Stores, Malls or Markets in Singapore

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Mustafa is the only megamall in Singapore that operates round the clock. What I like about Mustafa is that you can literally grab almost everything under the sun there, and at a good price. If you are like me, who is the kind of shopping who is too lazy to go around comparing prizes for products, Mustafa is a heaven to go to.

There are actually 2 Mustafa department stores. The flagship store, which is open 24 hours, is located within Mustafa Centre, while the other one is located nearby, within Seragoon Plaza.

The one within Mustafa Centre is usually the one which is more crowded, because it has a much wider variety of items. And since this outlet operates round the clock, you can literally get lost inside (all 6 storeys of it - 2 basements + 4 levels) without worrying about closing times. But the downside is that its hard to get from point A to B within it. The reason is because in order to stuff all the inventories within the store, the walkways are very narrow to maximise the display space. Coupled this with the fact that a lot of shoppers like to use shopping carts and like to tug along their babies along with their prams, it makes for an uncomfortably tight squeeze. So be prepared for that.

The other Mustafa at Serangoon Plaza is another story though. Possibly because it is meant to cater to a higher class clientèle, the whole environment is much more pleasant, with brighter lightings, much wider walkways, better floorings and nicer displays with better organisation. However, despite this outlet having the same total floor space as the one at Mustafa Centre (despite spanning only 3 storeys here), the range of products is smaller, because this outlet predominantly sells the more expensive and higher end items. Due to this, the number of shoppers here is much reduced.

Probably due to its heritage, both outlets are immensely popular with visitors from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

What to buy: A lot of shoppers visit Mustafa for their electronics, which is always consistently cheaper than the prices of the same products at the electronics superstores. There is a rather wide variety available as well.

Gold is also a popular item and an obviously important part of Mustafa's trade, since they dedicate a very significant part of their retail space to it.

Mustafa also have a very well-stocked supermarket section, with an especially excellent selection of spices from India. It is so good that some visitors from India actually go there to buy Indian spices back to India!

Mustafa also offer some of the best foreign exchange rates around. The forex counters are right beside the main entrances to both Mustafa department stores.

For tourists, you may wish to know that there is a GST refund counter at basement 2 of the Mustafa at Mustafa Centre, right within the electronics section.

What to pay: Their prices are not necessary the lowest, but certainly far from being the most expensive. Despite them being a department store themselves, but unlike others, their prices are always below the recommended retail prices set by the distributors or product manufacturers. This is especially true for their electronic items ranging from LCD TVs, to Digital Cameras.

You can find some genuine bargains by shopping with the locals at the open air markets which are called Pasam Malam.

These markets do move around Singapore's suburbs so do check with the locals if they know where they will be held next.

What to buy: Clothing, household items, jewellery, CD's & DVD's.

What to pay: Less than the average.

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VIVO City is the latest and Singapore biggest shopping mall which opens on 7 Oct.
It is located stone throw away from Sentosa and HarbourFront MRT Station.

Anchor tenants are Best Denki, Golden Village Cinema, VIVOMART, Giant Supermarket, Toys R Us, Tangs, Planet Fitness. Famous fashion botiques like GAP, ESPRIT, Celia Loe, Chomel, Diesel, Dockers San Francisco, G2000,, Levi's, Liz Caliborne, M)phosis, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Mexx Timberland will offer you some retail theraphy.

There are many restaurants and Food Repulic which will be fully open by 1 Dec at the roof top garden areas. The food courts at basement, Kopitiam/Banquet are opened and accessible via the MRT link way .

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Vivo City is currently Singapore's largest shopping centre with a unique architectural at a size of 24-Hectares!
It is located very near to Harbourfront MRT station, Harbourfront Bus Terminal, Singapore Cruise Centre, Harbourfront Towers And Sentosa.
There are many shops that caters to fashion, fitness, food, sports, travel, shoes& bags, restaurants, hypermarket, entertainment and etc2 that provides you a pleasant shopping experience!
Singapore largest multiplex cinema is also located at Vivo City.
Although there's currently 80% of shops opened, Vivo City grand official opening is on 1st December 2006.
After all the shopping, you can relax with your loved ones at the 'Sky Park'. Sky Park is really nice to relax and to enjoy the sceneries and atmosphere around Vivo City, perhaps snap some pictures with your family and friends?
The kids can also have fun at the rooftop pool while mummy and daddy takes a short break! To sum it all up, Vivo City will provide you a great shopping experience in Singapore!

What to pay: It depends on what your buying.

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Would you like the privilege of having the back of head licked followed by a sharp smack to your face only to be despatched home to your loved ones? Well, you can by going on a Ducktour where they will take your photo and put it on a Singapore postage stamp that can be used like any other genuine stamp.

The print of the Raffles Hotel I found at Hue Hwa on the corner of Eu Tong Sen Road and Cross Street in Chinatown. I like the saffron yellow finish which gives it an added feel of a by-gone of Singapore's colonial heritage.

The uncirculated coin set I picked up at a coin dealer near the People's Park Complex on Eu Tong Sen Street, Chinatown.

And lastly, again my kids thought that Dad would really like a Singapore shot glass. I like it because they bought it for me but it really is too small for a beer glass.

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Distraught and forlorn,
From a broken shoe horn,
A gift from old Singapore.

Glueing won’t do,
Cuz it’s broken in two,
And I can’t get my foot in the shoe!
~robertgaz~

In my haste to get out the front door one night so I wouldn’t miss the opening scene of a comedy production “It’s A Dad’s Thing”, my fat behind launched my right foot onto an unsuspecting shoe horn and broke it in two.

"So what is so special about this particular shoe horn" you ask? I had a particular look and feel in mind when shopping for one in Singapore last year. Imagine the confused shop assistants when upon asking me “what I was looking for” I replied “a shoe horn”, and they would produce the same only to be informed “it’s not the one I’m looking for”.

Then I stumbled across a small shop not too far on the right from the NE4 exit in Chinatown where they had these lovely polished red wood shoe horns with mother of pearl inlays and I knew this was the one I had been looking for.

A very considerate imstress took it upon herself to find a replacement and pounded the pavement in torrential rain to ease my pain. A new one was found and I am again in the possession of an exquisite piece of personal paraphernalia.

Take a train to Toa Payoh MRT Station and you can start shopping once you step out of the MRT Station.

What to buy: Clothings, shoes, mobile phones, optical shops, pharmacy can all be found. almost anything that you need.

If you are hungry try the Kofu Food Court. A lot of yummy food stall.

Walk to the Toa Payoh Library area and ask the local where is the famous Rojak stall in the nearby coffee shop.

If you would like to try cheap Japanese food, visit Bento just above Mc Donalds. it is located near the library.

If you love fish head curry, take bus 238 to Toa Payoh Lor 8 for the Ocean Fish Head Curry near the Hawker Centre.

What to pay: Things are cheap.
I do my weekend shopping here once a month.

Marina Square is one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore.

It is centrally located in the Marina Centre area with easy access to CityLink Mall, Suntec City, Millenia Walk, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and five 5-star hotels.

They have many retail shops, restaurant, supermarket, cinema and food court.

They have this Centre Stage concept where u can place order from 6 different restaurnats.