We've got the deets on all things kid-related in Singapore's shopping district!
When it comes to shopping for couture or high-street fashion, your best bet is the Little Red Dot’s answer to Paris’s Champs-Élysées, Orchard Road. But did you know there are heaps of things for kids to do, too? We’re talking entire shopping mall floors dedicated to kids, nature trails, delish noms that’ll have your picky eaters begging for seconds, indoor playgrounds and more. Yep, Orchard Road is definitely kid-friendly and we’ve got all the deets for a fun-filled day for kids of all ages. You’re welcome.
Fun kid-friendly things to do in Orchard Road
1. Play at the best indoor playgrounds in Orchard Road
After that post-lunch food coma, why not burn off some calories at an indoor playground? For the younger kiddos, head over to Hip Kids Playground at Forum. At $5 per child per entry, you’ll keep the lil ones entertained (for at least an hour) with the ball pit and toddler-friendly climbing structures.
This indoor playground in Orchard has crazy elastic climbing structures, mini cannons, and even painting on the walls! The interactive play experience at buds by Shangri-La at Shangri-La Singapore makes us wish we were kids ourselves. And if you want more, they even run baking classes and classical music immersion sessions (payable separately). Admission starts from $48 per child for three hours of play time.
For kiddos who love pretend play, Pirate Land at The Centrepoint is the perfect kids playground in Orchard that brings their imagination to life. With a toy brick street, supermarket, ocean animal projection drawing, and more, you’ll spend the afternoon here. Admission runs from $11.90 for one parent-child pair.
Smigy Playground is the bright new indoor playground at Orchard, Forum which boasts a mini supermarket, a dolly dress-up salon, a pretend clinic, ball pits, and more. Prepare to spend a couple of hours here. Admission starts from $23 (one child + one adult).
In for more thrills? Then you’d wanna check out some of the adrenaline-pumping activities at Skypark by Kiztopia. This kids playground in Orchard is tucked away in a corner of Level 4 at Orchard Cineleisure. For the more competitive families, there are multi-level challenges to take on – just make sure to keep it friendly! There are even vertical gyms and a ball pit for the little ones to try out if they’re feeling inspired to take on something new. Expect to pay from $32 (one child + one adult) for single admissions.
You can’t stop jumping at Bounce at Cineleisure, perfect for expending the youthful energy. The little ones aged four and below get their own Junior Jumper area while the older kids can bounce the day away at the free jump areas. Prices at this kids indoor playground in Orchard starts at $19 for Junior Jumpers for the first hour. If you’d like to join in the fun, it’s $27.20 for the first hour of general access.
If you feel like you’ve already spent too much, there are free indoor playgrounds in Orchard nestles within malls like Paragon Shopping Centre and 313 Somerset.
2. Adventurous activities in Orchard Road (for the big and small kids)
This indoor playground in Orchard Central is perfect for the digital youths. The immersive VR experience at Sandbox VR (Virtual Reality) takes you inside exclusive worlds where you can see and interact with everyone in your group. It’s like you’re inside the game or movie! So, if you ever wondered what it’s like coming face to face with zombies or playing the Squid Game, here’s your chance from $44 per guest per experience.
Nothing beats solving problems together as a family, especially if you want to get out of the rooms! Great for family bonding and working those critical thinking skills, Escape Rooms are some of the fun things to do in Orchard Road. Find seven thrilling games at Trapped, (from $28.90 per person) located at The Centrepoint or solve crimes and puzzles at Captivate Escape Rooms (from $25 per person) at Singapore Shopping Centre. And if you are into spooky fun, the haunted rooms at Escape Room Singapore (from $29 per person), at Orchard Gateway, will creep you out.
The active kiddos who are looking for more of a challenge won’t wanna miss all the fun at X-SCAP8. There are five specially curated zones to explore, with the centrepiece being the three-storey-high ‘Infinity and Beyond’ ropes adventure course, which is not for the faint-hearted! There’s also a Smash Lab, an X-Warrior Challenge with ladders and timers, an Arcade Zone with a very cool golf simulator. Fuel up at the attached resto bar when you’re done. Entry is free, activities payable separately.
Who doesn’t love shooting some hoops or smashing aliens in the arcade? The Timezone that’s above ION Orchard MRT boasts 22,000 sq ft of fun, including a mini bowling alley, bumper cars, VR plays, and more. Best part, you’ll get to redeem toys and knick knacks with the digital coupons you’ve earned with every play. Compete against one another or work together in the games.
