There’s good reason why we’ve fallen in love with The Ritz-Carlton brand, which never fails to offer sumptuous rooms with top-notch facilities and service
To many, The Ritz-Carlton seems to have it all — grandiose and spacious suites, an enticing host of gastronomical offerings, top-notch spa facilities and iconic service standards. And it does. Here in Singapore, the local outpost stands proudly among other luxury hotels such as The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore and Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is also one of the hottest places to catch the F1 race that’s happening this weekend. But even after the post-race madness, it continues to be one of the most popular and sought after hotels for many of the region’s most affluent – for both business and leisure.
Granted, the facade of the 32-storey The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore isn’t love at first sight. Its unexciting demeanour and octogan-shaped windows pale in comparison to others in the vicinity. But while the hotel’s exterior isn’t much of a sight to behold, its interiors tell a different tale altogether. The grand lobby boasts a spectacular dome ceiling made up of 10,000 square metres of chromafusion glass, and guests stepping into the hotel will be greeted by a sinuous Cornucopia art sculpture that suspends majestically from the ceiling at the central atrium. To reach the check-in counter, I walk past Colony Bakery – taking in whiffs of freshly baked pastries, cakes and seasonal goodies – and Chihuly Lounge, one of the city’s most popular gathering points for afternoon tea and aperitivo sessions.
The hotel is home to 608 guest rooms, including 18 one-bedroom Millenia Suites, three two-bedroom Millenia Suites and one Ritz Suite. I’m spending the night in one of the hotel’s 29 Premier Suites. In typical Ritz fashion, the room’s decor is a harmonious compendium of clean matt leather, polished wood panels, beige walls and sofas and cushions in multiple tones of brown and cream. But when it comes to play on colour, I feel that the hotel can afford to up the ante a little. The tones are a little mundane for me, and the room can certainly use more vivid, contemporary touches.
But all is well in another part of the room: the glorious, double-vanity marble-floor bathroom. A shiny white bathtub sits by the octagonal window, granting a fantastic panorama of the Singapore Flyer (which is even more stunning at night).
If you’re intending to have breakfast at Colony, I’d recommend that you arrive early. You’ll be feasting on a vast array of Asian and Western dishes, ranging from salads and cold cuts to the classic American breakfast and local favourites such as Nasi Lemak, Bak Kut Teh and Fu Zhou Fish Ball Noodle Soup.
The room rates at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore are slightly more competitive than most of the other hotels in the area, but consider that a small price to pay given that you’ll get to enjoy unobstructed views of the F1 track and Marina Bay precinct, which lights up with firework shows at least twice a year. Other than a need for slight refurbishments, I’m happy to have the hoteliers from The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore continue to do what they’ve been doing — because word has it The Ritz will never go out of style.
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Ave
Marina Bay
Singapore 039799
