For our March 2024 issue, we take a dive into five luxe additions to the little red dot’s hotel scene that offer impeccable interior design and experiences of grand proportions.
Indulge in the plushness of this nature‑inspired hotel that is a stone’s throw from the Lion City’s shopping belt. Located on the grounds of the former Villa Marie bungalow previously owned by the descendants of renowned philanthropist and community leader Tan Tock Seng, Artyzen Singapore is an oasis of tropical beauty amidst the towering concrete jungle of our city.
Paying homage to its locale, you’ll find that its interiors and decor are embellished with floral motifs—in particular the orchid, a conscious ode to the country’s national flower. The 142 rooms across all categories come with a spacious balcony, a nod to Villa Marie, whose grounds were once home to an enormous tropical garden. Across the space, the love for Singapore as well as the local art scene is evident. Artyzen’s interior design and creative direction was curated by Nic Graham, an interior designer hailing from Australia, who adopted a maximalist, botany-centric approach to the hotel’s design details. Beyond the nature‑inspired elements, the grandeur of the hotel can be felt through its high ceilings—we’re talking soaring heights of 4 metres at the minimum—as well as the Straits‑inspired visual details peppering the property.
Each room is fitted with a ceiling fan—a rare sight in hotels of today—for guests to easily switch between the cool embrace of air-conditioning and the natural breeze. During my stay, I checked into a Premier King Balcony room, that provides 42 to 48 square metres of floor space, as well as stunning views through the room’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Despite being situated in the heart of town, Artyzen’s prime locale still offers guests breezy, unobstructed views of West Singapore, plush with greenery.
For dinner, we headed to Quenino, a fine-dining concept heralded by executive chef Victor Liong. The degustation menu presented itself as an Asian-inspired course menu, with influences from Chinese, Malay and Indian culture—thanks to the chef de cuisine who relishes in her Chinese-Indian heritage. The tasting menu is supercharged by fresh produce from Australia, with the sweet, crisp freshness of the seafood shining through in the Raw Spencer Gulf Kingfish course, that’s finished with burnt garlic and white soy cream. Other highlights from the dinner include the Dry Aged Lacquered Duck, a modern Southeast Asian take on traditional Peking Duck, as well as the Charred Spanish Mackerel. The Sweet Corn Ice Cream was the perfect sweet finish for the night, with frozen coconut and savoury popcorn notes.
For seamless around-the-clock dining, you can pop by Cafe Quenino. A casual cafe scene by day, Cafe Quenino transforms into an intimate bar by night. Armed with a stellar lineup of bespoke cocktails and mocktails (organised by notes—flower, fruit and herb, to name a few—for easy selection) inspired by the Artyzen’s locality and Singapore’s heritage, you’ll be spoilt for choice. I tried Let’s Go To A Paradise Of Glorious Tulips from the Spice section, which featured a delish balance of miso butter cognac, guava and firewater bitters.
Artyzen provides a tranquil respite away from the bustle of Singapore’s busiest shopping district. At the Wellness & Workout space on level five, guests are invited to enjoy a range of complimentary wellness workshops and classes throughout the week, so you can start off each morning fresh. If you’re after an afternoon of serenity, you can also look towards their spa treatments. We opted for the Gemstone Odyssey, a personalised treatment that focuses on the healing properties of different gemstones and essential oils. Before you begin your journey of relaxation, the skilled therapists introduce each gemstone and its qualities before you select your intended area of focus, for 90 minutes of bliss in their private treatment rooms.
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