We talk to CHERRY LAI about living in the Braddell Road area. Cherry, from Hong Kong, is the Style, Beauty & Health Editor at Expat Living. She and her husband live in a Braddell Road condo near Woodleigh Park.
About the Braddell Road neighbourhood
What’s the name of your street? Braddell Road.
What’s a common myth or misconception about this area? It’s not so much a myth but because this area of Braddell and Bidadari apparently used to be a cemetery up until the 1970s, legend has it that this is one of the spookiest areas in Singapore. I try not to think about it too much. Thankfully, we have not had any strange encounters so far – and fingers crossed we never will!
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? “E Maison please, right before the big crossroads junction.”
Closest MRT station? Woodleigh MRT (purple line), which is about an eight-minute walk away.
How long have you lived here? Just a bit over a year, ever since I moved to Singapore from Hong Kong. My Singaporean husband was in charge of house-hunting, and he really loved this quaint, tranquil residential neighbourhood that is still within walking distance to the Woodleigh MRT and malls like Nex. We also get to enjoy some nice tree views out of our windows and uniquely high ceilings, due to our flat being on the ground floor.
Braddell Road condo fact file
Name: E Maison
Facilities: Swimming pool, barbecue, gym
New or old: Seven years old
Closest supermarket: Eight-minute walk to the 24-hour FairPrice Finest in Woodleigh Mall and 24-hour FairPrice in Nex
Community vibe: Lovely, quiet, tranquil
Overview of Woodleigh Park
When you walk out of your place, what’s the first thing you see? A bus stop, some lush green trees and The Arena Singapore. There are always little kids playing football on the outdoor field or matches going on.
What’s the closest store to your front door? Some car tyre shops and the popular Hong Chang Frog Porridge and BBQ Fish, which we still haven’t tried. There is always a long queue and it’s packed even past midnight.
If your street was chosen for a remake of a film, which would it be? The Jungle Book.
We’re sure your neighbours are great, but is there anything you wouldn’t mind a little less of? We have really great, quiet and respectful neighbours so no complaints at all. We live right next door to a young family with a daughter and the cutest, fluffiest cat and often we hear them playing, which is lovely. We do hear the little girl crying sometimes when the dad is disciplining her, which breaks our hearts a bit!
What’s the unofficial uniform of your street? Flip-flops, shorts, and more flip-flops.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street? Not just on our street but all around the neighbourhood are geckos and lots of bugs, which definitely took some getting used to. I’ve also seen many chickens leisurely roaming around. Only in Singapore!
Singapore neighbourhood highlights
What are your three favourite places to eat or drink in Woodleigh Park? We are loving the dining options at the new Woodleigh Mall, from Tiong Bahru Bakery for some fresh sourdough bread and pastries – the kouign amann is sinfully delicious – to egg waffles at the Hong Kong Egglet stall that reminds me of home. A short walk away nestled in the Jalan Riang enclave is La Pizzaiola, a hidden gem that serves up homemade pizzas, pastas and antipasti. Their baked eggplant layered in mozzarella and parmesan is a must-try!
What are the best places to shop near your Braddell Road condo? Nex, a five-minute bus ride away, truly is a mega-mall that has everything one would need, from home items to 24-hour groceries and stores like H&M, Sephora, Hooga, By Invite Only, Charles & Keith, Uniqlo and more. I also like stopping by Serangoon Gardens where there are tons of cosy cafés, cute shops, and a Little Farms outlet.
What are some fun or interesting things to do in the Braddell Road neighbourhood? Evening walks along the hilly little roads in the lower Serangoon area are so enjoyable. Because it mostly consists of landed houses and low-rise buildings, there is nothing blocking the views and on a clear day at sunset you can catch the entire sky splattered in pinks and purples.
What’s one thing you’d never change? The quiet and tranquil vibe where people are rarely in a rush and are always friendly.
How about one thing you would change? Less bugs and geckos!
If the city gave you a million dollars to soup up Braddell Road area, how would you use it? A regular shuttle bus service that takes us straight into town, because for some reason it’s always near impossible to find available Grab cars in the proximity.
Things to do in Singapore
What are your favourite Singapore spots for taking out-of-town guests? There are too many to count, but a few favourite food spots are Sungei Road Laksa for its umami-rich laksa, One Prawn & Co for its prawn mee, and Hjh Maimunah for the yummiest beef rendang. I also like Mr Stork atop the Andaz Hotel for a rooftop bar experience without the overwhelming crowds. And, even though it’s often packed with tourists, Lau Pa Sat’s Satay Street always impresses.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, where do you go? The National Gallery Singapore always has a line-up of fascinating exhibits and beautiful art.
If you’re missing home, what do you do? Hop on a Zoom or WhatsApp video call with my friends and loved ones. I’m grateful there is no time difference between Singapore and Hong Kong so we can always catch a drink or dinner together – virtually.
About Woodleigh Park
Just across Braddell Road from Cherry’s home and to the west a little is Woodleigh Park, where you’ll find one of Singapore’s clusters of iconic black-and-white houses. Unlike the large two-storey colonial buildings in this style that can be found in places like Adam Park and Mount Pleasant, Woodleigh’s black-and-whites are more modest single-storey structures.
Woodleigh Park joins Upper Serangoon Road further south of the black-and-whites, and it’s the location of one of Singapore’s largest roadside trees – a giant angsana with a girth of 7.7 metres. The tree is one of 260 around the island that are listed in the Heritage Tree Register in Singapore.
Do you love your Singapore neighbourhood?
Share it with others! Just email us at contribute@expatliving.sg with “Street Talk” in the subject line. Include your name and street, and we’ll be in touch.
This article first appeared in the November 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!
