Halal Food in The Cathay

The Cathay Building occupies a storied position at 2 Handy Road at the foot of Mount Sophia in Dhoby Ghaut, holding the distinction of being Singapore's first skyscraper and air-conditioned cinema when it opened in phases between 1939 and 1941. The 16-storey structure once stood as the tallest building in Singapore, and its architectural significance earned it gazettement as a national monument on 10 February 2003. Located just two minutes' walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, the building has anchored the area's entertainment scene for over eight decades. After closing in February 2023 for extensive redevelopment, The Cathay reopened in late March 2025 following a two-year renovation. The revamped building features a six-level shopping mall from Levels 1 to 6, topped by The Cathay Residence occupying Levels 7 to 16. The renovation introduced modern retail and dining options while preserving the building's heritage character. However, the closure of Cathay Cineplexes in June 2022 ended 83 years of continuous cinema operations on site, leaving uncertainty about whether movie screenings will return to this historic location. The Cathay represents a bridge between Singapore's colonial entertainment past and its contemporary retail present. Its strategic position near the Orchard shopping belt and excellent MRT connectivity ensure continued relevance despite evolving consumer preferences. The mall now serves shoppers seeking both convenience and a connection to heritage, offering retail and F&B options in a building that witnessed Singapore's transformation from colony to nation. The integration of residential units above reflects modern mixed-use development principles applied to a conservation structure.