THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS for hotels in Singapore, but for the traveler looking for accommodations that match the hyper-modern feel of the city while still remaining true to the locale’s rich culture, we’re hard-pressed to find a more stylish spot than Andaz Singapore.
And by stylish, we mean Andre Fu-level stylish. Within the framework of the geometric DUO Tower in Kampong Glam-Bugis area, the Hong Kong-based design whiz plays on Singapore’s juxtaposition of cultures, capturing the spirit of the city with an emphasis on modernity. Sounds cliche, but the final product is subtle, not kitschy.
Though, fair warning, arrive at the hotel from the ground level and you’ll feel immediately underwhelmed. It’s just an office-like corridor leading to the elevator. But once whisked up to the 25th-floor lobby, you’ve reached the buzzing epicenter of the hotel, where an explosion of energy welcomes you.
Surrounding the island reception is Alley On 25, the all-day eatery that wraps around half of the hotel, designed by Andre Fu to reinterpret Singapore’s alleyways. Each section of the restaurant tactfully takes on its own personality and character, like the airy Sunroom or Icehaus, the dining room decked in poppy-yellow accents. With its semi-open vibe, comfort food all day, and no-BS drink menu at Bar Square, the lobby floor is something like the living room of Singapore’s Kampong Glam.
However, in our opinion, Alley On 25 is hardly the hotel’s culinary peak. On the 38th floor, newly renovated 665°F is a cunningly sultry jewel box, serving prime cuts of beef and sustainable seafood with a staggering backdrop of Marina Bay. An arched entryway at the end of a smoky mirrored corridor reveals an intimate space drenched in teal velvet. Low-slung kidney-bean-shaped sofas and ribbed-back chairs give 1920s vibes, but it’s all distinctively modern. Here, you’ll want to order the charred grilled octopus, the foie gras creme brulee—just as decadent and delicious as it sounds—nearly all of the sides, oh, and the wagyu flank steak.
But ask any in-the-know Singapore local and they’ll tell you Mr. Stork, the hotel’s rooftop bar, is the place to be. Even though it takes up most of the 39th floor, the open-air, tropico-pop bar is booked out nearly every evening—and for good reason. In a city teeming with showy cocktail bars and vaguely stuffy clubs, the laid-back vibe of Mr Stork is a breath of figurative and literal fresh air. Between the Ibiza-fit house music, a scattering of teepee huts to chill out in, 360° views of the city and a thoughtfully curated drinks menu that checks all the boxes, it’s easy to make the bar the first and last stop of the night.
If you haven’t caught on yet, Andaz Singapore is just as much a place to eat as it is to sleep. There’s even a refined Cantonese restaurant, 5 On 25, where, from morning to evening, families queue up to gather around round tables for dim sum brunch or Peking duck dinners.
As for the rooms, well, let’s say this: during the pandemic, Andaz Singapore had some of the highest occupancy rates in the city. Remember, no tourists were allowed to enter the country and the hotel’s restaurants and facilities were required to be shut down. A lot of locals decided the best refuge was in the hotel’s spacious 76 sqm suites, which are inherently Zen—if not sexy—with low-set furniture and muted hues of yellow, orange, and warm woods, accented by thoughtful touches that nod to the hotel’s rich location: doorbells housed in post-boxes, cushions the exact color of the nearby Sultan Mosque, floor-to-ceiling paneling.
For a city hotel that shares a building with offices, Andaz Singapore impresses with its vibrant energy, on-point bar and restaurants, and mind-bogglingly detailed design. It somehow encapsulates modern Singapore without being too in-your-face, which is why everyone wants to spend time here. Including us.
hyatt.com; doubles from S$420
