The Standard, Singapore review – The Points Guy

The location is convenient yet tucked away

On Orange Grove Road, minutes from the glitzy shopping strip of Orchard Road and across the street from Shangri-La Singapore, sits a relatively petite mirrored glass building with zig-zagging sides. The location is prime in the sense that it’s in a quiet neighborhood yet easily walkable to multiple major attractions, namely shopping and the tropical Singapore Botanic Gardens, which having opened in 1859 are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

My recent visit was quite rainy and stormy, so I did not get to stroll the 15 minutes to the European-style gardens but I did make it easily to some shopping, including a visit to Ion Orchard and the hawker-style food court in the basement of Tangs. The other beloved destination for nature immersion in the city, Gardens by the Bay, is less than 15 minutes away by Grab or taxi.

There are 143 crisp, cheerful rooms and suites

Up a moody, mirrored red elevator and down a blue-carpeted hallway, the guest rooms are, like the rest of the feel-good hotel, the result of Singapore’s Ministry of Design working with Standard’s in-house design team. They combined a clean contemporary aesthetic with a bit of sass and color, especially in the bright bathrooms that make up for a lack of natural light with bold, sunshine-yellow tiles.

The room, however, has no lack of light thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass (blackout shades and sheers come down at the touch of a button), which I appreciated, especially at the corner banquette with a nice round table that serves well for in-room dining or working on a laptop. It was also where a welcome treat — a delectable popsicle-shaped cake pop — awaited me under a glass dome.

My king bed (I was in a Standard King with pool view room type, a snug but pleasant 248 square feet), sat beneath a textured wood headboard that extended up and across the ceiling, and there was playful writing and decoration in marker on the two mirrors welcoming me and reminding me of The Standard’s signature backwards font.

A long, playful light fixture edged in crimson glowed behind the bed, and my welcome included a shiny red balloon in the shape of lips. Very similar bedrooms and bathrooms feature in the nine suites, with the largest being the Suite Spot. It clocks in at 775 square feet and has a double-height ceiling in the living room, its own bar and the hotel’s only bathtub.

Because of the intimately sized rooms, the design incorporated an “open closet” concept involving hooks and hangers, as well as a folding luggage rack and a large drawer in the bed’s wood frame. The safe box was also built cleverly into an under-bed drawer. The minibar and mini fridge held such snacks for purchase as broccoli chips, chili guava snacks, popcorn in Singaporean flavors (such as chili crab) and candy. There was a Nespresso machine with pods, TWG teabags plus kettle and glass bottles of WTR water, gratis.

The bathroom packed a punch not only because it was wrapped in the aforementioned ceramic tiles but also because of what was inside of it. The yummy skincare amenities are by Davines specifically for The Standard (and made my whole room smell amazing post rain shower), and the bathrobe was my most favorite from a hotel ever. Like the hotel team’s many different uniforms — universally bold — it was designed by Shone Puipia and was a super soft, drape-y waffle fabric in a soft pink with black and coral accents and holes at the armpits that kept me cool but could also be worn as armholes.

The room was also equipped with Bluetooth speakers and smart LG TVs.

Kaya is a major reason to stay at The Standard, Singapore

First I was enchanted by the magical garden atmosphere created in Kaya, the signature restaurant at The Standard, Singapore, thanks in large part to it being wrapped in 1,184 square feet of bold textile wall coverings with appliqued 3D flowers on top, by Thai artist Yen Panya. Then it was the gorgeously presented food and cocktails, and finally the captivating, surprising flavors. (The only downside of the sexy, low-lit ambience is that photos are a bit challenging!)

The modern Japanese izakaya concept opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) and features a very exciting menu by executive chef Nicholas Cheng, who is into pickling and fermenting, the latter of which has a legacy in Singaporean households.

Breakfast is an unlimited a la carte offering with a small continental buffet that can be included in a bed-and-breakfast rate, added on for $30 or ordered from a la carte. I couldn’t help but order the spicy udon laksa with prawns ($18 if ordering a la carte) and furikake onigiri rice balls ($13) two mornings in a row, they were that memorable. The ogura croffle ($13) was an interesting combination of pressed croissant with adzuki beans and cream. Naturally there are more standard items, too, such as eggs your way and yogurt parfait.

Lunch and dinner at Kaya were a true joy for the taste buds — and tummy — thanks to beautifully composed plates and bowls. I remembered trying and enjoying (cold) somen ramen in Nara, Japan, earlier this year, so I opted to start with somen and tomatoes ($13), which comprises tomato kombu consomme, ponzu-pickled tomatoes, sudachi and pine nuts, and I would quite literally eat it daily if it were possible, I so loved the bright, zingy broth and bold tomatoes with soft noodles.

