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Orchard Road’s youth-centric hangout spot, *SCAPE, has been undergoing upgrading works since 2022 to create more youth-led programmes. It is expected to fully reopen on the weekend of Nov 8, with more focus on community building rather than retail offerings. Even so, I was still pleasantly surprised at what I found on my recent visit here.
There are quite a few stores that are already serving customers, while some are almost ready for opening. Keep reading to find out what I discovered at the new *SCAPE.
1. Newer and bigger hangout spots at the Plaza
The first thing you will notice when you walk towards *SCAPE is the colourful outdoor area it now has. Under big trees and canvas canopies, you will find an open Plaza for performances and events. There are also orange swings and benches for hanging out, and tables and chairs to chill or study at.
I can definitely see this spot buzzing with young crowds when the space officially reopens in November. This will probably become the prime location in Orchard Road for youth activities and events again.
2. ChaPanda’s Chinese bubble tea and cute mascots
One of the largest stores at *SCAPE that will catch your attention is ChaPanda, a famous bubble tea chain that hails from China. It’ll be hard to miss, especially since it is at the front of the mall, and its cute panda mascots can be seen outside near the Plaza.
Entering the store feels like being transported into a tea farm with cosy seating areas. There is quite a wide range of drink options here, from Classic Milk Teas to Fresh Fruit Teas. I was personally recommended the Oolong Milk Tea with Soybean Cheese Foam (S$5.50) by the staff and had no regrets ordering a cup.
The tea was fragrant and just sweet enough for me, and taking a sip together with the powdery and creamy soybean cheese foam at the top made it incredibly satisfying. I would definitely go back again for this particular drink.
3. Kremi’s unique Japanese crepes
Something else I had to try at *SCAPE are these Japanese crepes at Kremi. The concept of this store was inspired by the owners’ trips to Japan, where they tasted crepes they couldn’t find in Singapore.
Most crepes I am familiar with are on the crispier side, but these crepes are super soft. They are also huge and very filling. I personally went for the Banana Pudding Matcha Brulee (S$14.90) crepe, which was made with ceremonial-grade matcha batter. The flame-torched caramelised top was definitely the highlight for me, other than the generous servings of banana pudding. I loved this sweet treat that sated my hunger.
If you want something unique and filling, drop by Kremi and order one of their 10 different crepes! Other than sweet flavours, there are also a couple of savoury options like Mt. Buldak (S$11.90) and Spicy Tuna Mayo (S$9.90). This store seems to already be quite popular amongst visitors, so be prepared for some waiting time during crowded periods.
4. Famous snacks from Chongqing
You can probably already tell — the revamped *SCAPE has some bussin’ food options. And that includes Din Jia Po, tucked in a tiny corner with limited seating, selling famous snacks from Chongqing. If you want to spice up your day, consider dropping by for their variety of potato snacks and Hot Plate Spicy Tofu (S$6 for small, S$8 for large).
I was intrigued by their 6 different kinds of potato dishes while passing by and had to give one of them a try. So, I went for the Wolf-tooth potatoes (S$6). On the surface, these look just like regular fries, but they are quite different.
Firstly, these Wolf-tooth potatoes are not deep-fried, but boiled and stir-fried. This preserves that crunchy potato texture that is lost in normal fries. Also, these potatoes are seasoned with a spicy powder, giving them that extra flavour and kick. I liked these as a light snack, but thought they could have been more evenly seasoned throughout. Definitely would recommend giving it a try, though.
5. Slushyah’s slushies with unlimited toppings
If the spice gets to you, you can cool down with some slushies at Slushyah, which is just next to Din Jia Po. What is great about this slushy corner is that once you choose a cup (S$6.80 for regular, S$7.70 for large), you can fill it up with any combination of slushies and as many toppings you want — well, as much as the cup can contain.
Slushy flavours include Jasmine Green Tea, Thai Tea and Bandung, while signature toppings include Taiwan Boba Pearl, Osmanthus Jelly Ball and Popping Boba. Look for the friendly staff for recommendations if you’re around!
6. ah cai’s soft serve ice cream
Need something even cooler? Check out ah cai’s soft serve ice cream. If you’ve been part of the Yo-Chi craze recently, you will feel right at home here, as it also has a DIY concept.
Choose from 3 flavours — Acai, Soy and Dark Chocolate, and form your base, before moving to a counter with many toppings that you can fill your cup with. The price of your cup will depend on its weight, so fill it up with as much ice cream and toppings as you can afford!
