Redhill

As a mature estate, Redhill or Bukit Merah is probably one of Singapore’s most underrated neighbourhoods. The area is sandwiched between untouched nature parks, on one end, and the city centre on the other - all with a treasure trove of delicious food options, cool new cafes and even an urban farm in between. The housing options available in Redhill vary from HDB flats to condominium units. With a favourable and convenient location, Redhill makes the perfect home for families and young professionals working in the CBD.

Public transport and amenities in Redhill

Redhill or Bukit Merah has a tale behind its name. Legend has it that it is named after a clever young boy who was murdered out of jealousy after saving his village from swordfish. His blood flowed down the hill where he lived, staining it red ever since. Whether it is the myths that have been passed down through generations or the myriad of food offerings that are drawing you in, Redhill is one to discover.

Stay - Redhill

The available properties in the neighbourhood are mostly condominiums. Several condominiums in Redhill that are within walking distance from the MRT station include: Artra, The Metropolitan, Ascentia Sky, and Echelon. However, you can also find HDB flats in the area. These vary in size but mostly fall within the 3-bedroom or 5-bedroom categorization. With their favourable and convenient location, these flats and condo units would make great homes for young couples, families, or even individuals who work in the CBD looking to rent a room. This is even more so when taking into account the various good and affordable food choices that can be found throughout the neighbourhood.

Shop - Redhill

The two-storey Anchorpoint Shopping Centre is a gem for bargain-savvy shoppers. It houses popular brands like Cotton On, Charles and Keith, and Pedro. In fact, this mall is definitely one to hit if you are on the hunt for a new pair of shoes.

If you are done with fashion items, continue the retail therapy across the road at IKEA. Shopping at IKEA is a guilty pleasure for most people. Switch your dusty tired curtains with some new brightly coloured ones, change your floral cushion covers to striped ones and get some colour into your home, just because you feel like it.

Another shopping option is to hop over to Queensway Shopping Centre for all your sporting goods needs. Dubbed as "Singapore’s Sports Mall", it is a popular spot for sporting items since its establishment.

Another interesting place you can find in Redhill is The Art Faculty at the Enabling Village. Here, you can shop with a cause as it is a social enterprise that celebrates the abilities of people with autism and related challenges. Looking for a thoughtful gift or just in need of a little trinket to cheer you up? Browse through the products designed by artists with special needs, from colourful mugs to hand-stitched face masks. Through every sale of artwork and product, the artists earn royalties to learn the value of work and financial independence.

Eats and Drinks - Redhill

Talking about where to eat in Redhill, it is impossible to leave ABC Brickworks Food Centre out of the picture. It is a really popular supper spot with nearly a hundred stalls to choose from. Several stalls even open past 11 pm. In this hawker centre, all your basic hawker staples are covered, from Penang Assam laksa to Hokkien mee prawn noodles, and oyster omelettes. Must try highlights include Bao Zai’s bite-sized char siew baos with their juicy pork insides as well as Fatty Cheong, which offers the bu jian tian cut of meat. Stop by Y.R.A North India Pakistani, which has a meaty, juicy chicken tikka, while Habib’s Mee Stall offers spicy mee goreng and mee hoon goreng.

There is also a nice variety of halal food stalls and a few vegetarian stalls, which make ABC Brickworks a good destination for those with dietary restrictions. For dessert at ABC Brickworks Centre, the Jin Jin Hot and Cold Dessert stall should be your priority. It rose to fame with its own sweet creations, with the Power Chendol being a crowd favourite due to its thick gula melaka helping. Die-hard durian lovers should try their slightly pricier Gangster Ice, topped off with a scoop of pure durian flesh.

Of course, there is also the Redhill Food Centre at 85 Redhill Lane, which is just a few minutes away from the Redhill MRT Station. There, a wide assortment of food stalls at affordable pricing are lined up. The must-try stalls at Redhill Food Centre include Bak Kee Teochew Satay Bee Hoon which is worthy of mention for its warm and comforting peanut sauce, Fei Zai Xiang Roasted Meat with their Char Siew which is quite a bomb, and Seng Heng Braised Duck Noodles with the Hokkien-style braised duck which has a very authentic taste and flavour. 

If you often feel late-night cravings, you can count on Brinda at 162 Bukit Merah Central which has been dubbed as a quintessential supper spot in the Redhill neighbourhood. Specializing in Indian cuisines, Brinda is open 24 hours every day of the week and brings patrons from all parts of Singapore. The must-tries include a hot plate of butter or garlic naan, paired with butter chicken gravy or chicken tikka masala. On top of that, just do not forget to try Brinda's selection of rice!