The shoyu-koji fermented burnt karaage ($13) and four-week fermented lamb and furikake ($30) with aged dashi yogurt were additional faves. And I see sweet potatoes in a new glorious light and have changed my opinion of chestnuts all based off the Sweet Potato Mont Blanc ($12) dessert. The colors stimulated my eyes, and I don’t think I’ve tasted anything as silky-smooth as the purple sweet potato.

At first glance, the cocktails at Kaya may just seem like nuanced yet smooth concoctions that minimize waste. But in reality they’re deeply layered and they make you think, in a good way. Each came paired with a Japanese concept such as ikigai or kaizen, which means “continuous improvement” and is ascribed to the Hikari Spritz ($18), which has tequila and mouthwatering passionfruit curry liqueur and lemongrass ginger liqueur (using lemongrass waste) plus sancho umeshu and fire water, and comes with a big pearl-like bubble on top that pops into a cloud of rosemary smoke. My favorite way to end a meal is now with a decadent Wagashi Harmony ($18): milk oolong-infused Suntory whisky, NOBO coconut milk, matcha, hojicha and housemade black sesame syrup.

Steeped in American culture but with a twist, Cafe Standard is the third of its concept (the others are in the U.S.). It’s a kind of come-for-coffee-stay-for-a-cocktail vibe with plenty of power points for the inevitable remote working patrons (I’m told they won’t be chasing people away). Though the all-day menu featuring faves including a chopped salad ($12), the Standard Burger ($18) and fish and chips ($15) is great, the beverages blew me away.

There is a collection of cocktails inspired by movies and TV shows that have been filmed at various Standard hotels — see the Mr. Big with Earl grey-infused Tito’s vodka, Campari, cranberry thyme shrub, lychee juice, citrus and soda ($16). But even better are the boozy milkshakes (also available in 0% ABV versions; a handful of cocktails can be 0%, low-ABV or boozy), specifically the Bourbon Biscoff Shake ($15) that involves Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, chocolate popping candy and Biscoff spread among other indulgent ingredients.

The pool is the place to be on a hot day

A showpiece of The Standard, Singapore is a long, asymmetrical pool lined on one side with mirrors that are vaguely fun house-ish and on the other side large daybeds with striped umbrellas. Laps could be swum in the pool, but there’s a large shallow zone very much made for lounging, especially in low molded chaise chairs that sit in the water. There’s a swim-up bar, too — a first for the brand — for afternoons spent getting silly off slushy tropical gin drinks.

Reasons The Standard, Singapore might not be for you

If you’re after all the trappings of a five-star hotel, such as a comprehensive spa with treatments, steam rooms, saunas and the whole nine yards, then this property isn’t going to tick all your boxes. There will ultimately be some fitness equipment outside under the building’s overhang for rabid exercisers, but there’s no gym.

It’s not a resort, so there’s not a robust daily list of programming, but engaging offerings specific to Singapore are still being formulated by the director of culture and programming, who is negotiating how to integrate the hotel into the community. Already there’s a run club (which heads to the Botanic Garden for sunrise and sunset) and twice-weekly complimentary yoga classes in the garden, too. Branded bikes and scooters are available as well, featuring pops of the hotel’s yellow.

And even without a large lobby or concierge desk, the staff go out of their way to pull together personalized recommendations through WhatsApp communication. My only little gripes were minor: Things like wishing the buttons for the shades were by the bed so I could see what was happening outside in the morning without moving.

Accessibility

The hotel has four ADA-accessible rooms appropriate for disabled guests, plus the public restrooms are accessible, too.

There is no pool lift.

Alternatives to The Standard, Singapore

Singapore has multitudes of points hotels all over and in the nearby vicinity, too, so there are lots of options. A few nearby include Shangri-La, which is a very family-friendly property with a resort feel; Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Center, an IHG Hotel; Hilton Singapore Orchard (with 1,080 rooms); and Grand Hyatt Singapore.

Checking out

Unsurprising for its location, the hospitality and service are warm and attentive. I found everyone enthusiastic to provide recommendations, especially catered to my unique circumstance (traveling solo with my baby).

I was told that the goal was to have just enough going on at the hotel for people who wish to stay in but also lots of tips for those who want to go experience Singapore.

In the restaurants, too, I found very solicitous service, and was given intriguing information about drinks and dishes without asking. I loved cozy, delicious Kaya so much I would honestly consider traveling to Singapore from Bali just for three meals a day in that restaurant. But of course there are other reasons to return, too — the pool, for another, on a sunny day. In such an easy, appealing destination as Singapore is, this Standard hotel is a cool yet cheery place that reflects the brightest elements of the city and its creativity.

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