In June 2025, I checked into the King Deluxe Balcony Suite at Conrad Singapore Orchard. Conveniently located in the quiet Tanglin residential area at the fringe of Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous retail and entertainment strip, the 445-room hotel – formerly Regent Singapore until its reopening as a Conrad property in December 2023 – is forty minutes away from Changi Airport, fifteen minutes from the Central Business District and a short walk away from Singapore Botanic Gardens, Orchard Boulevard MRT Station as well as famous shopping centres such as ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City and Isetan Scotts.
Other notable hotels situated in the same vicinity include The St. Regis Singapore, voco Orchard Singapore, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Pan Pacific Orchard, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore as well as the new The Singapore EDITION and Artyzen Singapore. The Conrad Singapore Orchard joins the popular Conrad Singapore Marina Bay as the city’s second Conrad hotel.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Decidedly more lifestyle luxurious than its Marina Bay sibling.
The must-dos (if any): Enjoy evening wines and soups at the Executive Lounge; take a bath with a shower steamer in your room; go for a drink at Manhattan Bar.
CONRAD SINGAPORE ORCHARD
Opened in 1982, the hotel (which previously served as the The Pavilion Inter-Continental Singapore before converting to a Regent Hotel in 1992 and finally a Conrad in December 2023) 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 and PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore 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.
Prior to its relaunch as a Hilton hotel, the 445-key hotel underwent extensive renovations 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.
In terms of wellness, the hotel has a swimming pool which goes as deep as 2.1m and a snazzy fitness centre located on the 2nd level which underwent significant renovations and is now being more spacious and brightly-lit than before.
A notable feature of the newer Conrad hotel which sets it apart from its sister Conrad Singapore Marina Bay – which is decidedly more business hotel-esque in comparison – is their selection of various curated guest experiences. For instance, Manhattan Bar currently offers a Rickhouse Experience comprising an introduction to the bar’s rickhouse filled with over 100 American oak barrels used for ageing spirits and bitters, followed by a tasting session where you get to sample various cocktails, including the bar’s Manhattan’s signature Solera-Aged Negroni. Elsewhere, Basilico conducts workshops dedicated to the craft of infusing artisanal cheeses with different innovative flavours. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
KING DELUXE BALCONY SUITE
Overlooking the peaceful Tanglin residential neighbourhood, the airy and spacious 81sqm King Deluxe Balcony Suite features double balconies (a rarity for Singapore hotels) with dining tables, daybeds and potted plants; a filtered water tap; technological flourishes including smart lighting controls, wireless charging and a USB-C charging port; a snazzy Fellow Stagg EKG electric kettle which not heats your water to specific temperatures; and a Dyson hair dryer conveniently located to a full length mirror with power outlet. (The Dyson equipment is a suite room exclusive.)
The suite is decked in calming and neutral colours, with artworks by local artists adorning its walls. The bedroom is fitted with a work desk and a walk-in closet, while the living room has sizeable couch seating able to accommodate a small group of family members or friends should the need arise. The pantry offers Nespresso coffee pods, TWG tea bags as well as Bacha Coffee drip bags (an opportune moment for the Fellow Stagg EKG electric kettle’s gooseneck spout to shine), while the minibar is stocked with chocolates from Singapore-based chocolate lifestyle brand Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie as well as beers from Archipelago Brewery, small bottles of wine as well as sparkling and still water.
The bathroom is spacious, with different buttons for activating the rainfall shower and shower head instead of the usual dial system as well as Byredo bathroom amenities.
DINING
Breakfast is a buffet affair at Basilico, the Italian all-day dining restaurant located on the 2nd level which is famed for their Signature Cheese Room with over 50 artisanal cheeses. 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 Fish Congee) as well as an egg station. The noodle station offers both Beef Noodle Soup as well as a vegetarian option.
One unique aspect of the breakfast experience was the Exclusive Breakfast Zone, an airy sectional carve-out in the venue accessible only by Hilton Honors Diamond members where unique food offerings such as Pear Crumble and Chocolate Almond Bread, barista-served coffees as well as free-flow sparkling wine and breakfast Mimosas are available. (In comparison, this elite status feature is not available at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay). Colour me impressed.
Paying tribute to one of the world’s greatest cities, Manhattan Bar plays it all old New York glamour with leather Chesterfield sofas, velvet armchairs, black marble and mahogany textures as well as gel-slick coiffed hair and pearl necklaces against bartender vests and black cocktail dresses respectively. The new Seasons of Manhattan menu takes inspirations from New York’s ever-changing rhythm across Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Spring’s Meet Me Halfway provides honeyed whisky sour joy, while the Waterfront Bamboo was a savoury, herbal affair; Summer’s It’s Gettin’ Hot In Here was a warm cocktail evoking memories of having pizza alfresco, while the Harlem Shake (a popular order) was a naughty Pina Colada; Autumn’s boozy Feast of Flavours was a heady, chocolate-led situation, while the Autumnal Amber entices with a hazy smoky fog; Winter’s beautifully presented The Evanscent plays like a valentine to grape flesh unadulterated by skin bitterness, while Minutes to Midnight injects effervescence to Japanese candy-esque pleasure. The food menu includes dishes such as the ocean-sweet Lobster Taco, Smoked Soy Eggs, St. Louis Pork Ribs, Double Fried Chicken, Loaded Mac & Cheese and Smashed Burger Sliders.
