Best luxury boutique hotels in Singapore to avoid the cookie cutter

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The first luxury boutique hotel in Singapore only opened in 2004. The Scarlet Hotel was the original, the first one and also the most audacious one. Since then, the small city-state has bloomed with many other options. Here are my picks of the best luxury boutique hotels in Singapore.

1. The Scarlet Hotel

The pioneer hotel on Club Street is a blend of old and new, a red velvet Chinese den in Singapore’s eponymous expat go-to evening spot. I know because I lived in the area for two years. Set in a contiguous line of shophouses that were refurbished and renovated to accommodate the requirements of a luxury hotel, The Scarlet is a great place to reminisce of Singapore’s past in modern obscene luxury. Take the outdoor jacuzzi with views over the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum in Chinatown, or the neon lit red corridors connecting all the shophouses and you are sure to be transported to the last century of Chinese decadence. The rooms come in various shapes and layout to maintain the essence of the shophouse architecture and the common spaces are decked with chaise longue and chandeliers. Even if you do not stay there, drop by for authentic Italian fare with strong truffle influences at Casa Tartufo, run by a Singaporean-Italian couple.

2. The Naumi Hotels

Naumi‘s naughty and nice. She will guide you through grey corridors of excess and fun and help you make the right choices. Nestled at the edge of the CBD, far away to elude all the chaos but close enough that you can pop by the office in a jiffy, Naumi embodies the concept of grown up modern chic. Watch the sun set over the infinity pool, the first rooftop of its kind in Singapore, reached through the staircase to heaven, or the hangover cures served at breakfast and you will know what I mean. The rooms are sleek, functional and smart and make the most of technology to bring a smile to your face. The devil is in the details, and so is Naumi, the slightly flirty lady that welcomes you to a world of fun riddles and innuendo.

3. Wanderlust Hotel

One of the funkiest hotels in Singapore is Wanderlust Hotel, another gem from The Unlisted Collection. Located in the exotic, colourful and vibrant Little India neighbourhood, this is a hotel that fuses various designs, concepts, trends and aesthetics. The lobby resembles more a loft in the Bronx than a hotel and the concept is refreshing and innovative. Wanderlust is young and rebellious at heart. The Whimsical rooms are the most original I have ever seen with some designed to look like spaceships (for real!) including furry friends to play with and others replicating an indoor treehouse. Or go for the Mono ones and get entire furniture pieces in shinny 2D wall apliques. To say Wanderlust is original would be an understatement.

4. Lloyds Inn

A minimalistic concept that almost feels like it is trying to stay off the beaten path, unknown. The small hotel believes in nature, space, light, texture, convenience and comfort. This means that you can bring your own breakfast and enjoy it at the outdoor pantry, make a cocktail under the stars on the rooftop or take a dip in the outdoor pool. Lloyds Inn is different and not for everyone. Think straight lines, white walls and linen, grey touches and natural wood colours.

5. The New Majestic Hotel

Part of the Unlisted collection and Starwoods SPG program, The New Majestic Hotel is another heritage rich address where Singapore’s past can be seen in today’s hip gentrified surroundings. Some of the hotel’s rooms have been designed and decorated by designers and artists from various disciplines, including “the most extravagant and outrageous room in the hotel (…). Designed to be a fashionista’s playpen, the room is an over-the-top party-den inspired by the photography of celebrity lensman David Lachapelle.”

6. Wangz Hotel

A futuristic and funky hotel, Wangz is located in the gentrified area of Tiong Bahru, the place where the craze for specialty coffee started in Singapore. Return to the basics in this neighborhood where life moves at a different pace and you can still see a lot of the old ways of Singapore before the glitzy Marina Bay Sands opened. I like their rain showers with outdoor views and the rooms with patios, such a rare thing in Singapore.

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