Art Stops & Instagram Spots: A Cultural Walk from Stevens to Orchard
There’s something special about slowing down in a fast-paced city like Singapore. The Stevens-to-Orchard corridor isn’t a long walk, but if you take your time, every step reveals little splashes of creativity—murals that whisper nostalgia, shophouses that hold memories in their tiles, and galleries that celebrate voices of today.
This isn’t just a walk—it’s a gentle reminder that art is everywhere, waiting for us to pause, notice, and feel.
Begin at Stevens: A Quiet Gateway
Your journey begins at Stevens MRT, tucked away from the Orchard frenzy. Grab a coffee from a nearby café and you’ll likely spot sketches, posters, or even little installations adorning the walls—small signs that creativity thrives even in the quiet corners.
It sets the tone: today isn’t about rushing. It’s about seeing.
Stop 1: Newton Food Centre Murals
Just a short stroll away, Newton Food Centre greets you not only with sizzling satay and smoky barbecue stingray, but also a burst of colour. The murals here are playful and warm—children playing old kampong games, nostalgic glimpses of simpler days.
Standing in front of them, you feel the tug of memory—even if you didn’t grow up here, the joy painted on the walls is universal.
Location: Newton Food Centre, Clemenceau Ave
Stop 2: Emerald Hill Shophouses
The walk continues towards Emerald Hill Road, where rows of Peranakan shophouses stand like keepers of time. Their pastel-painted walls, tiled steps, and intricate wooden shutters are art in themselves.
As you wander, you might notice the way sunlight bounces off the turquoise tiles, or how a half-open window gives a glimpse of life inside. It’s impossible not to feel a little enchanted—as though you’ve stepped into a watercolour painting.
Location: Emerald Hill Road, off Orchard Road
Stop 3: ION Art Gallery
Orchard is where the city hums loudest, yet inside ION Art Gallery, the world softens. The exhibits here rotate, but they always carry stories—sometimes of heritage, sometimes of innovation.
You find yourself standing still before a painting or photograph, and for a brief moment, the busy city outside fades. Art has that quiet power: to anchor us, even in the middle of a shopping district.
Location: ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Level 4
Stop 4: Design Orchard
Cross the street and you’ll find Design Orchard, a treasure chest of local creativity. Clothes stitched by independent designers, ceramics molded by hand, jewelry that tells a story—it feels personal, human.
Upstairs, the rooftop garden offers not just a view of Orchard Road’s bustle but also space to breathe. You look out and realize: Singapore isn’t just a city of commerce, but of creation.
Location: 250 Orchard Road
Stop 5: Orchard Central’s Vertical Art Trail
Finally, end your journey at Orchard Central. Its vertical art trail rises through the mall, with sculptures and installations tucked along escalators and walls. Some are bold and modern, others playful and whimsical.
It’s like a crescendo to your walk—an affirmation that art doesn’t need a museum. It can live anywhere, even among escalators and storefronts, reminding us that creativity thrives where people do.
Location: Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road
Walking This Trail: More Than Just Art
This walk isn’t about how many art pieces you photograph or how many galleries you step into. It’s about what you feel along the way—the nostalgia sparked by a mural, the serenity of tiled shophouses, the wonder of discovering a young artist’s work in a gallery.
It’s about moving at a pace where the city can breathe with you, where art becomes not just something to see, but something to carry home in your heart.
“So next time you find yourself between Stevens and Orchard, don’t just walk. Wander. Notice. Feel. The city is speaking—you just need to slow down to hear it.”
