In a city packed with sleek shopping centres and luxury brands, City Plaza feels like a throwback to a very different era of retail. Opened in 1981, City Plaza is one of Singapore’s oldest surviving malls. It is not flashy, polished, or especially easy to navigate. The building is brimming with old-school vibes, the corridors can feel maze-like, and the layout occasionally leaves first-time visitors wondering if they have walked in circles. Yet despite all that, the mall continues to attract loyal shoppers year after year.
That loyalty stems from its unique character, which is something that many modern malls struggle to replicate. This is evident with how City Plaza is packed with independent boutiques, affordable fashion finds, niche services, and hidden corners that reward patient shoppers willing to explore properly. For many visitors, the thrill lies in the hunt itself.
A Budget Fashion Playground Hidden in Plain Sight
The biggest reason people still visit City Plaza is simple: affordable fashion. Floor after floor is lined with clothing boutiques selling everything from casual basics to trendy streetwear, footwear, bags, and accessories. Unlike major shopping centres dominated by chain stores, many shops here carry smaller-batch selections that rotate frequently.
Shoppers willing to comb through racks carefully can often uncover surprisingly stylish pieces at wallet-friendly prices. Stores such as blackOut, Ms.U Fashion, Fashion Scale, and Maze Leather Goods continue drawing bargain hunters looking for fashionable pieces without the usual shopping mall mark-ups. Families also stop by places like YOYONANA Kids Wear for children’s clothing.
Part of City Plaza’s reputation comes from its connection to Singapore’s online fashion scene. Over the years, many shoppers have claimed that blogshops and resellers source similar items from places like City Plaza before selling them online at higher prices. Whether entirely true or not, the perception has helped cement the mall’s image as a place where savvy shoppers can still score good deals.
The experience is not effortless, though. Finding genuinely good items often requires patience. Some stores are tightly packed, inventory changes constantly, and not every rack contains hidden gems. But for shoppers who enjoy treasure-hunt browsing, that unpredictability is part of the appeal.
blackOut
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-102 City Plaza Shopping Mall, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Friday & Saturday: 12 PM – 8 PM | Saturday: 11 AM – 7 PM
Ms.U Fashion
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-111 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Operating hours publicly unavailable
Fashion Scale
Location: 810 Geylang Road #01-110, City Plaza, Singapore, Singapore
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM | Sunday: 9 AM – 9 PM
Maze Leather Goods
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-98 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 11 AM – 8 PM
YOYONANA Kids Wear
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-60 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
The Kind of Shops Modern Malls Rarely Have Anymore
Another reason City Plaza stands out is its unusually eclectic mix of tenants. Modern malls in Singapore often feel increasingly similar, filled with familiar global chains and predictable retail categories. City Plaza goes in the opposite direction. One moment you are browsing clothing boutiques; the next, you stumble upon a watch repair shop, a billiard hall, or a store selling mahjong sets and poker chips.
Long-running businesses such as Tong Cheong (Soon Kee) Trading continue attracting hobbyists looking for mahjong sets, Bicycle playing cards, and other accessories. Nearby, Hock Heng Watch Servicing still handles watch repairs in an era where such specialty shops are becoming less common.
There are also businesses that feel distinctly old-school in the best way possible, such as Everlasting Entertainment which continues selling DVDs and CDs despite the dominance of streaming platforms. Even niche services find a home here. Noor Mohamad Services & Travel offers Hajj, Umrah, and Islamic heritage travel services, while Tomi Tattoo Alley adds another layer of personality to the mall’s eclectic mix.
This unpredictability is precisely what many visitors enjoy. Walking through City Plaza rarely feels repetitive because every corner seems to house something different.
Tong Cheong (Soon Kee) Trading
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-68 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 12 PM – 8 PM | Sunday: 12 PM – 6 PM
Hock Heng Watch Servicing
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-71 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 1:15 PM – 7 PM
Everlasting Entertainment
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-36 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:30 AM – 8 PM | Sunday: 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Noor Mohamad Services & Travel
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-88 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 AM – 6 PM | Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM | Closed on Sundays
Tomi Tattoo Alley
Location: #03-109 City Plaza, 810 Geylang Rd, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 10 AM – 10 PM
A Small Food Corner That Regulars Swear By
At the top level of City Plaza sits a modest food court that regular visitors often recommend to newcomers. It is not large or particularly modern. In fact, the space is fairly narrow compared to food courts in newer malls. Still, it remains popular because the food is affordable, comforting, and varied enough to satisfy different cravings after hours of shopping.
The eateries here include familiar names such as Arnold’s Fried Chicken alongside spots like SK Cafe, Chiderful Eating House, and Waroeng Bakso by Hamburguesa.
The atmosphere upstairs feels refreshingly unpretentious. Rather than polished interiors designed for Instagram, the food area focuses on practicality and decent portions at reasonable prices. It fits City Plaza’s overall identity perfectly.
Arnold’s Fried Chicken
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-99 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily: 11 AM – 10 PM
SK Café
Location: City Plaza #04-18/19, 810 Geylang Rd, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 AM – 7:30 PM | Closed on Sundays
Chiderful Eating House
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-73 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 1 PM – 9 PM | Closed on Sundays
Waroeng Bakso by Hamburguesa
Location: Blk 810, #05-06 Geylang Rd, City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Saturday-Sunday: 10 AM – 8 PM | Closed on Weekdays
More Than Just a Fashion Mall
Although fashion dominates much of the mall, City Plaza also functions as a practical everyday shopping destination for nearby residents. Beauty salons such as Cantik Nails Spa, JW Hair Studio, and Selin Hair & Beaute Salon continue serving regular customers looking for affordable grooming services.
Jewellery stores like JJ Gold Fine Jewellery and Starlight Jewellery add to the mall’s diversity, while money changers, remittance agencies, luggage shops, leather goods stores, and handphone accessory shops make City Plaza useful beyond casual browsing.
This mixture of shopping and services helps explain why the mall still enjoys steady foot traffic despite its age.
Cantik Nails Spa
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-104a city plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 10 AM – 8 PM | Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays
JW Hair Studio
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-67 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Operating hours publicly unavailable
JJ Gold Fine Jewellery
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-47 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 12:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM | Closed on Saturdays
Starlight Jewellery
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-29 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 12:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Closed on Mondays
Why Younger Shoppers Are Rediscovering City Plaza
Interestingly, older malls like City Plaza have started gaining attention from younger shoppers in recent years. Part of this comes from growing interest in thrift culture, budget fashion, and less commercial shopping experiences. Younger visitors often appreciate places that feel more authentic and less curated than modern lifestyle malls.
City Plaza’s retro appearance also contributes to its charm. The retro interiors, independent shops, and slightly chaotic layout create an atmosphere that feels increasingly rare in Singapore’s rapidly modernising retail scene. Unlike many polished malls where every tenant is carefully standardised, City Plaza still feels organic and unpredictable.
Final Thoughts
First-time visitors should be prepared for a slightly different shopping experience. The layout can be confusing, so it helps to explore slowly floor by floor rather than rushing through the mall. Some smaller shops may only accept cash or PayNow, and inventory changes frequently, especially in fashion boutiques.
Weekdays are generally more comfortable if you prefer avoiding crowds. Bargaining may also work at selected stores, particularly smaller independent retailers.
Most importantly, visitors should come with patience and curiosity. City Plaza is not a place where the best finds immediately present themselves. The mall rewards shoppers who enjoy browsing carefully and exploring unexpected corners. That sense of discovery is exactly why loyal fans continue returning after all these years.