We don’t know about you, but we absolutely love wandering in and around lifestyle stores. Perhaps it’s the sheer size of them or possibly the fact that they carry such a wide array of gorgeous items and ornaments that we could only wish our homes had space for.

These stores are usually filled to the brim with quirky items and little knick-knacks that will definitely keep you occupied for quite some time. They are also great places to head to if you’re looking for a gift for someone or if you want some pretty pieces to decorate your home.

From the ever-bustling Don Don Donki to vintage bookstore, Books Actually, here are 14 of our favourite lifestyle stores in Singapore that you definitely should check out.

BOOKS ACTUALLY 

It’s easy to get lost in a good book on a lazy day, and a place like Books Actually is no exception. Nestled in a quaint, quiet neighbourhood of Tiong Bahru, this gorgeous vintage will easily keep you preoccupied for a while.

This hipster-esque bookstore does not just house a plethora of good books. They also have pretty, old-school trinkets on display and for sale. You can also take home the treasures that you’ve found here in one of their customised tote bags which are sold for S$10 each.

9 Yong Siak Street
Singapore 168645
Tel: +65 6222 9195
Tue to Sat: 10am – 8pm
Sun to Mon: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

CAT SOCRATES 

If you adore cats, this is one place that you definitely must visit. One of the shopkeepers here happen to be Chestnut the cat, and he will “assist” you (or simply follow you around) as you browse around the shop.

The store is filled to the brim with quirky knick-knacks and many cat-themed items. We could stay here forever if we could!

231 Bain Street, #02-25
Singapore 180231
Tel: +65 6333 0870
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 8pm
Sun: 1pm – 7pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah & Bugis

COMMUNE

Commune specialises mainly in beautiful and luxurious home goods that will definitely spice up your living area and give it a modern touch. Besides home goods, they also have a cafe area for you to chill at after the shopping’s done.

#02-51/52/53 Millenia Walk
9 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6338 3823
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

CRATE & BARREL 

If you’re bored of the furniture at IKEA, you can always hop over to Crate & Barrel to look through the gorgeous furniture and home decor items that they have here for sale. From king-sized beds to aesthetically-pleasing wooden ornaments that’ll beautify your kitchen, they have pretty much everything here that you need to do up your home.

2 Orchard Turn, #04-21/22 Ion Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6634 4222
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

DON DON DONKI 

The popular Japanese discount king store was all over the news late last year because they had finally opened a store in Singapore. This megastore sells a plethora of things such as food, household items, makeup and novelty items. We also love how it is open 24-hours so that we can do some late night shopping when insomnia strikes.

Orchard Central, B1 & B2
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6444 2422
Daily: 24-hours
Nearest Station: Somerset

DOVER STREET MARKET 

Dover Street Market is a multi-brand retailer located at the quaint Dempsey Road. If you’re into high-end streetwear such as Balenciaga, Brain Dead, Vetements, Comme des Garcons and Gucci, this is the place that you should be at.

18 Dempsey Road
Singapore 249677
Tel: +65 6304 1388
Daily: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Road

EDIT 

Edit Lifestyle oozes with beachy summer vibes. This airy, spacious store sells very tropical related items such as bikinis, beachwear, sunglasses, hats and baskets. They also sell pretty home decor items to jazz up your living space.

Tudor Court, 137 – 139 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247927
Tel: +65 6836 5686
Mon to Sat: 10am – 7pm
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

GRAFUNKT 

Grafunkt is an independent (indie) design brand that specialises mostly in modern furniture and home goods that adopt a somewhat industrial style. Their products are beautifully laid out throughout the store and make for a good and comfortable place to browse for furniture or simply to take a short break from all the walking.

9 Raffles Blvd, 34/35/36
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6336 6046
Daily: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

IN GOOD COMPANY 

Tucked away in ION Orchard is In Good Company, a store that specialises mainly in clothes and accessories. They also house popular cupcake brand Plain Vanilla that sells their signature sweet treats and decent coffee to match.

#B1-06, 2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 4786
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

KAPOK 

Located at the National Design Centre, Kapok is filled to the brim with interesting knick-knacks and quirky items. Besides that, they sell a range of pretty interesting and creative clothes and accessories. We also adore the walkway leading up to the store entrance—it’s so adorable!

111 Middle Road
Singapore 188969
Tel: +65 9060 9107
Daily: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

KNOTS CAFE AND LIVING 

We absolutely love the concept of Knots Cafe and Living. This rustic, cosy cafe not only sells great eats and fragrant coffee, but all their furniture in the cafe itself is also for sale!

From the tables and chairs that you sit on to the paintings on the wall, if you like it just buy it from there. They also sell fresh flowers which are great for if you’re bringing your date here.

#01-07, 160 Paya Lebar Road
Singapore 409022
Tel: +65 6817 0383
Tue to Thu: 9am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm
Mon: 9am – 5.30pm
Nearest Station: MacPherson

MONUMENT LIFESTYLE GOODS & CAFE 

Hidden away in a crevice of Duxton Road is Monument Lifestyle. Here, they sell men’s items that are imported from the US. They also have a coffee shop that serves up fresh brews and teatime snacks.

75 Duxton Road
Singapore 089534
Mon to Fri: 8am – 7pm
Sat: 10am – 6pm
Sun: 10am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar & Outram

MUJI 

Muji has always been popular for their minimalistic products and store design, and we have always been in love with their woody, minimalistic interiors and simple but versatile home goods. Besides home decor, they also sell food and stationery.

