Besides the Rain Vortex and Canopy Park, and Shake Shack and A&W, there are other things to see and do at Jewel Changi Airport. Such as shopping. After all, 70 per cent of the over 280 units at the mall are dedicated to retail. And the shops at Jewel are designed to impress. Of course, there are the smaller stores that look just like their other outposts in any other mall, but many of the brands who have set up shop at Singapore's current hottest destination have pulled out all the stops. Here are the ones you can't miss.

Nope, it's not the biggest Muji store in Singapore. That honour belongs to the 20,400 sq ft Southeast Asia Flagship Store At Plaza Singapura. But the 14,000 sq ft Muji at Jewel does occupy one of only 11 duplex shops at the mall, and the duplex-ness of it is pretty cool. At the first floor (shown here, or rather, second floor, since Muji is located at #02-227), browse some of the over 4,000 products to help Muji-fy your life, in a spacious interior replete with wood and recycled lumber and boasting vintage elements such as old window grills, antique fans and phones.

While the lower level serves up apparel, accessories, stationery, food and health and beauty products, the upper level houses the 88-seater Cafe&Meal MUJI and housekeeping, living room, bedroom and kitchen products, all in a gorgeous wood setting.

Make an appointment with an interior consultant, and best of all, it's free. Of course, you'll probably want to buy up half of Muji after.

Traipse upstairs to lunch under a minimalistic chandelier, where you can order a Jewel Set, which is one hot deli item such as barramundi fish with buttery dashi vegetable broth, with two cold deli items, soup and rice. We tried the barramundi on opening day (April 11) and despite a loooong wait, it was delicious and satisfying.

With two storeys and the luxury of space, you and your fellow caffeine addicts no longer have to be packed as close as, well, coffee beans in a bag. Starbucks Singapore opens its first flagship store store at Jewel, and it's a Reserve outlet, which means you can expect artisanal coffee made by the best Starbucks baristas and ultra personalised cups of joe, right down to your beans of choice. P/S: The main coffee bar in the middle is in the shape of a coffee bean. Expect special local grub here, such as Satay Chicken Ciabatta, Hainanese Chicken Rice Quinoa Salad and Milo Chocolate Tiramisu.

As part of the privileges of visiting a lauded Reserve outlet, you get to purchase merchandise only available at the flagship store. Do you need a Starbucks Reserve Pencil Case with pencils that say things like Espresso yourself and The roast with the most ? Well, it's $29.90 and makes a great gift for a coffee fiend. There are also coffee brewing accessories like glass drinkware and light-up tumblers, as well as lifestyle items like totes and pouches.

Singapore-based artist Sean Dunston spent two months hand-chiselling the Starbucks Siren onto the wall leading up to the second storey, and included a couple of subtle references to Singapore culture — the Siren’s brocade is decorated with Peranakan patterns and she has a Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid tucked behind her ear.

The feature wall on the spacious upper level is made up of Starbucks Reserve labels. Love the plush seating. Can we hotdesk here?

The upper level of the Flagship also houses a vast Art Room, which can be closed off for functions and workshops, but is otherwise open to anyone who enjoys coffee, lots of unique and original art hung on the walls, comfy luxe seats and a sexy chillaxed atmosphere. Looks more like an airport lounge than a coffee joint.

Starbucks is at #02-204.

It's the homegrown fashion label's third and largest standalone store, and it's a beaut. Perhaps in line with their partnership with gelato brand Birds of Paradise, which serves up $4 scoops of delicious ice-cream to (so far) a long line of hot customers at a counter to the right side of the boutique, the IGC store is all organic swirls and gelato pops of pastel colour.

Talk about luxury of space. Forget about packing in as much merchandise as possible. The racks scattered almost randomly around the shop offer menswear, womenswear, togs for your mini-mes, accessories and lifestyle objects, bringing, for the first time, all of the In Good Company collection categories in one space.

One of the more uncluttered shops at Jewel. A treat to browse and take a breather in.

If the quirky-chic fashion offerings at In Good Company aren't up your alley, surely gelato is?

In Good Company and Birds of Paradise are at #01-214/215/216.

Those who appreciate minimalist, affordable and well-made underwear and gymwear with a classy little twist know Oysho, and it's finally come to town. Expect to pay $39.90 for their famed flattering triangle-cut bras, and $69.90 for silky-comfy sleepwear. They also have beachwear and playsuits for fun days in the sun.

Oysho's popular bras are pretty yet comfy, and are about $39.90 each.

Swimwear with a twist from Oysho. You like?

Flattering sports tops and bottoms that will take you from gym to the street.

Oysho is at #B1-225-227 78.

The sports retailer opens its largest Singapore store, and dedicates the second level to women and kids — yes!! Expect an engaging retail experience with brands and products placed to tell stories and make buying sportswear fun. Nike, adidas, Puma, Fila and Champion can be found here, as well as the widest selection of Nike Air Max Plus (TN’s) available in the market.

When we visited on opening day, there was a pop-up nail bar in session, and a large floor space dedicated to sportswear, streetwear and sneakers for women. This store knows how to please 50 per cent of the population, and it's probably the 50 per cent that's willing to spend more on good-looking sportswear.

The ladies' sports shoe rack has the most number of pink sneakers we've ever seen on sale in a single shop. Win.

It's a new-to-market ultra-performance sports brand called Durasport, and features immersive sports experiences and products for semi-pro and pro athletes, such as a ski simulator and the world's lightest folding bike. The bright white lights and hi-tech equipment makes the shop look like it belongs on a movie set — you know, like the R&D lab of the gadget geek who creates all the badass weapons and suits for the hero.

The Durasport store is a hi-tech playground for sports enthusiasts who are specifically interested in sports like biking, skiing, rock climbing and triathlons. It boasts the world’s lightest racing bicycle, heat-moldable customised cycling shoes, wet suits which minimise stretch resistance, adjustable alpine ski boots suitable for scaling uphill slopes as well as downhill skiing and a power breather for swimmers which enhances lap times. It all sounds like superhero stuff, really.

Durasport is at #02-224.

Taking the idea that her latest store is located at the airport and how that's a gateway for vacations, homegrown urban resort wear label Yacht 21 founder Jarenis Ho's new flagship store in Jewel isn't a duplex or the biggest anything, but that's okay. Instead, the open-concept store aims to bring a slice of resort life into the building, with natural oak and vintage rattan finishing and travel-inspired drawings.

In the mood for holiday? First stop is to go shopping.

Yacht 21 is at #B1-239.


Photos: Mark Lee