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Stylish Stay in Singapore
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Stylish stay in Singapore
Synonymous for fantastic shopping and great food, Singapore dishes up a stunning array of accommodation, writes Daven Wu.
Among Singapore’s many-splendid charms is its astonishing collection of hotels. From glitzy five-star lobbies where the swimming pools have some of the best views in town to more intimate boutique rooms, there is a hotel for every mood and every occasion. The only problem is deciding which one to check in to.
The Five-Star Treatment
In Singapore, a surprising number of bold-named hotels stake out the luxury end of the market. Most of these tend to be clustered along either the Orchard Road shopping belt or the more scenic Marina Bay and Riverside end of town.
The Four Seasons sets the pace with immaculately appointed rooms (think DVD/CD players, iPod docks, thick Italian terry bathrobes and cotton yakatas), first-rate service and a concierge service that’s the envy of every other hotel in town. Best of all, its shopping gallery, Club 21, is stocked with major European couturiers while a connecting corridor opens up into the Hilton Hotel’s retail floors filled with the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Bvlgari.
Across town, the Ritz-Carlton combines flawless service and spacious bathrooms where polygonal windows frame magnificent views of the skyline with a stunning 4200-piece art collection that includes pieces by Frank Stella, Dale Chihuly, Henry Moore and David Hockney. The hotel also offers guests downloadable podcast tours of its artwork.
Next door, the spectacular Mandarin Oriental (in one of the classic buildings by American architect John Portman) makes its mark with some of the best restaurants in the city. Among them the mega steakhouse Morton’s, the lush dim-sum at Cherry Garden, Wasabi Bistro’s inventive Hawaiian-infused Japanese sushi and the global buffet spread at Melt – The World Café. Be sure to pop across the road to catch a show on the Esplanade at Theatres By The Bay, Singapore’s premier performing arts centre.
Adjoining the Mandarin Oriental through the massive shopping mall Millennia Walk is the Pan Pacific. Here, two unmissable highlights include the spectacular Sunday brunch at Global Kitchen (truffles, wagyu and Veuve Clicquot) and the bubble lifts clamped to the exterior of the building that zip guests up for a dizzying panorama of Marina Bay’s skyscrapers. Each of the 775 rooms recently underwent an extensive and fabulous $11 million refurbishment.
Across the road, the light-washed Marina Mandarin still looks fresh and luxe two years after its $20 million makeover. What’s more, this September, the hotel rolled out a new category of Executive Deluxe rooms and suites. Targeted at business travellers, the rooms are infused with a distinct Asian vibe and are kitted out with large work desks, ergonomic work chair and six hours of complimentary broadband.
Also joining the five-star ranks in December is St. Regis. This iconic property will boast nearly 300 plush rooms and suites, the first Reméde Spa in Asia, a vast sky-lit ballroom and a team of white-gloved personal butlers to cater to your every whim.
Waterfront views
A number of four-star and five-star hotels have set up home on, or very near, the Singapore River, a picturesque waterway that’s lined with museums, nightclubs, great restaurants and cafés.
Top of the list is the 550-room Grand Copthorne Waterfront, a relaxing retreat for the whole family. Business travellers are spoilt for choice on the Executive Club floors (the CBD, Chinatown and Marina Bay convention centres are just minutes away) while party fiends can make a beeline for nearby clubs including the iconic Zouk, Ministry of Sound and Attica.
Across the road, the Copthorne Kings’ recently renovated rooms (ask for one with views of the river) are backed up by an outdoor pool, fully equipped business centre and an amazing Nonya buffet that serves up to-die-for laksa, char kway teow and delicious pastries.
The Best of Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a shopaholic’s dream with sprawling marbled emporia like Ngee Ann City and Paragon holding court with a solid supporting cast in the form of Tangs, Centrepoint and the Heeren to round off a holiday of fantastic retail therapy. For that reason, many tourists prefer to camp out at one of the many recently refurbished top-end hotels that are dotted along the stretch.
The Traders Hotel is just minutes by foot from the lush Botanical Gardens. The cosy business hotel adjoins Camden Medical Centre (convenient if you’re in town for another of Singapore’s less well known secrets – the nip and tuck) and is completely wired, from the rooms to lobby and restaurants.
The Traders’ sister property, the glamorous Shangri-La is an incredibly romantic retreat. Its soaring lobby, swathed in acres of marble, gives way to dense green grounds and very good restaurants. The exclusive Valley Wing is accented by fine artwork and crystal chandeliers, while the rooms boast Egyptian cotton linen, French upholstery, Jim Thompson silk, rain-showers and LCD TVs in the bathroom.
