Ghaut MRT:
Far East Plaza
Frequented mostly by teenagers, this mall is a bargain hunter's paradise slowly creeping upmarket. Not bad for unique clothes and accessories at reasonable prices.
Wisma Atria
Designer boutiques and international brands populate this architecturally fascinating mall.
The Time of Tea
Excellent quality Chinese tea for prices that are less than anywhere else in Singapore. Ask for May Teo or Beljean Ong.