If you fancy a spot of shopping without stress, Dempsey Hill is the perfect antithesis to busy Orchard Road and the like. Surrounded by tropical greenery, away from the concrete jungle, its low-rise restored colonial buildings are a far cry from their high-rise mall counterparts and offer plenty of places to eat, drink and relax in. It has plenty of home décor stores that are well worth exploring – and, what’s more, parking is free!
The variety of home furnishings to be found at Dempsey Hill – from shops that have occupied the same spot for many years, to the various newcomers – makes for eclectic exploration. Antiques abound, including those at Woody Antique House (Block 13 and 15) – though you’d be wrong to think it only sells older pieces; contemporary outdoor furniture, teak dining sets and reproduction pieces can also be found in this huge store.
For carpets, from contemporary to traditional hand-knotted pieces, head for Lotto Carpets (Block 26) or Hedger’s Carpet Gallery (Block 15). Hedger’s was started in 1991 by Peter Hedger, who has 38 years of experience in the industry. His vast knowledge makes him popular with his customers – they also benefit from his try-before-you-buy system, whereby you can take a carpet away to see if it suits your home. Also on offer are professional carpet cleaning services and carpet appreciation classes, making this a full-service shop.
For something with a luxe designer feel, take a look around Asiatique Collections (Block 14a) or Timothy Oulton (Block 14c). Asiatique is home to some striking – and sometimes wacky! – pieces, the sort of thing you never knew you wanted until you saw them; pink ostrich feather lamp, anyone? Timothy Oulton, meanwhile, has a strongly masculine feel, combined with British vintage inspiration. Walking into the store is like entering the library of a stately British home, full of leather, warm woods and opulent yet subdued lighting.
You’ll find handcrafted home accessories such as pillows and wall hangings at Emgallery (Block 16), and Dempsey Hill is also home to The Lexington Company’s flagship Asian store (Block 26), with its range of home textiles for bedroom, bathroom, dining room and kitchen. If you love art, you could find a masterpiece for your home at REDSEA Gallery (Block 9).
Once you’ve perused the shops, rest your feet at one of the many food and beverage outlets in the Dempsey Hill area. At 10 Dempsey Road, for example, you’ll find both the recently relocated Blu Kouzina for delicious Greek cuisine, and Chopsuey Café for Anglo-Chinese food and tasty cocktail. The world – or, rather, the Hill – is your oyster!
A regular bus service runs between the Thai Embassy on Orchard Road to Dempsey Hill, via Holland Village. To find out more about this service and the tenants of Dempsey Hill, go to dempseyhill.com.
This article first appeared in the January 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
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Lindsay Yap
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