FAB HOTELS ASIA 100

Singapore comes of age — 60 to be exact — and the nation has churned out plenty of world class originals and hospitality superlatives that constantly put the nation on the global map. Ahead of the Lion City’s 60th National Day on August 9, we curate from her very best, and present the most fabulous hotels and hospitality addresses of Singapore, old and new.

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Raffles Hotel Singapore

Arguably the most famous and resplendent Sarkies confection still in circulation, Raffles Hotel Singapore is so much more than its cloyingly sweet Singapore Sling and peanut shells on the floor, both signature representations of the grande dame at her perennially popular Long Bar. The prestige of the Raffles name extends beyond history and architecture, for it has since spawned a collection of luxury hotels across the world bearing its name with signature characteristics and polished deliveries like continental sophistication with Asian refinements, 137 years on.

There are over a hundred suites and staterooms under the famous ornate roof of the Singaporean mothership, a bevy of them named after visiting luminaries like Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor and Somerset Maugham, with each raised with impossibly high ceilings and elegantly spaced by beautiful columns and alluring courtyards.

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The property’s last renovation was a three-year endeavour from 2017 that resulted in refreshed interiors and updated aesthetics, setting the industry benchmark for luxury hospitality once more — mention Singapore and the Raffles invariably comes to mind. After an immensely long run, it remains a stately, iconic and storied institution that puts Singapore on the hospitality world map

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Culinary and Wellness

 

Raffles Hotel Singapore is a complete hospitality address replete with restaurants, bars and a fabulous wellness retreat, as is expected of a luxury grand establishment befitting its stature. The routine drill for tourists eager to immerse themselves in the historic milieu of this legendary establishment is to queue for an initiation at Long Bar, failing which, one is to head to Writer’s Bar, or try again tomorrow, for the popularity of these watering holes is immense and unfailing.

 

For a lashing of spices one can opt to visit Tiffin Room where fiery curries accompanying aromatic naans and briyani rice await. Lovers of refined Chinese cuisine can head to Yi by Jereme Leung at the Raffles shopping arcade. Also at the arcade is Butcher’s Block, a moody, lively grill serving sensational wood-fired premium meats. A tranquil hideaway in the gardens, Raffles Spa sets one on a journey of rejuvenation with an array of soothing, therapeutic body and facial treatments.

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Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673

 

Four Seasons Singapore
 

One of the earliest luxury superlatives to enter the nation, Four Seasons Singapore has stood at the pinnacle of its precinct for over 3 decades with quiet composure, maintaining an elegant and discreet milieu preferred by its regular patrons, namely the ladies who lunch and shop and their gentlemanly counterparts. The tastes and preferences of this distinct clientele are almost unchangingly abiding through the years, which is in part the impetus for the hotel to still look and feel the same after three decades in operation. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing when it comes with splendid Four Seasons deliveries like impeccable service and grand comforts, a felicitous state of being that was greatly enhanced by its 2018 renovations that transformed the rooms and suites into modern beauties with moody tones (think grey and blue) and sultry lighting.

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Culinary and Wellness

 

Jiang-Nan Chun is a favourite haunt for aficionados of fine dining Cantonese cuisine who prefer their dim sums individually served with a speck of gold dust, amongst other refinements. Nobu was brought into Singapore a few years back and proffers curated cocktails with Nikkei (Peruvian Japanese) favourites that round up a good day of retail and business acquisitions. One Ninety is a convenient and comfortable stop to tuck into Singaporean classics like laksa or hor fun right in the middle of the Orchard Road retail belt.

 

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Blvd, Singapore 248646

 

Conrad Orchard
 

For many years the property was the renowned Regent Singapore, best known for its Portman designed atrium and ever-popular stable of famous restaurants and bars. The familiar comforts and rarefied service the property was known for had transitioned smoothly since it was recently renovated and rebranded as the Conrad Orchard in 2024.

