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Sometimes I lowkey hate writing the shopping posts because I feel like I’m seriously outing myself as a shopping fiend. But you know what??? I stand by one of my travel cornerstones that shopping (or browsing!) is one of the final frontiers of authentic experiences. You get to chat with locals, put money into local’s pockets, and you can walk away with a cute souvenir or gift in the process!!
Singapore may be known for its shiny malls and fast fashion chains — but if you know where to look, the city is also full of creative, independently run shops with way more personality. This is a curated list of my favorite Singapore shopping stops… indie and secondhand shops in central Singapore with everything from design-forward home goods to vintage fashion, as well as charming bookstores, locally made giftshops, and even a few chaotic, difficult-to-categorize gems I couldn’t leave out.
Whether you’re after a thoughtfully wrapped souvenir or a tote full of thrifted clothes, this guide is all about skipping the malls and shopping small.
BTW: Don’t feel like saving all these spots one by one? My curated Google Maps (coming soon) do it for you!
Yep, that means you can have all these shops plus dozens more (not to mention restaurants, cafés, and other cool spots), saved to your own Google Maps app in one click. Way easier for planning and wandering IRL.
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Find all the spots featured in this post below!
Delve into Singapore
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Singapore posts and guides if you’re still planning your perfect trip!
Best Singapore Shopping for Local & Independent Finds
Real Talk:
Singapore – while less affected than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors – is not immune to overtourism, gentrification, and environmental damage. So please: don’t be an asshole when you travel here (or anywhere).
If you’ve made it to my blog, I’d like to think you too care about preserving the integrity of the places you visit – but I’ve seen enough disrespectful behavior from Western tourists to know it’s worth saying out loud:
If you’re going to make locals’ lives harder, just stay home.
Bookshops
1. SHRUB
This tiny shop in Kampong Glam is a bit of a hipster paradise, especially if you like things a little offbeat. The selection is small but incredibly well curated, with local authors, translated works, zines, clothes/goods, and thoughtful staff recs that actually hit. You won’t find the latest bestseller wall here. You may not even find a real book depending on the day — which is kind of the point. It’s the kind of place that gentrification is constantly stamping out, and it’s special to get to visit it.
📍Kampong Glam
2. Littered With Books
Tucked into a shophouse in Tanjong Pagar, this two-story bookstore feels like a cozy secret. It’s mostly fiction — a mix of literary, popular, and YA — plus a solid nonfiction section upstairs and a surprisingly cute kids’ nook. This is where I picked up most of the books I took home about Singapore, after the woman working helped me find a few picks that she felt were quintessentially Singaporean! You’ll probably stay longer than you mean to, but you won’t regret it.
📍Tanjong Pagar
3. bookstore bommoi
Quiet and calming, this minimalist Korean bookstore near Little India is the place to go if you like indie presses, design books, or artful zines. To be honest you may not find anything for you if you don’t read Korean, but there is a ceramics and gift shop-eaque area in the shop as well, so I think it’s still worthwhile.
📍Tanjong Pagar
Insider Tip
If you’re anything like me, one of the best ways to get excited for a trip is to read your way into it. I always try to pick up at least one book about a place or set there — it totally changes the way you experience it. If you’re looking for some reading inspiration, I put together a whole post on the best books about Singapore 📚
Thrift & Vintage
4. The Fashion Pulpit
More polished than your average thrift store, this “circular fashion hub” offers a curated mix of secondhand pieces that lean stylish rather than chaotic. You can swap clothes here too (members get credits), but even if you’re just browsing, the selection feels intentional — it’s giving upscale resale boutique with conscience! It’s a great intro to Singapore’s growing slow fashion scene.
📍Kallang
5. Ashitagaaru
This place has developed a cult following for a reason. The pieces feel hand-picked with love, and its all great quality. They specialize in vintage jeans and leather jackets, so you know you’re going to get something high quality. Despite being tiny, it’s surprisingly well-organized, and the team clearly cares about making secondhand fun and approachable. Go early for the best finds.
📍CBD
6. Loop Garms
A heavyweight in the Singapore streetwear scene. If you’re into graphic tees, retro jerseys, or anything that screams ‘90s nostalgia, this is your spot. It’s more vintage than thrift, so prices can reflect that, but the vibe is fun, friendly, and very Gen Z.
