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Singapore was once little more than a stopover for many travelers, but now it has come into its own as a booming metropolis that does good business for vacations as well as holidays. This has led to many hotels having to refurbish, expand, and vary their services to accommodate a changing clientele. As in many others cities, boutique hotels with smaller, quirkily designed rooms have become more and more common over the past couple of decades.
Hotel prices in Singapore can rival those in New York or London—a superior double room in a deluxe hotel can run more than S$400 a night, and one with a private bath in a modest hotel may run around S$200 a night. During conventions and in the peak months of December and June through September, rooms are often scarce, and prices rise. Still, there are usually enough discounts and deals that you can avoid having to pay the full published prices.
For truly low rates, concentrate your search in Chinatown and Little India, which have many of Singapore's budget hotels.
Named after the Zhangzhou people, who came from China to settle in Singapore, this boutique hotel is a tribute to the area’s trading past and full of character. You’ll enter via Fuk Tak Chi Museum, formerly a temple and headquarters for the Hakka and Cantonese communities in the 1800s. The same historic aesthetic carries through the hotel, with intricate latticework and heritage designs across the 37 rooms.
The stunning architecture at this hotel integrates environmental principles both inside and out, including lush sky gardens almost 1,000 feet above street level, floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout to decrease the need for artificial lighting, use of recycled stone and glass in guest room baths, and rainwater used to water greenery in the lobby. Colorful cabanas shaped like birdcages are scattered around the infinity pool on the fifth floor, where you'll also find the dedicated wellness floor with a spa and gym. The Collection Club lounge, for club-level guests, has 360-degree views of the city. Although the suites as well as the rooms both run small, clever sliding doors and large hanging mirrors prevent them from feeling cramped.
This boutique hotel bills itself as a refuge where you can savor life to the fullest in style, and every element of your stay here reflects that sentiment. Rates include breakfast (served until 3 pm), all-day light refreshments, and complimentary cocktails during happy hour, perhaps to be enjoyed in the sheltered infinity pool overlooking the city. Although the Quincy is close to the Orchard shopping belt, there's just enough distance to offer an escape from the hustle and bustle. The modern design utilizes glowing colorful lights rather than artwork, and guest room walls incorporate stone, wood, and mirrors.
Often referred to as "Singapore's other botanical garden" (due to its 15 acres of tropical landscaped gardens), this oasis has been one of Singapore's top hotels for more than three decades. The hotel has three distinct wings that offer different experiences (and prices), from the butler-serviced Valley Wing to the balcony suites in the Garden Wing. The hotel has a huge variety of dining options, including Waterfall Ristorante Italiano for delicious Italian cuisine, and Shang Palace for refined Cantonese dining.
In a restored heritage building, this boutique property is much-loved for its architecture and style. Rooms are spacious, with rain showers, tea/coffee makers, and a minimalist design in cool tones and gold. While the in-house facilities are fairly limited, if you flash your key card, you’ll get discounts at a range of nearby bars, cafés, restaurants, and fitness centers.
Moody lighting and traditional Chinese design define this modern 30-story hotel, which is located perfectly at the edge of the CBD, overlooking the intricate red-tiled shophouses of Telok Ayer. With a rooftop pool, gym, and Jacuzzi, as well as personal touches like a welcoming Chinese tea ritual, it appeals to both business travelers and tourists alike. Opt to stay in one of the Master Series rooms, which include such special privileges as customizable in-room snacks, all-day breakfast, and local precinct tours from your personal concierge.
Spaces throughout this swank business hotel—situated near Suntec City, three national museums, and the CBD—are brightened by original Asian-influenced artwork, and guest rooms have pillow menus, Conrad teddy bears, bath salts, and other little extras. The 24-hour business center has well-equipped meeting rooms. Oscar's restaurant is also open around the clock and is known for its popular buffet. Golden Peony serves very good Cantonese dim sum.
What may be the world's best airport hotel has many (soundproof) rooms that face the runway, as well as more tranquil terrace rooms that lead directly to the lushly landscaped pool. Day rates are also available. With the subway below the lobby, downtown Singapore is 30 minutes away.
What began in 1900 as a club for German expatriates is now a landmark hotel that's hosted the likes of the Duke of Windsor, Noël Coward, and the great ballerina Anna Pavlova, who performed here. The Parklane Suites, each with a bedroom and a living-dining room, are a good choice for a spacious stay. The elegant poolside suites have French windows that open directly onto the Balinese-style pool. Service is extremely efficient down to the smallest detail, from the nightly bed turn down to the flashlight in the vanity drawer.
Large windows throughout this hotel give full focus to the Singapore River, and the rooms bring to mind those of a resort, with parquet floors and rattan furniture. Bathrooms have no tubs, only showers. Guests in the Executive Club rooms also have access to a bilevel lounge with personalized services, breakfast, and cocktails. There is a 24-hour business center with state-of-the-art offices and a boardroom, plus all rooms are wheelchair accessible.
