Checking into The Standard Singapore: the Lion City’s hottest new hotel has all the brand’s hallmarks, from buzzy restaurants and bars to art installations – plus a relaxing location
Located minutes from Orchard Road and the Botanic Gardens, in an enclave that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Crazy Rich Asians, the new hotel offers all the brand’s signature features
But as the Standard International hotel group has evolved and expanded globally, its properties have also come to adapt to their locations, especially in Asia. Late last year, the company opened its fifth Asian outpost, in Singapore, hot on the heels of the group’s acquisition by hospitality giant Hyatt; the other four are in Thailand and the Maldives.
Unlike its counterparts in cities such as New York, where Standard International operates two properties, or Bangkok, The Standard Singapore is far from “party central”, figuratively and geographically. Nestled between the Shangri-La Hotel and the Shangri-La Residences in the leafy residential enclave of Orange Grove Road, the hotel seamlessly blends with its lush surroundings while staying true to the quirky vibe at the core of the brand’s DNA.
The site-specific art installations that have become a signature of Standard properties around the world appear throughout: from reception’s Dreamscape, a terrarium depicting a landscape inspired by Singapore’s tropical environment, by artist Eric Tobua, to a lip-shaped sculpture adorning the luxuriant courtyard garden, the heart of the property.
Housed in a new structure on the former site of an apartment building, the eight-floor hotel features two restaurants: Café Standard, which serves casual food and drinks in a welcoming area on the ground floor occasionally used as a workspace; and the more formal Kaya at The Standard, a Japanese izakaya-style restaurant where you can enjoy dishes such as the delicious drowning beef and Japanese-inspired drinks at the buzzy bar. One of the hotel’s most striking installations is artist Saran Yen Panya’s Secret Mint Julep Party: the textured wallpaper adorning the restaurant. For more laid-back moments, the swim-up bar is the spot to hang out and enjoy a sunset cocktail while lounging in the pool.
The 143 rooms and suites, most offering sweeping views of the neighbourhood’s high-rises and tree-lined streets, are decorated with wood panelling and feature comfortable sitting areas at the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathrooms are remarkable for their yellow and white tiles, which are also a nod to other properties in the chain.