If you prefer good drinks and small bites, there are also lots of top picks in Redhill that we at 99.co can recommend that will surely work for you! First off, Carrara Cafe. You might have not heard of it before, but we can assure you that you will find great bites to accompany your caffeine fix. It has the best waffles an in the neighbourhood. They are light, airy, crispy, and pair well with the cafe's sweet desserts like the Ondeh Ondeh Cake or the artisanal gelato. You can wash those down after with a cup of espresso, cappuccino, or Osmanthus flavoured latte.

Txa Pintxo Bar located on the ground floor of the grand Alkaff Mansion can be another option. It is the only restaurant in Singapore dedicated to the pintxo experience. Here, you can find small bar bites, both hot and cold, similar to what you’d get in the Basque Country. Memorable bites include the Boquerones Con Piperrada (toasted bread spread with Spanish red pepper cream and topped with a delicate piece of European anchovy), as well as the Crema de Roquefort con Manzana y Nueces (bread smothered with Roquefort cream, apple jam and walnuts). Over on the hot menu, there’s the Txangurro a la Donostiarra - where the head of a flower crab shell is stuffed with crab meat, cooked in sofrito, and grilled with bread crumbs & butter. Be sure to save room for a slide of the legendary Basque burnt cheesecake, too. Pair your pintxos with a diverse selection of alcoholic beverages, from cocktails and beers to Spanish wines and ciders served in the traditional Basque way.

Play - Redhill

Wondering if Redhill has some interesting places to go? It certainly has. One of them is Gateway Theatre. Located in the heart of Bukit Merah, the creative arts space Gateway Theatre is both a haven for theatre enthusiasts and an architectural marvel. It is home to a 922-seat theatre, a 207-seat modular black box theatre, four studio spaces, and a lush Sky Garden which hosts open-air performances and events. Aside from its astonishing facade, the plays showing at Gateway Theater always end up leaving audiences dazzled, entertained, and provoked with food for thought before leaving the theatre. Is it kid-friendly? You bet! Get the kids started early with the Gateway Kids Club, a weekly kids programme that includes storytelling, arts and crafts, and free play activities.

Move - Redhill

Redhill MRT station or EW18 is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East-West Line (EWL) located in Bukit Merah. On the EWL, it is between the Tiong Bahru and Queenstown MRT stations. Redhill MRT Station is situated along Tiong Bahru Road, at the junction with Jalan Tiong. The station also goes by the name Pink Station due to its uniquely pink-coloured interior. 

It serves residents of Redhill and Alexandra, serving clusters of HDB housing developments, condominiums, and schools around the Redhill and Alexandra area, along with businesses in the vicinity of the Leng Kee Road. Several facilities found in the station include retail shops, public toilets, ATMs and other self-service machines at concourse level, and bicycle racks at station exits. On top of that, Redhill MRT station connects to several bus stops, taxi stands, and passenger pick-up points in the vicinity, making it more convenient for you to travel around.

Parks and Gardens - Redhill

Merely an 11-minute walk from Redhill MRT Station, you will find an excellent public park that caters to all family member’s entertainment needs. Tiong Bahru Park is truly a haven of tranquility for nearby residents. With over 3.3 hectares of parkland, Tiong Bahru Park is perfect for relaxing since it has benches and cool shades of the many trees spread across the park. If you want to do some warms ups, you can go to the various exercise stations and fitness corners before jogging around the park. Alternatively, walk on the foot reflexology footpath for a relaxing foot massage. 

Children would love the place as well since the main attraction of the park is intended for them. The Tiong Bahru Park playground is designed as a unique tilting train, which allows the children to climb, run, and slide in a topsy-turvy environment. Plus, it is really Instagram-worthy!

Within the play area, you will also find two flying foxes, swings, and a mini-maze too. It will provide your children with endless hours of fun and adventure.

If you are willing to go a bit further, abundant greenery awaits you at the Telok Blangah Hill Park. Get on your trekking shoes and explore the Forest Walk or admire the flowers at the Terrace Garden, a popular spot for weddings. And when you are done, head on to Alkaff Mansion perched atop Telok Blangah Hill. Like we mentioned earlier, the early 20th-century colonial bungalow is now a multi-lifestyle destination home to a Basque restaurant, pintxos bar, and cafe. The Telok Blangah Hill Park itself is part of the Southern Ridges, which also comprises Mount Faber Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park, and Labrador Nature Reserve.

Sports Facilities - Redhill

When you live in Redhill, you might have more interest in sports and an active lifestyle with the Delta Sports Centre just around the corner. Located at 900 Tiong Bahru Road, the Delta Sports Centre was once famous because it was the first sports facility built by the Housing and Development Board. The multi-purpose indoor sports hall has a capacity of approximately 850 people. This sports complex in Redhill also houses four badminton courts, three swimming pools (including teaching, competition, and wading pools), a covered grandstand, as well as a football field and a gymnasium. On top of that, the new quality hockey pitch in the complex has contributed to the local development of the sport. The rejuvenation of its facilities and the many sports programmes offered continue to serve the community and even reach a wider range of patrons.