Introduction
I’d heard Dover Street Market Singapore mentioned as one of Dempsey Hill’s more unusual stops, but I wasn’t expecting the space itself to be the main event. Rei Kawakubo’s concept store is tucked into Block 18 at 18 Dempsey Road, and once you’re inside, it reads less like a shopping mall and more like a rotating art installation that happens to sell clothes. Mirrored rooms, polka-dot backdrops, and display fixtures that look pulled from a furniture auction — I ended up taking far more photos of the store than of anything I bought.
Getting to Dover Street Market Singapore
Dempsey Hill is a cluster of converted colonial-era buildings now filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops like Park Bench Deli, and it’s easy to wander past several blocks before you spot the one you’re after.
Dover Street Market Singapore sits inside Block 18, and from the outside it’s a plain, quiet building — nothing like a glass-fronted flagship store. It’s open daily from 11am to 8pm, per the signage posted at the entrance. My tip: search for “Block 18” specifically rather than just Dempsey Hill in general, since the numbered blocks aren’t always obvious at street level and it’s easy to double back.
Inside: A Store That Feels Like an Exhibit
Instead of standard racks, a lot of the store uses repurposed furniture — an antique carved wardrobe, ornate mirrors, and wire cages — as display pieces, which is part of why it feels more like a curated exhibit than a typical retail floor.
Some corners lean fully into the gallery feel, like this oversized black kewpie doll statue standing guard near one of the Comme des Garçons displays. It’s the kind of detail that makes you stop and take a photo before you’ve even looked at a single price tag.
Even the more straightforward racks are staged with care — clothing and sneakers grouped by color and shape rather than obviously by brand in some corners, so browsing takes longer than you’d expect from the outside.
Comme des Garçons, Including the Girl Sale Rack
The Comme des Garçons Play section was easy to spot from the heart logo alone, stitched onto sweater cuffs and sleeves throughout the rack.
The Comme des Garçons Girl area, done up entirely in pale pink partitions, had a noticeable number of pieces marked 50% off — the best discounts I came across anywhere in the store.
Gingham shirts in blue and pink, plus white shirts trimmed in navy or burgundy piping, filled out one of the Girl racks.
The find that stuck with me most: pink gingham Comme des Garçons Girl Vans, tagged at $150. They felt slightly cheaper than a similar pair I’d seen at the Comme des Garçons cluster of stores in Osaka, for what that comparison is worth.
A separate display held plain white leather bags stacked alongside the label’s black-and-white monogram print, folded flat for browsing.
The Supreme Corner
The Supreme corner announces itself before you even walk in — a red logo carpet spelling out the name across the floor, with an actual EXIT sign overhead since the doorway doubles as a fire exit.
What impressed me more than the clothing was the room itself: brushed metal wall paneling gives the whole space an industrial, almost vault-like feel, with beanies and caps lined up like a small museum shelf.
Hoodies and sweatpants hang in front of a cracked-mirror graphic on the wall — a small design detail that’s easy to miss if you’re focused on the racks instead of the room.
The checkout counter for Supreme purchases sits in its own small booth, with a blunt sign posted above the register: no exchange, no refund on any Supreme item.
The Stussy Corner
The Stussy section built its shelving around a speaker-shaped cutout in the wall, mixing tees, caps, and sunglasses with pieces tagged specifically for Dover Street Market Singapore.
Bags I Noticed (The Row and Others)
A whole shelf of leather tote and bucket bags in brown, black, and beige — minimalist enough that I had to check the tags to tell some of them apart.
I picked up this black bucket bag to get a closer look — clean lines, no visible branding, very much in The Row’s understated style. It didn’t come cheap, so it went back on the shelf rather than into my bag.
Other Pieces That Caught My Eye
A mannequin nearby was styled holding a set of Comme des Garçons tote bags printed edge-to-edge with the brand’s name in oversized lettering.
This rack of yellow, maroon, and navy hoodies carried Champion tags — part of the Undercover collaboration pieces the store stocks. That said, the Undercover shop I’d visited in Osaka had noticeably better pricing on similar items, so this felt more like a browsing stop than a buying one.
Not every standout item was clothing — these patent leather shoes came laced with colorful glass flower beads instead of standard laces, a small detail I hadn’t seen anywhere else in the store.
A simpler find in between the avant-garde pieces: black Nike Air Force 1s displayed on their own, a reminder that Dover Street Market isn’t only about the harder-to-wear labels.
Vintage and pre-loved pieces show up scattered through the store too — I spotted a Prada tag on this fur-collar denim jacket tucked among the racks.
What to Know Before You Go
Prices overall run high, even accounting for Singapore’s cost of living — this isn’t really a store where you go in expecting bargains outside of marked-down racks like the Girl section. I didn’t end up buying anything myself, and I still think the visit was worth it just for the space. If you’re not in a rush, it’s easy to spend an hour walking through without touching a single price tag.
Who This Trip Is For
This is a good stop if you enjoy browsing designer and streetwear labels as much as buying them, or if you’re already planning a Dempsey Hill afternoon and want one more stop with real personality. If you’re shopping on a tight budget or need something specific, you’ll likely find the selection more inspiring than practical. If you like this kind of no-fixed-agenda designer browsing, I found a similar spot back in Korea — see my The Hyundai Seoul Miu Miu review for a quieter, multi-brand eyewear counter with none of the boutique queues.
FAQ
Q: What are Dover Street Market Singapore’s opening hours?
A: The store is open daily, Monday through Sunday, from 11am to 8pm, according to the signage posted at the entrance.
Q: Where exactly is Dover Street Market Singapore located?
A: It’s inside Block 18 at 18 Dempsey Road, within the Dempsey Hill dining and shopping precinct. The building itself is easy to walk past since it has no flashy signage from the outside.
Q: Is Dover Street Market Singapore expensive?
A: Prices run on the higher side generally, though the Comme des Garçons Girl section had a meaningful number of pieces at 50% off during my visit — worth checking if you’re hoping for a deal.
Q: Can I combine a visit with lunch nearby?
A: Yes — Dempsey Hill has several cafes and restaurants within a short walk, including Park Bench Deli and PS.Cafe, so pairing a DSM visit with brunch or lunch works well as a half-day outing.
Leave a Reply