By Buzzy Gordon,
photos courtesy The Fullerton Hotel Singapore.
 

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Telephone: (65) 6733 8388
Facsimile: (65) 6735 8388
Email: info@fullertonhotel.com

It is pretty much undisputed that Singapore’s most iconically historic hotel is Raffles.  But once you have had a Singapore Sling at its birthplace, the Long Bar, and meandered the arcades, you have already experienced much of what the legendary place has to offer.

Fortunately, another classic building -- not coincidentally, a gem of Palladian architecture -- in the crossroads of SE Asia, has been transformed into arguably the city’s finest hotel, as ranked by Conde Nast Traveler (the 2010 Gold List) and Travel & Leisure.  The Fullerton Hotel, strategically located adjacent to the marina, has 400 rooms and suites, with some of the finest views in town: overlooking the famed Merlion statue, the symbol of Singapore, and the new waterfront casino complex – and on the other side, the colonial heart of one of the jewels of the former British Empire, now the civic center of the gleaming city.

A terrific place to enjoy a 360-degree view is the rooftop bar, which opens for drinks nightly at sunset (if it is not booked for private functions). Another possibility for evening libations – or afternoon tea -- is the VIP lounge known as the Straits Club, a pleasant, quiet place to relax with a choice of newspapers and magazines and attentive service.  

The Fullerton’s Governor and Presidential suites are where visiting dignitaries and celebrities stay – but anyone can enjoy the hotel’s popular Loft Suites, duplex accommodations with cozy balconies and spectacular views from both levels.  The common and living areas – each complete with large high-definition televisions and desks for working – are climate controlled to technological perfection and easily adjustable to the half-degree.  

The Fullerton is conveniently home to an array of eating options that could just about keep a guest from ever leaving the hotel. The cavernous yet well-appointed atrium lobby, a favorite venue for business meetings, is home to Japanese and Indian lunch buffets every afternoon, as well as to Town, the main restaurant (featuring Western food) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Town is also where the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is served: all the usual favorites are here – made-to-order eggs, waffles, pancakes, etc. – but a wide range of Asian choices are represented as well, from congee (rice porridge) to curries. An elegant touch is an entire, vertical honeycomb from which one can scrape the fresh, sweet nectar. (Be advised that breakfast is not included in the room charge.)

A smaller morning buffet – although thoughtfully accompanied by champagne -- is available in the more sedate VIP lounge; it also accommodates late risers. In addition, the snacks served at tea and with cocktails are complimentary for those who upgrade to that level (you will be charged for guests you invite from outside the hotel; regrettably, not all the canapés tasted as good as they looked).

Singapore is, of course, predominantly Chinese – and no local first-class hotel would be complete without a top-notch Chinese restaurant. Jade, featuring a popular weekend dim-sum buffet, fills that bill at the Fullerton, while the Lighthouse is the hotel’s signature Italian eatery.

After a hard day’s sightseeing, shopping or sampling street food delights at Singapore’s celebrated hawker centers, the Fullerton’s Asian Spa is the perfect place to relax. Therapies from across the continent can be booked in treatment rooms designed for individuals or couples. 

A final tip: If you want to arrive and leave in style, book one of the hotel’s Mercedes limousines to pick you up or drop you off at the airport.

 

 

 

© May 2010 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.

 

Issue:
January
2012