Review - Star Vista

Yesterday, I went to check out Star Vista @ Buona Vista .... It is a new establishment just around Buona Vista MRT. You will notice the odd-looking, rock-y kinda shape architecture.  I actually live quite nearby (a few MRT stops away), but I guess just like what they say ... the nearer you stay, the lesser (lazier) you will be. I always have this thought every time I go out and thinking of places to go: "Oh, it is so near, I can always visit it anytime I want." So, I always ended up going to other places (much further) than going to places near my area e.g. Star Vista, or Clementi Mall and instead, I visited J-Cube, Changi City Point, I12 Katong, etc.

View from 1st floor looking at the atrium & water fountain

Back to Star Vista, a friend who lived nearby (really near), said that it has lots of restaurants ... if we go there to eat, there are quite a variety of food choices. She never mention other things.... Just food. I guess that is why I am kind of put off going there on the weekend with my family, as I would have no other things to do there other than 'eating' (not that I don't like eating ..!). However, if I go to Changi City Point for example, it is a family friendly mall that I like. Not only I can walk and shop around ... the atrium is a fave with my 2 girls walking and running around; then I can do some grocery shopping, I can choose to eat at the different food establishments or even food courts (they have Koufu and Bagus), and a plus point is that they have family entertainment area ... there are indoor playground, then just behind Koufu, there is that fantastic and did I mention 'FREE' water play area called the 3House! 

View of the water fountain

What I love about Star Vista is that it is an open air mall. It is not stuffy as other malls, it has a huge open space in the middle, where you can see this two huge pillars and a water fountain which responds to music beat. (although somehow the music sounds a bit weird to me yesterday, it was like they are playing the 'karaoke' version which only has the music and the beats minus all the singing)

Just as what my friend said, it has lots of food establishments ranging from Japanese food, Cantonese food, Mexican, American ... u name it, Coco Ichibanya, Canton Paradise, Boston Shack, Itacho Sushi, Nando's Chicken, Senór Taco, etc etc .... Not much of Halal options though other than The Manhattan Fish Market, Texas Fried Chicken (opening soon). Since I am not in the mood for restaurant dining today, and the restaurants seems quite crowded too (lunch hour rush); I opt for their food court (easy on the wallet) on 2nd level which is called The Kitchen. 

Food Court "The Kitchen" on 2nd floor

The Kitchen which is under Koufu, is almost like any other new food court in Singapore. It has that warm environment, which was achieved by the use of wood laminates all around and the yellow warm lighting. One thing I like here is that it has indoor and outdoor dining option, and I personally prefer outdoor because my clothes won't be so smelly, but when the weather is hot one can opt for indoor seats where it has air conditioning. I would say The Kitchen is quite a typical food court where you have your Asian food varieties such as Japanese food stall, teppanyaki stall, Korean stall, roasted meat stall, vegetarian food stall, nasi padang stall etc. From the looks of the food, they all look great (or was it just me who is hungry!).

After the meal, I strolled down to the 1st floor (3rd floor is off limits) and walked around the shops. Since it is an open air mall, the shops here has glass doors. Somehow it made the shops look unfriendly but I do understand why they installed doors there, so that the air-con would not be wasted. Nothing much to see, so I went down to Basement 1 and again ... nothing much to see or shop since most are restaurants and other stuff that I don't need or I can find everywhere like Watsons. Oh, if you need some last minute grocery shopping before you go off, there is Cold Storage and J-Mart on Basement 1 level. 

Then down to the basement 2 car park, and off we go .... home. So that was it! My whole experience at Star Vista was a brief one ... I don't hate it, but I don't really love it either. 

I would say, go for it when you have free time (1-2 hour is enough if you don't plan to shop). Not really a family friendly mall I would say... the kids are probably can only be entertained with the water fountain. I would come again if I am dining out around the area with some friends, but to specifically go there to eat ... Hmm, I don't think so.. 

Information about Star Vista

Address:  1 Vista Exchange Green
                      Singapore 138617

MRT : CC22/EW21 Buona Vista Station

Opening hours : 10:00am to 10:00pm Daily