 

The property now boasts refurbished rooms and suites that are spacious and bright, a comforting departure from the dark and moody tones many other Conrads — better conceived as business hotels — are bathed in. The restaurants and bars are still fabulous, and being on its end of Orchard Road sets the hotel in a more elevated sphere, an exclusive hideaway that is still in the midst of it all, but somewhat removed from the downtown hubbub.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Summer Palace has been a firm favourite with enthusiasts of Cantonese cuisine for decades in Singapore. With splendid new interiors after the renovation, the restaurant now boasts of a modern milieu that matches its fine dining menu.

 

Basilico holds many fond memories for Singaporeans who have visited the Italian restaurant for its authentically robust Italian fare over its long years of operation. Today the restaurant is more focused on Italian cuisine than ever with carefully curated selections that spotlight the best of Italy over lunch and dinner spreads designed for the endless rounds of feasting Singaporeans are wont to indulge in. Years after its spirited inception, Manhattan remains a cocktail Mecca for serious imbibers and trendy barflies.

 

Conrad Singapore Orchard, 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249715

 

Hilton Singapore
 

An original Orchard Road fixture through the decades, Hilton took over the operations of the erstwhile Meritus Mandarin Singapore, a behemoth relic, in 2022 with spanking new interiors spanning all 36 floors and 1,080 guest rooms. An upwards extension of a plush shopping gallery with enviable street frontage, nothing quite defines a shopping escapade in the Lion City like a stay at the Hilton Singapore, a renewed Orchard Road landmark that is quite the portal to grand retail therapy along the country’s glitzy shopping belt.

The business crowd much used to the Hilton brand will find the modern and elevated comforts of the newish property enticing too. There are plenty of dining options here, and the hotel’s favourable location also makes it a convenient springboard to attractions both in and outside of Singapore’s city centre.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Osteria Mozza Singapore is the only Asian outpost of celebrated American chef Nancy Silverton’s one-Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. The Californian-Italian restaurant showcases both classic and Singapore-exclusive dishes, and includes a floor-to-ceiling Vino Wall, a veritable attraction to wine lovers of this city.

 

Chatterbox, the venerable institution lauded for its chicken rice since 1971, is still packing in the crowds with constant full house for weeks on end. Besides the celebrated Hainanese dish, the kitchen here also churns out delectable versions of satay, laksa, bak kut teh and char kway teow that die-hard street foodies will find authentic and comforting.

 

Hilton Singapore Orchard, 333 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238867

 

Shangri-la Singapore
 

Shangri-la Singapore is the progenitor of the luxury chain lauded for its inspired visions of Xanadu that set the trend for modern Asian hospitality on many fronts. It is probably the first garden hotel in Singapore, renowned for its meticulously landscaped pools and lush floral features. This behemoth hotel emerged refreshed after an extensive renovation in 2019 that transformed the Tower Wing dramatically; the signature chandeliers didn’t survive the brutalist makeover but other glittering facets — the fastidiously dressed porters, the elevated service orientation and the luxurious milieu, had transited more or less intact.

 

The Tower Wing currently features rooms and suites that are outfitted with splendid amenities and bathed in contemporary aesthetics. Those pining for the cyclopean chandeliers of yore can still head to the Valley Wing, the seminally decadent annexe with full day champagne service irresistible to celebrities and dignitaries since opening in 1985. Old or new, Shangri-la Singapore remains an exclusive haven that keeps out the urban realities of the city within its plush verdant fold, carved from its exclusive Orange Grove expanse just minutes from Orchard Road.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Shang Palace is still the restaurant of choice for aficionados of old school Cantonese classics like braised dried abalones and double boiled soups, although chef Daniel Cheung has been steadily making a name for himself with his inventive take on dim sums and other signature classics.

 

Origin Grill showcases the magic of succulent steaks charred to juicy perfection on the Josper grill, with emphasis on the quality of the cuts and the robust flavours teased from them. End your feast on a high note with tipples from the bar.

 

Shangri-La Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350

 

Marriott Orchard Tang Plaza
 

A storied landmark along Singapore’s premier shopping street, Marriott Tang Plaza began its run as a hospitality milepost in the ’80s as the Dynasty Hotel before its current incarnation was effected in 1995. The hospitality wing of the Tang Plaza retail complex, Marriott Orchard is home to 403 guest rooms and suites and a host of stellar restaurants and bars right across from Orchard MRT station.

