Bugis is a good spot to make a base when visiting Singapore — and I see an old favourite hotel of mine has undergone a transformation.
The former InterContinental Singapore has joined Marriot’s The Luxury Collection portfolio and is now known as Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel.
The elegant hotel is in the Bugis district, a vibrant central spot rich in Malay and Arabic heritage, and just minutes from Kampong Glam’s Haji Lane and Sultan Mosque.
It’s also steps from the Bugis MRT, giving you easy access via the Downtown and East/West lines to many of Singapore’s attractions, including Chinatown, Little India, City Hall (for the Civic District), Gardens by the Bay (via Bayfront MRT) and Orchard Road (take the East/West line to City Hall and change to the North/South line for the Dohby Ghaut/Somerset/Orchard Road MRT stations). It’s easy to get to and from Changi Airport on the East/West line, too.
Frasers House showcases traditional Peranakan-heritage styling blended with five-star accommodation and service. Rooms are generously sized, with the Classic and Heritage rooms coming in at 38sqm. Junior and Heritage suites feature a separate sitting room and are 52sqm. And if you really want to push the boat out, a Premier suite will give you a whopping 69sqm of space.
The Signature Stay package includes $US100 ($140) to spend in one of the hotel’s excellent dining venues. LUCE features theatrical live stations and Italian flavours served buffet-style; Man Fu Yuan dishes up Cantonese classics with contemporary finesse; and the elegant Lobby Lounge offers all-day dining, decadent afternoon teas (as well as an adorable menu for children), and creative cocktails.
I can recommend the Hainanese chicken rice from the Locals Favourites section of the all-day dining menu; it’s one of the best I’ve tasted. And as a gin lover, I’m impressed with the selection on offer at the Lobby Lounge. I see interesting drops from around the world, including Sri Lanka, The Netherlands, Scotland, Korea, Finland, Japan, and Germany.
Hotel guests can enjoy a complimentary curated sensory journey through Bugis and Kampong Glam. The weekly guided tour engages all five senses as guests meander through vibrant shophouses, stopping to marvel at the grand Art Deco architecture of Parkview Square, listening to the Sultan Mosque’s enchanting call to prayer, and visiting artisans to taste local delicacies, smell bespoke perfumes, and experience a tactile reminder of past trades and craftsmanship.
There are also culinary experiences available. At the complimentary daily Afternoon at the House, guests will discover the flavours and traditions of Singapore. Local dishes such as laksa, chicken rice and ondeh ondeh are reinvented as signature cookies. These refined treats are paired with TehKita and TehKita+. The elegant interpretations of teh tarik — traditional Malay pulled tea — are available in both non-alcoholic and cocktail options.
Every Wednesday a hands-on cooking experience led by the culinary team takes place at LUCE. Priced at $SG38++, The Maker’s Table allows guests to learn to recreate local dishes while discovering the stories and techniques behind them. Here they will master Singapore chilli crab sliders — a new take on of one of the city’s national dishes — and nyonya chendol — a fragrant dessert of pandan jelly, coconut milk and gula melaka.
Guests enjoy their creations alongside house-made green apple asam boi — a traditional Singaporean drink which combines calamansi juice with salted dried plum for a distinctive sweet, sour, and salty refreshment.
Sounds like the perfect drink to perk you up after a day spent pounding the city’s humid pavements.
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