American expat Nancy Segal loves her neighbourhood. If you are moving to Singapore or looking for a new place to live, our neighbourhood guides are a great way to get insights on living in Singapore. Here Nancy, who works as an attorney, and is a mother-of-three, spills the beans on the ins and outs of living on Merryn Road in Bukit Timah.
The Specifics
What’s the name of the street where you live? Merryn Road.
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? Off Whitley Road, behind Raffles Town Club.
What’s the name of your neighbourhood? Dunearn Estates.
Closest MRT station? Just about midway between Stevens MRT and Botanic Gardens MRT.
How long have you lived here? Almost two years.
Why here? We wanted to live somewhere super central but with great access to the PIE since the kids attend UWCSEA East. Crazy me called the UWCSEA bus office 100 times before finding a neighbourhood and house with a 7.20am bus pick-up time! We also wanted a roomy landed house and great proximity to town since we were new to Singapore and knew we’d be exploring.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: Banana trees flanking a gorgeous modern house across the street (much nicer than ours!).
The closest store (of any type) to your front door is: Gas station and convenience store on Bukit Timah.
Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: Home Alone 3.
Your neighbours are great, but you wouldn’t mind a little less: Fast driving, particularly given the narrow street and bikes stashed in inconvenient places.
The unofficial uniform of your street is: Flip-flops.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you: Go anywhere in Singapore because it’s guaranteed to be no more than 15 to 20 minutes away – we’re literally in the centre of the island! Or head to Changi for a quick getaway.
If you’re missing home, you: Walk, bike or drive to the American Club for an India Pale Ale, to Coffee Bean at ION Orchard or to Sixth Avenue for a decaf latte.
A mandatory stop for out-of-town guests is: Botanic Gardens – an easy walk from our neighbourhood; or Little India, which is just a few MRT stops away.
A common myth about your neighbourhood is: You need a car. Bike shares are abundant on Merryn and can easily zip you down the long street to abundant bus and MRT options. It’s also not a far walk to fantastic bus coverage on Whitley.
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to be: Our 13-year-old hosting 20 of her closest friends for a sleepover in our attic. (Yes, it’s been done!).
The Superlatives
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are: Botanic Gardens for walk or lunch. Or The Island Creamery in Bukit Timah for our favourite ice cream.
You won’t find better local food than at: The nearby Adam Road Food Centre (better than Newton in our opinion!).
We love a good bargain. The best deals in your neighbourhood are: LeeWu Cafe on Bukit Timah Road for cheap Thai food.
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is: A jaunt to Orchard for shopping or eating.
One thing you’d never change is: The lovely mix of people and nationalities in the neighbourhood.
But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is: The construction, like anywhere else in Singapore!
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street. You use it to: Create great sidewalks so biking is safer and more seamless.
For more helpful tips head to our Living in Singapore section!
The expat’s guide on where to live in Singapore
What it’s like living in Ulu Pandan
An insider guide to Bedok North
This article first appeared in the June 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
