THE PLACE
InterContinental Singapore
THE LOCATION
In the heart of the Bugis and Bras Basah arts and culture districts, the hotel is within walking distance of Arab Street, Kampong Glam and Little India. Next door is Bugis Junction shopping complex, Singapore's first glass-covered airconditioned shopping mall, and the Bugis MRT station.
THE SPACE
Fresh from a multimillion-dollar refurbishment, the hotel now has a more elegant, residential feel. The lobby features a concierge lounge modelled on a living room from the local Peranakan culture and the impressive two-storey lobby lounge is a graceful marriage of colonial charm (think soaring columns and crystal chandeliers) and Asian vibrancy (colourful mosaic tiles and delicate chinaware). Upgrade to a Club InterContinental package and you get a raft of additional benefits including dedicated check-in, free local calls and access to the Club Lounge, an elegant sanctuary that serves breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails with hors d'oeuvres. Service shifts up a notch, too, with a more proactive, personalised approach.
THE ROOM
All 338 rooms in the hotel's main tower have been updated and feature silk-threaded wall panels, intricate wooden fretwork and colourful silk headboards. The colour scheme is all-white with gold and duck egg blue highlights, giving the rooms a graceful, if slightly anonymous feel. There are a few heritage touches, such as a lacquered black and gold mini-bar and some traditional block print detailing, but overall the styling is more restrained than in the public spaces. The marble bathroom in my deluxe room is spacious with a good-sized bath and separate shower and the room has all the expected gadgetry, including a large LED TV, Nespresso coffee machine and international plugs.
THE FOOD
The refurbishment's most notable addition is Ash & Elm, a European-style brasserie serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. A stylish combination of black countertops, aged oak furnishings and tiled mosaic floors, the eatery features three separate culinary "theatres" – a charcuterie and cheese room, a wood fired oven and an open-grill kitchen. Highlights from the expansive menu include themed house-cured charcuterie platters, delicious Italian-style flatbreads and some astonishingly good charcoal-grilled steaks. For more traditional fare, there is also Man Fu Yuan, a high-end Chinese restaurant with six pages of seafood and an extensive range of specialty teas.
STEPPING OUT
In January, the property launched a free weekly heritage tour that explores the surrounding arts and culture precincts. The informative two-hour stroll visits a selection of the area's shrines and temples plus the bustling food halls that are the communal dining rooms for many Singaporean families. Strike out on your own and you are walking distance from the National Gallery's extensive south-east Asian art collection, the lively bars and restaurants of Club Street and the spectacularly verdant Gardens by the Bay.
THE VERDICT
A sympathetic update that has breathed new life into a much-loved Singapore institution.
HIGHLIGHT
The ever-smiling staff in the Club Lounge remembering my drink preference each night.
LOWLIGHT
Twice staff ignore the "do not disturb" sign on my door.
ESSENTIALS
80 Middle Road, Singapore. Deluxe rooms from $SGD470, inclusive of all taxes ($460). Phone +65 6338 7600, see intercontinental.com. For Club InterContinental benefits, see clubintercontinental.com.
The writer was a guest of InterContinental Singapore.
Our rating – 4 out of 5
TripAdvisor rating – 4.2 stars
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