10 highlights at Kada, a new lifestyle hotspot near Maxwell MRT

Before even entering the building, you might have already spotted this tiny coffee takeout window just around the corner along Erskine Road. If you love hole-in-the-wall concepts like Ground Floor Coffee and the recently opened Kopi Khoo, you’ll like this too. The take-out kiosk is part of Pacto by Parchmen – a local artisanal coffee and tea brand occupying a pocket-sized unit between the first and second floors of Kada. Stop by for a quick coffee break and sip on specialty drinks like the refreshing yuzu iced black ($6) or coconut matcha ($7). The adorable cat-themed cup designs are sure to perk you up as well.

Located right at the main entrance of Kada is Echo House, a pet-friendly café serving coffee, craft beverages, and pastries. The space is simply furnished, with a small indoor seating area and an alfresco patio. The matcha strawberry ($7) is a pretty popular pick and tends to sell out pretty quickly. In those cases, opt for other specialties like the Vanilla Twilight ($7.50) – cold brew topped with vanilla cream, or Here Comes The Sun ($7.50) – espresso tonic with passionfruit. On top of standard café bakes like banana bread ($5.50) and pain au chocolat ($6), there’s also the more unique bolo croissant ($6.50), which is a sweet and savoury mishmash of a Hong Kong bolo bun and French croissant. 

Prefer tea to coffee? To the right of Echo House, you’ll find Origin Teahouse, a local teahouse and distributor that gets all its tea leaves straight from Sri Lanka. Each beverage is served in a gorgeous ombre-hued cup. The triple jasmine citrus tea is a crowd-favourite, but if you don’t mind a hint of coffee, go for the Tie Guan Yin tea espresso with milk – a jazzed-up version of yuan yang, if you will. You can even request a double shot of espresso if you want your drink stronger. The café also has an alfresco space with parasols and comfy chairs, perfect for lounging around during late afternoons and evenings when the sunlight is more forgiving. 

If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve heard of the popular Lavi Taco at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace which serves up seriously good birria tacos. Lavi Tapas Bar at Kada is its sister restaurant, putting out big Mexican flavours with a twist. Case in point: the chicken satay taco, which sees juicy roasted chicken with smokey satay mole, pineapple pico de gallo, and tomato vinaigrette. The fire-roasted lamb rack with salsa verde is intended to be a Mexican take on Chinese lamb skewers, while the tomato stracciatella is a rendition of the classic Italian starter. In this dish, a singular plump, fresh tomato is stuffed with creamy burrata, and paired with guacamole and salsa verde.

Take a break from the eating and drinking for a rickety ride on Singapore’s oldest electric lift, located in the centre of the building. This 96-year-old lift was built by British manufacturer Major and Stevens back in 1929 and is still operational today – you’ll be standing in its original carriage. Granted, taking the stairs might be a faster option compared to riding this piece of history, but it makes for a novel experience nonetheless.

Reformer pilates has grown into a cult of its own of late, and here’s one more studio to keep on your radar if you work around the area. Satori on the second floor of Kada offers Chinese and English pilates sessions and specialised programmes depending on your fitness goals, whether it’s sculpting, core strength, or flexibility. There are even rehabilitative classes for spine correction, postpartum recovery, and more. Group classes span across a range of difficulty levels, but for those seeking more personalised attention and focused training, Satori offers private and duet classes too. Find out more here. 

Get into shape at Limitless Performance, also located on the second floor of Kada. The well-equipped gym focuses on personal training and strength conditioning, so it’s ideal for those seeking more guidance or specialised instruction on form and technique. Adjacent to it is Limitless Physiotherapy, which offers rehabilitation sessions and tips on injury prevention. On top of that, you can catch the occasional pop-up by Limitless and other brands in Kada, or join in one of its listening parties, whether it’s working out to Kendrick Lamar’s latest studio album or a Tyler the Creator ski erg set. Find out more here.

If you’re looking to get into the world of cold plunges and hydrotherapy, this cosy Japanese studio on the second floor of Kada is a great place to start. Shiruki Studio is run by former squash player Zee who suffered from a herniated disc and torn meniscus years ago. He now uses this space to share about his recovery journey through ice baths, infrared saunas, and ultrasonic bubble baths. Ice baths are one of the earliest medical treatments dating back to 3500BC. Prices start from $30 for a 15-minute session, and Zee recommends taking a five-to-ten-minute ice bath immediately after an intensive workout to reduce the swelling of joints. Find out more here. 

Early mornings and evenings at Kada are best spent on its alfresco rooftop, which houses Proud Potato Peeler and its new sister concept Alani – a Mediterranean bakery-café. In the day, Alani slings out fresh bakes on rotation, and you can expect everything from sourdough with pumpkin pesto and beef, to babka – a type of sweetened braided bread enjoyed in Jewish communities. Come dusk, visit Proud Potato Peeler, where Levantine flavours shine in a seven-to-eight-course prix fixe menu ($178) that rotates daily. Just note that it’s reservations-only, so make your bookings early to avoid disappointment. 

Kids and kids-at-heart can all tap into their inner artists at this art jamming studio on the rooftop of Kada. Closed on Sundays by Lil Palette offers one-time art appreciation classes (from $80), art therapy sessions, and even studio access memberships for those looking to cultivate a new hobby. For $69 a month, you’ll get six hours of studio and material access, one art appreciation session, and a complimentary beverage and snack each month. Meanwhile, the little ones can unleash their creativity at a one-hour open studio session ($40), or learn to express their emotions through art at a guided art therapy session ($150). Find out more here.