 

Though recently renovated, the property has retained much of its original style and character despite the remodelled rooms and refreshed public space. The executive club lounge has now shifted to level 5 right next to the recreational facilities like the swimming pool, gym and basketball court. The cosmetic updates were imperative given the building’s age and the industry’s competitive index but within the context of Singapore’s real estate gold mines, Marriott Orchard Tang Plaza’s unbeatable location will ensure the property’s enduring popularity for eons to come.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

An old hand at creating culinary impressions, Marriott Orchard Tang Plaza is a gourmet hotspot with several excellent restaurants ​under its roof. Marriott Cafe is perpetually packed with fans of its highly popular buffets while Wan Hao is one of Singapore’s best Chinese restaurants, renowned for its innovative and masterful interpretations of Yue classics under innovative executive chef Brian Wong. Crossroads Cafe sits at the confluence of Scotts and Orchard Road, the perfect alfresco joint to sit and people watch with a tipple in hand throughout the day.

 

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238865

 

Artyzen Singapore
 

A clean slate on the design brief is absolutely mandatory for a hotel as brilliantly original like Artyzen Singapore to take shape — there are no Ian Schrager coerced minimalism or Tadao Ando raised staircases here. This 142-room flagship property marks Artyzen Hospitality Group’s highly anticipated debut outside Greater China, built on the historically significant grounds of Villa Marie — a 1940s tropical garden mansion once owned by renowned Singaporean botanist Tan Hoon Siang a skip and a hop from the shopping artery of Orchard Road.

 

Little wonder the address was reimagined as a vertical oasis, fusing raw concrete pillars with aluminium claddings with trellised greenery, creating a hospitality landmark that is both visually and conceptually brilliant. All the rooms here open to plush interiors and gorgeous views from the balconies; the suites are altogether portals to lush and magnificent sky gardens, no small feat for urban hotels in tiny Singapore. As far as living, breathing buildings go, Artyzen Singapore has set the mark as a vision in luxury hospitality that combines nature, form and style for a long time to come.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Café Quenino is a contemporary all-day dining restaurant in Orchard that reimagines Singapore’s classical staples with a modern bent – think ginormous chicken ‘satays’ and kuah pie tee with crab and caviar. Quenino by Victor Liong offers a contemplative take on what constitutes local cuisine, a concept masterfully realised by Chef de Cuisine Sujatha Asokan, who crafts incredibly delicious renditions (case in point — a fried rice infused with mui fan qualities) of dishes that are touchstones to her own food memories.

 

An entire floor at Artyzen Singapore is dedicated to wellness which includes a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, two tranquil yoga pavilions and spa rooms raised for signature treatments.

 

Artyzen Singapore, 9 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249719

 

QT Singapore
 

QT Singapore, the only extension of the fun hospitality brand outside Australia and New Zealand, is serious about making a proper impression with this opening. The effort rests largely on redesigning the heritage building’s gutted interiors, which it did courtesy of Nic Graham & Associates, the design studio that is also responsible for the vision that is Artyzen Singapore. This Robinson Road landmark now harbours a 134-keys establishment with aesthetically-pleasing sensibilities that straddle the old-new divide.

Extending from the neo-Classical forms of the facade, geometric patterns take centerstage in the interiors, from the flooring to the carpets to the wall art and the pool tiling, injecting a rather grown-up vibe to a space the minders earnestly want guests to have fun in. The newness of this property is alluring, to say the least, and the suites carved from the heritage wing, with their ultra high ceilings and grand, sophisticated design, are now some of the best rooms to inhabit in the heart of Singapore’s CBD.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

QT Singapore delivers its signature dining experiences via Cygnet by NZ chef and restaurateur Sean Connolly, a Manhattan style bar and grill with a menu that features a selection of new-old-east-west appetisers and entrees like chicken oyster brochette with XO sauce, crumbled chicken with kombu salt and cauliflower popcorn with miso mayo. The ocean-shelf oysters are so plump and fresh, you can almost catch a drift of the Pacific. Pre- and post-dinner drinks at Cygnet Bar are fuelled by both imbibable spirits and a strong hit of the CBD happy-hour revelry.

