by Coleen Leong
A country’s best luxury hotels are often destinations in and of themselves, offering guests much more than a five-star experience.
Just steps away from Singapore’s famous shopping street of Orchard Road is Artyzen Singapore, a visually spectacular luxury hotel which celebrates the Lion City and the elements that make the city-state so captivating.
Arguably the most striking property along Cuscaden Road, the terracotta-hued hotel pays homage to Singapore’s culture, heritage, colours, flavours, garden city reputation as well as its own tropical garden villa past. The hotel grounds were once home to Villa Marie, a 1940s colonial-style bungalow owned by Singaporean botanist and avid orchid cultivator Tan Hoon Siang, the great-grandson of well-known philanthropist Tan Tock Seng.
Drawing inspiration from Villa Marie’s unique botanical and architectural heritage, acclaimed Singapore-based architecture firm ONG&ONG designed the 21-storey hotel as a towering oasis featuring vertically stacked sky villas interspersed with sky gardens on alternating floors.
Inside the 142-room hotel, award-winning Australian interior design studio Nic Graham & Associates reinterprets Singapore’s rich cultural heritage and Villa Marie’s roots through a host of bold and colourful elements including arches, barrel-vaulted ceilings, Peranakan tiles, botanical wallpaper and orchid motifs.
Personalised services are expected at luxury hotels, but Artyzen Singapore goes a step further with its complimentary Courtesy Car service, available between 8am and 8pm daily. The drop-off service covers any destination within a 1.5-km radius of the hotel, which would include popular spots like ION Orchard, TANGS, Paragon, Takashimaya, Apple Orchard Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Dempsey Hill.
We highlight five reasons why Artyzen Singapore should be on the radar of luxury travellers looking for a different kind of wow.
1. Enlivened spaces that celebrate Singapore’s culture and heritage
Every space of the hotel is a stylish nod to Singapore’s vibrant culture and rich heritage. At the lobby lounge, tall arches and orchid wallpaper stand out as well as an interwoven rope textured wall art in between the lifts that allude to Singapore’s port-city past.
Step into one of the three lifts and get set for an artistic experience like no other. Each lift features a super Instagrammable backlit backdrop of Singapore’s heritage shophouses, created by local artist Terence Tan.
On floors with guestrooms, elegant ceramics and decor pieces adorn shelves facing the lifts, while corridors are lined with carpets bearing orchid motifs, flanked by wall panels with rattan-like patterns.
Over on Level 5, the hotel’s Wellness and Workout space which houses its spa and 24-hour Technogym-equipped fitness centre, is an Orchid Library where a small collection of moth orchids and other orchid species are showcased amidst lush foliage where plants like Monstera and Rattlesnake Fern thrive.
There are also two yoga pavilions facing a vertical green wall where high-intensity interval training, yoga, mat Pilates, restorative sound meditation, and other wellness classes are conducted.
Keep your eyes peeled for intriguing art pieces, including one which mimics water and another that offers a visual representation of wellness. There’s also a spiral staircase (a common feature of Singapore’s pre-war shophouses), which connects the fourth and fifth floors, where you can soak up views of the neighbourhood.
2. Plush, spacious rooms & suites with a tropical charm
One of the first things you’ll notice as you step into your Deluxe Balcony, Premier Balcony or Grand Terrace Room is the soaring 4-metre timber ceiling and the ceiling fan, a rarity in hotels. Terrace Suites boast barrel-vaulted timber ceilings, adding to the grandeur of the space.
Another rarity is balconies in every room, plus bathtubs in all bathrooms except in rooms with twin beds.
Rooms are decked in herringbone timber flooring, Peranakan porcelain plates, floral motif carpets, colourful cushions, brass light fixtures, black-rimmed archways and headboards featuring heritage shophouses.
Bathrooms sport grey herringbone tiles, cream textured orchid wallpaper and marble surfaces, and are stocked with toiletries from Heeley Parfums Paris that come in eco-friendly aluminium bottles.
For a caffeine boost, insert a Nespresso capsule and hit the button on the Nespresso machine or enjoy a cup of Bacha coffee, while tea drinkers can brew their favourite tea from The 1872 Clipper Tea Co.
