With the new year comes new getaway plans, and many of us are planning to jet off to the likes of Japan, Thailand and Australia. But there are times that we just need a short escapade that doesn’t involve rushing to the airport, worrying if we’ve left our passport behind, and the hassle of getting through customs — which is when staycations are a fab idea. Plus, there is a bevy of exciting new hotels that are set to welcome visitors in 2024, alongside those that have just reopened. Here’s where to pack your bags for.
After a rebrand and makeover (it was formerly Regent Singapore), Conrad Orchard Singapore has fully reopened since a soft opening last year.
Its 445 rooms and suites have undergone extensive refurbishment, and now sport calm natural hues, with floor-to-ceiling windows, botanical-inspired design and artworks by local artists.
Amenities include an an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and an Executive Lounge with serene balconies. You can also check out its array of 10 restaurants and bars. This includes award-winning Italian restaurant Basilico, Korean barbeque place Seoul, and Manhattan cocktail bar. There’s also the one-Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Summer Palace.
Conrad Singapore Orchard is at 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249715. Visit its website for more information.
Also on Cuscaden Road and spanning 20 storeys, the Artyzen Singapore is the first Singapore property by the Hong Kong-based Artyzen Hospitality Group. It stands in place of the historic Villa Marie (formerly owned by Tan Hoon Siang, the great-grandson of Tan Tock Seng) and has recently opened its doors.
The contemporary architecture is woven with verdant greenery, and its interiors meld an urban sensibility with a nod to Singapore’s heritage. You can look forward to spending the night in one of the 142 elegantly designed rooms, with eight suites (that are at least 76 sq m) and 134 standard rooms (38 sq m) decorated with art pieces giving a wink to the Straits’ past. All rooms come with a balcony while suites offer private balconies.
If you’re feeling peckish, there’ll be three dining outlets: Cafe Quenino for all-day dining, Quenino by Victor Liong on level 4 for a relaxed fine dining destination, and the Rooftop Garden’s on-site bar which serves savoury snacks and signature drinks.
Speaking of the Rooftop Garden, be sure to check out its 25-metre cantilevered infinity pool. You can also hit up the gym, private treatment rooms, meditation zone, and pavilions for yoga and exercise on level five.
Artzyen Singapore is at 7 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249718. Visit Artyzen Hospitality Group’s website for more.
Situated along the Orchard Road shopping belt is Pan Pacific Orchard, which opened in June 2023, right next to shopping malls such as Palais Renaissance, Ion Orchard, and Isetan Scotts.
Dreamt up by the renowned Woha Architects, it’s designed to be an urban oasis and features four interconnected open-air terraces – Forest, Beach, Garden and Cloud, all festooned with foliage. A highlight is the Beach Terrace, which houses the hotel’s expansive outdoor pool. Flanked by sandy shores, tropical foliage and a pool bar, it whisks guests away on a beach holiday experience.
Each of its 347 luxuriously outfitted guest rooms affords a lovely view too – either of the terraced landscape or the Singapore cityscape. Accommodations range from the Deluxe Room to the Beach Club Loft with direct pool access and Cloud Terrace Suite with a sprawling balcony and sweeping city views.
Pan Pacific Orchard is at 10 Claymore Road, Singapore 229540. Visit its website for more information.
Perched along Singapore’s downtown core, Pullman Singapore Hill Street is one of the latest hotels to open its doors. The five-star property offers a thematic experience right from the moment you enter its doors, from the Pullman Porters and a reproduction of a classic Pullman Sleeping Cabina at the entrance, to the floor-to-ceiling installation of vintage carriers in the lobby that lead the way to the antique-style elevators. The 350 rooms, each with smart technology and modern comforts, are modeled after private railroad cabins that convey a sense of adventure.
Facilities-wise, you can look forward to an outdoor swimming pool with cabanas and jacuzzi as well as a gym that offers personal training and physiotherapy services. And if you’re looking for a bite or drink, check out the American deli-style Madison’s, Porter Lounge, and modern Japanese izakaya and cocktail bar Moga’s Bar Counter. There’s also the Mexican-themed swim-up bar El Chido with views facing Marina Bay Sands on the rooftop.
