Singapore/Orchard - boulevard that is the retail and entertainment hub of Singapore

Orchard Road is Singapore consumerism at its most manic, a two-kilometre stretch of interconnected shopping malls, hotels, and hotels with shopping malls catering to all budgets and tastes. North of the Singapore River, to the west of Marina Bay, Orchard Road turns into Tanglin Road to the west and Bras Basah Road as it heads east. Only at the eastern Bras Basah end do the shopping malls briefly peter out, with some fine colonial architecture and a few of Singapore's top museums to be found instead.

Understand

Orchard Road is named after the fruit and nutmeg orchards that used to line it in the 1830s, one of them coincidentally belonging to a Mr Orchard. The manhole covers along the road all depict various tropical fruits. Large trees still shade the road, providing a modicum of relief from the heat. Fortunately, Orchard Road has an extensive network of underpasses that connect many of the malls providing even more shelter from the blistering equatorial heat and, on occasion, rain. Weekends in the area are often packed with locals and visitors alike out to consume en masse.

The Christmas decorations along Orchard are mildly famous and entirely over the top, with reindeers cavorting through palm trees and gingerbread houses topped with fake snow.

Visitor Centre

• Singapore Visitors Centre, 216 Orchard Rd (next to orchardgateway@emerald), 1.30137°, 103.839°. noon-7PM daily. Oodles of free information on Singapore. There's also a similar but smaller operation in Ion Orchard. Also sells some nice souvenirs. 2016-03-28

Get in

Orchard is centrally located about 30 minutes from Changi Airport by taxi.

Most of Orchard Road is served by the North-South Line, which runs under the eastern section of Orchard Road. MRT stations located in this section comprise of Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall.

Formerly an area not served by the MRT, the westernmost end of Orchard Road (also known as Tanglin) is now served by Orchard Boulevard on the newly-opened Thomson-East Coast Line. To get there from the rest of Orchard Road, you will need to change trains at Orchard.

Get around

Orchard Rd is walkable, at least allowing plenty of breaks in air-conditioned shopping centres. There is still heavy traffic on the road itself, but there are quite a few underpasses and walkways, and sections of the road starting with Dhoby Ghaut are set to be fully pedestrianized from 2025. You can no longer cross the central Orchard/Scotts intersection on foot: instead, take the air-conditioned underground walkway system that links Orchard MRT/Ion Orchard to Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Lucky Plaza (east), to CK Tang/Marriott (north), and to Shaw House and Wheelock Place (west).

If you're in a hurry, the North-South MRT (red) line runs under the road for most of its length, or if heading east, hop on any bus for a few stops. To head west, you'll need to walk a block over to Penang/Somerset Rd/Orchard Blvd, since Orchard Rd is one-way only.

See

Two of Singapore's top museums are in Bras Basah, within striking distance of Dhoby Ghaut and Bras Basah MRT stations.

• National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd, 1.29672°, 103.849°, +65 6332 3659. Singapore History Gallery: 10AM-6PM; Living Galleries: 10AM-8PM. Formerly Singapore History Museum, it has been refurbished from top to bottom and a new wing was added. The star of the show is the permanent Singapore History Gallery, a 2800-m² multimedia extravaganza covering six centuries of island history, navigated with a super-flexible, if occasionally somewhat confusing, interactive audio guide system that lets you choose the events and items to focus on. There are also four Living Galleries focusing on food, fashion, film and photography, plus various temporary exhibitions and a few nice cafes and restaurants. Permanent exhibition $15/10 adult/child 2022-10-16
• Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd (Bras Basah MRT), 1.29734°, 103.851°, +65 6332 3222. Sa-Th 10AM-7PM, F 10AM-9PM. Modern art from both Singapore and the region. The permanent collection is lackluster, but exhibitions can be interesting. Guided tours in English at 11AM and 2PM, with an additional timing on Fridays and weekends. Closed until 2026 for redevelopment. $10/5, free Friday evenings 6-9PM
• Istana, 1.30778°, 103.843°. 8:30AM-6PM. Completed in 1869, this British-Malay-Indian hybrid building was once the Government House of the colony of Singapore, before being repurposed on independence as the official residence of the President. The 100-acre grounds occupy some of Singapore's choicest real estate and incorporate several gardens and even a 9-hole golf course. A separate building on the Istana grounds known as Sri Temasek serves as the official residence of the Prime Minister. There is a Changing of the Guards ceremony every first Sunday of the month at 5.45pm, with rifle-twirling displays by the military police. The Istana is open to the public on only five days a year: Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day. Apply online in advance for tickets. Non-Singaporeans $1
• 38 Oxley Road. A historical building built in late-19 century that is best known for being the residence of the Lee Kuan Yew and his family, and the founding place of the ruling People's Action Party. The site's future has since been embroiled in a multi-year controversy among his descendants and the government, and it is possible that the building would be demolished. Note that the building is still a private property resided by the Lee family, so travellers should exercise caution to avoid disturbing the neighbourhood. 2023-01-12

