In November 2023, I checked into the Terrace Suite at Artyzen Singapore. Located along Cuscaden Road, the 142-room property is just steps away from Orchard MRT Station as well as shopping and dining destinations such as Forum The Shopping Mall, Wheelock Place and ION Orchard. Marina Bay Sands and the Central Business District are about ten minutes away by taxi, while travelling to Changi Airport by car will take less than 30 minutes.
For the uninitiated, Artyzen Hospitality Group is an international hotel management company headquartered in Hong Kong whose flagship brands are Artyzen Hotels & Resorts as well as Artyzen Habitat. Artyzen Singapore is notably the first Artyzen property launched outside Greater China.
Artyzen Singapore belongs to the Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio, which also includes The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel, One Farrer Hotel, EQ Kuala Lumpur and The Siam in Bangkok. Hotels located near Artyzen Singapore include the also-new The Singapore EDITION across the road, the upcoming Conrad Singapore Orchard, The St. Regis Singapore, voco Orchard Singapore, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore and Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Heritage, Greenery, Soaring Ceilings and One Unforgettable Rooftop Pool.
The must-dos (if any): Spend time in your beautiful room; enjoy breakfast at Cafe Quenino; use the well-equipped gym; take a dip in the cantilevered rooftop infinity pool and check out the transparent base (if you dare).
ARTYZEN SINGAPORE
Designed by renowned architect ONG&ONG Pte Ltd (Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort, M Social Singapore, SilverKris Lounges in Bangkok and Sydney) and award-winning interior design studio Nic Graham & Associates (W Hong Kong, W Kuala Lumpur), the lushly-landscaped hotel pays tribute to Singapore’s culture, colours, and flavours through its aesthetic features. Local artist Terence Tan presents a stunning shophouse digital artwork in the hotel’s elevators (each of the three lifts boasts a different colour scheme), while Aeropalmics is responsible for local motifs seen in the hotel’s public spaces. What the hotel may lack in terms of horizontal real estate, it makes up for with soaring ceilings, often accentuated with dramatic arches and suspended fixtures. There is an abundance of outdoor spaces – aside from the garden terrace on the ground level as well as the Wellness and Workouts space on the 5th level, many of the guest rooms enjoy balconies and, for some, spacious private terraces.
Fun fact: the land the hotel stands on used to house a sprawling tropical-garden mansion named “Villa Marie” owned by the great-grandson of the late philanthropist Mr Tan Tock Seng, which gives the property additional heritage points.
In terms of wellness, the 5th level is dedicated to Wellness and Workouts, offering a fitness centre equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym machines as well as various private outdoor pavilions which can play host to private yoga and exercise sessions. Spa treatments would soon be offered in dedicated private treatment rooms on the same floor. However, the standout facility would be the 25-metre cantilevered infinity pool located on the rooftop level, which is fitted with jacuzzi jets as well as a partially transparent base (!) for Mahanakhon Skywalk-esque heart-pounding aquatic thrills.
TERRACE SUITE
Offering a spacious, tranquil private garden with double-storey ceilings, outdoor furniture and a daybed set within a lush landscape (all on the 18th level, mind), the 178sqm Terrace Suite is really something spectacular. The suite is tastefully appointed, with the feel of a luxurious residence – think soaring, barrel-vaulted ceilings with overhead fans, bright and tropical colours, luxe wood and marble textures as well as special art pieces which makes reference to Straits culture. Tall windows allow the space to be flooded with natural light, and there are distinct dining, living and sleeping areas. A Bang and Olufsen wireless Bluetooth speaker is available for your soundtrack needs.
The pantry offers a Nespresso machine as well as teas from The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. I was enthralled by the stylish and amazing Fellow Stagg EKG electric kettle, which allows you to boil water to the exact temperature needed as well as tells you the current temperature of the water. The minibar is stocked with wines, Taittinger champagne as well as spirits from homegrown distillery Compendium.
The spacious bathroom has an open wardrobe area, double vanities with panels, an enclosed rainfall shower space as well as a freestanding, deep soaking bathtub. Strong, solid doors allow the respective spaces to be partitioned accordingly (i.e. you may want the bathroom area to be closed when guests access the powder room). The pampering perfumed shower amenities are courtesy of perfume house Heeley, created exclusively for Artyzen hotels.
My favourite part of the suite experience? At night, strategically-placed lighting amidst the greenery as well as glittering starry lights all the way up on the ceiling makes the private garden come alive in a manner that is quite surreal and romantic.
DINING
Breakfast is served at Cafe Quenino, the cafe space on the ground level which has a pet-friendly outdoor garden terrace. It is an exclusively a la carte affair (i.e. no buffet), with guests able to enjoy petit bakes from Patisserie by Le Matin; unlimited beverages such as Signature House Chai, Singapore Traditional Kopi and Teh (with customisable sugar level), Italian-style Coffee (using Bacha Surabaya Cold 100% Arabica beans) and fresh juices; as well as one choice of main from selections such as Ham and Cheese Toasted Sandwich (ham off the bone, jamón and cheese toastie), Greens on Toast (braised greens and soft milk curds on sourdough toast) and Café Quenino Congee (served with traditional Chinese condiments).
My favourites were the Kaya French Toast (cultured butter, condensed milk and maple syrup), which boasted two different types of kaya, as well as the Nasi Lemak Kedgeree (basmati rice, onsen egg, peanuts, crispy white bait, hot smoked trout and house sambal goreng), which had a spicy sweet sambal chilli and the most delicious and irresistible basmati rice I’ve had in a while. (I had second helpings during dinner.)
After hours, the casual Cafe Quenino adopts a more sophisticated persona (there is a dress code), but its dedication to hearty Asian fare continues, serving main plates such as Assam Ang Kar Prawn (large Ang Kar prawns, spicy tamarind paste), Pot Pie Chicken Curry Kapitan (chicken and potato curry with roti pastry shell) and Beef Short Ribs with Rendang Sauce (wagyu beef, baby gem, pickles and sambal ijo). The restaurant also serves a variety of tipples with Asian influences – think Vesper (bianco vermouth, spiced pearl vodka, gin, orange bitters), Negroni (kopi vermouth, aperol, pahit pink gin), Pedas Pedas (chilli padi tequila, rojak gin, lime leaf, ginger) and Let’s Go To A Paradise Of Glorious Tulips (miso butter cognac, jamaican rum, guava, lemon marmalade & hibiscus, firewater bitters).
Located on the 4th level, Quenino by Victor Liong (meaning ‘little one’ in Malaccan Creole Portuguese and pronounced /ˈku-ni-nu/) specialises in modern Straits cuisine. Helmed by Victor Liong, an Australian chef with Malaysian Chinese heritage, the restaurant offers various curated course menus which showcase dishes such as Raw Spencer Gulf Kingfish, Dry Aged Murray Cod, Bangalow Sweet Pork and Dry Aged Lacquered Duck. I did not have the opportunity to dine at the restaurant during my stay, but my past dining experiences with the restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine guarantees my eventual return.
Rounding up the dining concepts is The Roof Garden, the poolside social destination which overlooks the West Orchard Road neighbourhood. The space is scheduled to commence operations before the end of the year.
CONCLUSION
There will be inevitable comparisons between Artyzen Singapore and the glossy The Singapore EDITION, which opened within the same month just across the road. My verdict, after having experienced both hotels just one week apart from each other? The striking, iconic beauty of The Singapore EDITION’s public spaces makes a visit fairly essential, but Artyzen Singapore is where you would want to stay.
Artyzen Singapore
9 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249719
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