From The Straits Times    |

#1 Oasia Downtown

best new hotels singapore 2016 - oasia downtown club room

Image: Oasia Downtown’s Club Room

If you’re anywhere near Tanjong Pagar, you’ll probably be able to see the Oasia Downtown hotel. It’s a giant red caged building with over 20 species of creeper plants slowly growing along the cage. The idea is that eventually, the greenery will reach the top and it’ll look like an amazing eco building.

While Oasia isn’t your typical luxury hotel, it has plenty to offer in terms of comfort and sustainability. The rooms are affordable, the location a great place for food and nightlife (so much Ramen!), and the hotel goes the extra mile to promote wellness as a lifestyle. It really does feel like quite the lush oasis once you’re inside. It might be right smack in the middle of all the action but it still is quite serene.

In my opinion, the hotel is very well suited for business travellers, especially if you fork out the extra for the Club rooms that come with access to a special Club pool and Club lounge. There’s even a daily shuttle that takes you into the CBD and complimentary laundry services.

best new hotels singapore 2016 - oasia downtown club pool

Image from ST: Oasia Downtown’s Club Pool

The Club lounge offers a separate breakfast buffet which you can choose over the Marmalade Pantry breakfast on the ground floor that’s available to all guests, healthy snacks all day long, and there is a special happy hour segment in the evenings. The exclusive Club pool is also a picture-perfect infinity type pool on the 21st floor, though you can also choose to swim in the rooftop pools that are accessible to all hotel guests. And if you want to grab a drink with friends, there’s an amazing gin bar called Cin Cin just downstairs.

The rooms aren’t incredibly spacious, though the club rooms do come with a bathtub, but there’s more than enough space if you’re thinking of a staycation or someone looking for a short stay.

Oasia Downtown is located at 100 Peck Seah Street. For more information or to make a reservation, visit http://www.stayfareast.com/en/hotels/oasia-hotel-downtown-singapore or call +65 6881 8888.

 

#2 M Social

best new hotels singapore 2016 - m social alcove room

Image: M Social Alcove Room

The latest in the M series of hotels by Millennium Hotels and Resorts, M Social opened earlier this year as a hotel that was pretty much designed for millennials. There is a focus on communal spaces, like the few meeting rooms and the hotel bar/restaurant, and the architectural elements are definitely Instagram-worthy, having been designed by famous French designer Philippe Starck.

The hotel is also conveniently located in the Robertson Quay area, and overlooks the Singapore River, which is most easily viewed and enjoyed from the pool deck.

M Social has got rather unusual room categories. Of the four room types, two categories are the Alcove rooms or the Loft rooms. Each category has the option of a room with a small outdoor terrace that is perfect for chilling out with a book or a drink in the evenings.

The Alcove rooms feature signature Starck bare concrete walls with mirrored surfaces. It’s just a 19 sqm room (the smallest I’ve personally experienced), but the super high ceiling makes the room feel a lot more grand. My favourite of all the room designs though, are the Loft rooms. The Loft Premier rooms in particular have a queen bed up on the mezzanine level of the loft and a spacious living area on the first level. It’s perfect for a small gathering if you want to have some friends over before hitting up the bars at Robertson Quay.

best new hotels singapore 2016 - m social loft terrace premier

Image: M Social Loft Terrace room

One of the highlights of the place is the communal dining space. Beast & Butterflies, the in-house restaurant and bar on the ground floor, has a wonderful and almost chaotic but cosy mix of decor. Starck chandeliers hang from the ceiling, wired-up tablets adorn the walls showcasing a slideshow of images, and there’s a mix of seating amidst warm and inviting lava lamps. It’s quite the sensory experience. In addition to video projections on the walls, the bar top is covered by a massive TV screen.

All in all, it’s yet another reasonably priced hotel in a great location for nightlife and good food, and just stunning to look at.

M Social is located at 90 Robertson Quay. For more information, visit https://www.msocial.com.sg/.

 

#3 Hotel Indigo Katong

best new hotels singapore 2016 - hotel indigo katong

This boutique hotel is located right next to I12 Katong, which means you’ve got access to amazing food all around. It’s an endearingly designed hotel with a surprising mix of modern and traditional, with a very large and apparent peranakan influence.

You can expect lots of gorgeous tiling on the walls and floors, and the rooms have neat little nods to the culture like a set of clogs, a wash basin for your feet, a mural across the wall, and even a carrom board which you can play with if you like. Oh, and not forgetting the selection of complimentary sweets including White Rabbit Candy!

best new hotels singapore 2016 - hotel indigo katong

The room is quite spacious and the hotel is easily accessible, so the best part about the experience aside from the room itself was getting to explore the area on foot and indulging in good food.

Breakfast was not too bad either, at the Baba Chew restaurant downstairs. I would recommend this if you want to stay someplace unique and beautiful, but also if you don’t often visit the Katong area because it will give you a chance to fully immerse yourself and feel like a “local”.

Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is located at 86 E Coast Road. For more information or reservations, visit https://www.hotelindigo.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/singapore/sinki/hoteldetail.

 

#4  InterContinental Singapore

best new hotels singapore 2016 -intercontinental

Intercontinental Singapore has been around since 1995 and they were always known for their historically rich Peranakan theme.

I visited their lobby (thanks to Man Fu Yuan, located at level 2 of the hotel) a couple of times as a child, and I remember being mesmerised by their impressive tall columns and decadent chandeliers.

Recently, the hotel embarked on a revamp project for their lobby, tower guestrooms, gym and dining options. They finally unveiled their brand new look in May this year and I was thrilled to see that there was a perfect mix of rich heritage and contemporary styles.

My stay was in a deluxe room and I found it to be quite spacious. I also appreciate the little design details that went into the furnishings. There were padded silk headboards and a velvet couch that added an air of elegance to the room. If you are looking for old glamour with a contemporary twist, the Intercontinental rooms will be right up your alley.

Apart from the guestrooms, another highlight of the revamp is their swanky new restaurant, Ash & Elm, that serves up delicious European cuisine with a nice ambience. For the breakfast buffet, they have a special charcuterie & cheese room, an open grill kitchen, and offer a smorgasbord of cuisines. For the a la carte dinner menu, I would highly recommend the Tomahawk steak.

InterContinental Singapore is located at 80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966. For more information or to make a reservation, visit http://singapore.intercontinental.com/stay/rooms-suites.

 

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