A few minutes walk away, is the Orchard Hotel. Its new Signature Club rooms are sumptuous fusions of Oriental flair and European styling. For restless sleepers, an extensive pillow menu is offered while the huge black tiled bathrooms boast TV screens by the bathtub and sexy shower niches.
A few blocks down, the Royal Plaza on Scotts is fast becoming a foodie haunt for Carousel (open 24/7) that incorporates a generous buffet of Western and Asian classics and an adjoining gourmet deli. Upstairs, the freshly renovated rooms are spacious with bright bathrooms and large workspaces for the business traveller.
Surrounded by glossy malls and high-end boutiques is the iconic Meritus Mandarin. For just S$60 a day, its new business lounge offers all-day internet, private meeting rooms, Playstation 2 and snacks and beverages. Meanwhile, its renovated Premier rooms come with 25-inch flat-screen TVs, a mini hi-fi system, teleconferencing capabilities and a massage armchair.
On the far western end of Orchard Road, the Le Meridien, while a little dated, is still worth checking out for its convenient proximity to: Plaza Singapura, a large shopping mall; the museums; and a greedy collection of eateries, cafés and traditional alfresco Malay and Indian coffee houses that serve into the early hours of the morning.
The Boutique Experience
The five-star treatment and sprawling marble lobby are always appreciated, but sometimes, the mood calls for something a little more intimate. In recent years, savvy hoteliers like Loh Lik Peng have tapped into the growing demand for smaller boutique properties.
Loh’s first foray was the exquisite gem 1929. Set in the heart of Chinatown, the hotel overflows with classic designer furniture by the likes of Panton, Eames and Jacobsen. None of the rooms are identical, for instance, room 401 has an alfresco bathtub. Be sure to reserve a table at the in-house restaurant Ember where chef Sebastian Ng charms with an inventive modern European menu.
Just around the corner is Loh’s second property, the New Majestic. The colonial-era building was completely gutted and replaced with quirky, spacious rooms, each specially decorated by a local artist. This means, like 1929, no two rooms are the same. The rooftop pool is especially fun with portholes in the bottom through which swimmers can peek into the fabulous Cantonese restaurant, Majestic that is below.
Just recently opened in September is Naumi. Touted as Singapore’s first luxury boutique business hotel, the 10-storey Naumi boasts just 40 suites – decorated in Poltrona Frau, Artemide and Zanotta furniture – and comes completely outfitted with all the mod-cons including teleconference facilities, kitchenette, 50-inch plasma television and a rooftop infinity pool.
Off the Beaten Track
Until recently, most travellers associated Sentosa with its theme parks and nature walks. But with the recent announcement that the island would be home to the second casino resort, brace yourself for a swag of hotels to spring up. The most recent addition to the leafy isle is Amara Sanctuary Resort. Set right on the edge of the beach against a backdrop of lush tropical jungle, the 120-plus minimalist rooms are housed in former British army bungalows and barracks, some of which come with outdoor Jacuzzis and bathtubs for that romantic moonlit splash.
The Amara joins the Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore’s only beachfront hotel that’s blessed with cool sea breezes and comfortable rooms that face either water or the emerald swathe of Fort Siloso.
And for that extra touch of luxury, head to the Sentosa Resort and Spa, a sprawling, stylish sanctuary where all rooms were recently refurbished and designed by the celebrated designer Ed Tuttle. Its Spa Botanica offers a blissful menu of mud pools and decadent treatments; while the mood-lit Cliff, is the perfect spot for jumping-fresh grilled seafood. What’s even more remarkable is that this bucolic paradise is a brisk 10-minute drive to the CBD – ideal for that last burst of shopping before heading to the airport!
Travel Facts
getting there
- Singapore Airlines has several daily flights to Singapore from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and daily from Adelaide. Phone 131 011 or visit www.singaporeair.com.au
where to stay
tips
- The MRT underground train is a fast and convenient way to get around town.
- Though Singapore is generally humid all year round (the mercury hovers around the +30C mark), December to February are generally the best months to visit when the weather is noticeably cooler.
- For the best wraparound views, drop by New Asia Bar, 2 Stamford Rd, 06-01 Raffles City. Phone +65 6837 3322
- At the time of writing $AUD1 = 1.26 Singapore Dollars (SGD)
further information
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