 

Pan Pacific Orchard
 

Nothing short of an architectural sensation, Singapore’s second Pan Pacific hotel is a bold departure from conventions — the striking building was erected with magnificent floral columns interconnecting three lushly themed terraces, raising the mirage of a vertical oasis within the inconspicuous residential enclave that is Claymore Drive. No one was expecting anything less from the award-winning architecture firm WOHA, a design force renowned for its portfolio of innovative and sustainable buildings with stunning landscaping that integrate natural elements with urban constructs.

 

While the rooms veer on the smallish scale, their spaces are posh and inviting with a comforting palette of classic soft tones and bathrooms that are clad in stylish Himalayan Green marble. The suites are sumptuously decked out with pantries, living areas, bathrooms with views and oversized balconies that open to the stunning vistas of the beach, forest and cloud terraces. This hotel is minutes from Orchard Road yet a world away from it.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Florette is the secret drinking hole of the traveller in the know, an inspired champagne and oyster bar tucked furtively away from Orchard Road’s main artery, eliciting a swanky set drawn by the promise of alluring concoctions and exclusive milieu. Serving tea at noon and cocktails at sunset, there is a grand abundance of designer drinks inspired by nature here crafted from the thematic premises of Root, Shoot, Flower and Fruit.

Meanwhile, Mosella breaks the culinary mould by featuring creations like laksa fettucine, foie gras kaya toast and chilli crab croquetas in its popular buffets.

 

Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road, Singapore 229540

 

The Standard Singapore
 

If small is beautiful, then The Standard Singapore is on the cusp of the next big trend, with all but 143 rooms that start from 23sqm from end to end. There are of course other persuasions that come with this latest opening within Singapore’s swanky Orange Grove parcel — the acres of greens that spill over from the ritzy neighbourhood are advantageously shown off through the generous window walls in most of the rooms, and where the views are good, people tend to forgive the lack of space.

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It majorly helps that the property is installed with a comely pool fringed by cleverly horticultured spaces lined with arresting sculptures and art installations, all important buzz generators in this age of conspicuous travel. Granted, the generous splash of acid yellow and neon accents one discerns throughout the hotel may not be for everyone, but they do tend to appeal to the youthful, mod-embracing and trend-setting sets.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Kaya at The Standard reimagines the izakaya experience with bold flavours and inventive presentations. The trick with such culture-bending culinary acts is knowing when to desist and thankfully the folks at Kaya did not breach the mark. In lieu of the usual maki rolls and nigiris, the makeover creations here are announced with monikers like Nikujaga and Porktaku.

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We heartily recommend the Daikon Slaw (a mix of charred corn, white daikon, cucumber and crispy onions), Ash Karaage (shoyu koji-marinated fried chicken) and comforting Garden Nabe (sweet potato, pumpkin and edamame with burnt rice), updated Japanese dishes that do not veer into anything fashionably odd and unpalatable.

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The Standard Singapore, 12 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258353

 

Pan Pacific Singapore
 

The tallest of the three Portman-designed Marina Bay hotels, Pan Pacific Singapore has honed itself into the flagship progenitor of a hospitality chain known for its sleek designs, sharp business-class efficiency and F&B excellence. The hotel recently emerged from a new round of renovations that updated the looks and layout of its lobby and the interior design of all its lower floor rooms and suites.

