The Cathay, Shopping center and movie theater in Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore.
The Cathay is a shopping center and cinema on Handy Road in Dhoby Ghaut with eight floors of retail spaces, restaurants, and entertainment options. The complex combines movie screens with a varied mix of stores offering everything from fashion to food to everyday goods.
The building opened in 1940 as one of Singapore's first modern cinemas at a time when film was becoming central to the city's entertainment. Over the decades it transformed into a multi-purpose venue combining retail with cinema operations.
The name reflects Singapore's cinema heritage and the venue's role as a gathering place for the community. The building shows through its mixed use how the space has grown from serving film-goers into a place where shopping, dining, and movie-watching happen side by side.
The venue is well-marked and easy to navigate with clear signage across floors and ground level entrances. Visitors can reach it easily by public transport near Dhoby Ghaut station and find parking options in the surrounding area.
The venue houses the Picturehouse, a specialized cinema screening independent films and local productions that supports Singapore's emerging filmmakers. This separate operation offers different programming than standard multiplex theaters, giving visitors a chance to discover different storytelling and creative visions.
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