Everybody sort of knows Keong Saik Road for mainly one thing – being the home of Potato Head Singapore. It’s not surprising to see why – the stark building with red detailing is practically unmissable to any traveler in the area. However, did you know that Keong Saik Road used to be a red-light district prior to its gentrification? How about the hidden graffiti and wall murals? “Michelin star We’ll explore 10 things about Keong Saik Road that you probably didn’t know.
1. Over 10 unique wall murals all around Keong Saik area
Apart from the famous Ripple Root wall mural, Keong Saik is also extremely rewarding for the ‘gram, as it’s home to over 10 significant wall murals. Mr Yip Yew Chong, a local artist who specialises in wall murals, had successfully completed 7 wall murals which includes The Letter Writer, Detective Conan in Chinatown, and My Chinatown Home. The 1988 murals and even the nostalgic Slinky wall mural can be found right in the heart of the Keong Saik area.
2. “Mistress Avenue” in the 1950s
Keong Saik Road underwent an evolution to become a red-light district in the late ’50s, making the place ripe for rich merchants to keep their mistresses here. That’s also because Keong Saik Road was very proximate to Smith Street (another notorious red-light district at that time), and Keong Saik Road eventually played host to prostitution situated in the shophouses that lined both sides of the street.
Many of the girls who were originally called Pei Pa Zai (a colloquial name for the beautiful women who entertained customers through song and dance) were often asked for sexual services, and sometimes taken as mistresses or “second wives”. This earned Keong Saik Road the name of Mistress Avenue in the 1950s.
3. Home to 2 Michelin-starred restaurants that keep their title year on year
To be awarded a Michelin star is akin to being crowned king. To keep that title, shows that you’re on another level. A Michelin star is the hallmark of fine dining, and is also one of the most prestigious food awards in the world that any food establishment can dream of. 2 of them live right in the heart of Keong Saik, namely: Meta Restaurant, and Burnt Ends. What’s truly amazing is that they continue to retain that prestige through constant consistency year after year.
Meta Restaurant is a spunky Asian-French fusion restaurant that has earned it’s holy grail from French-inspired cuisine and East-Asian flavours in the form of 5 or 7-course meals. Top picks include the Jeju Abalone and Criskpy Kinmedai.
Burnt Ends is the other Michelin-starred restaurant in Keong Saik. Don’t judge the restaurant by its size though, the gastronomy here crazy, and you’d have to make reservations for lunch or dinner at least 2 months in advance (yes, we’re not kidding). Faves of patrons include Smoked Quail Egg and Caviar, and the legendary Blackmore’s Cube Roll .
4. Singapore’s first in-lift art mural within a shophouse at Hotel Soloha
Singapore’s very first bespoke in-shophouse lift artwork can be found at Hotel Soloha in the Keong Saik area. Designed by local contemporary visual artist Danielle Tay, Spirit of the forest brings to life an experience in a magical forest, taking visitors on a journey as the elevator ascends. This forest, situated in Hotel Soloha is one filled with elements of excitement, mystery and danger.
The artwork is inspired by curiosity and adventure – the key emotions carried by a traveler, and is a celebration of this spirit of adventure, of wander and wonder – of the joy in getting lost in unfamiliar places.
5. Named as one of the Top 10 destinations in Asia by Lonely Planet Magazine
With everything that has sprouted up in Keong Saik over the years and it’s complete gentrification, Keong Saik Road had nominated amongst 10 top destinations in Asia by the well-regarded Lonely Planet Magazine. It’s amazing to know that Keong Saik has attained such a status, whereas it was known for lesser-than-good reasons just a little over 50 years ago!
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