The first St Regis in Southeast Asia opened its doors at Tanglin Road in 2008. Since then, the face of Orchard has gone through what feels like a million changes; still, the glossy 20-storey St Regis Singapore has remained.
For a property entering the latter half of its teenage years, the St Regis Singapore has certainly held up well. Entering the hotel, we’re greeted by the familiar, expansive lobby; it’s a classy joint, for sure, complete with marble floors, chinoiserie decor and massive chandeliers overhead.
Throughout the hotel are artworks by masters, both homegrown and global. The collection keeps the place feeling contemporary and fresh even with its otherwise classic aesthetic. Right at the entrance is a sculpture by Colombian artist Fernando Botero of a woman lying on her front; she’s not quite the doorman one might expect, but certainly a welcome injection of modernity. Within the hotel, we spot pieces by Nanyang masters Chua Ek Kay, Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Wen Hsi.
On the far end of the lobby is the Astor Grill — more on that later — and to the right, we find the elevators, which take us up to our Penthouse Guest Room. Here, we’re treated to sweeping views of the surrounding area, not to mention a sizable 52 sq m space, including a bathroom with a bathtub and separate his-and-hers areas.
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As we settle into our room, the doorbell rings; standing outside is executive butler Jatin, who gives us a quick rundown of the place, followed by a friendly chat and an invitation to call anytime we need. That welcoming demeanour is something carried through in the rest of our interactions with the folks during our stay; people are friendly and service is speedy, to boot.
For dinner, we head down to the Astor Grill, where the menu is inspired by heritage chop-houses in New York. We dig into a variety of grilled and roasted items, including king oyster mushrooms, pork chops and steaks.
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The Astor Grill has a monthly rotating “exclusive cut” — at the time of our visit, it’s a beautifully marbled Australian wagyu ribeye from Livingstone Farms. The meal ends with a huge Baked Alaska that could well feed four to six; the pairing of pistachio and raspberry gelatos under the lightly torched meringue is a surprising combination, but it works exceedingly well, as the acidic fruit cuts the rich nutty flavours.
Stuffed from dinner, we make our way to the Astor Bar, where the New York, New York menu features drinks inspired by its namesake city with a Singaporean twist. Our favourites include the Montauk Dreaming (a banana-forward concoction with mezcal and fernet branca) and the Hever Castle, a sweet strawberry gin creation served in an Instagram-worthy copper mug. Spice lovers might also want a go at one of the Bloody Marys that the Astor Bar offers; we recommend the Chili Padi Mary for an Asian take on the classic.
As our time at the St Regis Singapore ends, we can’t help but think of a single phrase: tried and true. New hotels are a dime a dozen in the crowded hospitality scene, but don’t be too quick to discount the classics — we sure won’t.