7. Yoajung’s Korean frozen yoghurt
Riding on the same trend, many of you would also have heard about Yoajung, the famous Korean frozen yoghurt that also arrived in Singapore recently. This is different from ah cai and Yo-Chi, because it is not DIY.
You can order fixed sizes of cups, which will come with their own price tags (S$3 for small, S$5 for medium), and then add on toppings at different costs. Yoajung also serves acai bowls beyond just their frozen yoghurts.
From Mon to Thu, 2pm – 6pm, students can also enjoy 10% off. Just make sure to bring your student ID along!
8. Hanco Coffee’s cosy cafe vibes
Outside the entrance of *SCAPE and next to Yoajung, you will find Hanco Coffee, a cosy-looking cafe. This is a nice, peaceful spot for a cup of coffee and a study date, especially when it’s too hot or rainy outside.
You can go for Traditional Coffee options like Americano (S$6) and Latte (S$7), or opt for one of their Specialty Coffees, like Cocoa Cuddles (S$15), Mango Got Sticky (S$12) and Berry Important Drink (S$11). If these drinks sound interesting to you, you can find out more about them here.
9. SuiTok’s matcha and traditional desserts
Another cafe you can hang out at is SuiTok, which is also located near the entrance of *SCAPE, but inside. This cafe gives off a different vibe and offers more affordable alternatives focused on baked pastries, matcha and traditional Chinese desserts.
For example, you can get an Ice Matcha Latte for S$5.50, a Garlic Butter Mini Shio Pan for S$2.20 or a Purple Bliss Milk Ice for S$6.60. This is a great place to chill at without tearing a huge hole in your wallet.
10. Mr. Sun’s creative boba teas
One thing I realised after walking through *SCAPE is that there is no lack of bubble tea stores here. What you choose will just depend on your preferences and ‘feels’. And if you feel like having something more unique, try out one of Mr Sun’s boba teas!
Mr. Sun is part of Taiwan’s Red Sun Tea, a thriving global tea shop brand that was founded in 1999. Over here, you can find unique creations like the Mr. Sun Golden Brew (S$7.20), which is made with Heineken 0.0. There are also a variety of toppings and boba, like Mango Boba, Strawberry Boba and Brown Sugar Boba.
11. ChaSing local tea options
If you’d like to support a new Singaporean milk tea brand and try some tea flavours with a local twist, consider ChaSing. The founders of this newly opened tea store travelled across China from Guangzhou to Shanghai to Xiamen to learn the inner workings of tea-making before opening this store together.
Local Delights you can find here include Pandan Coconut Milk (S$5.90), Yuan Yang (S$5.90) and Da Hong Pao Boba (S$5.90). There are also interesting Fruit Series drinks like Fizzy Peach Tea (S$5.90), Longan Coconut (S$6.90) and Mango Coconut (S$5.90).
12. New Korean fried chicken store
While there are many stores already open at *SCAPE, there are also some in the works. This includes a bright-looking Korean fried chicken store, which we will definitely keep an eye on.
13. Pokémon TCG Gym Deluxe
Another interesting unit that I noticed is this Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Gym Deluxe. It was still being built up when I visited, but it is slated to launch sometime in November.
Fans of the Pokémon TCG can expect an officially certified store where they can enjoy an enhanced card game experience. This will also be an immersive and comfortable space surrounded by Pokémon, making you feel like a real Pokémon trainer!
14. SM Universe K-pop academy
Have you ever wanted to experience what it’s like to be a K-pop idol trainee? Drop by SM Universe, where you can sign up for training programmes led by K-pop industry veterans. This includes vocal workshops, dance workshops and Korean language classes.
There are also spaces here that you can rent for your own use, such as dance studios and recording studios. To find out more, visit their website here.
15. Areas for dance practice
Need a free space to prepare for that dance audition or performance? Head up to the upper levels of *SCAPE, where there are wide open spaces for you to use. These open areas are also equipped with mirrors, which are essential for dance practice.
16. grovve’s safe space for youths
Near the open spaces at Level 4, you will find a welcoming place called grovve. This is an integrated mental wellness centre, where youths are free to visit and connect with fellow youths and friendly peer supporters. There are also workshops and events that they can join and counselling services that are available, should they need it.
For more information, visit grovve’s website here.
17. Study Spaces you can book
With the reopening of *SCAPE, there is also a new space created as a conducive environment for students. Known as the Study Space, these are rooms where youths can study alone or work on school projects with their classmates.
These spaces are free to use, but you will have to book your spot ahead of time. For those who are interested, you can access the Study Space registration form here.
So, what are you looking forward to the most at *SCAPE’s reopening? I am definitely dropping by again with friends when it is fully reopened!
