Orchard Road Tops Out Global Shopping Survey
By wchung | 13 Dec, 2025

Orchard in Bloom: Singapore's main shopping boulevard was rated the world's most pleasant shopping experience.

Singapore’s Orchard Road provides the world’s best shopping experience, according to a survey of 90 mystery shoppers who visited about 400 shops in the 30 most appealing shopping streets.

The shoppers judged the locales based on their attractiveness in terms of cleanliness and lighting, the service and courtesy of the staff, the atmosphere created by things like space, availability of trash cans, cleanliness of the pavement, and the vibes given off the locals, including their friendliness and helpfulness.

Orchard Road scored 89 points out of 100 to surpass more famous boulevards like Champs Elysees, Bond Street and the Ginza, according to the French marketing consultancy Presence Mystery Shopping.

“We surveyed the quality of retail service on iconic shopping streets that tourists are told they just need to visit,” said a Presence executive.

The shoppers were wowed by Orchard Road’s “wide and clean pavements and diversity of shops”. In fact, its 22 malls and six department stores were deemed too extensive to cover in one day.

Luxembourg’s Avenue de la Liberté came in second, but took first place in overall appearance. “The atmosphere is perfect, there is plenty of room and everywhere is well lit,” said one mystery shopper. Especially notable was chocolatier Jeff de Bruges.

Placing third was Amsterdam’s PC Hoofstraat which got high marks for friendliness, courteous retail staff and its inviting atmosphere. It was also noted for the number of SUVs lining the road.

Istanbul’s Bagdat Avenue came in fourth because of the visual experience provided by its “floral areas, collective taxis and water sellers.”

The other streets on the Presence Mystery Shopping survey’s top 10 include Sao Paolo’s Oscar Freire, Oslo’s Karl Johan, Sydney’s George Street, Vienna’s Mariahilferstrasse, Brussels’ Avenue Louise, Tokyo’s
Ginza and London’s Bond Street.