10 reasons why we hang out at the newest CBD shopping and fitness destination Downtown Gallery

Beyond being just another retail destination in Singapore, Downtown Gallery is a one-stop location for like-minded people to commune, look well, keep well and eat well. OUE Limited Senior VP of retail, marketing and leasing Patrina Tan says they worked with a New York-based trend futurist to better understand evolving consumers (because we can’t stop hearing about how the mall scene is dying).

The result? The team decided to focus on three key trends – wellness, bespoke and luxury. The idea is that you can head over and spend an entire day at Downtown Gallery, says Patrina.

We’ve been spending quite a bit of time there (see what we had to say about The Work Project and GuavaLabs) and frankly, it’s not hard to get swept up by the draw. 

Opening hours: 10am-9pm
Location: Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way Singapore 068815

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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Made up of 12 55-inch monitors, interactive mall directory Wayfinder will point you towards where you need to go. Unlike your regular mall directory, this one reflects the outside weather in real-time and you can motion to set off fireworks and pop balloons on-screen. Using tech to elevate the retail experience has also hit the fast fashion scene as Zara launches a mobile AR experience that will enable in-store customers to see models come to life on their devices. 

Patrina and her team wanted it to be a more fun and engaging experience. Constantly thinking about how to incorporate tech into the retail experience, what’s next will hopefully involve converting diners into hair salon and mani-pedi customers while waiting for their turn at restaurants. 

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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Two of which – Recognize! Studios (#02-25) and Wings to Wings (#03-06/07) – are dance studios. There has been a redefinition of what luxury means to the everyday woman. Sure 10 years ago, it would’ve been referring to your Hermes or Chanel, but these days, it’s all about wellness. From boxing at GuavaLabs (#B1-04-06) to pilates at Upside Motion (#B1-02), from rhythm cycling at Absolute Cycle (#02-01) to HIIT at Haus Athletics (#02-03), you’ll be spoiled for choice. Muve Fitness will be the new kid on the block come May.  

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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“Cycling is the new golf,” says Patrina who took up the sport, got a personal trainer, and hung out with fitness friends in order to find out more about the new craze. Spinning may still be relatively female-dominated but retail stores like Specialised (#01-43 and 47) don’t alienated the middle-aged men in lycra (Mamils) – cycling enthusiast fathers aged between 35 and 45 who ride expensive racing bicycles for leisure and wear spandex for comfort. And it’s at bicycle themed cafe-meets-retail store Autobus (#01-01) that you can tuck into protein bowls and coffee while browsing gear and apparel. To celebrate the mall’s opening, 30 bicycles were used to power up the interactive façade. Yet another tech initiative. 

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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In-house vegan restaurant and bar Hrvst recently opened at Kilter Avenue (#05-01). Our personal fave was the orange-glazed grilled tofu on nut spread sourdough. It was topped with broccoli and cauliflower blanched in kelp stock, layered with pickled yellow ribbons ($14).

A close second was the soy satay. Unlike the way that some vegetarian places try to replicate meat, the soy satay with peanut sauce and veggie chips ($10) isn’t trying to imitate the texture of chicken or beef. It’s crumbly, seasoned with spices used to make traditional satay and pleasantly perfumed with lemongrass. The peanut sauce was much sweeter and milder than what we’ve been accustomed to. Made with gula melaka, it complemented the bold spicy flavour of the soy skewers nicely. The veggie chips – made of lotus, zucchini and carrots – were generously salted and absolutely addictive. It’s $15 for a main course and juice, or $25 for an appetiser, main course, and dessert.

Speaking of healthy eateries, Dosirak (#01-44) recently extended its opening hours to 8pm on weekdays.

Photo: Hrvst Restaurant and Bar

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Having bought a car online herself, Patrina is no stranger to online shopping. Yet she believes that it isn’t all doom and gloom surrounding brick-and-mortar, but rather how you repurpose the two to co-exist. The Gallery Edit is a pop-up corner created to give local names a physical space. Although stereotype has it that millennials enjoy novelty, Patrina realised is that we’re all still creatures of comfort.

Drawing inspiration from her own children – two of whom are millennials – she noticed that while they possess different personalities (one grounded, the other flighty), they both crave familiarity – going to the same sites where you can bank on the style and fit. That’s why the Gallery Edit will be a familiar platform to introduce different local labels throughout the year. 

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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Can’t spare a full hour to brave the crowd  to get your hands on lunch? A relaxed respite on busy days is the Re:Store (#03-11/12/13). How it works is you place your order under OUE Re:Store, select your preferred dish, collection time, then make an e-payment.

“It all started with us being CBD workers ourselves and lunchtime being a nightmare,” says Patrina. From having to chope a place and stand in line to eating quickly while others eye your table,  it’s all such a pressuring experience. “You want to be eating well in a comfortable area without hassle,” says Patrina. “We started with our end objective then worked backwards on how to deliver the experience, working with vendors on how to create food vaults and a systematic flow.” Makansutra is behind the menu, serving food not easily found in the vicinity. Think: Filipino, Indonesian and Peranakan choices.

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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In co-cooking space OUE Social Kitchen (#03-02) are more than a handful of stations – two of which are halal-friendly. All you need to do is bring your raw ingredients (bring them from home or place a RedMart order to be delivered to OUE Social Kitchen, where its team can receive and store them till you arrive), cook and eat. Basic condiments such as salt, pepper, sauces, and spices are provided at no charge.

It also runs various specials like the upcoming Sayur Lodeh Lunch Party (May 2 to 21) and Lentil Burger Nights (May 22 to 25) where the recipe and all raw ingredients are fully provided. The idea is that in a space like this, cooking enthusiasts will be able to meet one another and bond over food. The concept was inspired by Patrina’s trip to New Zealand, where different travellers came together to cook and talk about different cultures and food.

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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The OUE Beauty Bar – beauty vending machines on the ground floor – are stocked with skincare and cosmetic products from Clarins, Nars and Shiseido. Great if you know what you want – whether it’s for yourself or a last-minute gift. Quicker than shopping online because you don’t need to wait for the delivery service or make small talk with the staff.

Browse, explore and choose your favourite skin and makeup products through the giant touchscreen display. Last we checked, there are 140 items to choose from. Prices range from $30 to $300 and are restocked weekly.

Photo: Downtown Gallery

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Sometimes you just need some down-time to work on your laptop or read a book. Well when you do, the cosy sun-lit Reading Room on the second floor is for you. Poetry reading and other events are occasionally held here.

Photo: yujia_zhang on Instagram

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Starting to think that you might never want to leave Downtown Gallery? You don’t have to if you stay at luxury serviced apartment Oakwood Premier OUE Singapore. In line with wellness and to tackle our stressful and sedentary lifestyles, Oakwood Premier OUE is running a series of activities open to both in-house guests and members of the public. “Fit to inspire” wellness talk series will be hosted bi-monthly by different professionals in the fitness and wellness industry. Plus pilates and community runs are conducted by World Trainer (a global network of personal trainers) on Saturdays. Oh and did we mention that there is an infinity pool? Aquaspin classes will be held here.

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