It has been quite some time since I last had a staycation. I recently checked out one of the newest hotels in Singapore. The Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore is a lovely addition to the market in the heart of the Rochester area. It is more like an aparthotel. The area of the hotel makes it rather refreshing for travellers. While usually targeted towards long-stay and corporate travellers, they also accept short-term guests. The change of scenery is welcoming from the usual options in the CBD / Marina / Orchard area. It is near popular areas like Holland V, Botanic Gardens and Kent Ridge Park. This is great for some nature and greenery. It is part of an integrated development at the newly built Rochester Commons. The hotel occupies levels 4 to 7 of the building. There are plenty of dining options in the surrounding mall and conservations black and white.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
The Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore is in the heart of the Rochester area. It is within walking distance of Buona Vista & Kent Ridge MRT stations. A taxi ride might be better if you have plenty of baggage. The property features a mix of studio units, including premier units with a well-equipped kitchenette and deluxe units with garden access. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore. I was booked into their Deluxe Room. Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore features 135 rooms over three categories. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe | No | 21 to 26 Sqm | 101 |
| Deluxe Garden | No | 21 to 26 Sqm | 18 |
| Premier | No | 24 to 27 Sqm | 16 |
Checking In
The ground floor is just a reception area with the main lobby on the second floor. There are some seatings by the side here. I arrived at the hotel at around 1pm. The hotel is about a year old by now.
I was immediately helped by the friendly associate and provided with all the information for the stay. My check-out is extended till 2pm. Besides the reception area, you can find plenty of seating by the side. There is also a massage chair here for guests usage. This place is conceptualised as a communal working spot for guests.
In the corner, you can find the hotel pantry. They even had some board games left for guests usage during the stay. This is great for a cosy gathering for long-stay guests.
I love this self-service dispensing machine where guests can scan the QR code and get some additional room amenities that they might require such as towels, shavers, slippers, coffee and dental kits. This is so helpful and assists the staff with ad hoc tasks. It reminds me of Japanese hotels where amenities are collected at the front desk. You can even get the ARIA (Ascott Robotic Intelligent Assistant) robot to send them to your room. The rooms are also equipped with energy-saving smart occupancy sensors to switch off the lights when unoccupied.
Deluxe Room
The rooms here take up levels 4 to 7 of the building. I was assigned a room on the 5th floor, Room 519. The Deluxe room has a short entranceway right after entering. The bathroom is immediately found to the left. It comes with a toilet and a standing shower. There is only a single sink. All sorts of amenities are provided including dental kits.
The standing shower is spacious and comes with both a handheld shower head and a rainforest shower. Toiletries are from Vitamin Spa and in large pump size bottles. They are lovely and lather well. Water pressure and temperature control are excellent.
Between the entrance and the room, there is an open-concept wardrobe with plenty of hangers and bath slippers. There is also a nicely designed compartment with an ironing kit. The luggage storage area can fit a cabin-size bag. I appreciate the concept of maximising space in the room. It comes with a mirror that acts as a half door to the wardrobe.
The room is in a light palette and green finishes. The decor fits in nicely with the concept of this hotel and the lush Rochester surroundings. The bed takes up most of the space in the room and is the centrepiece. The plush king-size bed is comfortable with high-quality bedding. I love that the mattress is on the firmer side. The pillows also offer decent neck support. Flanking both sides of the bed are spacious nightstands. There are power outlets and controls for the lighting nicely designed within reach. A Wi-Fi charging pad is found on one side of the bed.
Mounted on the wall is a high-quality Smart Screen TV that comes with a good number of both local and international cable TV channels. The TV also supports casting capabilities allowing you to share content from your mobile device. This is great for a cosy movie night. You can also get additional information on the property from the TV.
Below the television, you can find the minibar set-up. It consists of some packaged tea and coffee. A kettle and water container are left for guest’s usage. They do not provide any bottled water in the room but rather there are water dispensers on each floor that you can use. This is part of the hotel’s eco-friendly effort. In the drawer below, the mini-fridge is left empty for your use.
The working desk is a nice set-up for both work and as a vanity area. Power outlets are within reach with a desk lamp and a mirror here. The chair here provides decent back support for a short period of work.
By the side of the window, there is another small table and a chair. This comes in handy for dining or enjoying a coffee in the room. Despite the low floor, the room comes with a nice view of the swimming pool and surrounding greenery. It is very scenic. I also got a look at some of the other rooms in the hotel.
Premier Room
Garden Deluxe
Refresh & Recharge Lounge
The Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore comes with a very useful facility. The Refresh & Recharge lounge is located on level 4 and is open 24 hours. This provides an area for guests to rest and relax if they arrive before check-in time or a late departure. It is a day room for guest usage. This is available on a first come first serve basis. A maximum of 2 groups of guests can use it at the same time. There is a shower inside and some light refreshments.
It can be a nice space for a nap and a much-needed shower. The availability of power outlets makes it a comfortable semi-private environment to work as well.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is on level 4. It is open 24 hours. The place is very welcoming with tons of natural light. I had a quick look at the gym which is very modern and welcoming. The facility comes with your usual gym equipment. There is a nice view of the pool and the surrounding greenery. Towels and drinking water are provided.
They also have some active events from time to time. This changes every month and is conducted on the last Friday of every month. This is complimentary for staying guests. There are activities like yoga, Zumba, pilates or kickboxing.
Pool
The property comes with an outdoor pool on level 4, the same level as the gym. The facility is open from 6 am to 10pm. It comes with plenty of sun beds and deck chairs around the pool. The regular configuration makes it easy for laps. I love the overall aesthetic which ties in nicely into the quaint surroundings. It felt like you were in an oasis.
Garden Terrace
There is a total of two gardens in the hotel. Keeping in line with the vibes and theme of the place, these are perfect for guests to relax and take a break in an urban oasis setting. This is a good place for guests to take a walk or a breather after a long day of work. The space could be handy if the hotel decides to run some events here for the residents in the future like social hour or even a monthly BBQ.
Events
They frequently run coffee-related events and collaboration programs. They believe in every guest’s love for coffee. With coffee being the second most traded commodity and most popular beverage globally, coffee is the universal language that brings guests of Citadines together. From time to time, they have coffee tie-ups with local partners and curated coffee trail events. I love these coffee paintings that they have in the lobby.
Breakfast at Woop Woop Restaurant
Breakfast is served at Woop Woop Restaurant on the same floor as the reception. This is not directly operated by the hotel. The hotel collaborates with them to offer a buffet breakfast for guests. Breakfast is served from 7am to 10.30am daily. If not included in your rate, breakfast costs 35 SGD per person. The restaurant is pretty with natural light. The semi-buffet breakfast features a spread on the buffet lines and a selection of mains from the menu. You can check out the menu for the breakfast here.
You can find the buffet lineup over here. You have some fruits, continental items, pastries, salad, fresh juices, tea and coffee.
We ordered the Hearty Breakfast and Nasi Lemak for our mains.
Conclusion
This is one of the more refreshing properties that I have visited in Singapore. It is worth considering if you are looking for something different. The Rochester area is refreshing from the usual ones in the CBD and Orchard area. The location is not a hassle with easy access to the public transport system and taxis readily available. You are just a short drive away from places like Vivocity or Orchard. The rooms here are nicely designed with comfortable bedding. The premier rooms come with a kitchenette which will be handy for long-term guests.
This was a hosted media stay, all views expressed are my own.
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