A must-see tourist attraction in its own right, Jewel Changi Airport is an iconic destination for shoppers, nature lovers and design enthusiasts. Featuring a dome-shaped facade made of glass and steel reminiscent of another iconic building in Singapore, the Esplanade, Jewel was designed by architect Moshe Safdie, whose body of work includes Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort.
With a floor space totalling 135,700 sqm that’s spread over 10 storeys, Jewel’s most iconic feature is the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at 40m high. It also has numerous retail shops, cinemas, dining establishments, a hotel, gardens, walking trails and playgrounds.
Whether you are on a layover at Changi Airport, staying in Singapore for a few days or call the Garden City your home, Jewel is definitely a place to visit.
Where to eat in Jewel Changi Airport
1. Burger & Lobster
Famed London restaurant chain Burger & Lobster serves up a variety of sandwiches using beef from Nebraska and wild-caught Atlantic lobster. If you can’t decide between a burger or lobster dish, spring for the B&L Combo which includes their classic Mayfair burger along with a whole grilled or steamed lobster, fries, house salad and their signature garlic butter. For a local twist, try the crispy baby cuttlefish served salted egg yolk spice. If you fancy a tipple, happy hour runs from 1pm to 6pm, Sunday to Thursday. Unit 05-203
2. Shake Shack
The famous New York burger chain’s first – but no longer the only – outlet in Southeast Asia, the Shake Shack at Jewel is spread over two storeys and used to have almost unbearably long queues until it started opening more branches in the city. This is not fast food, so expect a longer wait for your burgers which are cooked à la minute. Don’t miss the ShackBurger, a grilled Angus beef patty topped with American cheese and sandwiched between two potato buns. Unit 02-256
3. Sushiro
Newly opened in 2022, Sushiro offers an impressive array of over 100 types of sushi and Japanese dishes. Dining here is quick and easy – as soon as you’re seated, you can pick your favourite dishes from the tableside conveyor belt. To celebrate the opening of the Jewel outlet, Sushiro’s chefs have created a pair of unique dishes: The Captain Jumbo Fried Shrimp is an innovative sushi dish resembling an airplane while the Jewels from the Sea is a creation that features premium ingredients like abalone, scallop, salmon roe and matumaezuke (a seasoned herring roe and kombu mix). Unit B2-227/228
4. A&W
After over a decade of absence, A&W is back in Singapore serving up its iconic root beer floats in frosty mugs alongside curly fries and waffle ice creams at Jewel. This is the American fast-food chain’s flagship store in Southeast Asia, and it offers special menu items that include a savoury cream cheese chicken or beef burger from its Japanese outposts. Unit B2-209
5. Shang Social
Shangri-La Group’s first standalone restaurant offers an extensive menu of Chinese delicacies created by three executive chefs from Shangri-La hotels in Singapore and China who specialise in Cantonese, Huaiyang and Sichuan cuisines. Shang Social has 220 seats across three dining concepts that include a casual pop-up feature kitchen, a formal dining space, and an elegant bar that will serve Asian-inspired cocktails and tapas with a Chinese twist. Unit 01-219
6. Birds of Paradise
This local gelato parlour has partnered with homegrown fashion label In Good Company to set up a café in the latter’s boutique at Jewel. Birds of Paradise serves up the botanical flavours it is known for – gelato made from natural ingredients such as fruits, flowers, herbs and spices. Its signature thyme cones will also be made fresh on location. Unit 01-214
7. Lady M
This New York patisserie chain launched its first-ever line of bonbons at its fifth store in Singapore at Jewel. The sweets come in 23 different varieties such as Mojito Leaves, a sweet-and-sour chewy gummy with zingy lime and mint flavours, and Criollo Chocolate, which is made from Peruvian cocoa beans. Lady M, known for its signature mille crêpes cakes which feature no less than twenty paper-thin layers, also sells Jewel-exclusive frozen cakes which are meant to stay fresh no matter the destination. Unit 02-253
8. Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery
Opening at Jewel in August 2022 is Sourbombe, an artisanal bakery run by Genevieve Lee, the runner-up of the first season of MasterChef Singapore. The bakery’s eponymous dish is a fusion of sourdough and Italian bomboloni (spherical doughnuts filled with flavoured cream). Expect a variety of intriguing flavours like burnt honey and sage walnuts, lavender lime mascarpone and even Basque burnt cheesecake. In addition to their signature dish, they also serve sourdough waffles with soft serve ice cream and savoury dishes like sourdough dipping bowls with scrambled eggs, guacamole and burrata.
What to do in Jewel Changi Airport
1. Shiseido Forest Valley
Furnished with plants from all over the world, including 2,000 trees and 100,000 shrubs, the Shiseido Forest Valley is one of Singapore’s largest air-conditioned indoor gardens. Much-anticipated highlights include hiking trails to Jewel’s highest floor and the 40-metre-high HSBC Rain Vortex, which is currently the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
2. Canopy Park
Canopy Park is Jewel’s topmost floor and features Sky Nets, comprising a walking net suspended 25 metres above ground and a trampoline net that, at eight metres above Canopy Park, provides a thrilling experience for everyone. Venture through the park’s hedge and mirror mazes for additional fun.
3. YOTELAIR
Known for its self-serviced hotels with cabins and robots, New York brand YOTEL opened its first YOTELAIR in Asia at Jewel. Inspired by airline luxury cabins, YOTELAIR is designed to provide guests with everything they might need for a long layover. This includes shower facilities as well as Serta SmartBeds, televisions, multiple power and USB points and easy connectivity.
4. Shaw Theatres Jewel
This special branch of the cinema chain is be one of the largest in the country, with 11 screening halls and around 800 seats. Of those 11 halls, two offer a new premium concept called Shaw Lumiere, which features roomy leather reclined seats, armrests that can be folded up to create love seats and individual USB charging ports as well as a state-of-the-art sound system. The theatre is also the first in Singapore to showcase IMAX’s next-generation theatre, IMAX with Laser, in one hall.
Where to shop in Jewel Changi Airport
1. Pokémon Centre
The first Pokémon Centre outside of Japan, this outlet includes seasonal and regional toys, stationery, trading cards, jewellery and chopsticks. What makes Pokémon Centre Singapore different from its Japanese counterparts will be the exclusive Pikachu plushies in airline uniforms available for purchase.
2. AWHSOME by Hyggerium
As its name would suggest, AWHSOME by Hyggerium extols the virtues of cosiness, comfort and contentment. The quirky store offers a collection of quality home décor products, lady’s accessories and children’s toys that make for perfect souvenirs. There’s even a selection of local products like pouches, mugs and cushions displaying colourful Singaporean icons.
3. Foot Locker
Looking for the perfect gift for the sneakerhead in your life? Foot Locker offers a remarkable selection of sneakers and athletic-inspired apparel from iconic global brands like Vans, Nike and Adidas and more. In addition to their regular range of footwear, the store also offers highly sought-after, limited edition releases on launch days.
