Fleas & Trees

Founded by husband-and-wife team Terrence Yeung and Bella Koh, who cut their teeth on all matters of design, this cozy vintage shop reflects its owners‘ stylish taste and belief in LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability)—resulting in a veritable treasure trove of eclectic home wares, clothes, accessories, books and magazines; mostly one-of-a-kind items picked up from all over the world.

The Godown

Interior designer Audrey Lee, lamenting the lack of reasonably priced, one-of-a-kind home décor items, opened this quaint vintage home furnishings store with her Indonesia-based business partner (who is also the founder of bath label Bathe). Everything you see in store, whether it‘s the herringbone-patterned coffee table, or the glass table lamp, is for sale and new items are added each month, so there‘s always something new to discover.

G.O.D

The award-winning Hong Kong lifestyle label embraces the local scene with select goods specifically designed with Singapore in mind, like the tongue-in-cheek book/catalog The “Xi” Paper: 69 to 6.9 Million, adding “lah” to its signature DelayNoMore tees and, the latest, a panda motif. Who can say no to nostalgic, kitschy-cool items that remind you of the good ol‘ days?

Little Man

The name might conjure a menswear-focused boutique, but Little Man yields a mixed bag of clothing, accessories, furniture and stationery. On the racks and shelves, thoughtful, interesting home wares, like Lithuania-based Aiste Nestrovaite's well-made aprons, and Danish furnishing specialist Hay's decor pieces are showcased alongside coveted pieces from Japan's Silas and local label Al&Alicia.

The Moongi Project

Low-key and unpretentious, this small but well-stocked flea market of a shop offers an ever-changing collection of antiques, restored furniture and eccentric objects such as a French medicinal bottle, an antique cast iron and vintage wine barrels sourced directly from artisans worldwide. Items sold here may be unique, but prices are incredibly affordable and up for negotiation, too—extremely rare for a shop on Orchard Road. 

Mondays Off

Reflecting store owner Leyna Poh's personal taste, the Haji Lane boutique is a melange of light-wash wood, minimalist aesthetics and shelves strewn with stationery, pillows and even an alligator skull. Books are piled on a large table that acts as a centerpiece.The playlist comprising upbeat YouTube covers and the latest indie bands keeps the browsing energy up. There's a shelf full of made-in-SG goodies like GSH Conserves (from $4 a bottle), as well as local hand-made vases inspired by traditional cheongsams (from $400) and in-house designed typographic posters dreamed up by Leyna herself (from $20).

Roccoco Kent

This unpretentious vintage shop is filled to the brim with an eclectic range of items from clothes and accessories to furniture and collectibles. Goods stocked here are mostly rare, one-of-a-kind pieces from all around the world and are updated weekly.

Straits Records

For left-field music lovers and vinyl collectors, this alternative record shop is one of the most reliable places in the city for hard-to-find regional punk-rock and heavy metal CDs and jazz vinyls. There‘s also a small, curated range of dance, reggae, indie and jazz music for the uninitiated, plus a respectable selection of music and counterculture books and DVDs that you won‘t find at the other major bookstores. The store is also open on Sundays 3-9pm and Thursdays by appointment only.

Strangelets

Established in 2008, design boutique Strangelets is still one of the best spots in town for wild and wonderful furnishings and curious accessories sourced from all over the world, like porcelain wares from Studio Gu and side tables from Mark Product.

Supermama

Neat displays, white walls and potted plants give this understated space, home to an interesting collection of trinkets, home wares and objet d‘arts by local and Japanese designers, a sense of calm amidst the bustle of the city. Particularly noteworthy is the boutique‘s in-house label, Democratic Society, which works with Asian designers for thoughtful, functional items with a distinct local identity. Every piece sold here has a story to tell—the friendly staff will be more than happy to share—so don‘t just grab and go.

Supplies & Co.

Taking over what used to be the Raffles Hotel Museum, this multi-label boutique, helmed by former Surrender folks Danny and WJ Tan, specializes in hard-to-find furniture, homewares and accessories that blend heritage and modernity. Noteworthy labels include Stephen Kenn, Maison Martin Margiela (yes, its collection of lifestyle wares) and Steele Canvas with their timelessly cool and functional products. There are also a handful of quaint toys from Miller Goodman, scented candles by retaW and sleek audio gadgets from Bang & Olufsen.

