AMOY HOTEL
76 Telok Ayer Street, tel: 6580-2888. From $318++ a night for two pax in a Deluxe Double room
THE HOTEL A 37-room hotel with mod-Chinese décor and sultry vibes, perfect for a romantic getaway.
ACCOMMODATION Our Deluxe Double room was sleek and spacious, with comfy and plush pillows that gave us a good night’s sleep. The large bathroom, complete with a rain shower head, had a good-sized wash area, but it lacked hooks for towels – I had to bring in a small bag to hold my clothes. I liked that all items in the minibar – stocked with various juices, soft drinks, water and beer – were on the house. There was also a free app that I could download for access to more than 2,300 newspapers.
SERVICE The counter staff were efficient and friendly, and filled us in on breakfast details and Wi-Fi passwords promptly. A handwritten note and two small bottles of wine on the bed upon our arrival was a nice touch, as was the post-dinner goodnight note.
DINING The hotel has an in-house restaurant, Jin, which serves Japanese and international fare. It also offers one of the better breakfast spreads for a small boutique hotel – aside from the usual cereal, bread, bacon and choice of eggs, there was a selection of cheeses and cold cuts, salad, char siew pastry and rosemary potatoes.
AMENITIES It does not have a pool or gym.
VERDICT The warm service, complimentary minibar, dining options and above-average accommodation made the stay here most enjoyable.
- Priscilla Kham, sub-editor
LLOYD’S INN
2 Lloyd Road, tel: 6737-7309. From $158++ a night for two pax in a Standard Room
THE HOTEL Exuding a chic, minimalist charm, this bright and airy 34-room boutique hotel near Killiney Road boasts a central location, yet is secluded enough for quiet weekend getaway.
ACCOMMODATION I stayed in the Business Room ($198++ a night), which was cosier than it sounds. It has a loft with a very comfy queen-sized bed, but the highlight was a well-designed al fresco bathroom with a rain shower head - I could shower “outdoors” in privacy! The room has a small fridge but no minibar, and tea- and coffee-making facilities.
SERVICE Staff at check-in were attentive and helpful – I was taken on a quick tour of the hotel and its facilities, before being shown to my room.
DINING Guests are free to use the common pantry, which is stocked with a vending machine, ice dispenser, microwave oven and coffee machine. There is no in-house restaurant, but I received breakfast vouchers for two cafes along Killiney Road – Killiney Kopitiam (complimentary) and Freshly Baked by Le Bijoux (top up $7 for a brunch set).
AMENITIES There’s a rooftop terrace with tables and chairs for guests, and a dipping pool with poolside lounge chairs for lazing the afternoon away.
VERDICT A no-frills hotel that’s comfortable and comes with a photo-worthy dipping pool.
– Cheryl Leong, consumer & lifestyle writer
HOTEL CLOVER THE ARTS
58 South Bridge Road, tel: 6439-7088. From $297++ a night for two pax in the Superior room
THE HOTEL A cosy 44-room hotel with an artistic vibe. It's also within walking distance to Chinatown and Clarke Quay.
ACCOMMODATION I stayed in The Art’s King suite ($567++ a night), which has a pretty mural of Mount Fuji, and pink cushions and a bed runner to match the painted sakura blooms. The room was clean and comfortable, with a king-sized bed. What I didn't like: the bathroom (which lacked towel hooks), toilet and washbasin are located in separate cubicles.
SERVICE The front desk was prompt, but seemed more perfunctory than friendly – they didn’t wish me a good day or asked if I had a good stay.
DINING A simple breakfast spread – fried eggs, toast, fried noodles, cereal and bananas – was included. There's no in-house restaurant, so the buffet was set up at the back of the hotel.
AMENITIES There’s no swimming pool, but guests can pop over to sister hotel Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street – a one-minute walk away - to use the pool.
VERDICT Great location and lovely rooms aside, the basic amenities were a letdown – I left feeling a bit underwhelmed.
– Delle Chan, features writer
ADONIS HOTEL
13 Purvis Street, tel: 6336-0013. From $185++ a night for two pax in a Quaint Queen room
THE HOTEL Owned by the family behind home-grown skincare and services brand, Adonis Beauty International, the hotel is housed in a heritage shophouse that's elegant and tastefully designed.
ACCOMMODATION The lift door opened directly to the sitting area of my penthouse room, the Suite Artist ($488++ a night). The bedroom, with a king-sized bed, felt a bit cramped - but the spacious toilet and shower, and the pretty, open-air balcony more than made up for that. The balcony had a free-standing bathtub, table and two chairs from where I could enjoy a view of the city. All toiletries are formulated by Adonis’s own experts; they smelled good and were gentle on the skin. Everything in the minibar – soft drinks, fruit juices, beer, biscuits, chips, and coffee capsules for the Nespresso machine – was complimentary.
SERVICE The front desk staff were helpful and friendly. Service at the restaurant was also prompt.
DINING Our Cosmopolitan package includes a fixed menu for breakfast and lunch at the in-house Argo Restaurant. For breakfast, we could have pancakes or eggs benedict with coffee or tea. Lunch was fish and chips, or prawn aglio olio with a pumpkin soup starter and panna cotta for dessert, all delicious!
AMENITIES There is neither a pool nor a gym.
VERDICT Its charming decor and comfortable facilities make it perfect for a relaxing weekend indoors.
- Trixia Carungcong, deputy editor
This article was originally published in Simply Her March 2015.