This hotel is a visual stunner – and don’t miss the rooftop pool

The hotel

Artyzen Singapore

The hotel exterior, plant life spilling all over.

Check-in

It’s often overlooked that when Singapore was claimed by Sir Stamford Raffles for the British in 1819, it was already a lively trading hub. The Peranakans, the descendants of Chinese traders and local Malays, had been living in the Straits settlements of Malacca and Singapore since the 1500s. With the opening of Artyzen Singapore in 2023, there’s now a chic hotel that celebrates Singapore’s original fusion culture. This 142-room hotel is built on a site formerly occupied by Villa Marie, a dilapidated mansion that belonged to the great-grandson of Mr Tan Tock Seng, a famous Peranakan leader and philanthropist of the early 1800s.

The look

From the outside, Artyzen’s modern tower appears to have sprouted upwards from the lush tropical frangipanis and heliconias below, pulling part of the garden upwards as it rose. Each storey features double and triple-storey cut-outs where terraces of plants spill over the side. The biophilic design lowers temperatures and creates a calming aesthetic, but also conveniently nods to Villa Marie’s previous owner, a botanist. The design also drew on Villa Marie for the colonial-inspired soaring archways that feature in the lobby. The living plants from outside are repeated inside, including orchids that are synonymous with Singapore. Art takes centre stage: as the lift doors open, a magnificent digitised painting depicting colourful Peranakan shophouses is illuminated.

The room

A premier balcony king room.

My premier king balcony room is on the 18th floor, and like all rooms here, it has a private verandah and a ceiling fan. Peranakan art adorns the walls and includes porcelain vases. A barrel-vaulted entrance ceiling and cleverly obscured glass creates a feeling of space and allows natural light into the bathroom. There’s a deep bathtub and rain shower and contrasting tiles. Deliciously scented amenities by Heeley Perfumes of Paris are packaged in aluminium, not plastic.

Food + drink

Quenino by Victor Liong is a standout restaurant. Melbourne-based Liong (of Lee Ho Fook restaurant fame) has Chinese and Malaysian parents and lived in Brunei until he was six years old. His degustation menus are a tribute to his heritage and include a wine-matching option with five small glasses from international wine regions. Each of my 10 petite courses is a delicate revelation, with highlights being the hand-picked mud crab topped with caviar, and the dry-aged lacquered duck with fermented rice pancakes. Chef de cuisine, Sujatha Asukan visits tables and introduces several courses herself.

Cafe Quenino is the all-day diner and cocktail bar that incorporates the ground floor garden terrace. I’m here for breakfast, and I’m sticking with the Peranakan fusion theme, ordering nasi lemak kedgeree. Soft-boiled eggs are accompanied by flaky smoked trout, a warming chili sambal and tiny, dried anchovies (ikan bilis) for salty crunch; a fortifying start to the day.

Out + about

Poolside, with a view over SIngapore.

On the rooftop, the 25-metre pool is partly cantilevered. If you’re not prone to vertigo, swim over to the clear floor and peer down to the courtyard, 21 storeys below. Check out the views of Orchard Road and the leafy Nassim Hill district and sip a cocktail in the cosy sunken lounge. The fifth floor is dedicated to wellness. There are complimentary yoga classes and aquarobics offered daily. In the two-room spa treatments include the signature gemstone odyssey, in which guests choose a suitable geological accessory for their massage. For exploration further afield, bustling Orchard Road is 200 metres away with its plethora of fashion brands, and for even more tropical greenery, stroll 15 minutes to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

The verdict

Artyzen Singapore is a visual stunner, a contemporary hotel that celebrates a sense of place through Peranakan art and food. The rooftop pool, the degustation restaurant and excellent location make this hotel an excellent choice.

Essentials

Rooms from $S464 ($531 a night) for two. Two deluxe balcony king rooms are wheelchair accessible. Artyzen Singapore, 9 Cuscaden Road, Singapore. See artyzen.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

Highlight

Quenino by Victor Liong is gaining popularity well beyond the hotel’s guests and a dinner here is a must.

Lowlight

The rooftop garden cafe and bar does not open until 11am, so if you’re thinking of a morning coffee up there in the funky sunken lounge, plan accordingly.

The writer stayed as a guest of Artyzen Singapore.