The Best Places to Stay in Singapore for Downtown Buzz
The bustling city of Singapore offers a plethora of enticing activities, delicious eateries and iconic landmarks, from the Merlion Park to the city’s famous botanical gardens. Singapore has no shortage of high-quality hotels, no matter what your budget, and if you’re looking to splash out, there are some brilliant luxury options to choose from. Read on for our guide to the best hotels in the centre of Singapore.
1. The Warehouse Hotel
Hotel
Situated on the riverbank near the Pulau Saigon Bridge, this storied property was built at the close of the 19th century, when the surrounding neighbourhood was sunk in opium-dealing and espionage. Rooms and suites stylishly retain the original warehouse feel, with high ceilings, black metal beams and staircases and walls of exposed brick and industrial grey, and almost all have unbroken views of Singapore River. Sample cutting-edge Singaporean dishes at smart in-house restaurant Po, and craft cocktails at the Lobby Bar, each of which is designed to honour a specific phase of the property’s past.
2. The Vagabond Club
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
Marriott’s louche, luxurious Vagabond Club offers Parisian-style accommodation in the trendy Jalan Besar neighbourhood. Designed by Jacques Garcia, known for his elegant restaurant and hotel interiors in the French capital, its rooms and suites wear dark, rich fabrics and are decorated by carefully-chosen photos and original artwork – but that’s not really what you stay at the Vagabond for. The big deal here is the Whiskey Library, a gentleman’s club-style bar that serves 1,000 varieties of rare and vintage whiskey. Before trying to work your way through them, feast on Chinese classics at the hotel’s Yellow Pot restaurant.
3. Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong
Boutique Hotel
Located in Katong, Singapore’s first Heritage Town, the Indigo takes inspiration from the local Peranakan culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in the guest rooms, each of which delicately replicates, in miniature, a typical Peranakan home in its proportions and furnishings. Look out over Katong from your very own bathtub, or from the glorious infinity pool on the roof, which seems to flow directly over the building’s edge. In-house eatery Baba Chews does Singaporean, Katong and Western dishes and the colourful pavilion has board games and Mac desktops for guest use.
5. Quincy Hotel
Hotel, Boutique Hotel, Chain Hotel, Spa Hotel
Located a 10-minute walk from the Orchard Street shopping and entertainment centre, the Quincy provides one of central Singapore’s best-value stays. Your nightly room price isn’t just for a bed in either a Studio or slightly bigger Studio Deluxe (both have queen beds, big TVs and Kevin Murphy bathroom goodies), it also includes breakfast, the contents of your minibar, snacks and refreshments throughout the day and evening drinks and canapés in the lounge or alfresco area. You’ll also have access to a rooftop infinity pool, a sauna and a small but well-equipped gym.
6. Amoy Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Housed in a characterful old pagoda in downtown Singapore, the Amoy Hotel has become known for its highly personalised level of service. Staff will address you by name throughout your stay and have been known to investigate noise disturbances coming from nearby buildings in the middle of the night, and to provide birthday cakes and other thoughtful touches. Compact rooms come in just two sizes – single and deluxe – and feature Chinese heritage designs, luxurious linens and smartphones for roaming. The complimentary breakfast is courtesy of a nearby cafe, of which there are plenty.
7. Villa Samadhi
Boutique Hotel, Hotel, Luxury
The ultimate couples’ retreat, Villa Samadhi is housed in a lovingly-restored 1920s British army barracks in the tranquil Labrador Nature Reserve, a 25-minute drive from central Singapore. Rooms and shared areas display an old-world, colonial style, with lots of darks woods, heavy wooden furniture and a veranda that simply screams for linen suits; soak it all up over afternoon tea or during cocktail hour from 6pm to 7pm in the library, both of which are included in the nightly room price. A decent buffet breakfast and a nightcap of Port and choccies are also given at no extra cost.
8. Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Hotel
9. Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Hotel
Resort, Luxury
10. Pan Pacific
Hotel
11. Shangri-La Hotel
Hotel
12. Mandarin Oriental
Hotel
13. The Scarlet Singapore
Hotel
The first luxury boutique hotel in Singapore, this exuberant and uninhibited establishment is made up 80 chicly designed rooms and suites. In keeping with the name of the hotel, a vibrant yet mysterious color palette of deep reds, metallic golds and ebony hues is adopted, evoking a somewhat provocative decor, an alternative to the usual neutral interiors of other hotels. Overlooking the upbeat alleys of Chinatown, wake up to a pleasing view of an entirely different culture. The Scarlet Hotel is a vivacious home away from home.
14. Naumi Hotel
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
An intimate retreat that presents a collection of over 70 boutique rooms that will cocoon you with a sense of comfort and resplendence. Featuring an impressive selection of specially commissioned Singaporean art, guests can admire the talents and passion that was put into every masterpiece. Dine at exclusive restaurants and sample an eclectic menu of edible delights before enjoying drinks on the rooftop terrace lounge. The Naumi is minutes away from iconic landmarks such as the Suntec Convention Centre, the Formula One Track, and a myriad of nearby shopping centres.
15. Hotel Kai
Hotel
16. Orchid Hotel
Hotel
17. The St Regis Hotel
Hotel
Mark Nayler contributed additional reporting to this article.
For more options, discover our guide to the best boutique hotels in Singapore, the best luxury resorts in Singapore, or check out the best historic hotels in Singapore and book now on Culture Trip.
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