Pullman Singapore Hill Street is at 1 Hill St, Singapore 179949. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
Boutique hotel brand Edition has put its stamp on our island with the new The Singapore Edition, which occupies the site of the former Boulevard Hotel in Orchard. Envisioned by American hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott International, the eight-storey building houses 204 sophisticated rooms spread across six floors, all of which bear minimalist and soothing interiors.
Guests can also look forward to four restaurants and a bar, including the hotel’s signature restaurant, Fysh at Edition helmed by renowned Australian restauranteur and chef, Josh Niland.
Visit Edition Hotels’ website for more information.
Boutique hotel Mondrian Singapore Duxton, located in the trendy Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood, started welcoming guests last June.
The hotel’s design nods to the area’s rich heritage and traditional architecture, and its 302 rooms offer converging views of the historic shophouses and modern skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests can also marvel at immersive installations and a contemporary collection of local and international artwork.
For dining and amenities, it houses an eclectic collection of bars and restaurants, such as the 1970s Hollywood-inspired Canyon Club with a Californian-inspired menu, and Bottega di Carna by famed butcher Dario Cecchini. There’s also a cinematic rooftop pool outfitted with cabanas and a cocktail lounge.
Mondrian Singapore Duxton is at 16A Duxton Hill, Singapore 089970. Visit its website for more information.
Opened on Oct 14, 2023, The Robertson House Singapore invites guests to take a step back in time to Singapore’s British colonial past following a refurbishment and rebranding project from the previous Riverside Hotel Robertson Quay
Its 336 rooms and suites, doused in a monochromatic colour palette, are designed to immerse guests in Roberston Quay’s historic charm — from printed backdrops of the Singapore River to framed images depicting the days of the spice trade. There are also six themed suites named after the spices that came through Singapore’s port in its early colonial days, such as Nutmeg, Cassia and Cardamom.
For dining, there’s the signature all-day dining restaurant and bar Entrepôt with a menu inspired by Anglo-Asian cooking techniques and flavours.
The Robertson House Singapore is at 1 Unity St, Singapore 237983. Visit its website for more information.
Following a restoration by Woha Architects, 21 Carpenter is now welcoming guests into its space, which encompasses four historic four-storey shophouses and a contemporary five-storey extension. Original features of the building were painstakingly conserved, including the use of the original 1930s Chengal wood in various areas of the hotel, and its design also references the building’s history as a remittance shop. This includes the Urban Wing’s aluminium art facade featuring excerpts from original remittance letters.
Step into its rooms and you’ll find modern, calming interiors with Asian design influences and custom-designed furniture. Those with a kid in tow can book the Heritage 2-Bedroom Suite with an additional alcove for a young one.
There are also spaces made for guests to unwind and mingle, from the cosy reception area, to an intimate Garden Terrace on level 3, and the Rooftop Infinity Pool & Lounge, with an exposed stainless-steel pool and an unobstructed skyline view of Marina Bay. Foodwise, Neo-bistro and bar Kee’s, headed by Michelin-starred Chef Andrew Walsh, is set to open its doors.
21 Carpenter is at 21 Carpenter St, Singapore 059984. Visit its website to book or for more information.
Housed within the 19-storey Como Orchard building is the new Como Metropolitan Singapore, a 156-room hotel with facilities such as a tranquil rooftop pool and bar. Each of the rooms and suites across 11 floors feature clean-lined, customised furnishings from Giorgetti, integrated with tech-forward touches.
The building is also home to the contemporary Como Cuisine, as well as the Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse Cote, famed patisserie Cedric Grolet and luxury fashion retailer Club21.
Como Metropolitan Singapore is at 30 Bideford Road, Singapore 229922. Visit its website for more information.
Renowned boutique hotel brand The Standard is expanding its portfolio with a new property in Singapore, which is set to make its debut in the latter half of 2024. It will see 143 rooms housed in a building designed by Singapore architect firm DP Architects, while the interiors are by Ministry of Design. Guests can also expect a signature restaurant, an infinity pool, and a bar set within a botanical courtyard.
It’s located at Orange Grove Road, and in close proximity to the bustling Orchard Road shopping belt. There will be an array of culture and art programmes for guests, a fitness centre, meeting rooms and more.
Visit The Standard’s website for more information.
This article was originally published on Jan 20, 2023, and updated on Jan 12, 2024.