The family enclave at Dempsey Hill has just opened with new stores and picturesque trails. Here’s a peek at the top things to do there
Gone are the rickety barracks threatening to fall apart on Loewen Road. The area is now home to the fancy Loewen by Dempsey Hill enclave, which starts at 73 Loewen Road and spans swimming centres, DIY art stores, artisan foods and even a classy pet hotel.
If you’re worried about accessibility, you’ll be glad to find out that you can hop on a free shuttle bus service at Botanic Gardens (pick up and drop offs at the Nassim Gate Visitor Centre and Tanglin Gate Botany Centre) and the bus stops in front of the Thai Embassy and Four Seasons Hotel. The shuttle will take you to and from Dempsey Hill and Loewen by Dempsey Hill. (Shuttle schedule link here.)
We took a tour of this new side of Dempsey, and here are the top things the family can do at Loewen.
1. Go on a food or heritage trail
A succulent treat of A4 wagyu beef awaits at Portico Prime (Blk 10).
Fire up your spirit for adventure with an Epicurean Trail featuring tasty indulgences like original black pepper crab at Long Beach (Blk 25) and mouthwatering ribs at Roadhouse (Blk 13). The succulent A4 wagyu beef at Portico Prime (Blk 10) was the perfect treat to cap off our walk through Dempsey Hill.
Now that you’ve filled your belly, it’s time to explore the age-old tales of Singapore’s colonial history at the rich buildings here. Start your journey at the junction of Minden Road and Harding Road, where you will find St George’s Church (Blk 44), the garrison church for Tanglin Barracks until 1971.
Ebenezer Chapel (Blk 39C) now stands near The White Rabbit restaurant (Photo: lanyu.wordpress.com)
Move along Harding Road towards Dempsey Hill and you can spot other landmarks like Ebenezer Chapel (Blk 39C), where the soldiers’ children went to school; an authentic old POSB branch, now Asiatique Collections (Blk 14A); and the clubhouse for Singapore’s civil servants in the 1970s (Blk 25).
2. Make your own artisan chocolates, pottery and plates
Not only can you purchase gourmet chocolates by Anjalichocolat (73 Loewen Road, #01-15), you can even book a DIY session at its chic kitchen to produce your own set. The “cooking class” is a great bonding session for families, friends and even colleagues.
You’ll now need something to display those chocolates on before gobbling them up. Walk into the Impressions Art Studio (73 Loewen Road #01-16) for a crafty good time.
You can choose to decorate cute clay figurines, pottery and even glassware, then have it fired up in a kiln to be collected a few weeks later. This activity is suitable for all ages, from kids to grandparents.
3. Let the kids try out gymnastics, yoga and swimming
Kids love getting active and exploring new things, but often parents are worried about their safety. Here, you can entrust your children to the care of professionals, who will look after them while ensuring they have a whale of a time.
At Alpha Gymnastics (72 Loewen Road #01-07), instructors will guide your kid along Olympics-type gymnast equipment like beams and swings, and even give them yoga classes to improve stamina and focus. Adults can join in the yoga sessions too.
If you’re wondering what’s so special about this indoor swimming pool (above), well, that’s because steam doesn’t show up too well on camera. The water in this pool is specially maintained at a warm 32 deg C, which is perfect for little toddlers to get splashing.
Swish! Swimming (72 Loewen Road #01-08) is also the sole distributor for the Merfin, which allows children to swim like a mermaid or merman!
4. Take OOTD pictures
Loewen is filled with little corners that are perfect OOTD (outfit of the day) spots. The black-and-white colonial structures here make for great monochromatic backdrops, and many stores have exterior designs that make for great OOTD backgrounds. See if you can spot them!
5. Take interior inspiration from a high-end IKEA alternative
Fans of Ikea will love Möbel Story, a furniture store tucked away at 71 Loewen Road #01-02. It stocks more quality pieces from all over Europe, and you can take inspiration from their creative use of space and colours.
When we visited, we spotted discount stickers placed on some of their quality items, so now’s a good time to go furniture hunting here. Möbel Story carries high-end brands such as Hulsta, Leolux, Kymo, Paola C. and Flexa.
6. Pamper your pets
Loewen indeed has something for every member of the family — including pets! Pamper your pets with a stay at the classy Wagington Luxury Pet Hotel (27B Loewen Road), which features different suites — yes, suites — fully-equipped with entertainment and comfort for your dogs and cats.
For example, its Royal Suite (pictured left) boasts a full Queen-sized bed complete with duvet, pillows and plush toys; a feeding corner; and even a wall-mounted flatscreen television.
There are even specialised Feline Suites that feature cat towers and scratching posts.
In the fenced-in backyard, pets can run around on an astro turf and play on a playground. There’s even a grooming centre to give your pet a well-deserved ‘spa’ retreat.
And if you don’t have pets to pamper, you could simply drop by to say hello to Verbal, the resident bulldog who lounges in the ‘hotel lobby’ like a grand godfather (pictured below).
By Pamela Chow
For more information, visit www.dempseyhill.com.
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