by Coleen Leong
Bustling Orchard Road is now home to IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first voco hotel in Southeast Asia.
Occupying the building that once housed Hilton Singapore, the 423-room voco Orchard Singapore is the perfect base for you to rediscover Orchard Road and explore the buzzing shopping precinct at leisure.
True to its name (Latin for “to invite” and “call together”), the lifestyle hotel prides itself in providing heartfelt hospitality in inviting spaces where charming, unstuffy and playful vibes take centre stage.
Here’s what you can expect after checking into the hotel.
Cosy, updated rooms made for full-on relaxation
It’s always a treat to stay in a hotel room that has undergone a makeover. While the structure of the rooms and sequoia brown marble bathrooms (in deluxe rooms) remain unchanged, the spaces have been refreshed with beige and light brown hues spiced up with yellow accents, and vibrant artworks.
To encourage deep, restful sleep and power naps, mattresses are covered by super soft sheets topped with bouncy comforters made from 150 recycled plastic bottles, one of voco’s signature eco-friendly touches. Another sustainable effort can be found in the bathroom amenities from Apotheke, a plant-based organic skincare brand from New York, which come in large-sized bottles instead of the usual minis.
Deluxe rooms come with glass desks, Herman Miller office chairs and 55-inch smart TVs, and a choice of walk-in showers or bathtubs in bathrooms. Suites have separate living rooms and walk-in rain showers with steam functions.
All rooms and suites are equipped with Nespresso coffee machines and stocked with a selection of TWG teas.
Chill out at the Club Lounge & soak up views of Orchard Road
Guests in Club rooms can enjoy exclusive access to the cosy and spacious Club Lounge on level 22 from 1pm to 9pm daily. Pop into the bright and breezy lounge for some coffee, tea or soft drinks, and nibbles like nuts, cookies, cakes and fruits. Sit by the window to soak up views of Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle precinct.
From 5.30pm to 7.30pm during evening cocktails, tuck into savoury light bites and sip on red wine, Prosecco or the refreshing Ginger Punch cocktail, made with white rum, lime juice and ginger ale. There are also mocktails like Citrus Zen, a blend of lime juice, Sprite and soda.
Feast on steak and seafood at Opus Bar & Grill
Meat and seafood lovers are in for a treat as flame-grilled dry-aged steaks and sustainably sourced seafood are the stars at Opus Bar & Grill.
The beef is dry-aged in a specially designed cabinet lined with Himalayan salt tiles for 14 to 21 days to develop deep flavours and tender textures. Stellar sharing platters are the 1.2kg Whiskey-Aged Wagyu Tomahawk with an impressive marble score of five, and the Signature 1kg Black Angus Bone-in Rib Eye with a marble score of four. Must-try single cuts include the 150-day Grain-fed Angus Rib Eye and Tajima Wagyu Ribe Eye. Enjoy the meats with a luxe sidekick like the Opus Over-the-Top Fries, laced in foie gras fat, black truffle puree and parmesan.
For seafood fans, there are signatures like Whole Live Lobster served with a homemade harissa dip; Grilled Seafood Platter comprising whole Boston lobster, Atlantic scallops, king prawns and Chilean salmon; Saffron Seafood Risotto; and Crab Cake.
Not into beef or seafood? Go for grilled specialities like Grilled Butterflied Spring Chicken, DeRaza Iberico Pork Rack and Premium Lamb Rack Chops, or sustainable selections like Plant-based Chicken Burger, Impossible Beef Skewer and Smoked Risotto.
Be sure to leave some room for D9 Cakery’s legendary American cheesecake which is baked with Philadelphia cream cheese and boasts a light and velvety smooth texture.
Recharge at wellness sessions
If you’re consciously making health and wellness your priority, the hotel wants to help you achieve your self-care goals. It offers a wellness session every month led by Movement and Mindful Coach, Lululemon Legacy ambassador and all-round wellness expert Brandon Chong.
Each session will have a different theme but you can look forward to singing bowls, acro yoga poses for couples, and beer and cocktail yoga sessions.
On 19 June at 10am, Chong will host an hour-long yoga session on the hotel rooftop, followed by a two-course brunch at Italian restaurant il Cielo on level 24. Tickets are priced at $70 nett. Book your session here.
