Fairmont Singapore – Tranquillity Redefined

I just love hotel rooms that are not designed in the insipid square or rectangular formats. Our Premier Room in Fairmont Singapore was simply unique; it had a diagonal entry way that ushered us through a hallway that housed a large closet, a pantry and ingress into the bathroom. As we passed through, we were surprised with the large room space in front of us that we would reside for the next couple of days.

Living in a room at the Fairmont Singapore is a fabulous experience. Grey, deep purple and dark wood hues, gorgeous geometric motif carpets and day curtains, two balconies and a large space between the bed and the far end of the room made the stay in Room 1118 an experience that we did not want to end. We simply never wanted to leave!  Having lived and travelled around Singapore, we had no need to go look at the sights of the city which gave us a perfect excuse to tuck ourselves in and enjoy the room’s amenities and comfort to the fullest.

Our 39 square metre room in the North Tower showcases cultural accents of the iconic Straits Chinese, or also known as Peranakan, in a contemporary and luxurious setting. Exuding the soothing comforts of home, our well-appointed room offered breathtaking views of the city and pools below and featured a newly-designed ambient lighting system, fully equipped modern leather-clad work desk, dual-line phones, innovative rain shower installation as well as signature room amenities including Le Labo products and a NESPRESSO coffee machine.

My favourite part about our room was the dressing table thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of a woman. At first, the table looked like an ordinary desk but it is not. The table is uniquely crafted to camouflage the mirror. By just lifting the top frame of the desk, a beautiful mirror emerges with framed lights that automatically turn on just like a Hollywood style vanity without the protruding bulbs! The concept of the dressing table in our room reminded me of the antique Chinese wooden jewellery box I have at home. I quickly set up my accessories there and was glad I didn’t have to share mirror space with Joseph in the bathroom.

The bathroom was spacious. It had a bath and separate shower. The shower cubicle had both a rain shower head and hand shower option. Hotels that make me have to wear a shower cap to take a shower always ruin the feel of a holiday for me. I was glad that was not the case at Fairmont Singapore.

The cosy bed with goose-down pillows and quilt made for soundless sleeps. With Joseph stealing several naps in between, I knew he would want the very same pillows when we set up home in Canberra.

Fairmont Hotel is also ideally situated at the crossroads of Singapore’s business, cultural, entertainment and shopping districts. The hotel is located directly above the City Hall underground train station making it easy to get around.

Chijmes, a national heritage site dating back to 1854 sits right across the hotel and offers a plethora of dining and entertainment options. Raffles City Shopping Centre is connected via the hotel lobby and the dinning options there are abundant too. If you are looking to try some hawker food, make sure to visit the food court on the top floor of the Raffles City Shopping Centre.

Anti:dote, the newest cocktail bar in Singapore is situated on Level 1 of Fairmont Hotel. We had such a wonderful time savouring scrumptious tapas and delicious cocktails. This new swanky watering hole is a modern cocktail bar with a progressive selection of concoctions. Drinks are crafted with premium spirits, house made bitters, liqueurs as well as sodas that are paired perfectly with innovative modern tapas, made using aromatic herbs and produce from the bar’s very own herb garden.

Each morning we headed down to Prego, a famous Italian restaurant that is popular among locals and travellers alike. In the morning, the restaurant hosts a wide selection buffet breakfast. We were spoilt for choice. There was such a wide variety that we could not to taste everything.

My favourite section was the fresh poached eggs station with a choice of herbed or standard Hollandaise sauce. I topped it with smoked salmon and sautéed vegetables. The warm Belgian waffles and pancakes were amazing! Salted butter came in cute porcelain jars with a wide array of toppings – chocolate sauce, maple syrup, a variety of plain and flavoured clotted cream and fresh strawberry jam.

The Asian dishes covered Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Malay cuisine. The chilli sambal for the Nasi Lemak, a coconut rice dish served usually for breakfast was delightfully rich and fragrant. Joseph’s favourite was the detoxifying juice station that serves a variety of juices as well as Beetroot Juice which is known for its nutritional compounds. It is after all the drink of Olympians.

After breakfast, we were back in our room. I told you that we hung around the hotel room to enjoy its tranquillity and cosiness. The view from our room was of the Esplanade and the pool below made it feel we were in an oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. Truly spectacular!

In August 2013, the hotel engaged award-winning design teams that embarked on a major revitalisation project which encompasses the transformation of various spaces within the hotel – including the hotel lobby, bar and all 371 guestrooms in the North Tower of the hotel. Our Superior Room was one of those re-designed spaces. The new east meets west mix of culture in its decor brings a truly fusion ambience of what Singapore is all about.

Voted as Top 25 Hotels in Southeast Asia by the Condé Nast Travellers Reader’s Choice Award 2013, the 769 lavish guestrooms and suites cater to the desires of the most astute travellers, offering a wealth of amenities carefully chosen to offer you the highest degree of pampering.

We are in love with the Fairmont. We noticed that they have laboured to ensure that little comforts are identified and taken care of.  It’s the small things in life that make life exceeding good. A thoughtful hand shower, fabulous bedding, ample lighting and plug points, proximity to public transport, etc in addition to the regular comforts of a 5-star hotel go a long way in delighting a customer. It’s one of the very few hotels that we would love to stay again and again in the future.

If you are in Singapore for a stopover or for an extended period, or even looking for a staycation idea, Fairmont Singapore provides all the comforts, amenities and convenience you may be looking for. Perhaps, they may even exceed it.

Situated only a 20-minute drive away from Singapore Changi Airport, Fairmont Hotel is located at 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560. For rates and current promotions, click here.

Aptly adorned in shades of grey, purple and dark wood, the amalgamation of tones lends a touch of modernity to the local culture-inspired room

Dressing the balcony of all Fairmont Premier Rooms are exquisite curtain sheers that took inspiration from the delicate embroidery commonly found on the traditional Peranakan kebaya, a traditional blouse-dress combination often worn by the Peranakan ‘Nyonya’ women. Timeless and classic, the curtain sheers take the form of falling leaves and adds to the illusion of movement with the embroidered patterns on a translucent lace fabric

Draped in intricately patterned bespoke carpet offering an interpretation of Peranakan lace embroidery, the unique carpet found in the guestrooms resembles the olden-day hand-painted clay tile flooring

Each room is decorated with contemporary comforts to create a home away from home feel

Notice the dressing table on the right? 🙂

Displayed above the bedhead of all guestrooms is an art piece developed by local digital artist, Andre Tan. Featuring one of three designs, the art piece is created in a variation of colour tones and stems from the concept of showcasing Singapore’s unique heritage and colonial history. A remarkable depiction of the common sights from Singapore’s past, cohesively combined with elements of modern day scenes, the exceptional art piece highlights details from the old and new landmarks in Singapore, fused with traditional Peranakan batik patterns, in an overall presentation of the past and the present

Reminiscent of the shop houses and colonial black and white houses commonly found in earlier times, the plantation shutters are featured as windows between the bathroom and bedroom, providing a nostalgic hue of old Singapore

Signature bathroom amenities by New York perfumer Le Labo, fragranced with an exclusive Rose 31 scent

Prego, our morning breakfast spot

Freshly baked bread station

My favourite way to start my morning

Pretty table settings

View from our balcony!

Taking the limelight as a focal point within the lobby is an art piece designed by textile designer Claudia Caviezel. Measuring 7.7m in width and 4.6m in height, the vivid piece, titled ‘1Diversity’ is inspired by the kaleidoscope of cultural festivals that are widely celebrated in Singapore, coupled with local elements that represent the city

**We thank Fairmont Hotel for an exclusive hosted stay. As always, all opinions are our own.