Even at midnight, Singapore is beautiful. At least this was my impression as my hotel car sped along the tree-lined highway from Changi Airport into the city, while I admired the Lion City’s skyline all ablaze with lights. It was my first visit after the pandemic and I was eager to see and experience everything new and wonderful.
My journey to find experiences worth remembering began with my choice of hotel. The award-winning Intercontinental Hotel Singapore is a heritage building that has been refurbished completely on the inside, but in such a way that none of its personality is lost.
Everything was quiet when I arrived, as the hotel was obviously winding down another day. In hindsight, it was the perfect time to arrive, actually, as I was able to admire the Peranakan design and details without the crowds. If you do book a stay at this hotel, please take time to see the local details on every wall and in every corner, as you will find an Instagram photo opportunity everywhere amidst its classic white structure.
I loved the choice of Peranakan antiques, including the palanquin and the planter holder in the lobby. The dozens of different kinds of pottery made all the difference to what might have been a standard hotel space as well.
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THE REAL SINGAPORE
The location is another attraction, especially for those seeking a real flavor of Singapore. It is right next to the very busy Bugis Junction with its mishmash of shopping malls — everything from bargain stores to relatively fancy boutiques — and this adds to its charm. You can find branded stores everywhere after all. However the most authentic Singapore, at least for me, is embodied by neighborhoods like Bugis and Bras Basah. Even the other neighborhoods like Little India and Arab Street are short distances away.
And amidst all this, the Intercontinental Hotel Singapore is literally an oasis of luxury and calm. It has many wonderful things to commend it for — a dramatic and elegant lobby lounge that’s extremely popular as a meeting place and a cozy and charming club lounge for long breakfasts and afternoon teas included.
RECENT AWARDS FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL SINGAPORE
2025 AWARDS
- DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards — Top 10 Best Hotel in Singapore
- Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards — Best Hotel for Business, Best Private Dining (Man Fu Yuan), Best Family Brunch (LUCE)
- Tatler Dining Awards — Man Fu Yuan, LUCE
2024 AWARDS
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Award — Top Hotels in Singapore
- DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards — Top 10 Best Hotel in Singapore, 2nd Runner-Up
- World Luxury Hotel Awards — Luxury Heritage Hotel & Luxury City Hotel
- World Travel Awards — Singapore Leading City Hotel
- Travel Daily Media Trade Excellence Awards 2024 — Singapore Luxury Hotel of the Year & Singapore Wedding Hotel of the Year
- TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice: Best of the Best, Top 25 Luxury Hotels — #2 in Singapore
THE BEAUTY OF PERANAKAN DESIGN
However, it was really the intricate Peranakan design — so rare to see in Singapore’s other luxury hotels — that captured my heart. The hotel has beautiful artworks as well as pottery and framed pieces of textile that all speak of an elegant heritage. It may seem easy to frame a piece of cloth and hang it on the wall, but here the fabric becomes art.
You see, Singapore is full of modern hotels but these all start to look alike after awhile. In comparison, the intricate and old-fashioned Peranakan designs at the Intercontinental Hotel Singapore captured my eye and my heart immediately. I took out my phone and began snapping photos even before I was midway through check-in procedures. By the time I reached my junior suite, I was completely charmed.
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THE JUNIOR SUITE EXPERIENCE OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL BUGIS
