Orchard central, located near Somerset MRT station, was opened on 2nd July 2009 and was quoted to be “an urban mall for the new urban shopper”. Greeted by an impressively long escalator bringing us directly to the 3rd floor, we made our way into the newest mega mall in Singapore. The mall was a sprawling 11 stories tall, with a diverse range of retail outlets, from shops like Levi’s to Bus Stop. Though the mall boasts of a large variety of shops, when we visited, many were not open yet, still in the midst of preparation.

Food: ♦ ♦ ♦

There were many restaurants available, which offered an exquisite array of cuisines. However, what we noticed was that the mall mostly catered to the working crowd, thus the lack of budget-friendly eateries for students on a tight budget. We sampled the renowned ice-cream from Ben and Jerry’s at the Heaven’s Loft, taking in the breath-taking view while savouring our iced treats.

Entertainment: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

One unique feature of the mall was the amazing indoor rock climbing wall, allowing patrons less interested in shopping to enjoy an alternative way of relaxation. The wall was challenging, proving to be not just one for amateurs but also for professional climbers seeking an unconventional climbing adventure.

Accessibility: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Located conveniently near Somerset MRT and within the heart of Orchard, its eye-catching façade is definitely hard to miss. Even first-time patrons like us were able to spot the mall easily without any difficulty.

Shopping: ♦ ♦ ♦

The key attracting factor of Orchard Central is no doubt the extensive range of shops with popular international brands like Levi’s and Nike, all-in-all 4 levels of shops, which are sure to please patrons of all ages. Our main issue with the shopping factor at Orchard Central was the delayed unveiling of some shops. However, but we would definitely pay another visit to the mall once the other shops open.

Other features: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

We were absolutely blown-away by the artistic architecture of the mega mall, with art pieces adorning the walls along the shops’ corridors. Orchard Central gained much hype for its design, which is by acclaimed Japanese interior designer Takashi Sugimato. The toilets were also exceptionally clean and modern, with clean-cut lines and finishes and a futuristic feel, especially apt for the mall touted as the new edge in shopping.

Written by Lynette, Vanessa and Yuan Jun