 

Its previous renovation was in 2012, where its popular Hai Tien Lo restaurant was relocated to its current level 3 space and the spectacular Pacific Club Lounge was installed on the top floor. The look of the newly spruced up rooms and suites did not break new grounds and had largely retained their classical palettes and forms, but these are still some of the plushest rooms in the Marina Bay vicinity, each appointed with stunning vistas. Behold the bullet lifts and light soaked atrium and nostalgia fills the air. The service orientation maintained by Pan Pacific Singapore — smart, efficient and warm, is also the gold standard that puts some of its uppity neighbours to shame.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

Pan Pacific Singapore is a culinary landmark in Singapore, with some of the best restaurants the bay front district affords. Hai Tien Lo is a firm favourite with aficionados of classical Cantonese cuisine served with great thought and inventiveness. Keyaki is a time-honoured Japanese fine dining restaurant preferred for its freshly sourced and immaculately presented Japanese classics (think sashimi, teppanyaki, sukiyaki) created by top Japanese chef Teruya Noriyoshi and his team amidst elegant Japanese aesthetics like Shoji-inspired screens and a beautiful koi pond. Edge has since its opening served some of the island’s most outstanding brunches and buffets while Plume is currently one of the CBD’s best after-dark drinking holes raised for sophisticated cocktail revelry.

 

Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd, Singapore 039595

 

Conrad Singapore Marina Bay
 

The erstwhile Conrad Centennial was recently rebranded as Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, and while the name has changed, the property is essentially the same Marina Bay hospitality address better known for its feng shui attuned lobby and art-strewn public spaces. Throughout its brown marble clad expanse, the Conrad Singapore Marina Bay showcases an extensive fine art collection of over 3,400 original works from both established Singaporean artists and international names.

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As a business hotel geared for corporate MICE and convention guests, there are 512 rooms starting from 40 sqm, each attuned to the sensibilities and refinements of sophisticated travellers and the occasional C-suite VIPs. Many rooms and suites open to stunning views of Marina Bay and the CBD cityscape, while custom-made carpets featuring contemporary Peranakan-inspired patterns add a touch of local flair.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

A trio of dining establishments has been augmented with the hotel since its opening — Golden Peony still serves fine-dining Cantonese amidst a bright and elegant interior while Oscar’s specialises in buffets and brunches that feature both seafood and the ever-popular East-West spread. The Lobby Lounge continues to temp with inventive afternoon teas by day and enticing tipples by night.

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The diminutive spa here is largely geared for the corporate tribe with a menu designed to ease the stress of travels — a 120 minutes Gold Well treatment that includes facial, back, scalp and leg massages, followed by a 30 minutes Serenity Sleep Therapy on an LED-lit, heated water bed, seem to do the trick nicely.

Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982

 

Capella Singapore
 

Capella’s original conception took form within a colonial mirage white as cream and dreamy as clouds. At the fore of transforming one of Sentosa’s most comely heritage edifice, superlative talents were roped in to raise an architectural antithesis to what could potentially be old and tired. Capella Singapore thus straddles a new-old divide within a futuristic Norman Forster bulwark fronted by a colonial edifice while the sumptuous interiors were wrought through the subtle sensibilities of Jaya Ibrahim.

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The breathtaking service orientation (thoughtful, anticipatory and genuine) and superb design accents set it distinct from other regional heavyweights and established it as the pole star of a constellation shining bright across Asia — Taipei finally opened to much fanfare in 2025, with Kyoto and Maldives expected in 2026. Recently refurbished by Andre Fu, one is still instantly enraptured by the stately façade set upon a hill of tropical sumptuousness. Penetrating within, one enters a bold yet serene architectural masterpiece housing tastefully decked rooms, suites and villas. Capella Singapore is a grand vision raised capitally to indulge the senses and redefine luxury.

 

Culinary and Wellness

 

On the resort island that is Sentosa, Fiamma has been steadily endearing itself as the Italian fine-dining establishment dishing out regional classics that are both hearty and refined. The selections of pasta and pizzas here are authentic and enticing, while the meat and seafood entrees are wonderfully flavoured and perfectly presented.

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Cassia has been serving fine-dining Chinese amidst elegant interiors since the resort’s inception. The black truffle char siew bun is the must-try dim sum for lunch while a selection of Cantonese classics is available for both lunch and dinner. Part of The Library has been recently transformed into The Pineapple Room in reference to the island’s agricultural roots. Guests here can now sip and ponder in the room where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US president Donald Trump held talks in 2018 with an inspired cocktail in hand.

 

Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, 098297