Religious buildings

• Maghain Aboth Synagogue, 24/26 Waterloo St, 1.298194°, 103.850639°, +65 6337 2189, shabbat@jwb.org.sg. One of two synagogues in Singapore that have been catering to Singapore's small Jewish community since colonial times. Also home to Singapore's only kosher restaurant and grocery store. free 2021-11-25
• Chesed-El Synagogue. Renaissance style synagogue, built in 1905. 2022-01-30
• Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, A Queen Street, 1.295961°, 103.851311°, +65 6337 2036, cathedral@catholic.org.sg. M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM, Sa 8:30AM-8PM, Su 7AM-7:30PM. Singapore's Roman Catholic cathedral, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore, and also home to Singapore's oldest working pipe organ. For many years dingy and run down, it has since been restored to pristine condition in 2016. free

Do

It's difficult to find anything more strenuous to do on Orchard than lugging around shopping bags, getting pampered at a spa and watching a movie.

• Bounce, 8 Grange Rd (Cineleisure Orchard 9F), 1.3014°, 103.8363°. Daily 10AM-8PM. If it's a rainy day and you have kids who need to let off some steam, let them jump around for a while in this giant indoor trampoline park. Various zones catering to children as young as 4. The same mall also has a large movie theatre complex. General access $26.90/1st hour, various discounts available 2022-10-06
• The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd (near Dhoby Ghaut MRT), 1.29931°, 103.848°. A modern shopping mall (partly) hiding behind a stately 1939 art-deco facade, the main draw here is the eponymous cinema on the top floor. The Picturehouse, Singapore's first and only arthouse cinema, shows movies uncut, but many are restricted to 21 and above.
• Rustic Nirvana, 11 Cavenagh Road, #B1-01 (Somerset MRT), 1.30236°, 103.84107°, +65 6238 6890. Balinese-style spa with over 80 face and body treatment options, including the inimitably named Kung Fu Bouncing Herbs. Ladies only.
• Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Rd Level 4 (Orchard MRT, Orchard Road exit), 1.3043°, 103.8342°. Various beauty salons can be found on the fourth floor. Facials, a wax and mani-pedis for a fraction of the cost at salons in the rest of the city. Get a stylish haircut at a full-service salon for about $10, even for ladies. The best salons accept most major credit cards to cater to the demand of tourists.

Buy

Orchard Road and neighbouring Scotts Road form Singapore's premier shopping district, with several kilometres of road lined on both sides by practically nothing but shopping malls.

Orchard Road also participates in the annual Great Singapore Sale in June. During this period, street events and late night shopping (till 11PM on Fridays and Saturdays) are held at selected malls, and tourists are entitled to additional privileges.

Malls

While most malls in Orchard are distinctly upmarket, there are one or two that still cater to the average Singaporean wallets. Most of the shopping centres operate from 10AM to 10PM. A selection of malls, from west (Orchard MRT) to east (Dhoby Ghaut MRT):

• Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd, 1.30694°, 103.833°. 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.
• Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd (Orchard MRT), 1.30453°, 103.831°. The multistory glass cone above the entrance is an Orchard landmark and the signature of star architect Kisho Kurokawa. Previously notable primarily for the giant Borders bookstore that used to occupy the entire ground level, this has been replaced by a large Marks & Spencer department store. There's a pretty good selection of restaurants on the 2nd floor.
• ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn (integrated with Orchard MRT), 1.30444°, 103.832°. Covered in pulsating neon lights at night, this is Orchard's flashiest mall in more ways than one, extending four floors both above and under ground. The first few floors are dominated by high-street flagships for Louis Vuitton and co, but the interior and basement have 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. 2022-10-06
• Tangs Plaza, 320 Orchard Rd (Orchard MRT), 1.305°, 103.8331°. Easily spotted thanks to the faux-Chinese pagoda tower (which houses the Marriott hotel, see Sleep), this mall is best known for housing Singapore's very own old-school department store CK Tangs, which dates back to 1958 and was the very first shop in the area. Tiong Bahru Bakery, at the corner, has some of the best French pastries in town.
• Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd, 1.3037°, 103.8333°. Designer boutiques and international brands populate this architecturally fascinating mall.
• Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Rd, 1.30447°, 103.834°. 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, making it one of the best places in Singapore to sample Filipino cuisine.
• Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya Shopping Centre), 391 Orchard Rd, 1.30278°, 103.834°. 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 4th floor, with extensive English, Chinese and Japanese selections. As a favourite hangout spot for the Japanese community, there is no shortage of Japanese food to cater to that crowd: in particular, the always packed depachika food stalls in basement 2 would feel right at home in Tokyo.
• Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd (opp Takashimaya), 1.3038°, 103.8356°. Long one of Singapore's flashiest malls, packed with Prada, Gucci and other luxury brands, although ION has stolen some of its thunder. The large medical centre here is geared towards expensive aesthetic specialists offering Botox and facelifts.
• Design Orchard, 250 Orchard Rd (Somerset MRT), 1.3020199°, 103.8378043°. 10:30am-9:30pm. Devoted entirely to Singaporean designers, this squat fashion-forward edifice of raw concrete with circular glass windows houses the work of over 100 local brands across fashion, jewelry, and cosmetics, all available for sale of course. A good place to pick up some souvenirs. The shady garden rooftop is a public park and event space.
• 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Rd (Somerset MRT), 1.3012°, 103.8385°. 313@somerset is directly linked to the Somerset MRT station and features a concentration of mid-range retail and dining outlets.
• Orchard Gateway, 277 & 218 Orchard Rd (Somerset MRT), 1.30092°, 103.83898°. This mall is built in the space between Orchard Central and 313, so you might not even notice that you are in a different mall. A special feature of this mall is that it stretches over both sides of Orchard road, connected both via an underpass and a link bridge. This mall houses a public library on the third and fourth level, which is a good spot to take a break from the crowds of Orchard Road, as well as the Singapore visitor centre. 2017-11-02
• Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd (Somerset MRT), 1.30078°, 103.83951°. Modern, soaring twelve-story mall with a funky series of outdoor escalators and nice views from the terraces. Houses a multi-story flagship Uniqlo outlet as well as large basement shops for Japanese retailers Don Don Donki (food and more) and Tokyu Hands (crafts and DIY). Floors 7 and above are devoted to food, with restaurants such as Japanese set meal specialist Ootoya or Tsukiji Fish Market with sashimi rice bowls.
• The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Rd (Somerset MRT), 1.30153°, 103.84°. One of the stalwarts of Orchard Road, now largely outshone by newer competitors. The anchor tenant here is Decathlon, the French sports superstore, which is a great place to buy anything sporty including swimwear, snorkels, etc.
• Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd (Dhoby Ghaut MRT), 1.30072°, 103.845°. Singapore's oldest air conditioned shopping mall, just above the MRT interchange. Muji flagship store complete with Muji Cafe, numerous eating options and a large cinema complex on the top floors. Very busy since it sits atop Singapore's largest MRT interchange.

Eat

Orchard is a good place to sample not just Singaporean food, but food from all over the planet. That said, if you're pinching pennies, prices tend to be slightly inflated by Singaporean standards, but well, at least it's not as bad as Sentosa.

Budget

Almost every shopping mall has its own food court, but for gourmet snacking, it's hard to beat the collection of shops and stands at Takashimaya's basement. Be careful though, those $2 squid balls won't fill you up.

