ION – Swanky New Mall in Singapore

I have no patience at all when it comes to shopping and prefer to do it online. But I figured since my cousin and partner love shopping, and particularly at ION, I would do a post on it. Really if you’ve lived here all your life and seen the attractions and reclaimed beaches there seems to be nothing much to do besides shopping and eating. Sadly the cliches about Singapore are true. Perhaps watching a movie, but the crushing crowds will put you off. Actually the crowds put me off most things and most days I’d rather stay home and read.

photo by bookjunkie

D was impressed with the first Sephora (#01-05/06) in Singapore. (So we’re not country bumpkins anymore.) She last saw one on her trip to the US.

photo by bookjunkie

Since I don’t know that much about shopping I will talk about the food, my favorite topic. For cheaper food we tend to go to the ION Food Hall which is all the way down in basement 4. As I mentioned in my earlier post my cousin D likes the hokkien mee (noodles) there.

I quite like the layout and muted colours of Muji (#B4-16). But I do love everything Japanese.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

I just wish ION had a bookshop besides Prologue (which is an upscale version of Popular Store), because I get bored with too many clothing stores. When you’re broke, clothing shopping is absolutely no fun. I guess since there’s already a Borders at Wheelock, and a Kinokuniya (my favourite bookstore) at Takashimaya. For my friends overseas, Wheelock and Takashimaya are older malls connected to ION. All the malls are connected to our train system so it makes it easy to get around. If you’re in town, you just need to remember to get off at the Orchard Station. You’ll know cos practically half the people on the train get off at this station causing the usual human crush.

photo by bookjunkie

Here’s a listing of the small food outlets there. There used to be no place to sit, causing some shops to probably loose money and close down. The tenants probably raised this and now there seems to be some space created for seats. I guess most of us don’t like eating standing up. Well at least I don’t.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

ION Food Hall shops I might go for the next time we’re there. Thought I’d better put down the shop numbers otherwise it’s so easy to get lost. Besides, I have absolutely no sense of direction. I tend to remember things visually. The more times I see a place somehow I can visually find my way around. But give me a map and I’m totally lost.

4 Fingers Bonchon Crispy Chicken #B4-06A
AZUKIAN #B4-51
Food Opera #B4-03/04
Ginza Bairin #B4-39/40/41/42 (isn’t it amazing how the Japanese can even make fake plastic food look so tempting – photo of fried cutlet and egg above)
Marvelous Cream #B4-81/82/83
Milca #B4-67 (tried their irresistable Hokkaido ice-cream)
Modern Peking Duck #B4-75
Mushiya #B4-68
Noo’s Thai Recipe #B4-90/91
Pin Le #B4-69
R Burger #B4-56/57
The Taiyaki #B4-62/63
Tokyo Monja #B4-66
Tsukiji Gindaco #B4-64/65

I might also try one of these casual dining/ fast food outlets:

AOBA Ramen #B3-25
Burger King #B3-21
GO! GO! CURRY! #B4-54/55
Gyoza no Tetsujin by En #B4-88/89
Imperial Treasure Noodle & Congee House #B3-17
Itacho Sushi #B2-18
Lu Gang Xiao Zhen by The Asian Kitchen #B3-22
Sho Teppan #B3-19
Watami Japanese Dining #B3-23

When the food hall gets crowded it’s hard to find what you want and you may end up walking in circles. I hope the stall numbers help a little.