“This is Singapore?”

Looking around me as I swam to the edge of the infinity pool, one could easily mistake this city hotel as one found in one of our regional countries. Tucked among the lush greenery at the edge of Bukit Timah and in the Orange Grove precinct is one of Singapore’s newest hotel that is, well, so near yet so nicely far.  To mark its official opening, we were invited to a short 1-night stay at the Novotel Singapore on Stevens after work on the last Friday of the year. And what a delightful stay it turned out to be.

First Impressions

We arrived to be greeted by the gleaming reception with smiling staff who were on-hand to assist us with the luggage. As Angie was whisked away to proceed with the check-in, I was inundated by the feeling of being looked-after, of service and of a good staycation waiting to happen. The lobby has a modern, chic, contemporary feel. The free-form chandelier that graces the ceiling exudes class and exclusiveness, sending the crystal-clear message that every guest is a gem.

The Rooms

For any hotel, the room is the sanctuary. And we love this sanctuary which awaits us.

The modern, chic furnishing with a geometric theme oozes sophistication. The room is not large, yet intimate enough for connecting with that special someone. The bathroom (with its see-through glass wall) will be popular with couples but, if the guests choose to, can be covered with an electronic shade.

The plush and comfortable bed is inviting. The temptation to yield to the bed was challenged by the desire to go explore the beautiful hotel grounds and its plentiful facilities. A ‘happy’ problem that exists in most vacations!

The Surroundings

Alas, we decided to heed the call of ‘great outdoors’! First stop was without doubt the large infinity pool with a panoramic view of the greenery of Orange Grove estate.  Just outside the lobby is a large green space with clean artificial turf, where we enjoyed a short stroll – a rare treat for a city hotel in this part of Singapore.  

If guests would like to do some shopping, they can take the hotel’s complimentary shuttle bus service to the DFS Galleria at Scotts situated in the heart of Orchard Road. In fact, guests would be happy to discover that the hotel is just a mere two bus stops away from Orchard!  The shuttle bus also brings guests to Singapore Botanic Gardens, the only tropical garden to be honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! 

Dinner was at the ‘Food Exchange’, the hotel’s main restaurant that serves an eclectic mix of regional and western cuisines. The dishes were tasty but we were impressed by the friendly and attentive service both at dinner and the next morning’s breakfast. With its visually appealing décor, attentive service, ‘Food Exchange’ echoes the general ambience of this hotel– one where connection with guests comes first above all.

Check-out Thoughts:

The Novotel Singapore on Stevens  is a modern, classy hotel that offers guests that rare opportunity to rest, relax and reconnect at the fringe of the city. No mean feat for a hotel that is so near the heart of action yet so ‘comfortably far’. For the locals, it’s a gem of a hotel for that much-needed couple staycation or special celebration.

Letter to the GM: (This is the newest feature of our review to summarise our experience)

Congratulations on your official opening!

You’ve got a wonderful hotel with lots of green space (a premium in urbanized Singapore) for guests to connect with self, family and nature. We spy from the corner of our eye that a Kids’ Room is in the works at the same level as the ‘Food Exchange’ and Swimming Pool. Once that is up, I’m sure the hotel would be another attractive staycation spot for families. Most noteworthy of all, you have assembled a dedicated, creative team who’s willing to go the extra mile to connect with your guests. Thank you for making us feel so at home. 

Novotel Singapore on Stevens

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Orchard District, 28 Stevens Road, #01-01, Singapore 257878
PHONE: +65 6491 6100 

P.S. Hop over to our friend Sengkang Babies’ blog to read their review of Novotel Singapore on Stevens!