• Asian Food Mall, 304 Orchard Rd, Basement (Lucky Plaza), 1.30466°, 103.83398°. 7AM-9PM. One of the cheapest food courts in the district. Dim and dingy, but prices are about 30% cheaper than the food courts at nearby malls while still maintaining excellent Singapore standards. Stalls serve local and Asian fare, with Filipino fast food chains like Jollibee and Tapa King well represented. The chicken rice stall usually sells out well before closing and the ayam penyet (Indonesian fried chicken) is no slouch either. $3-5 2022-10-06
• Ayam Penyet Ria, 304 Orchard Rd #04-25/26 (Lucky Plaza), 1.30471°, 103.83379°, +65 6235 7385. 11AM-9PM. Very popular Indonesian eatery specializing in ayam penyet or "smashed chicken", breaded, deep-fried and flattened, served with the fiery chili sambal of the name. For a less spicy treat, sample their excellent rawon (beef soup). $7
• Food Republic, 435 Orchard Rd, Level 4 (Wisma Atria), 1.30397°, 103.83292°. 10AM-9PM daily. Food court done up as a series of hawker carts and decorated with various nostalgic knick-knacks. The food is a notch above average (try e.g. the hokkien mee fried noodles, with a perennial queue snaking out in front), and so are the crowds. Slightly more expensive than the competition. Other Orchard outlets at ION and 313@Somerset. $6-10 2017-10-31
• Gyoza no Osho, 5 Koek Rd (Cuppage Plaza), 1.30203°, 103.84073°. On the ground floor of a musty mall filled with dodgy Japanese karaoke joints, this greasy spoon joint specializing in ramen noodles and gyoza dumpling will make you sweat — partly because the soups are hot, partly because they don't have air-con. $10
• Killiney Kopitiam, 67 Killiney Rd (Somerset MRT), 1.29883°, 103.83945°. M W-Sa 6AM-11PM, Tu Su 6AM-6PM. A Singaporean legend now franchised across the island, this ordinary-looking coffee shop continues to pack in the crowds for its famous kaya (coconut-egg jam) toast, with the kaya itself also sold as a handy souvenir. For lunch or dinner, try the more substantial chicken curry with grilled French bread ($4.50). $1-5 2022-10-12
• Isle Cafe, 5 Koek Rd, #01-03 (Cuppage Plaza), 1.30161°, 103.84051°. 9:30AM-9:30PM. Cheerless but air-conditioned and cheap, this perennially packed eatery offers a range of Singaporean noodles, snacks and drinks. The most popular dish is economy rice: pick and choose from 20+ options on display, with a plate of rice and three dishes around $3. Second outlet in Far East Plaza, Scotts Rd. 2021-09-26

Mid-range

• Din Tai Fung, 290 Orchard Rd #B1-03/06 (Paragon), 1.3038°, 103.83503°. 11AM-10PM daily. The original Singapore branch of the award-winning Taiwanese chain, serves some of the best xiao long bao (soup dumplings, $8.50 per platter) this side of Shanghai. The pork chop fried rice is also justly legendary and will fill you right up. Expect to queue near mealtimes, but it's a big place and the queue moves fast. Other outlets at Wisma Atria and Centrepoint. 2022-10-06
• Shimbashi Soba, 290 Orchard Rd #B1-41 (Paragon), 1.30349°, 103.83522°. The best Japanese soba noodles you'll find in Singapore, made by hand in the adjoining glass-walled workshop. The best time to come here is lunch, when you can get filling set meals for $15 or so. $10-20
• Soup Restaurant, 290 Orchard Rd #B1-07 (Paragon), 1.30383°, 103.83542°. 11:30AM-10PM. Offers not only excellent Chinese-style soup, but also plenty of traditional Singaporean Chinese fare, including their trademark samsui chicken (slow-boiled chicken eaten wrapped in lettuce with garlic sauce). Eat a Chinatown Heritage Course ($50 for two) for lunch and take the leftovers home for dinner. Franchises throughout Singapore, including Suntec City and Changi Airport. 2017-10-27
• Sushiro, #03-K1/K2, 350 Orchard Rd (Shaw House/Isetan), 1.30568°, 103.83163°. 11AM-9PM. Japan's largest conveyor belt sushi chain has landed in Singapore, offering a huge range of both traditional and modern sushi at reasonable prices, including tasty seasonal specials. What's best, you don't even need to wait around, just order what you'd like on the tablet and a tiny little bullet train will wing its way straight to your table! Very popular, so book ahead or get there early. $2.20-4.80 per plate 2021-09-26

Splurge

Orchard Road is brimming with fiercely competitive restaurants. One easy option is Crystal Jade, a popular chain of Chinese restaurants with outlets in nearly every major shopping mall in Singapore, including Suntec City, Shaw House, and Paragon.

