Hotel Review: Andaz Singapore (King Bed with City View) - Great Location with New F&B Concepts in 2022
It has been almost four years since my last stay at the Andaz Singapore, and that is no fault of the property - I have shifted my focus from the World of Hyatt (Hyatt Gold Passport then) program to Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors throughout the years as these properties were more commonly found in the cities that I used to frequent. As more and more hotels continue to stay as SHN-dedicated facilities in Singapore, the options for a staycation have been narrowed quite significantly and since I am actually contemplating earning Globalist status in the World of Hyatt program, I have decided to book a stay at the Andaz Singapore once again.
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Entrance
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
Andaz Singapore is currently offering a Singapore Resident’s rate at S$250++ and S$300++ per night for weekday and weekend stays respectively. Since I do not have top-tier status in the program, I thought that the Singapore Resident’s rate is actually pretty good value since it comes with complimentary breakfast for two adults, as well as a S$50 F&B credit that you can use during your stay. As an Explorist member, I was able to skip the line and check-in at one of the dedicated desks located on Level 2 of the hotel. I was accorded a one-category upgrade into a King room with City View which is rather perplexing since Explorist members are supposed to get the best room available at check-in (excluding club rooms and suites) - in the case of the Andaz Singapore, this should have been the King Bed with Bay View, Deluxe which is three categories above the lead-in room category. As I was staying on a Wednesday which is typical weekday, there was plenty of available rooms in that category so I was slightly disappointed that an upgrade was not accorded in line with the terms and conditions of the World of Hyatt program.
Bedroom
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
The King Bed with City View room measures approximately 38sqm in size (Deluxe Rooms are slightly larger at 42sqm) and it did indeed come with a view of the city from a distance. One thing that I really do like about the rooms and suites here at Andaz Singapore is the design and colour tone that is present throughout the entire property. The warm colours are extremely soothing, and the abundance of natural daylight makes this space a great one to simply luxuriate in.
Lounge Area and Work Desk
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
It is worth noting that the King room with City View is exactly the same as the lead-in room category with a slightly better view. The room comes with a small work desk (which also doubles as a dining area), as well as a comfortable and plush seating area. Power outlets are located thoughtfully on the side but do note that these are not universal outlets so if you are an international guest, you will need a universal adapter of sorts. There is also a 48-inch flat-screen TV which can be angled towards the seating area if required.
Entrance and Minibar
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
Even though the room only measures 38sqm in size on paper, it does feel a little bit larger as the design fully maximises the space - you might notice that the main entrance of the room leads you directly into the wardrobe and bathroom instead of the bedroom which is slightly atypical for hotels in Singapore.
Nespresso Coffee Machine
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
I love the convenience of having a coffee machine in the room and I am happy to report that all of the rooms and suites at the Andaz Singapore comes with one - you used to be able to enjoy complimentary drinks at the Sunroom on Level 25 previously, but the floor is currently hoarded up for renovations - the all-day refreshment service at the Sunroom is also temporarily suspended. Take-away refreshments are available for in-house guests at the Andaz Coffee Cart located on Level 2 from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily, but honestly, I could not really be bothered to take two lifts down just for a cup of coffee. Hopefully, service at the Sunroom will be reinstated soon as I do miss being able to sit in that beautiful space to get some work done. The Andaz Singapore also used to offer complimentary wines and beers during the Andaz Lounge Hour but this is obviously suspended as well at the moment.
Complimentary Minibar
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
Consistent with brand standards, all rooms and suites at the Andaz Singapore come with complimentary minibar - these are typically replenished on a daily basis when housekeeping comes to clean up your room if you are staying for more than one night. With that said, it is worth noting that the Andaz Singapore also offers a long-term stay rate where the minibar is only replenished once every three days. The complimentary minibar at the Andaz Singapore has definitely been ‘watered down’ over the years - you will now find a small selection of drinks and snacks (as shown in the photo above) which is rather underwhelming if you have seen what was included previously. These offerings definitely pale in comparison to what the Andaz Tokyo and the Andaz Xintiandi in Shanghai offered during my stay then.
City View
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
While my room did indeed come with a city view, it was also impossible to get a good photo due to these solar control dots which are placed outside - they reduce the solar heat gain but all your photos from the room will look like they are suffering from a severe case of chicken pox. I was blessed with excellent weather during my stay and the view was stunning - I also had the pleasure of watching a beautiful sunset from the comfort of my own bed.
King-size Bed
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
One of the things that I really did like about my room at the Andaz Singapore is the firm bedding and fantastic noise-isolation. While the windows did make an occasional popping noise from the expansion and contraction of the cladding, the bedroom was actually in complete silence most of the time. Perhaps it was indeed due to the fact that I was staying on a weekday (where the occupancy is typically lower since leisure guests from abroad at not really allowed to enter yet - unless you are coming in on a VTL), but I really did find the rooms to be conducive for sleep regardless of the time of day. The mattress is on the firmer side (which is my preference) and I did find it to be relatively comfortable to sleep on.
Bluetooth Speaker from Bose
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
You will find a Bluetooth speaker from Bose by the bed and this is great if you are used to traveling with your personal devices - being able to stream my favourite tunes or watch my shows on the laptop with a proper speaker made a huge difference. You will also find a panel near the bedside table where you can control the blinds, shades, and lighting of the room so you do not have to get out of bed when you least desire to.
