This landmark property on Orchard Road is conveniently positioned for business and leisure travelers wanting to be in the thick of the action.
When it comes to the Lion City’s famed shopping street, there are few buildings as recognizable as the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel. It’s not the tallest or most modern, but its Chinese pagoda-style tower soaring 30 stories into the air is impossible to miss. The hotel has been a stalwart of the area, having first opened in 1995, and sits conveniently on the corner of Orchard Road and Scotts Road. While renovations have brought the hotel into more modern times with a sleek, gray-toned palette, there is still an air of nostalgia and old-school hospitality about the hotel—making it just the place for a short weekend staycation with my husband.
Upon check-in, we were upgraded to an Executive Premier room located high on the 29th floor. This offered us excellent views of Orchard Road’s bustling traffic from windows running the length of the room, as well as a lounge chair and Lavazza coffee machine. One of the larger accommodation options in the hotel, the Executive Premier room features premium amenities from This Works as well as both a walk-in rain shower and a bathtub.
The room category also gives you access to the M Club on level five, a recently renovated business lounge overlooking the hotel’s impressive outdoor pool and the ION Orchard mall across the street. The lounge serves non-alcoholic drinks and snacks throughout the day, and cocktails and wine plus hot food after 5 p.m. The food selection is impressive and enjoyable, with a range of Western and locally-inspired options such as beef-fat fried rice and spicy chicken wings. You can sip your sparkling wine or draft beer while looking out at the cabana-flanked pool. Guests wanting to make the most of the pool can consider the two-bedroom Pool Terrace Family suite, or the Pool Terrace Premier Suite with a veranda, sun bed, and private whirlpool. Both offer a more resort-like feel, which contrasts with the urban shopping haven around it. There is also a 24-hour fitness centre on the fourth floor.
For food options, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel packs a lot into its compact space. Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant on the third floor serves up authentic Cantonese cuisine in a classical setting decked out in Chinese gold leaf calligraphy and artwork. Popular dishes include roasted Spanish suckling pig wrapped with wok-fried glutinous rice and lap cheong sausage, and the classic Peking duck with Chinese crêpe.
The Lobby Lounge was bustling the day we checked in, with many guests partaking in the afternoon high tea, a three-tiered affair with sweet and savory options accompanied with tea and coffee, or a spot of bubbles if you prefer. Beside it, Java+ sells freshly baked breads and pastries ideal for a quick on-the-go snack or a treat to take up to your room. For a sneaky tipple, we highly recommend The Other Room, a secret bar in the lobby serving up craft cocktails in a cozy, chic environment (if you can find it).
As part of our “Stay for Breakfast” package, we fueled up for the day ahead at Crossroads Buffet, the hotel’s all-day dining venue. Clearly a popular place to enjoy a full buffet breakfast, it was packed at 9 a.m. when we headed down. The buffet spread is a good balance of Asian and Western cuisine with perennial favorites such as hash browns, a very busy egg station, and waffles on offer alongside samosas, a noodle station, and dim sum.
We also had a chance to check out Crosswords Cafe for dinner. This semi-outdoor space sits on the cusp of Orchard and Scotts Road and promises a relaxing, chilled-out environment for a good meal. Dinner portions are hearty. The Marriott “Mighty Mo” Burger comes with two beef patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, secret sauce, and onion rings, while their take on local favorite char kway teow is packed with prawns, fish cake, and squid. The Hawaiian Spam Burger, a new addition to the menu, features a wagyu beef patty, crispy spam, grilled pineapple, and Swiss and cheddar cheese sandwiched between English muffins; naturally, it comes served with fries and sriracha sauce.
With its prime location, amenities, and varied food options, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel offers just about everything a business or leisure traveler might need for a stay in the heart of Singapore. While the city buzzes around it, the hotel is a respite from the bright lights and bustle of the shopping district, and while it might not offer the latest in technology or have the most luxurious rooms, it is comfortable and enjoyable if only to sit by the window and watch the traffic zoom by in the night.
