BACKGROUND
Mandarin Orchard Singapore is the flagship property of Meritus Hotels & Resorts. The hotel opened its doors in 1971 and it was then referred to as Mandarin Singapore.
The group has one more hotel in Singapore — Marina Mandarin Singapore — as well as the Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi.
WHAT’S IT LIKE
The energy of the neighbourhood is reflected in this business-cum leisure hotel.
You enter a mini lobby at the street level and finally take an elevator up to the main lobby, where the Mandarin Orchard hostesses, dressed in their signature red attire, promptly assist you with a smile. The rooms are plush and functional and the lounge on the top floor is definitely worth a visit.
WHERE IS IT
The hotel enjoys pride of place in the middle of Singapore’s most famous shopping street — Orchard Road. Major malls like Ngee Ann City and ION Orchard are a quick walk away. Singapore’s ultra-practical public transport MRT system has a station no more than five minutes away from the hotel, from where you can access any corner of the city.
ROOMS
The hotel features 1,077 rooms spread across different categories. Most rooms offer gorgeous views of Singapore’s skyline. All rooms come with complimentary wi fi, a smart TV, 24-hour concierge services and a smartphone (free local and international calls, and free 4G data) is placed in every room.
I stayed in a Deluxe room (28 sqm), with a spectacular city view. The room featured a calming, understated decor in muted tones in addition to a spacious bathroom, workspace, free mineral water and a coffee/tea making console.
FOOD AND DRINK
The hotel boasts Singapore’s only Chinese restaurant with two Michelin stars, Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro. It specialises in spicy Sichuan fare. Indulge in some local fare at Singaporean-speciality cuisine restaurant, Chatterbox, which specialises in the Singaporean favourite Chicken Rice.
MEETINGS
The hotel’s MICE spaces are spread across 2,700 sqm. These range from small function rooms and boardrooms to the massive Grand Mandarin Ballroom, which can house up to 1,200 people, and the amphitheatre-style Imperial Ballroom.
LOUNGE
One of the highlights of this hotel is the sprawling Meritus Club Lounge at Top of the M, located on level 38 and 39 is where guests (depending on room category) can enjoy all-day coffee and refreshments, afternoon tea and evening sundowners with 360-degree views of Singapore.
VERDICT A perfect hotel for a business traveller who wants to work by day and spend the evenings shopping and eating at Orchard Road.
PRICE: Upwards of SGD 320/ INR 17,000
CONTACT: Mandarin Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore
