Update June 2020: Lepark has closed.
There’s a party on the rooftop and you’re all invited.
For a month, LePark (that’s a word play on the Malay term lepak, which means to relax) will be serving up a menu of Mod-Sin street food and craft beers at People’s Park Complex. The pop up(?), which is run by the team behind vegan outfit Afterglow, will also host a variety of music acts throughout its run.
It seems like the more ulu the place, the more conducive it is to hipster activities and experimental food. Like last year’s Hit The Roof, LePark is accessible via a creepy lift or a dodgy-looking staircase. But hey, that’s all part of the charm behind rustic buildings in heritage areas.
Once inside, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a different world, leaving behind the dingy commercial underbelly of the mall below. LePark’s interior is quintessentially urban, with bright pop culture graffiti scrawled all over the walls and windows.
The menu is split into six sections – kids, shared, tapas, mains, signatures, and desserts. Most of the food is either Western of some outrightly quirky fusion street creation. Ordering can get a little confusing with food and beverages sold at separate counters, and the ticket system is a surprisingly high tech feature at this place.
I wanted to try as many things as possible, so I skipped the mains and went for the tapas. I’m sure you’ve all had otah with your nasi lemak, but how about otah in wanton skin?
The Otah Bomb is a modern take on this classic, with bite-sized filling deep fried and served atop those crispy noodles you see at Chinese buffets. Don’t underestimate it though; it is quite the chilli padi as it is explosively spicy – it was literally like biting into a bomb, hence the name!
Another must-try on the menu is the Salted Egg Yolk Soft Shell Crab Slide (wow what a mouthful). Think your classic salted egg yolk crab and mantou combination with a modern spin.
The crab tasted crispy and salty, caked in a generous layer of salted egg. The mantou was very well toasted on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Very well done, and I won’t be surprised if anyone went for seconds!
Desserts are fairly limited, with only a couple of selections available. The Soft Serve Milo is like a mod-sin take on the Milo Dinosaur, stuffed with banana at the bottom and topped with rainbow sprinkles, cereal, biscuit and milo balls. Basically, all the good things from your childhood. This is one soft serve you’d definitely want to save room in your tummy for. 😉
LePark definitely serves the after work crowd, as it grew more vibrant as the night went on. They even fit the alfresco area with fairy lights, which gives the place a whimsical feel as the sun goes down.
Do check them out while they’re still around, and come with your friends on an empty stomach. The tapas is made for sharing, and really, the more the merrier!
Address: 1 Park Road, Level 6 People’s Park Complex
Contact: 9658 9938 or 6908 5809
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 4pm – 10pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11am – 11pm
Directions: Alight at Chinatown MRT and come out through Exit C. Head to the top of People’s Park Complex; LePark is located behind the carpark.
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