God bless our love for portmanteaus. From the snazzy “athleisure” to the homoerotic “bromance”, the most effective portmanteaus immediately enter the lexicon because it encapsulates the best of both worlds without any further explanation. But the most popular portmanteau in every Singaporean’s vocabulary is arguably “staycation“.
It’s probably every local’s favourite activity after eating and shopping, and for good reason. There are a ton of hotels, boutique and chain and love and luxury, in Singapore. It’s a statistic we can never fully understand. Do we need that many hotels? How do they keep their occupancy rate at healthy levels? What’s the mix of locals to tourists in the average hotel?
Our love for weekend staycations can effectively answer the first two questions, and point us in the right direction for the third. So it takes a rather impressive hotel to be able to wow us enough that we’ll give it AUGUSTMAN’s seal of staycation approval. Andaz Singapore has firmly won that stamp.
Centrally located in Bugis at the new Duo Galleria, Andaz Singapore is within walking distance of the culturally hip and traditionally religious melting pot that is Haji Lane. So you’ll not be short of activities to do outside of your room. Bugis Junction and Bugis Street are also literally a street away.
Andaz Singapore, however, is a destination in itself and you would be hard-pressed to leave the premises. The pool boasts an excellent view of the Singapore skyline. The restaurants and cafes (yes there are more than one) give good accounts of themselves. All of them can be found at Alley on 25, the hotel’s dining destination that is open to the public. The chiffon cake, in particular, from Icehaus comes in a variety of flavours other than the always popular pandan and is a delightful surprise with every bite.
The rooftop also holds Mr Stork, a bar clearly designed for the Instagram generation with its teepee huts and 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding area. Oh, and the cocktails were solid enough when we dropped by.
As for the rooms, they were understated yet excellent representations of Andre Fu’s genius. There are no gimmicks or ostentatious displays, just subtle touches that reveal themselves the moment you use them. The glass bathroom door that swings inward at the perfect angle; the clever lighting decisions that will turn your bedroom into a seductive boudoir; the automated sheer blinds and curtains.
We could go on but the best way to experience them is to book a staycation yourself.
Check out Andaz Singapore here