Orchard, Cairnhill, River Valley
Orchard Road is regarded as Singapore's consumer nirvana and is replete with a stretch of towering malls. From the quirky Tanglin Mall to the imposing edifice of Ngee Ann City and the upscale Paragon, visitors can spend several days here without shopping in the same mall twice.
Restaurants and hotels line the street, making it easy for travelers to find accommodation and a wide variety of sumptuous cuisine. Despite the district's sophisticated buildings and shrines, there are still many remnants from the past that serve as a reminder that this area was, in the 19th century, an orchard teeming with nutmeg and pepper. Just at the southern end of the road is the beautiful Istana that is highlighted with Nibong palms, while the Botanic Gardens on the northern side serve as the perfect escape for visitors who wish to break away from the fast-paced lifestyle of the city. Orchard Road is an excellent place that offers a wide variety of activities and attractions for visitors of all sorts.
District 9 is known as the shopping haven of Singapore that provides shoppers with a great range of branded and luxury goods. District 9 also serves as a prime residential area, with affluent housing estates that include top-notch condominiums and apartments that are available at premium prices.
Other than being a shopping paradise, potential property buyers are attracted to District 9 for its vicinity has been dubbed an art and educational hub as it houses reputable institutions like the Singapore Management University (SMU), School of the Arts (SOTA), LaSalle, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and Singapore’s Art Museum (SAM). Nature and history enthusiasts can also explore Mt. Emily Park, the Istana Park, Bras Basah Park and Fort Canning Park.
Orchard Road, known for its beautiful lighting along the tree-lined boulevard had its humble beginnings as a fruit plantation in the mid-1800s. In the 1860s, Orchard Road was filled with private houses and bungalows that were occupied by notable aristocrats and the rich. In the 1890s, King Chulalongkorn, the King of Siam, acquired the Hurricane House in Orchard Road.
Today, Orchard Road is a paradise for shopaholics, as several shopping malls like Orchard Central, ION Orchard and 313@Somerset line the streets while existing malls like Mandarin Gallery and Paragon have refurbished themselves. The latest retail mall, Orchard Gateway recently opened in 2013. Other than the wide array of shopping centres, the Istana is also located at the southern end of Orchard Road. Towards the northern area of Orchard Road is Botanic Gardens and Goodwood Park Hotel which is fine example of colonial architecture in Singapore.
An often overlooked region of District 9 is River Valley that consists mainly of private properties catered to the middle and high income demographic of residents. River Valley is also popular for its local Singaporean dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice and Nasi Padang.
Amenities nearby
Shopping complexes at Orchard include Wheelock Place, C.K. Tangs, Wisma Atria, Lucky Plaza, Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya, Paragon, The Heeren and Plaza Singapura.
In River Valley, there is the “River Valley Nasi Padang” which is said to be the best place to get a steaming plate of Nasi Padang.