68 Orchard Road, #01-10
17 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6264 5838
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

NAIISE 

Naiise is a colourful, quirky store that sells a plethora of interesting knick-knacks and novelty items. We love how many of the things here are Singapore themed such as tote bags with MRT locations printed on it as well as pillows in the shape of local childhood snacks.

2 Handy Road, #B1-08
The Cathy Building
Singapore 229233
Daily: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bencoolen

Haji Lane is not just. Besides the usual slew of cafes, eateries and apparel stores, these colourful streets are also home to a number of aesthetically-pleasing lifestyle stores that have a plethora of interesting knick-knacks that can keep you occupied for hours.

From rustic, handmade accessories to beautiful Danish boutique crafts, here are 7 lifestyle stores located in Haji Lane that will have hipsters occupied for hours.

CRAFT ASSEMBLY 

Decked out in rustic, vintage decor, Craft  Assembly is a store that features uniquely local-made crafts, vintage apparel as well as old-school toys. They love featuring local designers, so if you happen to be one, do drop them an email!

61 Haji Lane
Singapore 189254
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 8pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm

DRUNKEN BALLOON

Drunken Balloon definitely has an eye-catching storefront. Their balloons sculptures that frame their entrance really grabs ones attention and lures them into their colourful store. Though specialising in party goods, they also sell a lot of decorative, retro pieces to help you pimp out your pad.

84 Haji Lane
Singapore 189273

DULCET & FIG

Dulcet Fig is an eclectic store that stocks independent labels from both Singapore and overseas. These mainly consist of vintage pieces like apparels and accessories that are sourced from the store owners travels. Most of their items also support a social cause such as fair trade labels and eco-friendly brands.

41 Haji Lane
Singapore 189234
Tel: +65 6396 5648
Daily: 11am – 9pm

HYGGE 

Hygge used to be a quirky Danish cafe slash lifestyle boutique, but they recently converted fully into a minimalist lifestyle store that sells pretty handmade trinkets as well as gorgeous vintage apparel. This is a great place to create a personalised gift for a friend or loved one.

37 Haji Lane
Singapore 189230
Tel: +65 8163 1893
Daily: 12pm – 6.30pm

LIFE BY DESIGN 

For those of you who like mysterious, metaphysical things, this store is the place for you. This place sells a ton of quirky knick-knacks such as healing stones, tarot cards, Hoodoo oils and even Ouija boards!

43 Haji Lane
Singapore 189236
Tel: +65 6884 9968
Daily: 12pm – 10pm

MONDAYS OFF 

This gorgeous Scandinavian-decorated store is a multi-label boutique that sells an array of interesting, quirky items. From colourful kitchen accessories to pretty stationary and printed scarves, there is something here for everyone.

76 Haji Lane
Singapore 189269
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 8pm
(Closed on Mondays)

SPOILMARKET

This place is a treasure trove for just about anyone. The whole store is packed to the brim with quirky items such as vintage TV sets, retro cameras, unique bags, loud fashion pieces as well as funky collectables. If given the opportunity, we would stay here for hours!

74 Haji Lane
Singapore 189267
Daily: 10.30am – 9pm

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Music instrument institution Swee Lee is a homegrown brand that began their humble operations in 1946 by supplying brass and woodwind instruments to the British military band. Today, Swee Lee owns several showrooms and lifestyle stores that can be found all over Singapore and they offer a range of contemporary musical instruments such as drums and guitars.

Their flagship store at The Star Vista recently underwent renovation works and the original store has expanded to cater for a new retail space that stores just about everything a musician will ever need. Expect to be greeted by musical instruments, audio and DJ equipment, fashion apparels, a music academy and the best part for coffee enthusiasts—an in-house cafe called Swee Lee Social Club.

Upon first look, the cosy cafe immediately appealed to us with its intimate setting that allows for heartfelt conversations with your friends over coffee, yet with enough space for patrons to walk around comfortably.

In addition to their stellar brews, Swee Lee Social Club also carries juices and bottled drinks that are kept in a chiller.

Boasting an aromatic selection of freshly brewed coffee brewed with beans that are roasted by local speciality coffee roaster Common Man Coffee Roasters and various types of tea, Swee Lee Social Club is the latest hangout spot in the west that you should know about.

Be sure to approach the baristas behind the bar for the secret menu that features some light bites and smoothie options. Swee Lee Social Club’s secret menu is concise and there were only 5 items on it—a small selection of smoothies and some sweet offerings.

If you are ever craving for something sweet, their Waffle & Co (S$10) off the secret menu will do the trick. It comprises a crispy buttermilk waffle topped with a scoop of ice cream as well as a myriad of sprinkles from rainbow rice to crushed peanuts.

Simple as it was, this waffle dish is bound to satisfy those with a sweet tooth—no doubts about that.

For something a little more filling, diners can opt for the Sweet Toast (S$7) that features fresh blueberries, bananas, muesli, honey and dried fruit scattered over a toasted piece of sourdough toast.

Despite the dish having lots of interesting textures, we felt that the dish was lacking a certain wow factor. It was literally just a variety of fruits scattered over bread which basically anyone could whip up at home.

Overall, we would say that although the food was not the most fantastic around, we still give props to Swee Lee for adopting such a refreshing concept to revitalise what used to be a plain old music instrument store.

Swee Lee Social Club
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-01-07/10, The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Tel: +65 6334 7703
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista