Hotel review: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

Located in Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay, this five-star hotel offers panoramic city views and houses an impressive 4,200-piece art collection with works from Dale Chihuly, Andy Warhol and other icons (apparently the largest contemporary art collection in Southeast Asia).

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kevin Roche, the 32-storey property has a total of  608 guest rooms, including 18 one-bedroom Millenia Suites, three two-bedroom Millenia Suites and one Ritz Suite. The hotel says all guest rooms and bathrooms offer views of either Marina Bay or the Singapore Sports Hub and Kallang River precinct.

The hotel, which opened in 1996, is 80 percent owned by Pontiac Marina, a Singapore-based property investment and development company. The remaining 20 per cent stake is owned by Singapore’s national carrier, Singapore Airlines.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore instantly leaves an impression. There’s a soaring 10,000 sqm dome ceiling with an iridescent mother-of-pearl filter that extends from the main lobby all the way out to the main driveway. A large, imposing sculpture made from fibreglass cascades down the centre of the main lobby. Titled “Cornucopia” by Frank Stella, this three tonne artwork had my neck craning to get a closer look. The hotel said this was manufactured by traditional boat makers in Cannes, France, before being shipped to the property.

The high ceilings and extravagant artwork makes it feel as though you’ve entered a grand museum. You’ll also notice the vast, round glass shaped wall with octagons inside which are also mirrored on the opposite end of the hotel. The interior and architectural design is simply jaw-dropping.

Christmas decorations adorned the first floor of the hotel, including a tall Christmas tree opposite the concierge area.

Near the lobby area, there was another glitzy Christmas installation (see below). I loved the festive atmosphere here.

A hotel staff member led me up to my room on the 29th floor Club Deluxe Suite and conducted the check-in process there. A spokesperson from the hotel said this is a service extended to guests who book any of the Club rooms.

The hotel is located in Marina Bay, Singapore’s downtown core offering a mix of commercial, retail, entertainment and recreational facilities. Attractions such as Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay and the Art Science Museum are nearby. The closest train station is Promenade MRT.

The hallway leading up to my room, located on the 29th floor, is spacious with warm lighting and gold furnishing which resembles the colour palette in the 51 sqm Club Deluxe Marina I stayed in.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the room was the captivating views of Singapore’s Marina Bay and the cityscape. The bed, desk and sofa chair are all facing Singapore’s skyline in this studio-style room. At night, the buildings were lit up with blue and purple lights that also seep into the room. During the day, the window lets in lots of natural sunlight.

The room has a square-shaped layout with light ochre, amber gold and a lustrous bronze colour palette that creates a glamorous yet inviting ambience. 

There was a tray with different types of fruits and sparkling water sitting on the coffee table when I entered the room. Later in the evening, the housekeeping staff left a a small box of chocolates on the table.

The comfortable King sized bed has a number of fluffy pillows and glossy wooden decor behind it. It comes with an alarm clock and a phone. The fact that the bed faces the window and not the TV is a refreshing change.

Matte gold buttons to adjust the lighting and the blinds can be pulled out from both side tables from the bed. There is also one power socket and a USB port on both tables.

Close to the bed, there’s an area that resembles a living room, as it has a couch adorned with deep red pillows facing the TV, a round coffee table and a chair. 

The work desk has a phone and built-in power sockets. It’s a nice place to get some work done, although some might get distracted by the dynamic cityscape views.

The 55-inch wall mounted TV screen is on the left side of the room. Guests can access  Netflix and Youtube here:

On the cabinet below the TV screen, there are water bottles, chips and a selection of snacks in small labelled containers such as nuts, cookies and chocolates.

There’s also a Nespresso machine.

The large, marble tiled bathroom is simply spectacular with its majestic views overlooking the city. There’s an octagon-shaped window peering over views of the cityscape near the bathtub. The mirror on the side of the bathtub reflects the window views, making the view seem more expansive. 

Here’s a closer look:

There’s also a walk-in shower with a rainfall shower.

The microfiber bathrobes are soft and cozy. Towels are located near the bathtub.

There are Asprey bath amenities which have a very fresh citrus fragrance. 

