5 Unique Experiences at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

by Coleen Leong

Rich heritage and contemporary architecture blend seamlessly at the luxurious JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach.

The luxury hotel occupies three new buildings and three conserved 1930s art deco army blocks of the former Beach Road Camp, all brought to life by award-winning British architectural design firm Foster + Partners and global design firm Aedas, with interiors bearing the creative touches of renowned French designer Philippe Starck.

Spread across the conserved heritage buildings and hotel blocks are 587 rooms, 47 suites, 17 meeting spaces, a grand ballroom, two sky gardens and swimming pools, a spa, three restaurants and bars, as well as three-storey entertainment-lifestyle destination The NCO Club.

Retaining the name of the former Non-Commissioned Officers’ (NCO) Club, The NCO Club is home to Madame Fan which plates up Cantonese classics with a modern take; swanky live music lounge Cool Cats; Stags’ Room, an intimate wine bar and lounge with a Coravin selection of labels from France, Italy and more; and Fish Pool, a raw bar set against the backdrop of an Olympic-standard diving pool. 

The hotel recently launched Asia’s first JW Garden, created by renowned American landscape designer Lily Kwong, which features two sculptural blue trellises that support native climbing plants and edible vines.

Located behind its all-day dining restaurant Beach Road Kitchen, the garden is teeming with herbs, fruit trees and edible flowering plants that are used as garnishes, aromatics and ingredients in the hotel’s restaurants, bars and spa. These include sawtooth coriander, holy basil, sweet basil, rosemary, oregano, Mexican tarragon, society garlic, gotu kola, curry leaves, pandan leaves, chilli, butterfly pea flower, gooseberry, banana, papaya and mulberry.

We highlight five unique experiences you can look forward to during your stay at the hotel.

1. Discover amazing artworks & installations

The hotel has an impressive multi-million dollar collection of over 30 artworks and installations displayed in its lobby as well as other public spaces.

As you enter the lobby, be greeted by British artist Iain Nutting’s Gorilla sculpture, made from reclaimed scrap metal, and be dazzled by the floor-to-ceiling video wall installation by South Korean artist Lee Lee Nam which combines art with technology and uses LED monitors as a canvas to create an artistic symphony.

Near the hotel entrance, spot Joie de Vivre Heroic, Richard MacDonald’s bronze sculpture of three figures playing a trumpet, a horn and a flute, and Anthony James’ 80” Icosahedron, a fascinating maze of illuminating LED lights, reflecting mirrors, steel structures and geometric shapes.

Lining the corridor to the reception desk are sculptures by Fernando Botero and Ju Ming. Look out also for a river scene by Singaporean artist Lim Tze Peng as well as three of his smaller works hanging along the corridor of the second level.

Art fans who want to learn more about the hotel’s key art pieces can sign up for the hotel’s Art Tour at the Concierge Counter. Besides checking out the hotel’s artworks, the tour also highlights some of its unique spaces.

2. Enjoy an artistic experience in the lifts

Get set for an artistic experience like no other in the hotel lifts. When the lift door closes, it’s like you’ve entered a surreal underwater world where sea creatures like fish, jellyfish and octopus come to life when the lighting alternates between red, green and blue.

The mesmerising effect is brought to life by Animalia, an RGB (red, blue and green) LED wallpaper and graffiti artwork, the handiwork of Milan-based art and design duo Carnovsky, that line the lift walls.

Starck came up with the artistic experience of time and travel through the clever use of RBG wallpaper to pay homage to the beach area where the hotel is located before it was reclaimed.

3. Unwind in high-tech, designer rooms 

Clad in a clean white palette, with brown, mustard and cream accents in suites, juxtaposed against attention-grabbing graffiti carpets, rooms sport the hotel’s signature “floating” beds, fun chrome-plated rocking chairs and a number of mirrors!

The all-white marble bathrooms are equipped with high-tech TOTO Washlets and bath products by British luxury wellness brand Aromatherapy Associates.

A neat feature of the rooms is the butler door, just next to the door, where the housekeeping staff can drop off your requested items without entering your room.

4. Chill out at Flow18’s social spaces

For some outdoor fun, head to the breezy Flow18 on the 18th floor. There are plenty of sofas, chairs and even rocking chairs for reading and chilling out.

Overlooking Marina Bay and the Central Business District, the infinity pool is possibly the best spot in the hotel to catch the sunset and soak up captivating city views.

Get comfy on one of the submerged pool loungers at the jacuzzi area or sit on one of the orange chairs in the shallow pool and bask in the magnificent view of the city skyline. Alternatively, kick back with your favourite drink at the bar.

Those who want to break a sweat or maintain their fitness routine can head to the well-equipped Fitness Centre which opens from 6am to 11pm. There’s also a ping pong table, a pool table and a foosball table for plenty of fun playtime.

5. Seafood, craft cocktails & mermaid performances at Fish Pool

A unique bar experience awaits at Fish Pool at The NCO Club. Featuring a raw bar concept, it serves fresh seafood in three styles – crudo, ceviche and sashimi – along with a cool selection of creative cocktails inspired by the tropics.

The centrepiece of the bar is an Olympic-standard diving pool, the stage for underwater mermaid performances by Singapore’s first mermaid Syrena on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Tuck into signature eats like Otoro & Chutoro, Japanese sashimi-style combo of two prime cuts of Bluefin tuna belly encircled by egg mimosa, umami nori cream, shallots and capers; Ceviche of white fish cured in lime, served with onions, coriander and coconut leche de tigre; and Red Prawn, Argentinian red prawn slices topped with basil pesto, lemon and olive oil.

Non-seafood specials include Foie Gras served with a side of grape, nut jam and warm brioche, and Stracciatella, the soft centre of burrata topped with pickled tomatoes, ponzu, shiso and puffed rice.

Sip on notable craft cocktails like Ocean Inspiration, a concoction of Japanese single malt whisky, tropical house mix and oyster saline tincture; Mori Ne Geijutsu, a blend of Kiku-Masamune Junmai Kaujiyo sake with strong fruit aromatics as base; and R&T Heights, a spirit-forward, clarified cinnamon rum and tonic based blend.