A wide variety of shops like goldsmiths and traditional Indian beauty parlours can be found along Serangoon Road, the main thoroughfare of Singapore’s Little India district. On the corner of Serangoon Road and Bukit Timah Road is Tekka Centre , which houses a wet market and food centre on level 1 and retails traditional Indian clothing, textiles and footwear, on the upper floor. Located off Serangoon Road is one of Singapore’s most famous shopping centres: Mustafa Centre. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this emporium sells an incredibly wide range of products— from sportswear, electronics to groceries and jewellery—plus it has a 24-hour pharmacy.

An interior view of a shop selling saris

In the heart of Little India, Jothi Store & Flower Shop (www.jothi. com.sg) is worth a visit to catch whiffs of fragrant jasmine garlands and peruse traditional Indian beauty products, homeware, and kitchenware. After exploring the area, bring home Little India-inspired fabrics, cushion covers and more from Onlewo’s Jalan Besar outlet nearby.

Visitors will find traditional shophouses alongside chic yoga studios and traditional coffee shops beside hip cafés that crank out cold-brewed coffees in the Katong and Joo Chiat neighborhood. Visit quaint Peranakan (Straits-born people of Chinese and Malay/ Indonesian heritage) boutique Rumah Bebe to pick up exquisite fabrics and embroidered pouches, and then head over to Cat Socrates.

This charming shop, founded by Hellen Jiang, specialises in Singaporean literature and quirky local-inspired Bric- a-Brac—think cushions that resemble tutu kueh (steamed cakes with crushed peanut or grated coconut filling), feline- related merchandise and Singlish (a colloquial form of English) postcards. Take a trip down to MOX, a co-creative working space, for fresh finds by young entrepreneurs.

Visitors to MOX can take home contemporary renditions of traditional clothing from modern batik (traditional Indonesian fabric) fashion brand Baju by Oniatta and modern cheongsam (a body-hugging traditional Chinese dress) brand Studio HHFZ

Peranakan shophouses at Katong.

Lovers of timeless fashion from the 1950s to 1990s should head to A Vintage Tale, a concept store showcasing carefully curated collections from across the globe. For specialty coffee, travelers can pop by Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee for a cuppa and enjoy it while browsing vinyl records in a relaxed atmosphere.

The historic Arab Street which lies between Victoria Street and Beach Road in Singapore’s Kampong Glam district is known for its well-preserved shophouses selling all manner of textiles and carpets. Local dressmakers still come here to pick up lace, silks and batik (traditional Indonesian fabric) sold by the yard or metre from shops like Molkan Fabrics and Collezione La Prima. For modern batik designs, visit stores such as Ozel and Utopia Apparels.

Today, an array of cafés and concept stores, such as All Things Delicious , Scene Shang and bespoke perfume-maker Sifr Aromatics , can also be found alongside the textile and carpet shops. Just off Arab Street is Haji Lane, a vibrant alley covered with colorful street art. Shop for home accessories and fashion pieces at the Salad Shop, bespoke jewellery and apparel at SSFW and edgy menswear at Sup Clothing.

Visitors looking for unique lifestyle products can check out the numerous pop-up shops at So Gelam Market—a kampong-style (villages) weekend street market held monthly in

Singapore’s cultural precinct of Chinatown is a hive of activity day and night and a heady mix of old and new. Retail options range from traditional wares to indie boutiques and bespoke finds. Visitors can head to On Cheong Jewellery for gold jewellery that features not only traditional Chinese motifs but also contemporary designs.

Egg tarts and the new contemporary cookie tin series at Tong Heng are the perfect treats for visitors with a sweet tooth. For tea connoisseurs, a visit to one of Singapore’s oldest tea merchants, Pek Sin Choon along Mosque Street is a definite must.

An angled view of a row of shops selling table cloths , bags, ornaments etc

Visitors who are interested to learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) should stop by the Eu Yan Sang flagship store on South Bridge Road. It stocks a variety of health and wellness products, including medicinal herbs, herbal teas, pre-mixed soup packets and medicated ointments. On Ann Siang Road nearby, visitors who love fashion can step into innit Bangkok and browse the collection of fashion merchandise.

In the past, Bugis Street Market, located in the Bras Basah.Bugis district was filled with entertainment and alfresco dining, along with nightly adult-themed shows. Today, the bustling street market offers bargain hunters an array of apparel, accessories, quirky local souvenirs and eats. While wandering through the numerous shops, grab a bite at one of the snack stalls located within. With over 600 stores spread across three levels, shoppers will find something that appeals to them.

The external façade of the Bras Basah Complex. Collectors can browse through vintage magazines and books and art materials at this old school mall.