Why stay?

Aside from the central location—taxi drivers will tell you it’s one of the most convenient downtown hotels to reach from Changi Airport—Singapore’s Fairmont delivers warm, polished service in a cosmopolitan setting. Suited-up office workers and global travelers mingle in the lively restaurants and public spaces, and just over half of the guest rooms have undergone a multimillion-dollar revamp. That combination makes it a preferred choice for those on business; holidaymakers, too, will benefit from the Fairmont’s enviable position amid the heritage-rich Civic District.

The neighborhood

Fairmont Singapore inhabits a pair of 26-story towers within Raffles City, an I.M. Pei–designed mixed-use development that also houses a shopping mall, convention center, and sister hotel Swissôtel The Stamford. History buffs and culture vultures will find a crop of world-class attractions on their doorstep. The city-state’s National Gallery, National Museum, and recently renovated Peranakan Museum are all within 15 minutes’ walk, as are Fort Canning Park—whose lush grounds are dotted with historical monuments; the Asian Civilisations Museum; and the durian-shaped Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. For explorations farther afield, Raffles City is directly connected to City Hall MRT station, while Esplanade MRT is accessible via an underground passageway.

The outdoor swimming pools of Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford at sunset.

The feel

Stepping into the elegant lobby, you’ll see large-scale artworks like Playing with Wind, a Lasvit chandelier composed of 800 crystal glass balls hand-blown by Czech artisans, and Swiss textile designer Claudia Caviezel’s Diversity, a colorful painting that nods to the range of cultural festivals celebrated in the city-state. In terms of aesthetics, Fairmont Singapore’s twin towers have very different personalities. Local heritage takes a more prominent role in the well-maintained North Tower, which was refurbished in 2014. Batik wall hangings adorn lift lobbies while framed Peranakan artifacts hang in the corridors; inside the guest quarters, pops of violet are matched with ornate patterns on carpets and curtains, bespoke mirrors, and plantation shutters akin to those on shophouses. Meanwhile, the 403 rooms and suites in the South Tower only emerged from a large-scale renovation in late 2019. Global studio Hirsch Bedner Associates drew inspiration from a certain Hollywood megastar (hint: he’s starred in the Ocean’s Eleven movies and Syriana) to create a timeless masculine look. The results resemble a chic gentlemen’s pad with plenty of oak, rust-hued leather finishes, and plush furniture.

Guest quarters

All accommodations at the Fairmont come with a private balcony, and categories below the suites measure in at 45 square meters—undeniably spacious by Singapore standards. The ones to book are the Deluxe Harbour View rooms in the South Tower, where you don’t even have to get out of bed to soak up superb views of the CBD skyline and Marina Bay. One corner of the main space is taken up by a sectional sofa; there’s also a sizable work desk. Behind the bed, the doors of a tall black lacquer cabinet—termed the Maxi Bar—swing open to reveal a Nespresso coffee machine, electric kettle, and built-in SwissPro dispenser for potable water. Upgraded bathrooms feature an oval tub and a large wall-mounted ring light mirror above a deep concave sink. Rose 31 bath amenities by Le Labo, made exclusively for the Fairmont brand, are guaranteed across both towers.

Food and drink

Prego, the bustling ground-floor Italian restaurant and breakfast venue, dishes up la dolce vita with the casual rusticity of a trattoria. A cold starter of chargrilled octopus gets its fruity sweet-sour notes from vegetable agridolce, peach purée, and white balsamic glaze; the homemade arugula-infused tagliatelle, tossed in aglio olio with meaty shrimp, delivers freshness in each bite. Italian wines by the glass are available too, whether you’re in the mood for a Langhe chardonnay or a dry red Chianti Classico. Not a huge fan of limoncello? Prego’s well-balanced “orangecello” dials down the acidity; it’s fermented for at least 40 days and made entirely in-house using Thai citrus. Right off the lobby, Anti:dote is a vibrant bar and lounge that peddles inventive “Cure-All” cocktails inspired by remedies both ancient and modern. Other dining options run the gamut from Asian Market Café for lunch and dinner buffets to two-Michelin-starred Jaan by Kirk Westaway, perched on the Swissôtel’s 70th floor.

Tender Japanese abalone en flambé at Mikuni; enjoying a treatment at Willow Stream Spa.

Wellness factor

Fairmont Singapore’s Willow Stream Spa tempts weary travelers with an East-meets-West hot stone massage, Givenchy beauty treatments, and a signature facial showcasing the anti-aging properties of caviar. Facilities here comprise just under two dozen treatment rooms (the two couples’ suites feature a private Jacuzzi bathtub), hot and cold pools, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges. The hotel also has its own 24-hour gym; for an additional fee, tennis-playing guests can book a clay or synthetic grass court.

Family matters

One of the two outdoor pools the Fairmont shares with Swissôtel The Stamford is designed for children. Prego has a kids’ menu with a handful of pastas and pizzas; family-oriented offers usually allow up to two guests aged 12 and below to stay with their parents at no extra charge, with breakfast included. Note that the Fairmont Gold Lounge is off-limits to under-13s during evening cocktail hours.

Sustainability cred

Special taps for filtered drinking water eliminate the need for in-room plastic or glass bottles, while other initiatives range from using eco-friendly cleaning products to minimizing food waste in kitchens with the help of AI trackers. Most impressive of all is the fifth-floor Aquaponics farm, which currently supplies around 30 percent of vegetables and 10 percent of fish required by the hotel’s restaurants.

What else?

Guests booked into Fairmont Gold rooms and suites don’t just have access to the swish Fairmont Gold lounge on the South Tower’s 25th floor; another perk is the complimentary Good As Gold experiences, which rotate according to the day of the week. The initial lineup includes a cocktail-making workshop at Anti:dote, a tour of the on-site aquaponics farm, and an appreciation session that spotlights traditional snacks known as kueh.

Reviewed by James Louie

fairmont-singapore.com
+65 6837 3883
80 Bras Basah Rd., Singapore

Fairmont Singapore: a Bird’s Eye View

Singapore Hotels

Stay inspired with our DestinAsian newsletters