On Sundays, Manhattan offers an adult-only cocktail brunch experience. First things first: full-sized and serious cocktails, free-flow. The bar’s signature Manhattan – uncensored and unadulterated – is the shining crown jewel amidst other boozy selections such as the playful Hazelnut Espresso Martini, the heady Boulevardier and the sassy and confident Toreador (Los Arcos Tequila, La Vida Mezcal, lime Juice, apricot, bitters). There is a build-your-own Bloody Mary station with a fried chicken garnish (!) and also customisable Bellinis and Spritzers for those who seek lighter tipples.
Sharing plates are circulated, course by course, while you are comfortably seated, cocktail(s) in hand and playing with your hair coquettishly while sharing workplace and/or family woes with your brunch companion(s). Offerings include Fresh Fine De Clair Oysters, Spiny Lobster Thermidor, Hotdog (mustard, cornichons, pepper bun) and the moreish and sensational Squid Ink Salmon Macarons (cream cheese, pumpkin seed). Elsewhere, the carvery station offers Roasted New Zealand Lamb Rack, Mezcal & Maple Syrup American Bacon and Bourbon-Infused Beef Op Rib Smoked In Manhattan Barrel.
Guests can conclude the decadent brunch proceedings with a visit to the dessert room, where offerings include the Manhattan Banana Split (nitro mix, guanaja chocolate strawberry foam, popping sugar, chocolate strawberries, caramelized banana), a variety of delectable soft cookies, Key Lime Pie, Rum Cake, New York Cheesecake and Brooklyn Triple Chocolate Cake. However, the crown jewel would be their range of Boozy Milkshakes, customisable to the nth degree in terms of spirit (rum or bourbon), flavour and toppings. We had the fruity Passionfruit Raspberry and indulgent Salted Caramel (with a dash of bacon bits surreptitiously nicked from the buffet), but my favourite was the Chocolate Coffee – so fragrant, intent and intense.
Housed within Manhattan and behind velvety curtains, East 47 is a ‘bar-within-a-bar’ 12-seater cocktail studio concept inspired by Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory on East 47th Street in Manhattan, New York. The studio offers an elevated gastro-cocktail pairing experience – think Picklesburg, Pennsylvania with Pork Belly (a pickle-juice cocktail paired with pork belly with pickled cucumber), Superstar Martini with Chicken Wing as well as the Cosmo Marilyn with Chawanmushi.
Located on the ground level, the colonial garden-styled Tea Lounge serves afternoon tea on weekdays as well as supersized sessions upgraded with a full buffet with more premium offerings during the weekends. After afternoon tea service, the Tea Lounge transforms into Park90, a wine bar by night which offers up to 1000 labels of wine paired with sharing plates from both Basilico and Summer Palace.
Situated on the 3rd floor, Michelin–starred Chinese concept Summer Palace serves exquisite Cantonese cuisine and dim sum delicacies in an Oriental-inspired setting which overlooks the swimming pool. Earlier in May 2025, I tried South by South, the Cantonese-Fujian four hands menu offered in collaboration with Waldorf Astoria Xiamen’s Hokklo Restaurant, which paired brilliantly with the accompanying tea pairing menu. Notable highlights include the Wok-Fried Garoupa Fillet, White Asparagus, XO Sauce paired with the Yunnan Reserve Aged Pu Er 30 Years, Stewed Duck with Ginger, Hokklo Style paired with the Wuyi Rock Tea, and Braised Ee Fu Noodles, Lobster, Egg White paired with the Snowy Flake. The delicate-tasting Seaweed Jelly, Chilled Oolong Tea Bird’s Nest Egg Tart ended the meal on a familiar and comforting note.
Elsewhere, ground level gourmet pasticceria Dolcetto by Basilico serves Italian pastries, cakes, gelati and paninis, with separate takeaway/retail and dine-in areas. They also have a great selection of gelatos – think Puglia Black Figs, Amarena Cherry and Amalfi Lemon & Basil. Rounding up the dining concepts are tenants Tenshin and Seoul, which specialise in Japanese tempura and Korean BBQ respectively, as well as innovative kaiseki concept Shoukouwa Shinjidai and Japanese bar The House Bar.
EXECUTIVE LOUNGE
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 tried 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, all of which are delicious creations you can imagine costing top dollar at a fancy Chinese restaurant. In terms of canapes, you can expect pizza dishes such as Margherita and Mixed Meat; snacks such as Chicken Karaage and Truffle Potato Croquettes; and a variety of chilled dainty sweets.
Bubbly currently on offer is prosecco, and they do serve Aperol Spritzes upon request.
CONCLUSION
With its stellar dining concepts, wellness angle and curated guest experiences, the Conrad Singapore Orchard is a distinctly different product from its Marina Bay sibling. Their Executive Lounge has possibly the best soups out of all the luxury hotel club lounges in Singapore, and you can easily curate an entire day of dining programming within the property without ever having to step out. Quite the destination, indeed.
Conrad Singapore Orchard
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
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