All Articles Our go-to guide to hotels in Singapore

Our go-to guide to hotels in Singapore

Six hotels for everyone from golf lovers to spa seekers.

By Annette Tan29 Mar 2024 5 minutes read
Grand colonial style front entrance to Capella Singapore
Capella Singapore
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

Singapore may be a famously small island, but it packs in an incredible variety of places to stay and enclaves to explore. I’ve lived here all my life, yet this city still manages to surprise me with its layers of culture, heritage, and entertainment, and easy access to it all thanks to the efficient public transportation system.

Because getting around is a breeze, I always recommend visitors choose two or three hotels throughout their stay to take advantage of everything each neighborhood has to offer. Here, some of my favorites, all of which know how to turn up the hospitality while still being close to the city’s attractions, heritage neighborhoods, and, of course, the amazing food scene that Singapore is known for.

For design buffs: The Singapore Edition

Lobby of the Singapore Edition surrounded by lush greenery, where the atmosphere is unique, enchanting and original
Don't skip out on the perfect photo op in the Singapore Edition's lobby
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

It can be hard to stand out in a city with more than 70,000 hotel rooms, yet here’s an Ian Schrager hotel making its mark in 50 shades of cream. Located off the west end of Orchard Road, The Edition Singapore’s voluminous, greenery-filled lobby curves into a series of calming nooks, mirroring the garden city outside.

Room scene: The light-filled rooms and serene palette speak to my minimalist soul. “Light-filled” in this tropical climate, however, means you also need stellar in-room climate control. Happily, layers of curtain sheers and black-out shades keep the heat at bay, while exterior louvers adjust electronically to filter sunlight (and prying eyes).

Restaurant report: FYSH—Australian chef Josh Niland’s only outpost outside Sydney—highlights inventive ways to cook the whole fish (ice cream made from fish eyes, anyone?). But trust me, the food sounds wilder than it tastes. To wit: The tuna cheeseburger tastes like any well-made cheeseburger even if its patty is made from the ribeye, head, and organs of the fish.

Don’t miss: The splashy Lobby Bar with its floor-to-ceiling wall of bottles bathed in a pink glow and an irresistible hot pink velvet-lined billiard table carved from Calcutta marble.

Who should go: Travelers who love quiet design.

For eco-warriors: ParkRoyal Collection Pickering

Urban deluxe room with a wood-toned, Nordic-inspired style
Urban Deluxe Rooms offer views of the Chinatown cultural district and beyond
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

Consider ParkRoyal Collection Pickering the blueprint for a hotel whose top priority is the planet. This five-star “hotel in a garden” surrounds guests with 160,000 square feet of vertical gardens, soaring green atriums, and a rooftop farm smack in the heart of the Central Business District. Sustainability practices are the norm here—think rain harvesting, energy saving, solar power, and more.

Room scene: Each space is appointed in wood-toned, Nordic-inspired style with ultra-comfy king-sized beds. Of course, the rooms’ amenities such as Appelles hand lotion and shampoo are decanted into pump bottles made from biodegradable and paraben-free materials. A filtered water dispenser in every room helps save an estimated 230,000 plastic bottles a year.

Restaurant report: Lime Restaurant & Bar is a favorite among Singaporeans for its lavish themed buffets. You might walk into a spread of hawker favorites one day and lobster everything the next. Whatever it is, you won’t leave hungry.

Don’t miss: The Wellness Floor, where the gym, infinity pool, and spa are sprawled across a lush open space. Snag one of the colorful birdcage cabanas by the pool and take in the gorgeous views of the skyline with a cocktail in hand.

Who should go: Wellness seekers and the sustainably minded.

For luxury lovers: Capella Singapore

Contemporary styled sea view room
The premium sea view rooms have expansive views across the South China Sea
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

Capella Singapore is a resort lover’s dream, secreted away amongst 30 acres of forest on Sentosa Island, a mere 15-minute drive from the city center. Anchored by a long, whitewashed colonial building, its 112 rooms and suites are housed in an undulating, infinity-shaped extension designed by Sir Norman Foster.

Room scene: The style here is best described as modern-colonial, with tropical touches like jungle print paintings and rattan furniture. I love the enormous super king beds swathed in sumptuous Frette linens, the generous selection of Aesop toiletries, and the complimentary mini-bar. There are six room categories, but if you’re looking to splurge, go all in on a one- or two-bedroom villa with a roomy living space and a private plunge pool.

Restaurant report: Schedule a sundowner at Bob’s Bar to watch the sunset over the hotel’s three cascading swimming pools and the South China Sea beyond. Dinner at Italian restaurant Fiamma by chef Mauro Colegreco is a treat. When in doubt, order the crudo de gambero rosso (Mediterranean red prawn) with kumquat and the blue lobster tagliatelle. Alternatively, Cantonese restaurant Cassia is gorgeous and serves amazing dim sum.

