In August 2020, I stayed for six weeks in the One-Bedroom Executive Terrace at Fraser Residence Orchard Singapore, a serviced residence along Paterson Road which offers both short and long-term accommodation. Offering 115 fully-furnished luxurious serviced residences, the property is located slightly off the Orchard Road shopping and entertainment district, just steps away from Orchard MRT Station, ION Orchard and Wheelock Place. Popular shopping malls such as Isetan, Tang Plaza, Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City are minutes away for your shopping, grocery and dining needs, while Changi Airport, Marina Bay Sands and the Central Business District are 25, 15 and 10 minutes away by car respectively.
Other notable serviced apartments along the Orchard stretch include Oakwood Studios Singapore, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard Singapore, Ascott Orchard Singapore and Winsland Serviced Suites by Lanson Place.
There is a minimum of six nights applicable for all stays at the serviced apartment.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Luxurious expat residential fantasy off Orchard Road.
The must-dos (if any): Take a relaxing soak in your bathtub, spend time with friends and family at night on the outdoor terrace, enjoy some aquatic time in the swimming pools.
FRASER RESIDENCE ORCHARD SINGAPORE
Launched in April 2019, Fraser Residence Orchard Singapore is Frasers Hospitality’s fifth property in Singapore. Situated along Paterson Road behind ION Orchard, the serviced residence comprises two soaring towers – an 18-storey building houses the studio apartments (28-43sqm), the one-bedroom apartments (52-89sqm) as well as most of the property’s facilities, while the other 19-storey building houses the two-bedroom apartments (83-117sqm) and the crowning four-bedroom penthouse (419sqm). Originally built and intended as a luxury condominium, the property is touted as the hospitality group’s “gold standard” residences, and its usual guest portfolio comprises the well-heeled and high-flying, from guests received by consulates and embassies to those working in the fintech, banking and finance industries. Asian art pieces from artists such as Chua Ek Kay and Kim Hee Kyung which are inspired by the heritage of the region adorn the walls of the property and give the premises the sophisticated air of a luxury hotel.
In terms of accommodation, every apartment boasts modern and upscale furnishings along with well-equipped kitchens with high-end Miele kitchen appliances, from gas stoves and ovens to refrigerators, washing machines and dryers. Naturally, the higher your apartment category, the more luxuriously your apartment is fitted. While the entry Studio Apartments (Studio Deluxe, Studio Premier) are decidedly more functional and modest in size and have integrated living, dining, kitchen and bedroom areas, the One Bedroom Apartments (One-Bedroom Deluxe, One-Bedroom Executive Terrace, One-Bedroom Premier Terrace) and Two Bedroom Apartments (Two-Bedroom Deluxe Terrace, Two-Bedroom Executive Terrace, Two-Bedroom Premier Terrace) have more expanded living spaces and feel decidedly more expat residential in their stylings. While balconies are rarities as far as most local serviced residences are concerned, the One Bedroom and Two Bedroom Apartments (with the exception of the One-Bedroom Deluxe) feature show-stopping outdoor terraces which offer spectacular views of the Orchard landscape.
Residents enjoy a high level of privacy, with multiple discreet lift lobbies each serving only specific units on each level. The standard of service is commendable – during my stay, the reception staff would actually collect all my food deliveries from the riders and send them up straight to my door, and if I were not home to receive any packages, the reception would receive them on my behalf and store them safely until I was able to physically receive them. (On one occasion, they even kept my temperature-sensitive snowskin mooncake deliveries refrigerated until I got home, bless).
The serviced apartment’s most notable facilities are its three different swimming pools, all set within a lush, tree-filled landscape on the ground level. These include a free-form jet pool with an aqua gym and multiple jet massage stations, including an inclined one for sunbathing whilst getting your private corners pressured and prodded; a sizeable wading pool with giant animal floats for the kids; and a long Olympic-sized lap pool for serious swimmers. Aside from the swimming pools, the property boasts a 24/7 fully-equipped gym on the building’s top floor with soaring ceilings and breathtaking city views as well as steam room and sauna facilities on the same level. Social spaces include a children’s playground, poolside barbecue and teppanyaki pavilion as well as a Sky Terrace on the 12th level which offers teppanyaki facilities as well as a private jacuzzi. The Dining Room on the 2nd level – both indoor and al fresco seats are available – serves breakfast to those who have morning meals included in their accommodation packages.
(Editor’s Note: As of the date of publication, the steam room and sauna, the poolside barbecue and teppanyaki pavilion as well as the cooking facilities at the Sky Terrace remain unavailable due to safe distancing considerations.)
ONE-BEDROOM EXECUTIVE TERRACE
Boasting sweeping views of the Orchard Road cityscape, the 71sqm One-Bedroom Executive Terrace plays it all elegant, understated luxury residential with plush, marble and wood textures as well as neutral, cool shades of cream, taupe and silver. Tall windows throughout the apartment allow streams of warm, energising light into the residence’s various spaces, with most of the windows being capable of being opened for welcome ventilation.
The fully-furnished serviced residence has separate living, dining, kitchen and bedroom areas in a predominantly square-ish layout. The carpeted living room offers plush sofa seating and a comprehensive home entertainment system, while the adjacent dining room offers table seating for two guests. The well-equipped kitchen is fitted with a Nespresso coffee machine and Miele home appliances, including separate washer and dryer machines as well as a cavernous refrigerator which is big enough to stock for a household of four. The apartment is generous in terms of available storage space, from a built-in shoe cabinet and TV console drawers to an abundance of kitchen cupboard storage and the bedroom’s walk-in, open-concept wardrobe.
The spacious marble bathroom features an ensuite bathtub, double vanities as well as an enclosed rainfall shower area, with bathroom amenities from American skincare brand Malin+Goetz. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows keep the bathroom happily bright in the daytime, with manual blinds available for winding down if you wish to protect (or, in the case of kinky exhibitionists, drawing up to display) your modesty from the prying eyes of the nearby condominium apartments which the bathroom faces. I usually keep my blinds three quarters down in the daytime so that my time on the throne remains private while the bathroom is not too dark, although in hindsight I would imagine I must still be somewhat visible to residents staying on certain levels in the condominium development closest to my building. Heh.
The headlining feature of the One-Bedroom Executive Terrace is no doubt its outdoor terrace, which boasts a panoramic view extending from as far as the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore all the way to the Somerset area and beyond. Accessible via the bedroom, the spacious balcony extends along the entire length of the apartment, with a pair of outdoor chairs on one end and a sofa and coffee table on the other. My apartment was located on the 16th level, and the balcony was often comfortably windy in the evenings and conducive for extended time spent outside. The terrace is also wide enough to fit the round dining table if you wish to move the table and chairs out to enjoy a breezy al fresco meal like the expat families doing likewise on their own balconies in the building right across from yours.
My moments spent on the outdoor terrace were the most memorable. The close proximity of the property to the many condominium developments in the upscale Paterson neighbourhood means you are intimately placed amidst the affluent local and expatriate community, which can feel fairly surreal and highly aspirational. After nightfall, the outdoor terrace makes for a perfect setting for intimate, wind and wine-led conversations high in the sky and far away from the hustle and bustle of the main Orchard Road stretch, atmospherically backdropped by the glittering ION Orchard facade and faraway lights of the Orchard cityscape.
The set-up did feel rather after-hours law firm classic cocktails between partners. It was just phenomenal.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
While other serviced apartments in the Orchard Road area such as Winsland Serviced Suites by Lanson Place may offer more convenient access to malls and MRT stations along the shopping belt, the property offers quite the unrivalled, immersive and luxurious expat residential fantasy stay experience with its high-end furnishings, glorious facilities and incredible outdoor terraces.
Fraser Residence Orchard Singapore
31 Paterson Road
Singapore 238522
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