It's an unrefuted fact. Our second favourite past time, as a Singaporean is to shop till we drop! (The first one is eating!) But with the plethora of malls available, and a bawling infant in tow, where oh where should we start?
Parkway Parade
This old-time haunt is a favourite with the Katong crowd.
Entertainment: The shopping centre will keep the whole family entertained with it's wide-range of shops and services. Two instant hits for wholesome family fun is E-Zone, the huge gaming arcade and Z fence, which offers fencing classes. Live entertainment shows are also regularly held at the centre stage. Once you are done with shopping, you can use the underpass and head to East Coast park for some fresh air!
Shopping: Parkway Parade offers a good variety of stores, ranging from fashion, electronics, home furnishing, sporting equipment to bargain stores. In addition, for just $3 per hour, you can hire a kiddy cab, stroller or pram to enjoy a more pleasant shopping experience. The kiddy cab is fitted with a seat belt and a flat solid base for optimum safety. A steering wheel, horn and ignition keys encourage interaction and allow kids to be "in control" of driving.
Accessibility: Besides being served by a plethora of buses, Parkway Parade also offers a shuttle service to and from Bedok and Sengkang. There is also a taxi stand at the entrance of the mall, but be prepared to weight long during peak periods!
Restaurants: An amazing selection of restaurants to choose from ranging from fast food and coffee joints to Thai and Japanese cuisines. I recommend Teppanyaki at Sakae Sushi for dinner and a scoop of fresh ice-cream from Scoopz for desert.
Nursing rooms: Fondly nicknamed P.P, it's really no surprise that this old-time mall has 5 rooms spread across the first three levels.
Cons: On the downside, there is no MRT in the vicinity and parking fares are pretty pricey. The mall also gets mad crowded from 2-5 pm, because of students from the nearby schools. And there is no Cinema in or near the mall.
Paragon
| Having bagged two awards in the Singapore Shopping Centre Scorecard 2008, this premier mall offers a level dedicated entirely to kids shopping. |
Entertainment: Mummies can pamper themselves silly at one of the many spa and nail bars available, daddies can break a sweat at the fitness first gym and kids (ages 2-6) can play at the playground or attend music classes at Kawai Music School! During festive seasons, the centre stage comes alive with regular bazaars and fairs that draw shoppers by the throngs.
Shopping: Located in the middle of Singapore’s busiest shopping and entertainment belt, this cutting edge mall features a diverse range of renowned brands such as Toys R Us, Oshkosh B'gosh, Coach, Marciano, and United Colors of Benetton, making it a haven for the well-heeled mum and child.
Accessibility: Located in the heart of Orchard road, the mall is easily accessible by MRT, cabs and buses.
Restaurants: Whether for casual or formal dining, food buffs can satisfy their appetites with a gastronomical spread of international and local cuisines such as Japanese, Chinese and Thai. Din Tai Fung has excellent Chinese dumplings and My Mum's Cuisine has the best Hokkien Chicken Rice I've tasted. For a quick sugar fix, you should head to blood cafe. It has excellent deserts.
Nursing rooms: 2, located at level 3 and 5.
Cons: Not the type of mall you might enter wearing a pasta-stained tank top and baggy bermudas. Filled with too many tourists!
Vivo City Mall
We've dubbed it the parents dream come true mall!
Entertainment: Just because of it's sheer size, you can bet your bottom dollar that you will find something for the entire family. My younger daughter absolutely loves the sky park, the promenade, the playground in the basement and the shallow pool on the third floor. My older girl loves the cineplex. What's the big deal you ask? A cineplex is a cineplex? Well, not if it covers 90,000 sq ft, spans two storeys, and offers not one — but two candy counters!
Shopping: It's home to the first Gap store in South East Asia, the flagship store for Toys R us and Dairy Farm and best of all the biggest and most yummiest candy store: Candy Empire!
Accessibility: Getting to Vivocity is easy. Located along the Ayer Rajah Expressway, it is served by trains, buses and taxis. For drivers, they even offer a valet parking service!
Restaurants: There are many food and beverage outlets offering cuisines from all around the world. Among the top names are Akashii Japanese Restaurant, the Crystal Jade Group of Restaurants, Thai Express and Braizillian Churrascaria. The restaurants at the balcony are has great sea view!
Nursing rooms: There's one on almost every level, inside the female toilet.
Cons: One drawback is the snaking taxi que. The wading pool also seems a little dirty!