If your typical weekend routine involves walking through yet another air-conditioned mega-mall with the exact same high-street brands, it is time for a change of pace. Located right along Geylang Road, City Plaza is a delightful antidote to Singapore’s hyper-modernised shopping scene.
Standing strong since 1981, this iconic building might look past its prime, and it can be a bit of an adventure to navigate due to its labyrinth-like layout, but that is precisely where its charm lies. City Plaza is a treasure trove of budget-friendly fashion, traditional services, and legendary local food.
So, if you want to experience a thoroughly retro afternoon out without burning a hole in your wallet, here is your ultimate guide to exploring City Plaza like a seasoned regular.
Pro-Tip: To avoid the chaotic weekend crowds, plan your visit for a weekday afternoon. Also, don’t be afraid to politely bargain at some of the smaller, independent clothing boutiques—it is all part of the old-school experience!
1. Kick Off with a Hunt for Blogshop-Quality Fashion (Without the Online Markup)
Did you know that many of Singapore’s popular online fashion blogshops often source their inventory directly from City Plaza? By skipping the online markup and browsing these multi-storey clothing shops yourself, you can snag the exact same trendy outfits at a fraction of the cost.
As such, prepare to roll up your sleeves and comb through the racks regardless if you’re seeking K-fashion aesthetics, pre-loved vintage gems, or wardrobe staples.
A few budget-friendly shopping spies:
- Everyday & Trendy Fashion: Drop by Ms.U Fashion, June Quek Fashion, Fashion Scale, and Lisa Penny Fashion Design to hunt for pocket-friendly, stylish pieces.
- Footwear & Bags: Check out Midas Shoes or blackOUT. The latter is the better pick if you want footwear that lasts, since they specialise in crafting incredibly sturdy and customisable flip-flops and sandals that are surprisingly lightweight. Meanwhile, quality leather goods that won’t break the bank can be found over at Maze Leather Goods
- Hidden Curios: You will also find YOYONANA Kids Wear for children’s outfits, Sultanah Bridal & Boutique for specialised traditional wear, and reliable goldsmiths like JJ Gold Fine Jewellery and Starlight Jewellery for affordable sparkle.
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
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
Midas Shoes
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-96 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Operating hours publicly unavailable
Maze Leather Goods
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-98 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 11 AM – 8 PM
Sultanah Bridal & Boutique
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-84 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 11:30 AM – 7:30 PM
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
2. Indulge in a Pressure-Free, No-Upsell Beauty Session
Let’s be honest: booking a beauty treatment in Singapore can sometimes feel like running a gauntlet of stressful sales pitches. City Plaza’s beauty salons are widely loved precisely because they offer high-quality services with absolutely zero hard-selling.
Perfect Beauty Brow House
If your eyebrows need some attention, this multi-award-winning establishment is helmed by certified brow specialists. Their bread and butter is a completely pain-free eyebrow embroidery process using organic, Korean-based colour pigments.
The patient staff take their time to map out a symmetrical, natural shape that perfectly matches your face. First-time visitors are given clear, pressure-free explanations based on skin type rather than the typical “the more expensive, the better” spiel.
QiQi Beauty Center
For all-in-one relaxation, this clean and friendly salon offers everything from lash extensions to Bo Jing facial massages. The professional staff go the extra mile to ensure your comfort, tailoring treatments specifically to your skin condition without any uncomfortable up-selling.
Magenta Hair Salon
Stepping into Magenta is like stepping back in time. With nostalgic Hokkien music playing softly in the background, the owner and her team provide expert haircuts, bangs, and brilliant updo styling. There is none of the superficial small talk found at modern salons—just genuine conversations with regular customers who have turned into lifelong friends.
Perfect Beauty Brow House
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-87 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 11:30 AM – 8 PM
Magenta Hair Salon
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-78, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Sunday-Friday: 9 AM – 7 PM | Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
QiQi Beauty Center
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #03-31 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM | Sunday: 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM | Closed on Saturdays
3. Spend a Few Dollars on Nostalgic Entertainment
An afternoon in City Plaza isn’t just about buying things; it is about slowing down and enjoying old-school entertainment that costs next to nothing.
- KaiDeng Billiards: This spacious, bright billiard hall offers well-maintained tables and quality equipment. It is a wonderfully relaxing and reasonably priced spot to challenge a friend to a game while enjoying basic snacks and drinks.
- Tong Cheong (Soon Kee) Trading: Run by a lovely, patient auntie and uncle duo, this shop is the place to go for heavy, high-quality mahjong sets, unique Bicycle playing cards, and poker chips. They offer options across various price points with zero pressure to buy.
- Everlasting Entertainment: For those who still love owning tangible media, this tiny shop sells physical music CDs and a massive selection of brand-new films across multiple languages. You won’t find 4K or Blu-rays here, but the nostalgia and attentive service are unmatched.
- Hock Heng Watch Servicing: Need a quick handyman fix? The patient owner of Hock Heng can repair household clocks, calculators, and watches that other shops give up on. Battery replacements and daily-wear watches are incredibly cheap here.
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
Hock Heng Watch Servicing
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #02-71 City Plaza, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 1:15 PM – 7 PM
4. Fuel Up on Legendarily Cheap and Authentic Local Eats
No afternoon out is complete without a feast, and City Plaza boasts some of the most satisfying local and international comfort food in the East—all incredibly gentle on your wallet.
Arnold’s Fried Chicken
A true pioneer of Singapore’s local fast-food history, Arnold’s serves up old-school fried chicken that is consistently hot, perfectly seasoned, and never greasy. The skin is impossibly thin and crispy, while the meat stays locked with juice—a testament to their use of fresh cooking oil.
Order a whole spring chicken with a side of golden onion rings and criss-cut fries.
Iconic Quirk: Their condiment pumps offer a hilarious choice of chilli, chilli, or chilli. (If you absolutely must have tomato ketchup, you have to ask the staff nicely at the counter).
SK Cafe
If you prefer Western fare, this tight, no-frills cafe serves up perfectly executed basic comfort food. Their signature chicken chop is a crowd favourite, and the seared salmon salad is masterfully balanced with a squeeze of fresh lemon to cut through the richness.
Chiderful Eating House
This absolute gem is a brilliant one-man zichar operation. Do not come expecting a fancy setting or attentive waitstaff—you grab your own cutlery and sauces straight from the fridge. Instead, focus on the food, which captures the premium essence of a fine Chinese restaurant.
The comforting, rich clam soup, tender salt-baked chicken, and deeply savoury chap chye taste like a premium home-cooked feast that truly touches the heart.
Authentic Indonesian Flavours
If you love spice, City Plaza is a goldmine for authentic Indonesian cuisine:
- Dapur Penyet: Highly popular with native Indonesians for its authentic flavours, their famous Ayam Penyet (and rarer Bebek/Duck Penyet) features generous portions and a selection of five distinct, face-meltingly spicy chillis.
- Waroeng Bakso by Hamburguesa: Head up to the narrow, cosy food court on the top level to find this crowded gem. Their simple bakso features oversized, springy meatballs and bee hoon swimming in a deeply rich beef broth. Approach the spicy version with caution!
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
Dapur Penyet
Location: 810 Geylang Rd, #01-43/44, Singapore 409286
Opening Hours: Open Daily 11 AM – 7:30 PM
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
Final Thoughts
City Plaza proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a memorable afternoon in Singapore. By trading away slick, uniform glass facades for a bit of grit and character, you get access to genuine deals, passionate independent shopkeepers, and some of the best fried chicken in town. Pack a little cash, keep an open mind, and enjoy the hunt!