Bathroom
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
The bathroom layout is really open and even though the toilet does come with a lock on the inside, the rest of the bathroom have doors that can be opened from the bedroom so make sure you care staying with someone you know very well (unless you don’t mind the person walking-in on you while you are showering). I do like that there is ample space to hang up your clothes in the open wardrobe area and that the ironing and ironing board and tucked away elegantly here.
Bedroom Slippers
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
The usual plush bedroom slippers that are commonly found in luxury hotels have been replaced with these iconic blue slippers which were commonly worn on the streets by people in days of yore. Now these slippers are playfully printed with the “stolen from Andaz Singapore” wordings but I have checked with the hotel staff, and they are indeed yours to bring home (if you wish) as it would be really unhygienic to recycle them for another guest. While some people do prefer the plush bedroom slippers, I am actually quite a fan of these as they allow me to quickly put them on to get to the swimming pool, or make my way down to the lobby if I had to go collect some food.
Bathroom
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
In case you do not already know, none of the rooms at the Andaz Singapore come with a bathtub - only the suites have them. However, with that being said, the bathrooms here are seriously a thing of beauty - I love the huge lighted mirror which is great when you are trying to clean yourself up.
Alcohol Wipes
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
Unlike some hotels in Singapore that offer a personal care kit with disposable masks and hand sanitisers, you will find two single-use sanitiser wipes here in the bathroom. These are also the same ones that you will get at the restaurant - I do like them as they allow you to wipe down high-touch surfaces for an ease of mind (even though they should have been cleaned thoroughly already).
Bath Amenities
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
Bath amenities at the Andaz Singapore used to be provided a French perfumer, Christophe Laudamiel and it featured a specially-created scent called Singapore Fusion #19. However, on my most recent stay here in the first week of October 2021, it appears that these amenities have been replaced by these ones from Citron Fresh.
Now if I am not mistaken, I remember seeing these in the bathroom of the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa when I stayed there a couple of months ago. While these amenities are in no way terrible, they are not quite on the same level as what was previously offered, and to be blatantly honest, the previous products represented the Andaz brand better anyway.
The location of Andaz Singapore is great if you are planning to explore the Bugis, Haji Lane, or even Jalan Besar or Lavender - there are plenty of great restaurants and cafes in the area! I did not manage to utilise the swimming pool or gym during my stay this time - do note that prior reservations are required - but I did manage to get some work done in my room, and also settle my dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Honestly, with the current work-from-home arrangements in my company, I am tempted to move some of my remote working days to this hotel - sure, S$250++ a night for an ‘office’ isn’t exactly cheap but it does come with a quite a number of perks. Besides, how else am I going to achieve Globalist in the World of Hyatt program in Singapore otherwise?
Breakfast
Alley on 25 - Andaz Singapore
As mentioned earlier, the Singapore Resident’s rate does come inclusive of breakfast for two adults and this is served at Alley on 25 - you are recommended to make a booking for breakfast (especially if you are staying on a weekend) and in line with the regulations from the Singapore government, only fully-vaccinated guests will be able to enjoy breakfast at the restaurant. Unvaccinated guests will have their breakfast choices delivered to their room instead. Each registered guest will be able to select one main course from the breakfast menu, but they will be able to enjoy unlimited servings of beverages and items from the continental selection. Now, I know some people are actually put off by the one-serving-per-guest rule but to be honest, the portions are actually quite sizeable.
Breakfast
Alley on 25 - Andaz Singapore
I opted for the Congee of the Day as well as some fresh local fruits from the continental menu and they were pretty delicious. More importantly, the staff at Alley on 25 were actually fantastic in terms of being attentive and proactive. Honestly, the last time I came here for a Kitchen Party, the level of attention was not even half as good as what I have experienced on this stay. Once again, this could be due to the fact that I was staying on a weekday so YMMV if you are staying here on a Friday or Saturday.
Breakfast
Alley on 25 - Andaz Singapore
I also appreciate the fact that there are Western and Local options in the breakfast menu - the Nasi Lemak comes with fried chicken, egg, anchovies, peanuts, cucumbers and sambal. I heard the kaya toast set is actually pretty decent as well so I will be sure to try that out the next time I stay here at the Andaz Singapore.
Bedroom
King Bed with City View - Andaz Singapore
As an Explorist member, I was accorded a 2:00 PM late check-out with no issues and this was guaranteed at check-in for me. There are definitely hits and misses with my Andaz Singapore stay but my biggest gripe is the absence of Sunroom. While free-flowing alcoholic drinks in the evening is definitely a tick in books, I miss being able to catch up on some emails and reading in that beautiful space, while enjoying a cup of hot coffee. At S$250++ per night, the Singapore Resident’s rate at Andaz Singapore offers fantastic value (especially to those who do not have Globalist status in the World of Hyatt program) since it also comes with a S$50 F&B credit which I put towards some in-room dining for lunch on the second day.
The Black Angus Beef Burger (S$22++) was surprisingly delicious and the fries were perfect (where in-room dining is concerned). I also ordered the Poached Soya Sauce Chicken Rice (S$18++) which was pretty good but I was semi-disappointed that white rice was served instead of chicken rice. On the whole, I really did enjoy my stay at the Andaz Singapore - while the hotel could have been more proactive in upgrading my room to a Deluxe Room (as per Explorist benefit), my overall experience has been pleasant. The rooms are amongst the nicest ones that I have been to in Singapore where design is concerned, and the level of service here has improved quite significantly from my last visit here. It’s not going to be cheap but I think I might just spend a number of nights here at the Andaz Singapore to achieve Globalist status for the year ahead.
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