Don’t miss: The rich collection of art. Wander around the property as you would a gallery to see paintings, sculptures, and ceramics by Singaporean and international artists.

Who should come here: Couples and those seeking an air of exclusivity.

For a golfing getaway: Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Masters golf course at Dusit Thani
Tee-time is more exciting when you can pick between the Masters or Classic Course
Image: Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

This stunning urban resort sits on Singapore’s bucolic east coast, close to Changi Airport and Jewel (both can't-miss attractions). It’s in my hood, so I’m biased, but this is the most chill you’ll feel in this frenetic city. Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore’s direct access to two championship golf courses—the Masters and the Classic—is the main draw for golfers. But even if you can’t tell a birdie from a bogey, there are plenty of distractions, including the sprawling Devarana Wellness Spa, three outdoor tennis courts, and three swimming pools.

Room scene: The spacious 198 rooms and suites are appointed in a contemporary Asian style with distinctive Thai accents. Some face the swimming pool and others come with verdant patios, but all come with a pillow menu and botanical amenities by Thai aromatherapy brand Nature Touch or L’Occitane.

Restaurant report: Greenhouse, the forest-themed all-day restaurant, is a foodie’s dream. Five show kitchens dish out an array of cuisines, from Indian and Thai classics to Mediterranean and Chinese. On balmy days, dine on Thai street food at the Tee Deck, which overlooks the picturesque Masters Course.

Don’t miss: The 90-minute signature massage at Devarana Wellness, which mixes Thai, Ayurvedic, and shiatsu techniques. This treatment is delivered with thoughtful attention to detail, including a choice of massage oils, aromatherapy, and chilled lemongrass tea before it begins.

Who should go: Golfers and families in need of a relaxing vacation.

For heritage hounds: The Warehouse Hotel

Lobby and bar area of The Warehouse Hotel appointed in a industrial chic design
The Warehouse Hotel lobby
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

This site has lived several lives, starting as a warehouse in 1895 before evolving into an opium den, an underground distillery, and, eventually, a popular discotheque in the ’80s. Today, The Warehouse Hotel’s décor might be industrial and modern, but its exposed original brick walls, the nearby Singapore River, and little touches like an “Objects of Vice” retail installation give it the flavor of old Singapore.

Room scene: Although most have double-height ceilings, peaked roofs, and the building’s original industrial details, no two rooms are exactly the same. Each is luxe and loungey in soothing shades of copper, slate, and forest green. Ask for a river-view room, where expansive windows look directly out to the Singapore River and flood the room with natural light.

Restaurant report: Po, on the ground floor, dishes out well-made heritage dishes created by celebrated Singaporean chef Willin Low. Definitely try the popiah, a spring roll dish that’s laborious to make and a joy to eat.

Don’t miss: The little luxuries that celebrate Singapore makers, including mugs by ceramic studio Mud Rock, local snacks in the minibar, and stylish pleated totes by designer label GINLEE.

Who should go: History buffs and style hunters.

For the budget-conscious: The Sultan Hotel

The well appointed Puteri Room with Indonesian crafted furniture and floor to ceiling French doors
The Sultan Hotel's Puteri Room
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

There’s an old-world romance about Kampong Glam, Singapore’s former royal port town set aside for the Sultan of Johore and his 600 family members in 1824. Much of the old architecture remains intact, including the 10 conservation shophouses that make up The Sultan Hotel. Stepping into the property is like entering a slice of the enclave’s past, with its open-air corridors, original carvings, and the occasional calls to prayer from the iconic Sultan Mosque nearby.

Room scene: Sculpted arches, colonial shutters, and latticework screens add period charm to the 64 compact rooms. High ceilings and clever design provide the illusion of space.

Restaurant report: Gastro-bar Farrer Horse Dining Room & Stable Bar serves fun, creative renditions of easy eats like wagyu burgers, steak, and fish tacos. Order a quick bite and a cocktail but save stomach space for the wealth of fantastic Malay food just beyond the hotel’s doorstep.

Don’t miss: Breakfast or supper at Zam Zam Restaurant, Singapore’s oldest eatery located a three-minute walk from the hotel. Order the murtabak or biryani and wash it down with a foamy teh halia (pulled ginger tea). You won’t regret it.

Who should go: Wallet watchers and hungry travelers.

Annette Tan
Annette Tan is a Singapore-based writer who chronicles her adventures eating and travelling across the world. She is an avid cook who, between 2017 and 2022, ran FatFuku, one of Singapore’s best-known supper clubs. Her writing has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Wallpaper*, Channel News Asia, and The Australian. She is also the author of Savour Chinatown: Stories, Memories & Recipes From An Iconic Neighbourhood, a book that celebrates the rich historical and culinary legacy of Singapore’s Chinatown through the stories of its original hawkers and restaurateurs.