• Chatterbox, 333 Orchard Rd (Hilton level 5), 1.30181°, 103.83602°, +65 6831 6291. Possibly Singapore's most famous chicken rice, and at $25/plate after tax, certainly its most expensive — but you do get very generous portions, air-con, red-lacquered furniture in a very posh hotel. (For the budget alternative, go to Mr Chicken Rice in the Downtown East Mall in the very east of Singapore, run by Chatterbox's original chef and offering the same for $3!)
• Crystal Jade Palace, 391 Orchard Rd #04-19 (Ngee Ann City), 1.30325°, 103.83435°, +65 6735 2388. Lunch 11:30AM-3PM, dinner 6-10:30PM. The flagship of the chain, which serves authentic Cantonese food. Dinner here is fairly expensive, but the set lunch for two is good value at $50. The dim sum during the lunch time is worth trying as well as the roasted meat and wonton noodles during lunchtime. Reservations recommended as queues can be as long as an hour. Lunch $25, dinner $50 2017-11-01
• Mezza9, 10-12 Scotts Rd 2F (Grand Hyatt), 1.30637°, 103.83331°, +65 6730 7189. Su 11:30AM-3PM. Famous for their Sunday Munch, one of the best of Singapore's many extravagant hotel brunches. Worth a splurge at $178++ per person, including free-flowing Perrier-Jouet champagne. Reservations essential. Closed until Q1 2013 for renovation.. 2017-11-01
• Sushi Kanazawa, 360 Orchard Rd #02-13 (International Bldg), 1.30586°, 103.8309°, +65 6738 3833. Daily, noon-3PM, 6-10PM. Tiny hole-in-the-wall sushi joint, but the ten counter seats here are packed every night thanks to their simple concept: pay a flat fee and the chef makes all the sushi you can eat. You can either let the chef pick, or order off a ten-page menu. Reservations highly advisable. Around $40/50 lunch/dinner, +$10 on weekends 2022-10-06
• Tung Lok Peking Duck, 181 Orchard Rd (Orchard Central 7F), 1.3007°, 103.8399°, +65 6736 0006. Daily 11:30AM-3PM, 6-10:30PM. This restaurant set up with Beijing's famed Xiheyaju dishes out what's probably the most delectable Peking duck in town, with crispy skin and juicy meat. $98 per duck, served as three dishes and enough to fill up 4 people if you add on a few sides. Reservations recommended. 2022-10-06

Drink

If you're looking for a caffeinated beverage, you're spoiled for choice in Orchard. Seemingly every franchise in the world ranging from Starbucks to Taiwanese bubble teas like Chicha San Chen and Japanese master brewers Hoshino have outlets in the area, and there are plenty of independent, more quirky shops tucked away in the malls too.

• Halcyon & Crane, 290 Orchard Road #03-09 (Paragon 3F), 1.3037°, 103.8351°, +65 9727 5121. Daily 11AM-8:30 PM. Peaceful, wood-toned cafe with all-day breakfast and interesting drinks. Order a jasmine tea here and you'll get actual jasmine flowers in your cup. Drinks around $10 2022-10-06

If you're looking for something stronger, Singapore's nightlife is concentrated just south of Orchard Rd by the riverside, but there are still a few notable nightspots. The largest cluster is Emerald Hill opposite Somerset MRT, a beautifully restored cluster of shophouse bars.

• Alley Bar, 2 Emerald Hill, 1.30145°, 103.83915°, +65 6732 6966. Daily 5PM-2AM or later. True to its name, this bar has been set up in an alley between two shophouses — not that you'd really notice from the slick modern decor and the endless parade of Singapore's nouveaux riches. $10-15 2017-11-02
• Number 5, 5 Emerald Hill, 1.30169°, 103.83908°, +65 6732 0818. M-Sa noon-2AM, Su 5PM-2AM. Friendly bar housed in a 1910 Peranakan shophouse. Downstairs is loud, upstairs is quieter with a pool table. The cocktails are good, but for a fiery kick try their Chilli Vodka or its industrial-strength big brother, Chilli Padi Vodka.

A few places of interest lurk elsewhere along the strip.