Tyrwhitt General Company

Neighbor to hip coffee spot Chye Seng Huat Hardware, this retro-fitted boutique for artisanal goods—wallets, watches, tablewares, books, artworks and more—also organizes workshops like leather crafting, planting and silkscreening for participants to deepen their appreciation of good design and craftmanship. An advocate of the traditional artisan movement, the store also provides a platform for emerging and established labels like Bellroy, Oldman Handmade and Hygge.

World Savage

An incarnation of the now-defunct Stevie General Store, the rundown, spray-painted space should never be judged by its shabby surface. Inside, each nook and cranny is filled with art, antiques, books, lamps, tin toys, watches, silverware and every other item imaginable, so be prepared to dig. Weekend shopping is by appointment only.

Zha Huo Dian (The Corner Shop)

Kitsch and playful, this little shop tucked in a corner space of Far East Plaza is something of a grown-up toy store, with retro gadgets, old-school trinkets and vinyl records sold alongside vintage clothes and cool local labels like The Cult of Nine.

Those who love slurping down fresh, raw oysters know this too well: a dozen (or just half) of great bivalves usually comes with a hefty price tag. That's why we've set out to find places that offer oysters at a lower price than what they usually cost. Here's where to get your oyster fix: 

Greenwood Fish Market and Bistro

Book a table at Greenwood Bistro with Chope

We know it's a bit of a trek to get to this seafood establishment at Bukit Timah, but we'll gladly travel for their dirt-cheap oysters at $1.50 on Tuesdays, available from noon to 9pm. Also ongoing through July 27 is the restaurant's Oyster Festival, with over 20 varieties sourced from all over the world including Tsarskaya ($7 per piece), Coffin Bay ($4.50 per piece), Sydney Rock ($4.50 per piece), Belon "000" ($8 per piece) and Baron Points ($7 per piece). 

Allswell Marketing

There's nowhere to sit down and slurp up at this wholesale seafood market (670 Geylang Rd., 6745- 1123, www.allswell.sg)—we'll admit we're cheating here—but who can resist getting fresh, live oysters from just $2 per piece? You can have them shucked at no extra cost, too.

Tanuki Raw

Slurp on a changing roster of Australian and Canadian molluscs at only $2—but only when you order a tipple from 5pm to 8pm daily, limited to half a dozen per drink. Classic cocktails are $11 while martinis and beers go for $10 during happy hour and—the best part—the bar uses a gentleman's pour for every drink, which means you get 45ml of alcohol instead of the usual 30ml. 

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Luke's Oyster Bar & Chop House

Sourced directly from New England, Australia and New Zealand, the oyster selections here change according to the season. Get them freshly shucked at half price (U.P $45 for half a dozen, $90 for a dozen) daily from 4pm to 7pm and 10:30pm to midnight—perfect timing for a pre-dinner starter or a late night indulgence.

The Black Swan

Book a table at The Black Swan with Chope

Have American and French oysters from Katama Bay, Gillardeau, Wellfleet and Black Pearl shucked on demand and served on the half shell with Champagne mignonette at 30% off from Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7:30pm. Housepours, beers and wines by the glass are also 30% off and there's an $18 deal for a glass of Champagne plus a pair of oysters.

Seafood Paradise

Oysters are 30% off its usual price at restaurant chain Paradise Group's seafood arm on the best day of the week (TGIF, people!)—a rarity for Chinese establishments. If the outlet at Singapore Flyer seems out of the way, the same deal is available at its main branch (#01-01 Swee Hin Building, 91 Defu Lane 10, 6487-2429, www.paradisegroup.com).

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10 at Claymore

Go crazy with this season's special of six oyster varieties from France, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during 10 at Claymore's daily dinner buffet, as well as Sunday brunch (this seasonal menu is available till June 30). Of course, if you prefer, other seafood choices are on offer as well, including Boston lobster and Alaskan king crab.

Oyster Bar

Not the cheapest of the lot—but this chichi spot's great for post-work schmoozing with clients or a fancy date. Get a bottle of champers ($135 upwards) on Wednesdays for complimentary oysters (half a dozen). If you need something stiffer, go for their famed oyster shooters in Bloody Mary, Pistolla, Limoncello Balsamico and more at $8.