Shop Till you Drop: Star Vista Review – Unique Open Air Concept!

Some of you who pass by Buona Vista may have seen the magnificent structure that is The Star.

The mall, which looks like a giant and complicated ice cube structure from afar, actually houses a vast myriad of activities and options for you to choose from. Read on to find out exactly what is so special about the mall!

Food Options: 4/5

Star Vista certainly does not disappoint when it comes to food.

Star Vista’s Koufu food court, The Kitchen, offers many local delights such as Ban Mian and Chicken Rice. There are also some stalls selling food that is rare to see in usual food courts such as Mala. A huge range of international delicacies are also available.

Do note, though, that The Kitchen can be rather crowded during lunch hour on weekdays as the office crowd from neighbouring buildings flock here to enjoy cheap but good food.

For those who seek more gourmet options, there are a wide host of restaurants available such as Canton Paradise TeaHouse, Ippudo and Itacho Sushi to name a few.

Situated along the corridors of the higher floors, there are several little eateries or dessert chains that allow you to sit and enjoy a sweet treat while getting a view of the Star Vista atrium (a.k.a. people-watching at its finest as there is always some activity going on!).

As you would expect in a decently sized mall, many fast food chains such as Subway, Texas Chicken and LiHo are also available for you to choose from.

Uniqueness: 5/5

This mall is definitely unique, both inside and out!

The building was designed by Andrew Bromberg and consist of the Star Vista Mall and The Star Performing Arts Centre. There is a 5,000-seat concert hall and other venues within The Star Performing Arts Centre.

More information can be found here.

On Sundays, it is used by the New Creation Church.

On the same floor, there are also many open spaces for groups to gather or students to sit at.

It is not uncommon to see students from nearby schools or social groups “tabao-ing” food up and having gatherings here! What’s more, if you happen to be here in the evening, the open-air concept allows you to witness a beautiful show when the sun sets around 6-7pm.

As mentioned above, Star Vista has a big atrium space where there are usually promotions or activities being held. These includes shows for children or weekly zumba sessions where anyone around is welcome to join in!

The steps that face the atrium also provide yet another viable spot for groups to gather or friends to sit and chit-chat.

Those who enjoy architecture or design may be fascinated by the exterior of the mall as it is definitely a work of art. The interior of the mall is also unique in the sense that there is no air-con along the corridors unlike most malls in Singapore! However, the design of the mall is deliberate in allowing ventilation and wind to seep in, so you will not feel too hot when shopping.

Tenant Mix: 4/5

The mall has a decent number of shops that can keep you occupied.

Fashion-wise, there are several outlets but it can be said that fashion is definitely not the focus of the mall.

Interestingly, there are quite a few Japanese and Korean based marts such as Japan Home, Sol Mart and J-Mart where you can pick up quirky household items or delicious snacks.

There is also a recently revamped Swee Lee which is their flagship store! It takes up 3 units worth of space (#01-07 to #01-10) and includes music accessories, a clothing line, an academy and a coffee shop apart from stocking musical and audio equipment.

The cafe is cosy and small (albeit a little too small) and serves a range of coffees and desserts.

Accessibility: 4/5

By public transport:

The mall is definitely easy to get to as there is a sheltered walkway from Buona Vista MRT Station (CC22/EW21) and you can reach there the mall within 5 minutes on foot.

By bus, you can either head to:

Along North Buona Vista Road – 74, 91, 92, 95, 191, 196, 198, 200
Along Commonwealth Ave West – 105, 106, 147, 185, NR5, NR8

By car:

With over 800 parking lots, it should be quite easy to snag a parking lot.

Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green, 138617