• Orchard Towers, 400 Orchard Rd, 1.30696°, 103.82926°. Undoubtedly Orchard Road's most notorious nightspot, this dingy shopping mall is a Designated Red-Light Area famously summarized as "four floors of whores". The first floor bars are borderline legit and not too bad for a noisy drink, but the rest are outright sleazy — and the Thai "ladies" propositioning passersby in the hallways may be more than you bargained for. The government is threatening to terminate all nightclub licenses here by 2023, so drop in before the party ends.
• Manhattan, 1 Cuscaden Road (Regent Hotel 2F), 1.3047°, 103.825°, +65 6725 3098. 5PM-midnight. Multiple winner of the Best Bar in Asia award, this plush Old World haven of velvet armchairs, rich drapery and mahogany tables focuses on classic American cocktails and has over 150 American whiskies in stock. Dress code applies: no slippers, singlets/tank tops, or activewear. Cocktails $25 2022-10-06

Sleep

Accommodation on Orchard Rd incurs a hefty premium for the location and is uniformly expensive (at least by Singapore standards). Cheaper rates are usually offered only by older hotels in varying states of decay.

Budget

• YMCA International House, 1 Orchard Rd, 1.29757°, 103.84808°, +65 6336 6000. Forget your preconceived ideas of what a YMCA is - this is a hotel that also has dorm rooms. Air-con, TVs, fridge and attached bathrooms in all rooms, plus gym and rooftop pool. Rooms on the 2008-refurbished floor cost $5 extra, a worthwhile investment. History buffs should note that the previous YMCA building on this site was the headquarters of the notorious Japanese secret police Kempeitai during the Occupation, but the present structure dates from the 1980s. Dorm $30, single/twin $125/130 2021-11-25

Mid-range

• Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, 1 Tanglin Rd, 1.30663°, 103.82774°, +65 6673 7113, Info.orh@fareast.com.sg. This business hotel decorated in modern Mediterranean style is located at the starting end of Orchard Road, next to Forum Galleria. It is also within walking distance to the Botanic Garden and embassy district in Tanglin. $200 2021-11-25
• Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, 9 Bras Basah Rd, 1.29858°, 103.84934°, +65 6336 0220. Colonial style on the outside painted an eye-catching baby blue, modern facilities including pool on the inside. Lee Kuan Yew was once a regular at the Straits Cafe upstairs for their famous nasi padang (rice buffet). $200 2021-11-25
• YWCA Fort Canning Lodge, 6 Fort Canning Rd, 1.29755°, 103.84505°, +65 6338 4222. Hotel-style accommodations at a mid-range price in a good location just off Orchard. Broadband Internet in all rooms, outdoor pool, tennis court. And no, you don't have to be young, female or Christian to stay here. Long-term stay rates also available if staying over a month. Single/twin $180/190 2021-11-25
• Hotel Bencoolen, 47 Bencoolen St (next to Bencoolen MRT), 1.29906°, 103.85021°, +65 6336 0822, onlinereservation@hotelbencoolen.com. On the fringe of the main Orchard Road stretch. Single around $135 2021-11-25

Splurge

If you want to splurge, there are two major styles to choose from, colonial hotels, harking back to the turn of the century, and modern hotels, firmly in the present.