Snowboarding in Orchard Road? No, we are not our of our minds. Trifecta is the adrenaline-fuelled playground in Orchard Road that lets you skate, ski, and surf all at one place. Intro classes for surfing starts from $65 or purchase credits, starting from $390. to share and use across multiple sessions.
3. Check out pretty bookshops and the library in Orchard Road
If you have bookworms wiggling to get their hands on new reads, then hop over to Books Kinokuniya in Takashimaya Shopping Centre. Even though the stalwart of bookshops has downsized its operations, it still carries quality titles that your littlies will go nuts over.
Bookshop, art gallery, and cafe allrolled into one, the ZALL Bookstore is a tranquil spot along Orchard Road to hang out and read with your kids. The Chinese book store with calligraphic elements and art pieces everywhere, specialises in books about culture, literature, and art. There’s a children’s section and a multi-functional space which hosts storytelling sessions and more.
For an IG worthy spot with sweet deals on books, hit up BookXcess at Wisma Atria. The alternative books retailer that is known for their larger-than-life shelves and displays in Malaysia brings the same aesthetic vibes to Singapore. Even though it’s housed in a bank, there’s an entire section for kids, an in-house cafe, and a lifestyle retail corner. This is indeed a bookworm’s paradise!
Temporarily closed for revamp: Make sure to also pop by the library@orchard in Orchard Gateway. While it doesn’t have a children’s section, it’s worth checking out for the beautiful interiors alone (and mum and dad can borrow a magazine or two!).
4. Do some shopping (obviously!)
After dragging the kiddos through yet another Zara (because each Zara is different, guys), they deserve a treat! Paragon Shopping Centre‘s fifth level is filled with stuff for tots. We’re talking designer clothes, organic snacks, a giant Mothercare and even one of our all-time fave toy stores – The Better Toy Store. And don’t forget the fab (and free!) indoor play area for a quick pitstop post shop. After more options? Forum The Shopping Mall is another favourite with its kids’ fashion stores and educational toy stores. If you’re feeling brave (and generous), there’s an exceptionally large Toys ‘R’ Us at both Paragon and Forum The Shopping Mall – you’ve been warned! For crafty kids, hop on over to Plaza Singapura for our favourite black hole, Spotlight.
5. Look good, feel good with a pampering sesh
How about a mother-daughter mani-sesh before hitting Orchard’s high streets for your shopping excursion? The Little Princess service at Vedure Face, Body & Nail MediSpa comes with a difference: colour-changing nail polish that changes colours under the sun! Guaranteed to put a smile on your littlie’s faces. Psst… there’s also something special for the dads too! So don’t forget to invite the dads to this pit stop.
Turn up the day with a hair wash and blow out to freshen your look. Make a stop at Bonbon Blowout Bar+ for a cut, wash, and blow (from $46 for kids) or add a little sparkle to your hair with glitter extensions at Glitaf (from $55). But if you want to indulge in a rejuvenating head spa, it’s off to the lushness of Walking on Sunshine.
6. Soak up the sun at nearby parks
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In fact, if you ever want to see one of us IRL, feel free to head over to the Gardens on the weekends – we’re the ones running after our kids! We love the nature trails, especially the Rainforest Trek which showcases more than 300 species of plants and an actual six-hectare jungle. But our favourite has to be the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden that even comes with a water play area.
If the Orchard urban landscape is overwhelming and you need a hint of open space for the kiddos to run around or simply a whiff of nature, you don’t have to venture very far to make a quick retreat. Orchard road is spotted with a few gardens alongside its length, like Istana Park, Dhoby Ghaut Green, Fort Canning Park and Penang Road Open Space. Take your pick folks!
There’s no lack of surprises on this shopping street. You wouldn’t think that kicking back with a cocktail at a beach club is a thing to do on Orchard Road. At P.S.O Beach Club, you can do just that. Dip your toes in the cool waters while the kiddos splash things up with cute inflatables. Laze around in the sun beds and cabanas, while feasting from the a la carte menu (kids menu available too!)