3. Spectacular sky-high views, tipples & floating pool at The Roof Garden
For the best aerial views of the Orchard neighbourhood and the lush Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, nothing beats The Roof Garden which houses the hotel’s 25-metre infinity pool.
The pool is equipped with underwater speakers, no less, to create a truly immersive and sensory experience for swimmers.
If you dare, walk towards the glass-bottomed section of the pool for IG-worthy shots! But be sure to shower before dipping into the pool, and see if you can locate the shower head! Clue: take a closer look at the green walls!
When you’re ready to chill, kick back with your favourite cocktail and bites at the sunken lounge, and soak up the spectacular views.
4. A delicious journey through Southeast Asia at Quenino by Victor Liong
Expect a refreshing and playful take on Southeast Asian flavours, conceptualised by Melbourne’s hatted chef Victor Liong and meticulously executed by Chef de Cuisine Sujatha Asokan, at the degustation-only Quenino by Victor Liong on Level 4.
Taking its name from the Malaccan Creole Portuguese term which means “little one”, Quenino (say “ku-ni-nu”) serves up dishes that marry the diverse flavours and culinary traditions of Southeast Asia with bold creativity, refined techniques and plating artistry.
From luxurious caviar and sweet, succulent marron from Western Australia to jungle garlic (aka buah kulim) from Borneo, every ingredient is thoughtfully handpicked to captivate the palate of diners.
All menus can be paired with wines or non-alcoholic, single-origin Saicho sparkling teas.
Dishes with the wow factor include Indonesian Mud Crab Tart, Scallop, Marron and “Fried Rice”. One of the three Quenino Prelude exquisite bites, Indonesian Mud Crab Tart is topped with caviar, and features the bold and aromatic jungle garlic.
A sophisticated take on Penang’s famous Assam Laksa, Scallop pairs matured oyster muscle with tamarind, ginger flower and clarified Asian tomato essence, topped with julienned slaw in a nod to laksa noodles, and is reimagined as a vibrant salad.
Marron showcases Western Australia’s prized crayfish, paired with petai coconut cream, sweet green chilli and pomelo from Ipoh, finished with spinach lentil sauce, and served with flatbread.
Inspired by fried rice, nasi ulam and mui fan, the umami-packed “Fried Rice” combines nine elements including tamarind chilli, bottarga, fried betel leaf, cincaluk marinated onions, fried pork lard and ulam rajah, for a unique flavour experience.
In a class of its own is the popsicle palate cleanser, a whimsical nod to a beloved childhood treat. It is infused with the delicate, floral notes of ginger flower to yield a refreshing bite with a distinctly Southeast Asian twist.
5. Singapore favourites with a modern flair at Café Quenino
Located next to the lobby, all-day dining Café Quenino is set in a gorgeous light-filled space, thanks to its tall floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a lush garden.
The familiar arches, timber ceiling, herringbone timber flooring and ceiling fans are spotted here, complemented with perforated painted arches, mirrored folding screens, rattan cushioned chairs and potted plants.
For breakfast, savour a myriad of traditional Singapore flavours, elevated with a modern touch. Standouts include the Chilli Crab Omelette, Nasi Lemak Kedgeree, and Rolled Scallion and Egg Pancake. Square buns are served with kaya (sweet coconut jam) and butter on the side so you can make kaya toast, a traditional breakfast staple.
Wash it all down with local-style kopi or teh with condensed milk, or evaporated milk and sugar. The traditional coffee and tea can also be served without sugar or milk, or both.
For lunch and dinner, tuck into Singapore-inspired house specialities like Scallop Otak Dumpling, Chicken Kapitan Curry Pot Pie, Café Quenino Lobster Pasta, Beef Rendang Short Ribs, Char Sui Glazed Pork Belly, and Assam Tiger Prawns.
When night falls, the cafe transforms into a lively cocktail bar, serving up Singapore-inspired signature cocktails like Geylang Sling, Nenas Spritz, Lucky Laksa, Ms. Joaquim and Ondeh Ondeh, and Freedom Lager from award-winning Singapore brewery Brewlander.
