Last week, I went to check out the newest Hilton property in Singapore. The DoubleTree is currently the newest one added to the portfolio in Singapore. It opened 2 months ago following a makeover of what used to be the Miramar Hotel grounds in the riverfront Robertson Quay area. It is on the fringe of the CBD and Orchard shopping district. This also includes unique areas like Tiong Bahru. This area is one of the nicest and most quaint neighbourhoods of Singapore, yet you are not too far away from everything. I am glad to be invited by the team to check it out. I am very glad to see the DoubleTree brand here in Singapore. I have stayed at numerous ones around the world, including some really spectacular ones like the DT Rome. I love the brand, and it is always amazing to check in at a DT, with the warm smell of cookies welcoming you. Let’s check it out!
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I will be staying here for a night. I was booked into their King Guest Room with River View. This is a level above their base-level rooms. Typical rates for the room start from around 250 SGD and for the suites it starts from around 480 SGD. This is for the non-peak period. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest at DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay. They have only four suites here. I will definitely say that suite upgrades are not high on the list, even for Diamond Reserve members. The DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay features 344 guest rooms and suites across 5 categories. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest City View | No | 25 Sqm | 118 |
| Guest River View | No | 25 Sqm | 174 |
| Guest River View with Sofa Bed | No | 25 Sqm | 41 |
| Deluxe River View with Sofa Bed | No | 38 Sqm | 4 |
| Deluxe Suite with Sofa Bed | No | 48 – 50 Sqm | 4 |
| Deluxe Accessible Room with Sofa Bed | No | 38 Sqm | 1 |
| Queen Accessible Room | No | 24 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
I got to the hotel at around 1pm. The nearest MRT is roughly a 10-minute10 mins walk away or so. It would be nice of the property to offer a shuttle, if possible, to the nearest MRT. They could collaborate with the Four Points and Warehouse Hotel nearby. That would make it very convenient. There are plenty of nice restaurants and bars near the property. Upon arrival, the bellboy came over to help me with my bags and also to usher me over to the check-in counters. The lobby feels so cosy and comfortable. I love the warm, homely vibe of the place.
I was immediately helped to by a friendly associate who proceeded to check me in and provided me with all the information for my stay. I was also thanked for being a Diamond member. I was assigned a room in the main wing. The hotel is separated into the main and east wing. They do not have an executive lounge here. I appreciate that they have gone the extra mile to offer a welcome drinks voucher for Diamond members where you can redeem it during your stay. The staff also presented me with a welcome cookie, the signature of DoubleTree properties. It’s always nice to be greeted with the warm cookies and the smell of them greeting you. They also proactively extended a late check out till 3pm.
Guest River View Room
This is a tier above their base-level room. I was assigned a room over in the main wing on the 13th floor, room 1305 to be exact. It is just a short walk away from the elevator. I love the neutral, warm colours upon entering. The finishes are very light on your eyes. The rooms measure a cosy 25 Sqm here. You can see most of it at a glance after entering. Immediately to the right, you can find the open-concept wardrobe, which comes with a good number of hangers and space for a cabin bag. In the side storage area and drawers, you have the hairdryer, bathrobes, bath slippers and laundry bags. Ironing kits are available upon request. I did wish that they had some additional portable racks over here, which might come in handy for big suitcases.
Next to it is the minibar chest. I appreciate that they have gone with a water dispenser here instead. It allows for both hot and cold water. This replaces the need for a kettle. It will also be in line with eco-friendly efforts, which makes so much sense considering Singapore’s water quality. They do still provide bottled water, but the team is looking into some sort of reusable containers down the road. Packaged tea and coffee are provided alongside glassware. Below is also a fridge that is left empty for your use. You can easily stock up from the petrol kiosk next door if required.
The bathroom is on the other side of the entrance. It is a good size and comes with a single sink. There is sufficient space on the side. All sorts of amenities are provided here. As per the usual, toiletries are from Crabtree and Evelyn in large pump size bottles, the standard brand here in DoubleTree hotels. All of the rooms here, including the suites, only come with a standing shower. Some of them have a rain shower. Mine only comes with a handheld showerhead. Water pressure and temperature control are pretty good. I did love the contrast with the hibiscus red wall.
Back to the main space of the room. You have a high-quality smart screen television mounted on the wall. It’s a good size for the room. I did love that the television is on a movable mount, which allows it to be pivoted towards the seating area. The TV comes with a good number of both local and international channels, including some sports ones too. It is quite a waste not to have casting capabilities, which seems very much a myopia these days. Right next to the television is actually a care board. It is a new concept in DT hotels where the magnetic wall allows hotels to disseminate some relevant information relating to their stays. It is a multi-purpose space. Staff can leave welcome messages, necessary info, recommendations, and such. For example, right now they have, like, the haze information and daily weather updates.