7. Check out the history of Orchard Road!
If you’re in the Dhoby Ghaut area just a little bit down from Orchard Road, be sure to check out Fort Canning Park and get a mini history lesson as you explore the old barracks. The tombstones by Fort Canning Green is a creepy spot worth paying a visit to and a great place for photo ops. Especially at the iconic Fort Canning Tree Tunnel that’s blowing up the internet. And, if you’ve got older kids, we recommend planning ahead and catching Shakespeare in the Park or Films at the Fort during the evening for an unforgettable night.
You can also check out the Istana Heritage Gallery at Istana Park. The gallery showcases state artefacts, artworks and collections of gifts received from foreign dignitaries to Singapore’s Presidents and Prime Ministers. The gallery is temporarily closed but you can take a 360 tour of the gallery here.
8. Try something different
Get the most awesome view of Singapore at ION Orchard‘s ION Sky. Take the lift up all the way to level 56 and you’ll find yourself 218 metres into the clouds. You’ll get amazing 360° panoramic views of Singapore! Or for a cool photo opp, make your way to Emerald Hill where you’ll see a row of picturesque shophouses. Have fun and snap away!
Where to eat in Orchard Road
9. Try our favourite breakfast spots in Orchard Road
Yep, Orchard Road is tourist central, so you’ll probably need to start your day early with the right energy boost. If you are looking to kickstart your day at an urban escape before hitting the high streets we know just the place. PS.Cafe Palais Renaissance serves up that all-essential coffee and scrumptious brekky ops in the most stunning classic setting, bang in the heart of Orchard.
If you’re starting your day early, Cafe de Muse is a 24-hour Western-Korean cafe with breakfast staples like waffles, toast, and smoothies.
Next on our list is Tiong Bahru Bakery at Tangs Department store for their flaky, buttery croissants and uber-strong coffee. Kids will love sitting by the window – it has a great view of ION Orchard and all the foot traffic on Orchard Road.
For the fluffiest pancakes ever, we love the Wild Honey Canadian Pancake stack at Wild Honey at Mandarin Gallery. Don’t forget to make a reservation because it can get quite packed!
If it’s the local runny egg and kaya toast breakfast that you are craving for, look for the trusty Toast Box at malls like Shaw House, ION, The Centrepoint, and more.
With all your brekky needs sorted, we know you’ve begun the day on the right note!
10. Fuel up for Lunch in Orchard Road
If you’re at Paragon, skeddaddle over to Din Tai Fung because we all know that the dumplings go down a storm with the kids. Or hit up Peach Garden at The Heeren for your dose of dim sum. Find the best, kid- approved mac and cheese at Bedrock Bar & Grill or if you’re just after a burger, you’re in luck – Orchard Road has its very own Shake Shack! Need more options? How about Marche Movenpick? The picky eaters’ menu, in particular, can come to your rescue – for just $18.90, you’ll get a main, juice or soft drink, an ice cream, and best of all a craft pack to keep the kids occupied. Oh yeh, and there’s a play area too!
11. We love snack time
Guessing the brood and you would have worked up an enormous appetite by this time. It’s time to give those feet some rest! We know just the fam-pleaser that will win you huge-brownie points. The high tea at Marmalade Pantry is a winner, hands down! And nothing can beat an assortment of nom-worthy goodies on a multi-tiered serving stand with a hot pot of tea to wash it all down. Delish!
If you are up for something on the go, just walk down Orchard Road and you’ll spot ice-cream uncles selling $2 ice-cream sandwiches – the quintessential Singapore sweet treat! Or how about a trip to the legendary Kind Kones at the Forum or Paragon for a sweet treat? Or the creamy Van Leeuwen, bringing a touch of Brooklyn to Orchard Central. For something different, the crispy bun with condensed milk from Tsui Wah at The Heeren is worth a try, too! We also like to support the budding home bakers at Baker X @ Orchard Central, always something to look forward to here.
12. Grab a coffee break
Need a coffee? Look for the Japanese specialty coffee, Kurasu at Orchard Building. Don’t underestimate this hole in the wall, its rich and aromatic coffee has won over the hearts of many, and they serve a good Matcha latte too. Head to Clayful Cafe for coffee and creativity with clay and the kiddos or make your way to the quirky Chinese brand, There Was No Coffee for interesting concoctions which includes rose, banana, or even durian in your coffee!
What’s your fave thing to do on Orchard Road with kids? DM us and let us know what we should add to our list!