With its gorgeous Peranakan-style furnishings, silk wall coverings, elegant chandeliers, and rooms styled after 1920s heritage shophouses, this pet-friendly Bugis Junction hotel is luxuriously local. Unlike most other five-star hotels, it's situated outside of the Central Business District and Orchard Road shopping belt, but it's in one of the city's most culturally rich neighborhoods, which is a delight to explore. Sign up for the hotel's free two-hour Guide Heritage Trail tour for an introduction to the area.
The grand main lobby in this large hotel is adorned with black-and-white Italian marble and a huge mural—87 Taoist Immortals, which is based on an 8th-century Chinese scroll—and guest rooms have Asian themes with modern amenities. Those on the upper floors command fabulous views; deluxe rooms have separate shower cubicles. The restaurants, which are frequented by locals, serve Cantonese cuisine (at Mandarin Court on the 35th floor) and award-winning chicken rice (at Chatterbox).
In this warm and colorful Mediterranean hotel, the botanical-inspired rooms are spacious, and family rooms have extra single beds and a dining area. The handy location makes it a favorite with leisure travelers, as do the outdoor pool and laid-back lobby lounge. Tuck into Japanese, Chinese, and Western menus at the on-site restaurants.
The vast, 35-story atrium of this luxury hotel is filled with greenery and has an exterior elevator with impressive city views. Guest rooms on the upper levels have not only great vistas, but also great amenities, including butler service and complimentary breakfast and cocktails. The Duplex Suite has a private sauna and spa bath. Dining options include a rooftop Chinese restaurant and the Japanese and Italian dining rooms. The hotel is connected to the Suntec Centre via a covered walkway.
A good 10-minute walk from Orchard and Scotts roads, the Regent appeals to those who want a quiet space to unwind after a busy day of shopping. The second-floor cocktail lounge is a refuge within a refuge. Relaxed, comfortable rooms are decked out with Asian carpets and wood paneling. Rooms have big beds, writing desks, and marble bathrooms; some have balconies. The Summer Palace serves Cantonese cuisine prepared by Hong Kong chefs, and Basilico has classic Italian cuisine, including an outstanding antipasti buffet.
Just a quick walk from Orchard Road, this relaxed hotel is also within walking distance of the hawker stalls at Newton Circus. The pastel guest rooms are homey, with small sitting areas with a sofa and easy chairs, plus balconies in the fifth-floor Cabana Rooms. The best vantage point for the Sheraton's dramatic cascading waterfall (with rocks made of fiberglass) is from the Dining Room restaurant or the Lobby Bar, where a pianist plays in the afternoon and a live band performs in the evening. Other restaurants include Maetomo, for Japanese, and Li Bai for refined Cantonese.
This striking, 30-story, pagoda-inspired property anchors Singapore's "million-dollar corner"—the intersection of Orchard and Scotts roads. There's a 24-hour business center, in addition to a 24-hour fitness center, and nearby sports facilities for golf, tennis, squash, sailing, and kayaking. Rooms are Western style, with beige carpets, gray upholstery, and ample wood, as well as amenities for people with disabilities. The Crossroads Café is a popular people-watching spot.
The remote location of this resort makes it good for business seminars and those looking for a real escape. The best feature is its pool, which overlooks the Malacca Straits and is flanked by the romantic The Cliff restaurant, where you can dine alfresco. Deluxe rooms aren't very large (though their bathrooms are of a good size), but do have a leather-encased minibar and an Illy coffee machine. The Garden rooms have larger bedrooms and work areas with better-quality furniture such as handmade tortoiseshell desks, mosaic tables, and French banquette sofas. The four luxurious two-bedroom villas have their own pools.
The high rates at this luxury hotel on Tanglin Road come with high-quality service, including the brand's signature butler service, available 24 hours a day. Vibrant colors, Czech crystal, and art from the likes of Botero, Chagall, and Picasso accent the airy public spaces, creating a lavish look that manages to be formal but not stuffy. The rooms are also bright and plush, with thoughtfully arranged seating areas and spacious bathrooms with stand-alone tubs and flat-screen TVs. Request a room overlooking Tanglin Road for a view of a serene, green swatch of the city. The location is central, but quiet, on the edge of the Orchard Road hustle and bustle and just a few minutes walk from the nearest MRT.
Catering to business executives, this 70-story hotel, among the tallest in the world, is connected to the busy Raffles City office and retail tower, with dozens of restaurants, more than 100 shops, and convention facilities. All rooms have balconies and are suitable for most travelers with disabilities. The 29 Crest suites are extremely well appointed, sharing a private dining room and exercise room.
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