Trip review of Singapore: Punching above its weight
Singapore has ample hotel and dining choices but it should come as no surprise that it is one of the more expensive cities in the region for travelers.
This trip was completed in January 2024.
As an island state determined to rebound fast from the travel recovery, Singapore has set its sight on boosting tourism and flight connectivity. Being one of the more prosperous cities within Southeast Asia, there are ample hotel and dining choices but it should come as no surprise that it is one of the more expensive cities in the region for travelers.
During our trip, a few of the major tourism events included the Singapore Art Week 2024 and activities leading up to the Lunar New Year. However, we have to caution that due to the monsoon season, January is a rather wet month so the rain will pose some inconvenience to those exploring the city.
In the usual fashion, we review select parts of the trip below.
Airport Lounge: The Private Room at Changi Airport Terminal 3
Rating 9.0/10
This lounge completed a refurbishment in 2022 and is located within a cluster of Singapore Airlines lounges. It occupies a small yet cozy corner compared to the busier SilverKris Lounge next door. In this part of Asia, we think the lounge ranks among the best alongside Hong Kong in terms of amenities and dining.
Apart from a couple of self-serve snacks placed near the dining tables, the main food offering can be found on a physical a la carte menu. We did not wait long for our food after ordering and the service staff were very attentive to our needs. For beverages, they have a variety of reds, whites, champagnes, and spirits.
During the Lunar New Year, there was also a special menu with festive dishes such as yusheng and yam paste dessert. Overall, we find the food to be prepared with high standards and ingredients were fresh.
What we found to be impressive during our visit was the shower rooms. They are spacious and provide a good respite for layovers which are very common for an aviation hub like Singapore (in our case, we did a longer stopover). Day rooms are also available for booking when in need of a longer rest or more privacy although the lounge is unlikely to be anywhere near crowded most of the time.
Airport Lounge: Blossom Lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 4
Rating 8.1/10
Located on Level 2 opposite the Cathay Pacific Lounge, the Blossom Lounge is a large airside lounge operating round-the-clock as this terminal has the least number of lounges among the four Changi Airport terminals.
There are various seating zones and a dining area close to the entrance of the lounge. The lounge can get pretty busy and guests may find themselves having to wait for a dining table.
Deeper in, there is also a bar surrounded by seats overlooking the public hall area below. Somewhat considered an attraction of Terminal 4, there is a six-minute cultural performance screened at regular intervals and some seats in the lounge offer a good vantage point to the show.
In terms of food, a mainstay in lounges there in Singapore is the local Laksa dish.
This may have to do with SATS, the Singapore company providing the food catering for these lounges. In some of the third-party contract lounges, the guests have to blanche their own noodles before pouring the prepared gravy to complete the dish. However, it is made-to-order at this lounge and the staff will cook the dish for guests instead.
Accommodation: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
Rating 8.5/10
This hotel is part of a trio of hotels (the other two being ParkRoyal Marina Bay and Mandarin Oriental) located along the same road overlooking the Marina Bay precinct. We found the location to be very convenient, within walking distance to numerous tourist attractions like The Singapore Flyer and Esplanade Theatres. Being tucked at the corner of the road, it is also the nearest to the iconic Marina Bay Sands complex, a short stroll away via the Helix Bridge.
The first feature that welcomed us was the grand driveway into the hotel, in the form of an elevated circular path to the hotel lobby. Right in front of the main entrance is a large staircase which leads to the meeting halls and swimming pool at the basement, with natural light let into the lobby giving off a posh feeling to the place.
Rooms here are relatively large, considering that Singapore has the same room size constraints of dense cities like Tokyo and Hong Kong. The difference in room views in this hotel is significant, with one facing the Marina Bay waterfront and skyscrapers in the central business district while the other faces mainly a highway and some greeneries.
With rates around S$700/night, it is rather reasonable considering the pricing and room size of other hotels in the vicinity. That said, the price is steep on an absolute basis and there are likely other value-for-money alternatives within a 2km radius.
On a side note, Republic is the hotel’s bar, famed for some of their colourful and artistic cocktails. We recommend a visit to this bar even if not staying at the hotel. Some of the food items also impressed us, such as the smoked five spice whitebait.