Guests have three different dining options at the The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

I dined at the Colony, a buffet-style restaurant that seats 272 people. Located on level three of the hotel, the Colony has seven different live cooking stations showcasing Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Western and local dishes. It was fascinating walking through this space; it feels like you’re on a culinary journey that takes you through various cooking techniques and global cuisines. These live stations are set among an eclectic mix of vintage furniture featuring tartan and houndstooth prints. Old maps, photographs and vintage postcards adorn the walls. The hotel said the design seeks to capture “a voyage that the British took to travel to the East Indies for trade and commerce in the late eighteenth century”.

Here you have The Ice Bar with a variety of seafood on ice, salads, cold cuts and cheeses. Here you will find King crab legs, half shell scallops, black mussels and poached ‘live’ prawns.

One of the other live stations includes The Steam Basket which has Asian noodles, soups and other steamed delights. Here you will also find Colony laksa with homemade lobster ball, hand-pulled noodles with supreme chicken broth and an assortment of dim sum such as scallop dumplings and lotus leaf chicken and glutinous rice.

Other live stations at The Colony include:

• The Grill & Rotisserie – A selection of Western and Asian meats including Cognac-infused lobster bisque, a la plancha Boston lobster with chardonnay nage, oxtail bourguignon with mushroom ragout, and slow baked beef flank with pear-infused soya sauce.
• The Wok – Local wok-fried delicacies such as Singapore chilli crab and salted egg chicken wings
• The Tandoor – Indian meats, seafood and breads cooked in a traditional Tandoor oven such as Roti prata, mutton dhaniwal, chicken tikka masala, and assorted naans.
• The Fruit Stall – An assortment of whole fruits and fresh pressed fruit juices with a “Juice of the Day”.
• The Patisserie – A selection of sweet treats such as assorted Nonya kueh (pastry with soft sticky glutinous rice flour skin wrapped around a sweet filling in the centre), Taiwanese peanut wrap, homemade chocolate truffles, macaroons and ice cream flavours such as earl grey.

The colony is open from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm daily.

There’s also a Colony Bakery with an assortment of  baked breads alongside a spread of pastries and chocolates which are are also available for take away.

Other food and beverage options include the Summer Pavilion – a Michelin starred restaurant offering a Cantonese dining experience, as well as the Chihuly Lounge which seats 120 people for cocktails or specialty coffees and an eight course afternoon tea.

The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge is located on the 32^nd floor of the hotel. Designed by Burega Farnell, the Club Lounge offers guests views of Marina Bay or the Kallang River precinct. The lounge has a number of features including a space called “The Library” which can be used for meetings for up to ten guests. There’s a connecting living area that is outfitted with audio-visual capabilities, high-speed internet connectivity and a 75-inch LED television.

The  lounge is open from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. daily and seats up to 75 guests. Meals are served during the following hours:

• Breakfast: 6.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m (Available until 11 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
• Mid-day snacks: 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Afternoon tea: 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
• Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Desserts and cordials: 8.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.

Other services include complimentary limousine service between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (subject to availability), coffee or tea served direct to the guestroom upon request at any time of the day, and garment pressing.

There’s a 24-hour fitness centre featuring Cardio exercise equipment, free weights and total resistance exercise (TRX) suspension training equipment.

There’s also an outdoor swimming pool:

Everything about the hotel is grand and glamourous. From the large sculpture in the main lobby, to the dome-shaped ceilings and the spectacular views of Marina Bay seen through the octagonal window  in the bathroom of the Deluxe Suite room. Art aficionados will love this place as it’s full of contemporary art pieces. The eclectic mix of global cuisines at The Colony ensures that there is a wide variety of options for every meal of the day for guests staying in at the hotel. The room could serve as a functional workspace for business travellers due to its high speed wifi-connection, a desk with built in power sockets, and a comfortable living room area. Overall, it’s a wonderful hotel for both business and leisure travellers.

• Best for… The Marina Bay location. Also, appreciating the architectural and interior design, as well as the art collection.
• Don’t miss...Dining at The Colony and the hotel’s art tour.
• Price…Club Deluxe Marina room is about $542 per night
• Contact…Marina Bay, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore  039799 Singapore, +65 6337 8888, https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/singapore