After an extensive one year transformation, the rebranded Conrad Singapore Orchard (formerly the Regent Singapore) reopened its doors on 28 December 2023, joining the likes of similarly fresh-faced The Singapore EDITION and Artyzen Singapore along the Orchard Boulevard MRT Station end of Orchard Road. I was the first guest to check-in at the hotel bright and early on their first day of operations – here’s what to expect.
CONRAD SINGAPORE ORCHARD
Opened in 1982, the hotel (which previously served as The Pavilion Inter-Continental Singapore before converting to Regent Singapore in 1992) has since become known as one of the city’s most glamorous destinations, in part because of its confident and award-winning F&B programme. The property’s architectural design bears all the hallmarks of the distinctive style of its neo-futuristic architect John Portman, known for the dramatic skylights, glass elevators and soaring atria featured across his projects. (He also designed Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, Pan Pacific Singapore and PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, with which this hotel shares substantial design DNA.) Past the property’s front doors, guests are greeted by a lushly-landscaped lobby with elegant swirling staircases, water features and four Art Deco-style bubble elevators in the middle of the atrium which ferry guests to the restaurants and guest rooms on the upper floors. The terraced guest floors are vertically stacked in manner of a pyramid, with open corridors oriented towards the towering, skylit atrium. A shimmering sculpture “Singapore Shower” by Japanese sculptor Michio Ihara suspends from the 9th level, adding a dash of glamour to the open, airy proceedings.
The 445-key hotel’s extensive renovations were led by multiple teams – DP Design (behind One Farrer Hotel & Spa as well as Oasia Resort Sentosa) conceptualised the redesign of the public areas with MSDO (who imagined Revolver, Atlas Bar as well as the hotel’s own Manhattan Bar), while MSDO led the design projects for the hotel’s Summer Palace and Basilico. Elsewhere, Unscripted (who had inputs for Aman Tokyo, InterContinental Geneva and Patina Maldives, Fari Islands) was actively involved in the reimagining of the guest rooms.
The hotel’s dining concepts from its Regent Singapore days – the award-winning Manhattan Bar; the Michelin-star restaurant Summer Palace; the Italian restaurant Basilico and artisanal pasticceria and mercatino Dolcetto – all survived the hotel’s rebrand. In terms of wellness, the hotel has a swimming pool and fitness centre located on the 2nd level, with the latter having undergone significant renovations and is now being more spacious and brightly-lit than before.
I was the first guest to check into the hotel, and was upgraded to the King Deluxe Suite. The 81sqm suite has double balconies, a filtered water tap, smart technological flourishes (smart lighting controls, wireless charging and a USB-C charging port), a snazzy Fellow Stagg EKG electric kettle which can heat your water to specific temperatures as well as a Dyson hair dryer conveniently located to a full length mirror with power outlet. The bathroom is spacious, with different buttons for the rain shower and shower head and Byredo bathroom amenities.
As of 31 December 2023, some floors of rooms remain closed until further notice, while Summer Palace is scheduled to reopen in late January 2024.
BREAKFAST AND EXECUTIVE LOUNGE
Breakfast is served at Basilico, the Italian restaurant located on the 2nd level. The breakfast is a buffet affair, and you can expect the obligatory cold cuts and cheeses, pastries (try the Kaya Bread and Banana Cake), American breakfast sides, Asian and Western dishes (think Teriyaki Salmon, Medu Vadai and Ginger Chicken Congee) as well as an egg station. The noodle station prepares a different send-up every day, and Beef Noodle Soup was served during my stay.
Parts of Basilico have been revamped, including the introduction of a bar area which serves a wicked Claypot Negroni as well as various other cocktails.
An essential experience at Conrad Singapore Orchard is the Executive Lounge on the 11th floor which offers daily breakfast, afternoon tea as well as evening cocktails and canapes. The Executive Lounge showcases fare from the hotel’s Michelin-starred Summer Palace as well as Italian concepts Basilico and Dolcetto, and their daily Chinese soups in particular are sensational – at point of writing, I have spent three evenings at the Executive Lounge and the Braised Abalone Soup with Eight Treasures, Double-boiled Fish Maw with Bamboo Pith and Fish Cartilage and Double-boiled Aweto Flowers and Organic Chicken Soup are delicious creations you can imagine costing top dollar at a fancy Chinese restaurant. Bubbly currently on offer is prosecco, and they do Aperol Spritzes upon request.
Conrad Singapore Orchard
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
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