A Flawless Location: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach – Review

At the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, the name of the game is a millennial mix of wraparound skyscraper views of the garden metropolis, bold interiors, and a bevy of gastronomic destinations that might just convince you to add a few more nights to your holiday. 

The Country & Town House Responsible Tourism Guide

Hotel Review: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

STAY

As bragging rights go, the JW Marriott’s location is flawless. For starters, its shimmering twin towers designed by the starchitect, Lord Norman Foster are set at the junction of the historic Beach Road precinct – with its period architecture and old-world charm – and Marina Bay, with the National Gallery, Central Business District and convention centres, and Orchard Road, all within easy striking distance of a cab or, in the cool tropical evenings, a leisurely passeggiata. All of which makes the hotel an ideal bolthole for both leisure and business travellers. Meanwhile, the spacious rooms designed by one Philippe Starck feature light-filled interiors, bold prints and colours, literal walls of mirrors and, depending which side of the tower you pick, dazzling views of the city and water. There are diversions aplenty, whether an extended session in the spa, or a meal (or two) at either the in-house restaurants, more of which later, or the wonderful local eateries just steps from the hotel.

DO

Do as much or as little as you please. The concierge is ever helpful for excursions but it’s just as tempting to spend quality time lounging on the submerged pool lounges with a view over Singapore’s skyscrapers. The hotel’s central location makes day trips a breeze. Just a few blocks down is retail bliss at Raffles City, though culture vultures may prefer to wander down to the Asian Civilisations Museum and National Gallery by the historic Boat Quay. A morning walk comprising a leisurely loop around Marina Bay provides a convenient snapshot of old Singaporean architecture and its present-day incarnation as a glittering global financial powerhouse. Back at the hotel, gym bunnies can hit the Ciclotte stationary bike and elliptical machines, whilst the more indolent might sashay over to the Aromatherapy Associates-scented spa – quietly furnished in blues and blush – for a jet lag cure and body wrap.

EAT

It doesn’t take long to realise that the aphorism that Singapore’s favourite pastime is eating is actually true. The JW Marriott certainly doesn’t hold back on the gastronomic front. Headlining the list is celebrity chef Akira Back’s eponymous restaurant which features his trademark modern Korean-inflected Japanese menu, though the Beach Road Kitchen is also a crowd pleaser for its live food stations cooking up a storm of international and local standards. Or just pick your way through the adjoining NCO Club, a historic low-slung white pile, once the haunt of the colonial expatriate community, now refurbished into a bona fide culinary destination. Here, Madam Fan is a showy mix of art deco interiors and Cantonese fare. Adjourn to the Stags’ Room for whiskey and wines, or for a dose of fantasy, the Fish Pool is a Las Vegas-worthy treat featuring an Olympic-standard diving pool, a mermaid (yes, really), and tropical cocktails.

THE FINAL WORD

In a city so saturated with hotels, it takes a lot to stand out. To its credit, the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach makes the mark with a winning combination of luxurious accommodation, convenient location, sensational views and, to keep things interesting, just a little dose of chutzpah.

BOOK

King Bed Guest Room from S$607. marriott.com