I TRAVELLED halfway across the world but immediately felt at home when I checked into my hotel in Singapore.
I’d booked The Robertson House for a visit to see an old school pal who moved to the country with his wife and daughter.
The hotel offered modern comfort with a nod to Singapore’s past[/caption]
Robertson House has an incredible outdoor pool which is perfect to cool down in[/caption]
There is spectacular modern architecture all around[/caption]
It’s named after a prominent historical figure from the country’s colonial past — who also lends his name to the nearby Robertson Quay, a recurring theme throughout the area.
I knew I’d made the right choice the moment I crossed the threshold of this gorgeous hotel.
The lobby is stunning, made up of elegant marble, with fabulous floral displays and wafting aromatic scents.
The good vibes continued in my deluxe room which had everything I needed — a fantastic shower, a state-of-the-art TV and entertainment system and, most importantly, a huge double bed to collapse into after a day’s sightseeing in the heat.
The room also gave me access to the exclusive Club Lounge on the tenth floor — known as the 1823 Reading Room, a homage to Victorian-era libraries.
Here there’s a real sense of the old and new. Its walls are adorned with historic maps and there’s dark wood furnishings, while the windows offer spectacular views across the Singapore skyline.
Unlike your usual hotel bar, the room is designed to be a relaxing hideaway for guests to enjoy a read of one of the many vintage books available to browse while enjoying a drink.
The hotel lobby was an elegant introduction to my stay[/caption]
A highlight of the stay was the Club Lounge – known as the 1823 Reading Room[/caption]
I ate breakfast here every morning with a traditional buffet of British-style or continental options to choose from, but the hotel also has the highly-rated Entrepot restaurant on the ground floor.
And a major bonus was the outdoor swimming pool, which is just the tonic after a day pounding the pavements in the baking heat.
Opened in 2023, the design of the hotel was inspired by how the real Robertson’s house would have looked and this meeting of the old and the new is everywhere you look in Singapore — streets and areas named after British colonial figures, with the skyscraper offices of global banking giants looming over head.
Probably most famous of the lot is Raffles Hotel, where the Singapore Sling was invented.
I joined in the tradition of sipping on the iconic drink and dropping my monkey nut shells on the floor — once I’d mustered up the courage.
The iconic Raffles Hotel is a popular destination for anyone visiting Singapore[/caption]
Robertson House has another major attraction, it’s just a few minutes walk away from Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, two bustling destinations for food and drink.
Bars and restaurants line the river and inside the canopied Clarke Quay offers a range of bars and food — from seafood, Korean barbecue, to more traditional Chinese grub.
Although drinks can be on the pricier side, there is an array of Happy Hour deals, which seem to last most of the day in some places!
In the other direction from the hotel is the National Museum of Singapore, which is well worth a visit to learn about the country’s incredible history.
GO: SINGAPORE
GETTING THERE: Singapore Airlines flies from Manchester direct with fares from £610pp or from Heathrow from £580pp. See singaporeair.com/en
STAYING THERE: A stay at The Robertson House, part of The Ascott’s Crest Collection of Hotels starts from approx. £113 a night for a queen deluxe room for two guests. https://www.discoverasr.com/
If walking isn’t your thing then Singapore’s metro system will connect you to almost anywhere you would want to go with ease.
The mesmerising indoor forests at Gardens By The Bay, Sentosa Island — where there is a host of attractions including Universal Studios — is a must see and is on the MRT subway network.
We also visited Chinatown — where Lunar New Year was being celebrated — and Little India to experience the different cultures that make up this incredible island.
Inevitably I had to make that return trip to the airport to fly halfway back across the world in the other direction — but I took a little bit of Singapore home with me.
Boat Quay is an absolute must for food and drink[/caption]
Universal Studios is another highlight of Singapore[/caption]
