Whether you’re already living in Singapore and looking to move to a new neighbourhood or moving here from overseas, nothing beats hearing from the residents themselves! We speak to Ana Castello, a full time mum from Spain. Ana tells us about the ins and outs of living in Leedon Heights.
The Specifics
What’s the name of the street where you live? Leedon Heights.
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? “11 Leedon Heights, D’Leedon.”
What’s the name of your neighbourhood? District 10.
Closest MRT station? Farrer Road MRT.
How long have you lived here? One year.
Why here? We chose to live here as it’s just 10 minutes away from Orchard and very close to Holland Village and Dempsey Hill. We have bus stops and an MRT station located close by too.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: There’s a wet market, food court and lots of shops such as 7 Eleven, bakeries, grocers and hairdressers.
The closest store to your front door is: We have a small supermarket inside our condo.
Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: Any American movie as the street is full of huge houses like those in Beverly Hills and Bel Air in Los Angeles.
The unofficial uniform of your street is: Shorts and flip-flops.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you: I go to the National Gallery – I love that place!
If you’re missing home, you: Cook paella.
A mandatory stop for out-of-town guests is: Singapore Botanic Gardens – it’s only a 10-minute walk away
A common myth about your neighbourhood is: People feel that our condo has too many people living in it. I don’t think so; I can use all the facilities without any problem and I can always get a sun chair by the pool.
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to be: I have two kids so I’m always sleeping late at night
The Superlatives
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are: Cluny Court is very close by. I love having cake at Plain Vanilla with my husband and sons, as well as going to Gastronomia for brunch. I also love the shops on the first floor.
You won’t find better local food than at: The food court close to the condo.
We love a good bargain. The best deals in your neighbourhood are: We have several malls nearby, including Cluny Court, the Holland Road Shopping Centre and Coronation Plaza.
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is: Ice cream from the convenience shop inside my condo. I always do my shopping there and they deliver it to my house. It’s open every day, so sometimes after dinner we head down with the kids for ice cream and a walk.
One thing you’d never change is: There are few cars around so it’s safe for my kids to play and run about.
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street. You use it to: Build an underpass from my condo to the MRT!
The Condo
Name of condo: D’Leedon
Age: Three years
Facilities: Pools, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym, tennis courts, basketball courts, karaoke, screening room, function room, piano, maze garden, playgrounds, shops, golf simulators and more, including kid friendly facilities
Size: 1715 units (including 32 penthouses and 12 semi-detached houses)
Closest supermarket: Walking distance
Community vibe: Family-friendly
Like this? Hear what another expat had to say about Sentosa Cove or read more at our neighbourhood guides section.
This article first appeared in the November 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