In the corner over here, you can find a little sitting area that will fit three people well. It can also be a very small bed for the little ones. It is paired with a decent-sized coffee table, which also acts as the working desk for the room. All sorts of power outlets and plugs are provided. I appreciate that they have installed an international adapter socket along with both USB A and USB C ports. This is top-notch. Left on the table is also a welcome fruit platter alongside a personalised note from the hotel.
The view in the room is actually really, really nice. It faces the river and the main Robertson Quay area. This makes for a very tranquil and peaceful view. The hotel is limited by the structure of the building, which limits how far they can go beyond renovating this. I’m sure that the place will be pretty nice if they had like full length ceiling to floor windows.
Coming back to the main highlight of the room. This is definitely the plush king-size bed. It is very comfortable. I love that it is on the firmer side. The sheets were smooth, clean and high quality. We also got more pillows for better neck support. Flanking both sides of the beds are nightstands with controls for the lighting and power outlets. Similarly, they had international adapter ports here and also both USB A and USB C ports. Top-notch on this aspect.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is on the 4th floor on the main wing. You can access it 24 hours with your key card. The place overlooks the surrounding area, making it a very comfortable place to get a workout with natural light. Everything that you require can be found here. They have weights weighing up to 30 kg. I love that they have this space in the gym area that you can use for some stretching or yoga. It is a multipurpose space for your own routine.
Swimming Pool
The pool is located on the 4th floor. You will be able to access it via the link bridge on the 4th floor. You can access it with your key card. The pool is open from 6am to 10pm daily. The pool is actually really, really nice. It is on the smaller side since they retain the original space from the Miramar days. There are plenty of sunbeds and cabanas by the side, which look really cosy for soaking in the sun. Towels and water are provided.
The place is unmanned, but you can still order drinks and food by the pool through the QR code if you fancy. Elite members will enjoy 25% here too.
Brew 33
This is the casual bar and gastropub concept at DoubleTree. It is just by the reception area on the ground floor. It is also where you can enjoy your welcome drinks voucher from 5 to 7pm daily. You will be able to choose from craft beers, juices, coffee and tea.
The pricing is very fair here, with cocktails and beers ranging from 10 to 13 SGD. Keeping in mind that Hilton elite members can also enjoy a 25% off here too. I will share the menu here.
The spot comes with cosy indoor seating, with board games left here for guests to enjoy. There is also an outdoor alfresco area that is pet-friendly. They are looking to attract local guests from the area as well.
Staff here are excellent and made great cocktails. I tried both of their signature cocktails, and they were amazing. I am a fan of the Double Delight.
Breakfast at SAUS
A play on the word Sauce! SAUS is the hotel’s signature restaurant. It is open for breakfast from 6.30am to 10.30am on weekdays and till 11am on weekends and holidays. I appreciate their generosity with the timing. You have no idea how many hotels I visited end breakfast at an ungodly 10am, even at resorts. Breakfast would cost 32 SGD if not included in your rate or membership. The restaurant is currently only offering breakfast, but they have plans to extend it with lunch and dinner soon. I am excited after hearing so much about the breakfast from the staff. I was down for breakfast at about 9.30am. It was still calm. I was warmly welcomed in and shown to a table. Breakfast is buffet style. Let me show some pictures of the place and give a brief introduction.
I love the retro display with the baked goods and pastries. They were some of the best I had and were made fresh. This is accompanied by a generous selection of spreads. They also have freshly squeezed watermelon juice. Another highlight is the live station; on the morning of my visit, they were making Ba Kut Teh Noodle Soup. It is lovely to have a hearty bowl of hot soup to kick-start your morning. From my understanding, the selection changes from day to day. Of course, you have eggs cooked to your preference too. The breakfast selection is definitely not the biggest out there, but you will do fine to get your day started here.
Conclusion
It is always nice to be staying at a new property. I’m a huge fan of staying somewhere new because you can be assured that everything is still in tip-top condition. This is a great addition to the lineup over here in Singapore. It is nice to see the Hilton footprint expanding. Soon we will also have the Nomad opening. The first ever DT is great. It offers a nice balance between price and quality. The property sits in the heart of Singapore as well, just on the fringes of the city centre. You are not too far away from everything. Orchard, CBD, and Sentosa are just a stone’s throw away. There are also numerous restaurants and bars in the vicinity. Come and get your cookie. If you are planning a trip to Singapore, you should definitely consider this place.
This was a hosted media stay; all views expressed are my own.
You must be logged in to post a comment.