Top Boutique Hotels in Singapore

Ever caught yourself impatiently counting down to your next annual vacation, which is like 8-months away? How about taking a quick getaway without squandering off your annual leave instead?

Fortunately, there’s an oasis where you can escape from it all and treat yourself to some well-deserved indulgence. You’ll leave the place feeling rejuvenated, and possibly culturally-enriched! Yes, you won’t need your passports, and you can definitely do it within a weekend! 

Introducing the world of boutique hotel staycations!

Are Boutique Hotels Worth Spending On?

Boutique Hotels vs Chain Hotels 

Let’s get into some whimsical imagination! 

If chain hotels manifest itself as a school student, he would be the popular kid. Excellent in sports and studies and popular with the opposite gender.

Boutique hotels, on the other hand, is the quirky-looking kid in hipster outfit. He doesn’t try hard to be in the centre of attention. Yet, once you’ve met his acquaintance, you’d feel like you’ve known him for a very long time! He may not have all the glamour and connections to the big leagues in life, but he’s the one with enchanting stories to share. His quirkiness leaves you with lots of everlasting memories which you’ll live to tell your kids! 

Chain hotels are like Steven Spielberg films. They’re bigger-budgeted and have lots of box office draws. Curate your Instagram account with images of chain hotels, and you’ll look like a wealthy tycoon in no time. 

Boutique hotels are like Wes Anderson films. They pay great attention to their aesthetics’ nuances to immerse you into their colourful heritage. The cosy environment takes away the busyness in your mind. Not unlike Anderson’s famous slow-mo tracking shots, time slows down for you, leaving you space for self-reflection.

With these illustrations in mind, you probably get that boutique hotels and chain hotels offer a different experience. Both hotels can’t be compared. Instead, they have their own charms and can serve your needs on different occasions.

Chain Hotels are Best Suited for Large-Scale Gathering and Events 

Chain hotels are usually larger in hotel size and operations. They typically have their own stand-alone-buildings, thus may generally be more spacious. This means that they can provide more facilities, such as meeting rooms, swimming pools, gyms and halls for large-scale events. Hotels are great if you are organising a mass company gathering, a bachelor/bachelorette party or a wedding! It makes sense as there’re also ample rooms for you to house your group of people. 

Yes, you can still have your staycation in chain hotels, but they may not have the personalised touch as boutique hotels. Unless it’s an exclusive suite, rooms in a chain hotel may generally look alike. The stand-alone buildings of hotels may also make it harder for you to connect with the neighbourhood you’re in. You may have to walk a little to enjoy the vibe of the vicinity.  

With that being said, hotel chains are starting to develop boutique hotels to entice millennials and families for their staycation needs. Some examples include Parkroyal @ Pickering and The Quincy Hotel. 

Boutique Hotels are Best Suited for Smaller Groups Who Wants a More Intimate and Personalised Experience

Boutique hotels, on the other hand, may not have their own stand-alone-buildings. They appear in many forms; in the middle of a shophouse row, or even in a former government building! This gives the hotel lots of character. However, this also means that they may have a smaller operation, for a particular purpose – Personalisation.

Here are some examples of how a boutique hotel personalises their experience for you:

• Decor

Boutique hotels are generally design-led. Each room may come with a different design to suit your staycation “mood”. These hoteliers have put in lots of effort in ornating the entire place with vintage furniture, in the case of The Great Madras, and pop-up art, in the case of Wanderlust Hotel’s Mono Deluxe Room. 

At some hotels, such as Amoy, you’ll even get to enjoy a historical trip back to the 19th Century, where the first Chinese immigrants arrived. Besides fusing traditional Chinese architecture with modern amenities, you can even pay a visit to the adjacent Fuk Tak Chi Museum! 

Some boutique hotel aims to blend in with the neighbourhood’s heritage. Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is one such example, sitting in a historically Peranakan enclave. With its hand-illustrated murals and Peranakan designs on its pillows and tiles in your room, complete with its in-house bistro, Baba Chews, you’ll have the fortune of enjoying a colonial-era, Straits-Chinese experience!  

Boutique hotels also understand your needs to snuggle up and get intimate. Extra attention may also be placed on the lighting design and the texture of the upholstery to provide guests with an unforgettable night! 

• Activities 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6tjkVlAH_s

Boutique hotels may also be defined by their character and want to share a slice of it with you. The Vagabond Club, which hosts resident artists, also offers a complimentary art tour around the hotel. 

Quincy Hotel understands the needs of their demographic and offers couple activities, such as art jamming sessions, baking classes and movie nights. 

• Service

Aside from its aesthetics, personalised experience in some boutique hotels may even extend to knowing each customer by name, thanks to its small set up! 

What to Consider Before Booking Your Boutique Hotel Staycation  

• Plan 

Firstly, you have to decide if you’re going with your spouse and kids, with your partner or just alone. Different boutique hotels will cater to different experiences. Check out their amenities and pictures. Look through the reviews. There’s certainly at least one boutique hotel out there that will cater to your needs! 

Plan out your itinerary. Research on the hotel’s vicinity and find out where you can visit. Don’t be surprised you may end up viewing Singapore with a brand new pair of eyes! 

Check out what special events or activities do the hotel offer. This could also help enrich your stay. 

On the other hand, if you’re goal is just to chill or have a personal retreat, choose a room with visuals that’s easy on your eyes and facilitates relaxation. 

• Budget 

Unfortunately, boutique hotels may not be necessarily cheaper than chain hotels. Some boutique hotels may start at $300++, which is comparable to 5-star hotels. 

Nevertheless, boutique hotels may generally offer a staycation package. Find out if there’re on-going any exclusive deals.

Check through the rates and their amenities. Some hotels may appear “cheaper”, as they may not have certain perks, such as complimentary breakfast. A number of boutique hotels in Singapore do not have an in-house restaurant or bistro. 

This brings me to the next point. 

• Meals or No Meals 

Many boutique hotels do not have in-house eatery. However, that may usually mean that they’re located in a location with lots of good food! 

Yet, you may just want to enjoy a relaxed morning, and would rather have breakfast downstairs, instead of taking a walk. Choose a boutique hotel which offers complimentary breakfast instead! 

If complimentary meals are essential to you, choose a hotel that offers that. Many boutique hotels also house amazing restaurants that offer elevated local and international cuisines, to take your senses for an adventure! 

Editor’s Note:

While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.

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