📍Jalan Besar
7. Vintagewknd
My favorite shop on Haji Lane. Their pieces feel bright, bold, and tailored to a younger, trend-conscious crowd — think puff sleeves, co-ords, and reworked vintage. If your style leans playful, you’ll have a great time here.
📍Kampong Glam
8. Thryft
More than just a thrift store, this is a triple threat: books, clothes, and vinyl. It’s a little chaotic, a little scrappy, but full of hidden gems if you’re patient. Prices are good, and the sustainability ethos feels genuine. Plus, you might just walk out with something you didn’t know you needed.
📍Tiong Bahru
Start Your Tiong Bahru Shopping Spree with a Story-Filled Stroll
If you love charming boutiques and old-school character, this short walking tour is a great intro to Singapore’s coolest heritage ‘hood. Expect snacks, stories, and a peek into how Tiong Bahru became the neighborhood everyone wants to move to — with plenty of time left to shop and explore on your own after.
Design, Gifts & Home
9. Cat Socrates
One of those shops that makes you smile the second you walk in. It’s part gift store, part homeware haven, with a distinctly local slant — think Singlish greeting cards, Peranakan tiles, and quirky cat-themed everything. Great for browsing and even better for finding a souvenir that doesn’t scream “I panic bought this at the airport.”
📍Katong & Tiong Bahru
10. Studio Yono
A serene little furniture and home goods shop tucked away in an old building near the center. The aesthetic is minimal but warm — handmade ceramics, wood-and-rattan pieces, delicate glassware. Definitely one for the interiors-obsessed or anyone who wants to bring back something more lasting than a tote bag.
📍Fort Canning
11. Design Orchard
A concept store and retail showcase for local designers, sitting right in the middle of the Orchard Road madness. Inside you’ll find clothing, stationery, accessories, and home items — all from independent Singaporean brands. It feels like a love letter to local creativity, with a rooftop garden upstairs if you want a break from the shopping.
📍Orchard
12. The Paper Bunny
They’ve got planners, desk accessories, insulated tumblers, and dreamy color palettes galore. It’s very aesthetic but also very usable — the kind of stuff that looks good in your bag and in use. I’m a total sucker for paper goods, so I was a bit hypnotized here.
📍Raffles City
13. SUPERMAMA
Known for its blue-and-white porcelain, this design shop reimagines traditional motifs in a super contemporary way. Most of the pieces reflect Singapore’s landmarks and cultural icons. Great for gifts, and for anyone into clean design with a local twist.
📍Marina
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Fashion & Boutiques
14. First Stitch x STRANGER
This is one of those places where you pop in “just to look” and walk out seriously considering a linen jumpsuit (or three). The vibe is casual and easygoing — mostly soft, wearable pieces with thoughtful details and a local design touch. It’s especially great if you want something that feels stylish but not overdone. We spent quite a while in here and the women working were so kind, I’d go back in a heartbeat.
📍Tiong Bahru
15. Barehands @ Funan
A social enterprise brand focused on handmade, small-batch fashion and accessories. The designs are simple and wearable, and there’s usually a good story behind each piece. The Funan location is tucked away, but it’s a cool alternative to the bigger brands around it.
📍CBD
See (and Taste!) Katong Before You Shop It
This laidback bike tour is such a fun way to get your bearings in Katong — with heritage shophouses, Peranakan culture, and a lot of food along the way (yes, including laksa). Once you’ve worked up an appetite for browsing, you’ll be perfectly placed to explore the area’s boutiques and bakeries on your own.
Perfumes
16. Sifr Aromatics
One of the most unique shops in Singapore, full stop. This family-run perfumery blends everything in-house and has a warm, almost meditative atmosphere.
You can buy beautifully bottled scents off the shelf (seriously, Burma is unreal), or create your own custom fragrance with the help of someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Whether you’re scent-obsessed or just curious, it’s a total experience.
📍Kampong Glam
17. Oo La Lab
Part boutique, part laboratory — this spot offers perfume-making workshops as well as pre-blended scents and home fragrances. It’s sleek and modern, but still hands-on in the best way. You can customize a formula to match your vibe or pick up something ready-made that doesn’t smell like everyone else. Great for gifting or just treating yourself.
📍Bukit Merah
Record Stores
18. Hear Records
A longtime favorite in Singapore’s vinyl scene. The shop leans indie, soul, jazz, and alternative, but the stock rotates often and the staff really knows their stuff. Expect good curation, fair prices, and a mellow vibe that makes it easy to browse without pressure.
