It’s the rise of the machines in Sentosa, where Boardwalk Adventure just launched yesterday. No, it’s not some kind of new theme park ride or activity, but rather a cluster of vending machines put together by Royal Vending lining the Sentosa Boardwalk connecting VivoCity with the island playground.
Cooler than regular vending machines, this retail “attraction” features more than 50 brands in 35 cashless gadgets across four areas along the 670m waterside stroll. About three-quarters of the products are from first-time vendors, too.
Luring you in, the first few machines at “fresh point” offer snacks, refreshments, and essentials to stay cool in the sun. Following that, the “gift street” hawks local crafts and not-too-tacky souvenirs, and a “fun alley” provides game machines to keep your entertained. Just before you enter Sentosa, an air-conditioned “foodie zone” fuels you up so you don’t have to spend a bomb at the expensive tourists hotspots that await.
Snack highlights include popcorn by Eureka Snacks, salted egg yolk and bak kwa bites from Fragrance Bak Kwa, cup noodles by Koka and Nissin, and local dishes such as chilli crab, black pepper crab, and salted egg crab from House of Seafood. Plus, Bar Stop! doles out cocktails and local craft beers from its semi-automated bar counter.
If you’ve forgotten to pack beach essentials, head to Banana Boat or su:m37° for beauty and skincare products. Otherwise, check out Love SG for quirky Singapore souvenirs, Klosh for gift knick knacks, and a book vending machine that displays local titles and biographies of well-known Singaporean personalities. In addition, Just Sketch provides you with hand-drawn scenes of the country, and social enterprise Art Faculty by Pathlight features crafts created by differently-abled artists.
But perhaps the best part of it all is that these vending machines are on 24/7, so you can get necessities or last minute souvenirs even after midnight.
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