Accommodation ★★★★
While the neighborhood is predominantly occupied by matured HDB blocks, and no new HDB developments, there are beautiful waterfront condos near Bedok Reservoir. There’s the modern (7) Waterfront Key (772 Bedok Reservoir Rd.), with airy balconies, water features and views of the reservoir. A two-bedroom home (850 sq ft) starts at $1,200 per month. Plus, all residents get 10% off the nearby Wawawa bistro when they present their keycard. This stretch of road also has (8) Waterfront Waves (16 Bedok Reservoir Rd.), a condo with a long pool overlooking greenery. A two-bedroom apartment (980 sq ft) starts at $2,900 per month.
Bedok
Environment ★★★★
Bedok is great for living in the east without forgoing access to the MRT. It’s not as hip as East Coast but it’s also not as overwhelming as Tampines. In between the avenues, the mix of brightly colored high- and low-rise HDB blocks makes the place welcoming, if not a little confusing—it’s easy to feel lost among the curving roads. However, get closer to the Bedok Reservoir and you’ll find plenty of green spaces, cute cafes and beautiful waterfront views.
FatCat Ice Cream Bar
Dining ★★★
There have been a crop of cheery cafes popping up in HDB blocks with the mandatory industrial/hipster/Scandinavian minimalist treatment. (1) Percolate with its light wooden furniture and white-washed walls is always bustling and has tom yum chicken sandwiches and coffee from Nylon Coffee Roasters and Papa Palheta. There are dessert cafes like (2) FatCat Ice Cream Bar with homemade smoked oolong tea ice cream and gourmet waffles with salted caramel and lavender. Down the road is (3) Milk & Honey Gelato, an artisanal gelato bar serving quaffles and coffee. (4) Wawawa is a lakeside alfresco restaurant with breezy and laidback vibes. It’s all about comforting dishes like wagyu beef burgers, pastas, pizzas and salads.
Bedok also has amazing hawker food. (5) Fengshan Market & Food Centre, known as Bedok 85 (Blk. 85 Bedok North St. 4), has plenty of great options. Head for the barbecue chicken wings from Sin Bedok North BBQ Chicken Wing (#01-12) where perfectly crisped wings go for $1.40 a pop. Meanwhile Chan BBQ (#01-24) is known for dishing out barbecued cockles (from $6) and stringray (from $10). Not too far is Bedok Marketplace, a revamped and slightly fancier than usual hawker center with gourmet offerings like yakitori, pasta and meatballs.
Bedok also has amazing hawker food. (5) Fengshan Market & Food Centre, known as Bedok 85 (Blk. 85 Bedok North St. 4), has plenty of great options. Head for the barbecue chicken wings from Sin Bedok North BBQ Chicken Wing (#01-12) where perfectly crisped wings go for $1.40 a pop. Meanwhile Chan BBQ (#01-24) is known for dishing out barbecued cockles (from $6) and stringray (from $10). Not too far is Bedok Marketplace, a revamped and slightly fancier than usual hawker center with gourmet offerings like yakitori, pasta and meatballs.
Fengshan Market & Food Centre
Bars ★
One downside is the lack of trendy bars in the area—unless you’re into splitting buckets of beer at your local kopitiam while watching soccer matches. However, FatCat Ice Cream Bar has a short wine list comprising Moscato (from $5/glass) and Brachetto D’Acqui ($45/bottle). Most locals head to nearby (6) Frankel Avenue stretch for craft beer and cocktails.
Transportation ★★★
There are plenty of bus lines running through Bedok, with a sizeable bus interchange located near the MRT. The area has
a dedicated MRT station, Bedok, that’s situated across two malls (see Community, below).
Forest Adventure
Community ★★★
Bedok’s leafy surroundings are perfect for those who love the outdoors. First off, there’s the expansive (9) Bedok Reservoir (Bedok Reservoir Rd.) with dedicated areas for freshwater fishing, water sports like kayaking, a dirt running track, a wooden promenade and cafes. One of the main highlights is (10) Forest Adventure, an aerial tree obstacle course that ends with a ride down a giant zip-line. Down the road is (11) Fengshan Community Club, a clubhouse with a basketball court, badminton court and high tech powerlifting gym, Gym Nation. The area is also home to two malls (12) Bedok Point, with stores like Chir Chir Fusion Chicken (#02-05) and Challenger (#B1-05). There’s also the fancier (13) Bedok Mall, with places like Din Tai Fung (#B1-10) and Uniqlo (#B1-26).