📍Bugis
19. Curated Records
Small but mighty. This shop specializes in new pressings across indie rock, pop, R&B, and even film soundtracks — with an emphasis on beautiful cover art and audiophile-quality releases. It feels intentional, like a personal playlist in shop form.
📍Kampong Glam
20. Ronggeng Records
An under-the-radar spot for local collectors, especially if you’re into rare Southeast Asian or world music vinyl. The vibe is less boutique, more backroom — but that’s kind of the charm. Come ready to dig.
📍Tiong Bahru
Your Ultimate Guide to 8 of Singapore’s Best Hawker Centres
15 Things to Know Before Visiting Singapore For the First Time: How To Avoid Surprise and Enjoy It Like a Local
Antique Shops
21. East Inspirations Shop
A beautiful mess in the best way. This antique shop in Chinatown is full of vintage furniture, porcelain, wooden carvings, and quirky finds stacked from floor to ceiling. Some pieces are museum-worthy, others feel like fever dreams — but that’s part of the fun. Prices vary wildly, but it’s still a joy to poke around.
📍Chinatown
22. Tong Mern Sern Antiques
Total chaos, but with character. This place is infamous for its stacked-to-the-ceiling inventory and slightly bonkers vibe. Expect typewriters, random vintage teacups, hanging chandeliers, and at least three things that will make you say “what is that?” Don’t expect curation — just vibes.
📍Tanjong Pagar
Iconic Wildcard
23: Mustafa Centre
A Singapore institution that truly defies explanation. It’s open 24/7, stretches across multiple buildings, and sells everything from gold jewelry to vacuum cleaners to obscure Indian snacks.
You will get lost. You will probably buy something ridiculous. You’ll also kind of love it.
📍Little India
FAQs about Shopping in Singapore
What is famous in Singapore for shopping?
Most people think of luxury malls like Marina Bay Sands or Orchard Road when they hear “Singapore shopping” — and those are definitely part of the story.
But what I love most is the city’s indie and secondhand scene. Shops like The Fashion Pulpit (for circular fashion), Cat Socrates (for gifts with local flair), and Sifr Aromatics (for handmade perfumes) show off a different, more personal side of Singapore retail.
This list is full of gems like those — creative, unique, and way more fun to browse than a department store.
What is the famous street in Singapore for shopping?
That’d be Orchard Road — home to Singapore’s biggest malls and designer labels. It’s definitely an experience, especially if you’re into high-end shopping or just want to bask in air conditioning.
But if you’re looking for something with more character, I’d point you to places like Haji Lane (near shops like SHRUB and Sifr Aromatics), Tanjong Pagar (home to Littered With Books and Tong Mern Sern), or even Funan Mall, where you’ll find indie brands like Barehands tucked between the tech stores.
What is worth to buy in Singapore?
Skip the Merlion magnets and go for something you’ll actually use or treasure.
SUPERMAMA sells Singapore-inspired porcelain that’s genuinely beautiful.
Loop Garms and Ashitagaaru are great for one-of-a-kind vintage fashion finds.
The Paper Bunny has lifestyle goods that feel both practical and giftable.
And honestly, if you walk out of Mustafa Centre with a bag of snacks, a rice cooker, and a gold-plated pen, that’s kind of iconic too.
Planning Cheat Sheet: Every Link You Need in One Place
P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Are you ready to shop small in Singapore?
Shopping small — whether it’s thrifting, bookstore browsing, or picking up design-forward home goods — is one of my favorite ways to connect with a city. I hope this list helps you plan out your indie shopping adventures while you’re in Singapore. Think of it as your own personal guide to the city’s most interesting and creative little corners. Not only will you find some truly unique souvenirs, but you’ll also get a much better sense of local life along the way.
So as you build out your itinerary, make room for a few of these stops between the hawker centers and museums. It’s the kind of shopping that feels a lot more like exploring — and a lot less like draining your wallet at Sephora.
As always, let me know in the comments if I missed any favorites or if you’ve checked out one of these spots! As always you can always find me on Instagram (tag me in your travel content!), Youtube, or Pinterest.
🇸🇬 P.S. Don’t forget to check out my other Singapore posts for more travel tips, food recs, and hidden gems!
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