• Concorde (Formerly Le Meridien), 100 Orchard Rd, 1.30060°, 103.84216°, +65 6733 8855. Long overdue for a renovation, the main selling points here are the central location and the reasonable prices. $250
• Four Seasons, 190 Orchard Blvd, 1.3052°, 103.8287°, +65 6734 1110. Centrally located, but tucked away on a quiet side street. Famed for its level of personal service, and the modern facilities include the only air conditioned tennis courts in the country. $400
• Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd, 1.3082°, 103.8341°, +65 6737 7411. The place to stay if you want the Raffles experience without the crowds and with a slightly less breathtaking price tag. The main building dates back to 1900, was the first in Singapore to offer a swimming pool and air conditioning, and served both as a Japanese HQ during WW2 and the venue of their war crimes trials afterwards. Supremely lovely garden pool. Be sure to opt for the older main building, not the rather dull modern annex in the back. $300 2022-01-02
• Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Rd, 1.3064°, 103.8333°, +65 6738 1234. Hyatt's Singapore flagship is Orchard Road's standard-bearer for sleek modern swank. $300
• voco Orchard Singapore (formerly Hilton Singapore), 581 Orchard Rd, 1.3058°, 103.8293°, +65 6737 2233. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. The steep price comes mostly from the excellent location a few minutes walk from Orchard MRT. $300 2022-01-03
• Marriott, 320 Orchard Rd, 1.30504°, 103.83304°, +65 6735 5800. In the perfect location for shoppers, right at the centre of Singapore at the intersection of Orchard and Scotts, and with Tang's department store in the basement and an underground walkway to Orchard MRT. A little older and mustier than the other high-end options, but the yum cha (dim sum buffet) on Sundays is to die for. $300
• Hilton Singapore Orchard, 333 Orchard Rd, 1.30205°, 103.83632°, +65 6737 4411. Slightly older but very central hotel popular among businessmen and sightseers alike. $250 2022-01-03
• Pan Pacific Orchard (Formerly the Meritus Negara), 10 Claymore Rd (in the quiet residential enclave of Claymore, the hotel is a short walk away from all the Orchard Rd action), 1.30735°, 103.82991°, +65 6737 0811, enquiry.sgo@panpacific.com. The property offers fully furnished serviced apartments along with a fitness centre, swimming pool, sky garden, residents' lounge and a business centre. $350
• Quincy, 22 Mount Elizabeth, 1.30773°, 103.83578°, +65 6738 5888. Opened 2009, this super modern boutique hotel is tucked away on a quiet hill 5 min from Orchard Road. Insane 12th floor pool half-suspended in the air. Gym, sauna, spa. Free minibar and all three meals included in most packages. $250
• Royal Plaza on Scotts, 25 Scotts Rd, 1.30674°, 103.83233°, +65 6737 7966. A modern hotel catering mostly to business travellers, offers free in-room wired/elsewhere wireless Internet, a pool and gym along with all services expected of a fine hotel. Even modest rooms are well furnished with excellent toiletries. Buffet restaurant (Carousel) offers excellent if pricey, Asian and Mediterranean dishes prepared in a Halal-certified kitchen for four different meals.
• Shangri-La, 22 Orange Grove Rd, 1.3112°, 103.82677°, +65 6737 3644, singapore@shangri-la.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. One of the world's most luxurious resort hotels, this is where VIPs visiting Singapore tend to stay, including Donald Trump when he dropped in to meet Kim Jong Un. Highly unusually for Singapore, the hotel is set in a huge, manicured garden that feels a world away from the hustle of Orchard Rd. The breakfast here often tops lists in the tightly competed category of best breakfast buffet in Singapore, and the Michelin-starred Shang Palace has some of the best dim sum in Singapore. 755 guest rooms and suites, with the "Valley Wing" forming an exclusive hotel within a hotel. On the downside, the location is a bit of hike, and some of the older rooms are firmly stuck in the 1980s -- pick your room type carefully. $400 2022-09-08
• The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Rd (Off west end of Orchard Rd), 1.30565°, 103.82608°, +65 6506 6888. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A rather odd fusion of St. Regis's signature roaring-twenties-in-New York style (crystal chandeliers and leather sofas) with Asian artworks, plasma TVs and jet massage showers. Pool, spa, Michelin-starred sushi restaurant, 24-hour butler service, private art collection including works by Botero and Miro. This is where Kim Jong Un stayed for his summit with Trump back in 2018. $600
• Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Road, 1.30288°, 103.83644°, +65 6603 8888, info.gpor@parkhotelgroup.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. Starting from $220

Connect

Most shopping malls at Orchard offer free wifi. If you're looking for an old school Internet cafe, you can still find some at Lucky Plaza.

By post

• ION Orchard Post Office (Singapore Post), 2 Orchard Bend Rd, #B2-62 (Access from within ION Orchard Mall. Check mall directory map for post office location.), 1.30367°, 103.83249°, +65 1605. Daily 10:30AM-8PM. A convenient place to mail gifts to someone or mail your purchases back home after shopping. 2020-02-11
• Killiney Road Post Office (Singapore Post), 1 Killiney Rd, #01-01 (Killiney Road Open Space at Killiney Rd & Penang), 1.30014°, 103.84069°. M-F 9AM-5:30PM; Sa 9AM-1:30PM. 2022-11-02