Previously known as Great World City, the shopping mall that opened over 20 years ago has recently undergone a much-needed revamp. Now going by Great World, the River Valley stalwart bade adieu to labels and chains like home furniture store Laura Ashley as well as Marks & Spencer, making room for restaurants like artisanal dim sum spot MASA by Black Society’s second outlet, and dessert shop House On The Moon’s very first.
Even the bathrooms have received a facelift; gone are the tacky, themed washrooms that strangely held somewhat of an old world charm. Either way, the new Great World sees a more well-organised space, a fresher look, plus a whopping 70 new tenants. Here are some of the highlights you should look out for—it’s about to get a lot more convenient when the new MRT station opens late 2020/early 2021 too.
Eat
Conceived by multi-Michelin-starred Chef Juan Amador, dessert Chef Huseyin Turan, and Berlin-based food lab The Science Kitchen; dessert bar House On The Moon aims to make fine dining desserts more accessible to the masses. The Kalea 65 is an incredibly creamy cheesecake that is not to be missed, while the Moonwalk is a plated work of art conceptualised by Amador and Turan.
Plenty of Japanese restaurant chains have opened outlets at the new Great World, and among them is Issho Izakaya. You can expect an extensive array of Japanese cuisine with a modern twist when you dine here, as well as a rather large range of sake, shochu and beers.
Instead of heading into town, bask in the outskirts at the revamped mall and enjoy MASA by Black Society’s baskets of aesthetically-pleasing, delectable dim sum. It’s not all Chinese delicacies though. Mouth-watering cakes and pastries are still very much on the table.
Shop
With Liang Court’s impending closure, Meidi-Ya now finds a new home at Great World. They continue to offer a wide variety of premium quality food and beverages, with some uncommon brand cereals and nut milks. It’s also still one of the best places to get your hands on Japanese goods.
Boutique grocer and butcher Ryan’s Grocery has also moved into the six-storey shopping mall, and with this outlet comes a brand new dining concept. Both a place to dine and to shop, enjoy their chef-prepared meals, before purchasing the meats and ingredients used in the dishes to recreate them yourself at home.
This may not be one of the newest tenants, but seeing as nothing makes ladies happier than shopping for the latest beauty trends, we’d thought we’d remind everyone that this cosmetics store is here to stay.
Tokyu Hands’ facade may still be barricaded, but you can be sure that this one’s coming our way. The Japanese departmental store is known to be a one-stop creative shop, so look forward to shopping here for all your high quality stationery needs.
Do/See
Great World’s not the only one with a new name. Now going by CS Fresh, Cold Storage at the River Valley mall not only boasts a curry bar and fresh bakery, but a dine-in oyster bar too. And don’t forget to check out Sustenir Agriculture’s fresh produce found on display, where you can see exactly how their greens are nurtured and grown.
You’ve probably already heard of Scoop Wholefoods, where a range of local and organic products are available by the gram. You can take however much or little as you please, and it’s an entirely plastic-free experience. But behind the wide range of premium whole foods, a sizable co-working space also demands attention. There’s free wifi, plenty of seats, and best of all, charging ports. So instead of fighting for a spot at Starbucks, just head to Scoop Wholefoods. Grab a cup of fresh kombucha on tap and you’re all set for a productive work sesh.