Accommodation: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
Rating 7.9/10
For visitors who prefer a quieter area to stay, this hotel is located in an upscale expat enclave called Robertson Quay. This stretch is famous for its nightlife, and walking along the Singapore River down to Clarke Quay is a good option to start the exploration of Singapore’s Civic District.
We feel that the hotel is accentuated by its tranquil surroundings, especially as the river meanders at the backyard of the hotel. Rooms were renovated in August 2023 and cosmetic updates aside, there were also hardware changes such as equipping the rooms with filtered drinking water dispensers. That means no more need for requesting bottled water or using a kettle.
The basic room is rather small, measuring 32sqm with rates around S$500/night. While the room may be small, we find that it does not feel cramped. Another point worth highlighting is that the rooms here offer a view of the Marina Bay area from a more distant perspective, which gives a more unique photo angle.
For these two hotels we reviewed, we find that Ritz-Carlton, Millenia is suitable as a base for all the activities around Marina Bay. On the other hand, Grand Copthorne Waterfront is suitable for venturing around the cultural Chinatown and prime shopping belt Orchard Road.
Dining: Si Chuan Dou Hua (Top of UOB Plaza)
Rating 8.0/10
This is a Chinese restaurant which specialises in Sichuan and Cantonese cuisines. With its central location and 60 storeys above ground, it overlooks a large part of the city.
However, upon reaching the UOB Plaza 1 building, it was not as easy to get to the restaurant as there were numerous lifts and lobbies to navigate during our visit. For people who love dining with a view, do request for a window seat as the scenery is certainly mesmerizing at this restaurant.
On to the food, most dishes are flavourful and come with premium ingredients. One of our favourites was the cod fish, which had various cooking styles we can choose from. Likewise, the diced beef was tender and came with generous portions. For the dessert, their specialty bean curd was also a highlight for us.
Dining: Cedric Grolet
Rating 8.2/10
This eponymous patisserie opened to much fanfare in late 2023, being the first store in Asia. They are located at the ground floor of the new COMO Orchard hotel along the Orchard Road shopping belt. The seating area is rather limited with only a handful of tables so most customers opt for takeaways instead.
The pastries which are available will be displayed at the front counter of the store, while they also have a breakfast or tea time menu to order from depending on the time of the day. Do visit early if you are interested in trying their famous croissant as that will not be available past noon.
For those who have had Cedric Grolet in France or the UK, then there are also Singapore-only items on the menu to try. In our view, the croissant was especially soft and tasty without being too oily while the adventurous can try their iced bubble tea drink which was pleasantly not too sweet.
Dining: PS. Cafe (One Fullerton)
Rating 7.8/10
They are an established café in the local scene with several outlets dotted around the city. Known for their ambience and high-quality desserts, PS. Café is also pretty popular among locals.
During our visit, we ordered their signature truffle fries, which came in a big portion great for sharing. Another noteworthy item was their sticky date pudding, which came warm and served in a pool of toffee sauce.
This café was also a great choice for us because it is located right beside the Merlion Park, where many tourists were dropped off from their coaches to take a customary photo with the iconic Merlion statue. It allowed us to momentarily escape from the sweltering heat while the windows allow for sweeping views of the Marina Bay promenade from the second floor.
Activity: Marina Bay district
Rating 8.0/10
A key factor which makes the city a tourist-friendly destination is accessibility and convenience. Many of the activities are concentrated in the Marina Bay area, with highly integrated connectivity options and maps in public area for getting around. A visit to the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort is a must, as it holds many exhibitions and events throughout the year. We managed to participate in ART SG as well as a seasonal exhibition called Mars: The Red Mirror.
Apart from the indoor activities, Gardens by the Bay is another attraction worthy of mention. The outdoor area is well-maintained while there are also ticketed visits to the cooled conservatories. An outdoor ‘hawker’ dining experience can also be had at the Satay by the Bay for a taste of the local cuisine.
Even though our reviews are mostly focused on the prime tourist spots, the small size of the city means that other attractions not listed here are also only a short taxi ride away. For one, we think that Sentosa Island and the Mandai Zoo are two examples of top spots to visit when in Singapore.
Queuing at an ice cream cart along Orchard Road for a local S$1.50 ice cream ‘sandwich’ was also an experience, that is if you can stand the scorching heat that reminds us of Bangkok!
