August-September 2018

Y ou know the Conrad is serious about F&B when the in-room dining “menu” is a 58-page coffee- table magazine! It’s called Connoisseur and if you weren’t hungry when you picked it up, you’ll be ordering something asap once you see the photos. I stayed in an Executive room, so I mostly ate in the associated lounge on the 31st floor. Included in the Executive rate is daily champagne buffet breakfast (or you can eat downstairs at evening cocktails with hors d’oeuvres, and all- day tea, coffee and soft drinks. Everything was on point, from omelettes and f re sh - sque e z ed juices in the morning to French cheeses and petite puddings at night. You also get spa discounts, late checkout and more; in short, paying the supplement is great bang for your buck. While it’s tempting to stay in the lounge enjoying the free craft beers on offer (my favourite was Tok Gong, an American IPA by local brewers Archipelago), do visit the Lobby Lounge for a G&T. The Conrad stocks dozens of exotic gins from around the world, and can pair them with artisanal tonic waters and over 30 garnishes. They’re an absolute steal during Happy Hour (around HK$65). My daughters weren’t with me on this visit, but when I skyped them and let them watch the automatic blinds roll aside to reveal the view from my 27th- floor room, their eyes were out on stalks. The Conrad is one of a tiny cluster of Singapore hotels perfectly positioned around Marina Bay for panoramas. They also took a liking to the signature Conrad rubber duck in the bath. After its 20th birthday in 2016, the hotel undertook major renovations of all 500-plus rooms and suites – quite a job! The result is a superb new look featuring CONRAD CENTENNIAL SINGAPORE excellent all-day restaurant Oscar’s), afternoon tea,

neutral tones and minimalist touches. My room had a comfy bay-window sofa running the length of the giant window, plus 15 pillow styles on the menu, and quality Refinery for Men toiletries in the generous bathroom. There’s a 24-hour gym and 20-metre outdoor pool on the fourth floor, the latter with new cabanas installed as part of the refurb. You’ll also find a new junior ballroom, The Pavilion, built right beside the water – a great space for an event. Poolside lounging was tempting, though I took advantage of the Conrad’s central location to explore instead.

Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer and the National Museum are all reached easily on foot. Keen to head somewhere else? The concierge can offer curated itineraries of one, three and five hours, around different themes including culture, art, food and adventure. (This is a global initiative of Conrad; see stayinspired.com for more.) Or, if that all seems a bit much, unwind on your bay-window sofa with a Nespresso and take in the views.

+65 6334 8888 conradhotels3.hilton.com/Singapore

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