The best of City Square Mall

Young artists are encouraged to breathe life to their dreams at Global Art. A typical class (from $45 for 90 minutes) encourages children aged five and up to dabble in acrylic painting, handicrafts and clay-modelling. Those aged three and four can participate in drawing and colouring lessons ($37) in the 60-minute junior programme.

First Words is one of the largest children bookstores around, carrying a wide assortment of children books (from $8) in different genres and languages – no doubt your kids will find their next favourite bedtime read here. 

Smiggle, the ultra-colourful stationery brand from Australia with over 18 stores across Singapore, is no stranger to us. Stocking hardtop pencil cases (from $23) to kiddie trolley bags (from $45) and lunchboxes ($18), it makes back-to-school shopping easy and convenient.

Pancakes are great dishes for tiny hands. Here, you can stick to the safe choice and pick the classic fluffy American pancakes (from $13), or be more adventurous and try the thin French crêpes (from $16) or the spongy Holland poffertjes (from $16). Either way, you’ll get your pancakes piping hot straight from the griddle, with a golden crunchy ring around the edge.

Chocolates are always a hit among children, but it’s not often you get to hit them back. Not so at this chain. The Cocoa Bolas ($6.90) are fist-sized balls that you’ll need a wooden mallet to crack into to reveal crispy, savoury pastry in the middle. It’s believed that this unique local dish from a small European village brings blessings – but we think it’s just heaps of fun.

We’ve got to admit, this is for the adults as much as it’s for the children –because made-to-order fried chicken wings (from $7.95) need no more explanation. Choose from 11 flavours, like the Louisiana rub and hickory-smoked barbecue, which are popular with the adults, or garlic Parmesan for the kids.