The Warehouse Hotel

Drawing from the industrial heritage of the original building as much as the history of the neighborhood, the Warehouse Hotel Singapore grabs attention with its attractive look — and wows with excellent service and food.

Every time we visit Singapore we are reminded that the city can surprise and delight in many ways. One of the reasons to rejoice is the ever-improving quality and variety of its luxury hotels.

Occupying a 19th-Century spice godown, or a warehouse, on the banks of Robertson Quay, the Warehouse Hotel Singapore is a new arrival to the scene, and it fits right in.

Echoes of the past

Scratch the surface and Singapore’s image as an almost too clean (and somewhat soulless) place can easily fall apart — and reveal an authentic vibe with historical roots in an underbelly of a budding colonial metropolis.

The architectural firm Zarch Collaboratives and the interior designers from The Asylum expertly captured these notions as they transformed an ordinary, disused space into the contemporary property that is the Warehouse Hotel Singapore.

Vibes of tomorrow

Filled with creative ideas, the place has a well-balanced look that contrasts the raw industrial decor with cozy design furniture and warm finishes.

Many guest rooms were designed in a style of a loft, complete with exposed beams and pitched roofs of the original warehouse. Muted taupe and grey are well complemented by original masonry walls, wooden floors, and iron frames. Frosted or see-through doors of the ensuite bathroom add a touch of a fashionable trend.

In the impressive lobby, the vintage pinwheels and naked lightbulbs, together with the rough brickwork form a harmonious backdrop to the soft designer sofas and chairs. The lobby bar was our favorite spot at the hotel, thanks to its design, ambiance — and the cocktail menu, from which our top picks were the Kopi Cat filled with chocolate and coffee, and Lady Luck, served in an unwieldy ceramic mug in the shape of a doll head.

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Po

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Po, takes inspiration from the word popo, which means grandmother in Mandarin. Fittingly, its fare is composed of nostalgic, comfort food Singaporean classics, enhanced by premium ingredients and service. The ubiquitous in the city Popiah (a simple, wrapped up spring roll) is popular here too, as is the tangy raw fish salad Barramundi, at Po served light and spicy.

Often our favorite meal is breakfast, and even if the buffet was small, we weren’t disappointed. The homemade granola with natural yogurt was perfect, and the Full English exactly right.

Robertson Quay

Stay here long enough and Po’s menu will eventually feel inadequate. Fortunately, the hotel sits amid the bustling Roberston Quay, and a number of cafes, restaurants, and bars are just across the river.

Surrounded by glass skyscrapers and concrete roads, the whitewashed Warehouse Hotel stands as a refreshing change in the neighborhood. It’s one of the most interesting design hotels in Singapore, and well worth a night’s stay.

in our opinion

Embracing chic modernity rooted in the interesting past, the Warehouse Hotel Singapore exudes urban glamour in the heart of the Lion City.

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What we love

• Sophisticated, tasteful interior design throughout. At the Warehouse Hotel, the gorgeous industrial design meets contemporary chic — especially at the beautiful, very impressive space of the lobby.
• The rooms come in different shapes and sizes. Ours looked to the river and had a well-designed, lovely interior. The bed was super comfy and the bathroom had high-quality toiletries (the brands include Ashley & Co). The in-room soundproofing is excellent. There is no noise pollution at all, despite the close proximity of the hotel to the busy to Havelock Road.
• The lobby bar is and a great place to hang out. The drinks menu takes inspiration from the property's history and the cocktails here are inventive and delicious. Our favorites were the chocolatey Kopi Cat, and Lady Luck, served in head-shaped mugs, custom-made by a local ceramic studio.
• The food was delicious at the Po restaurant, but thanks to the hotel's good location there are also many other dining options at the Robertson Quay, just a short stroll away.
• The service is excellent. From the reception staff to the restaurant personnel, all are professional and quietly courteous.

What you should know

• One of the peculiarities of this restored old building is that many windows are small, which, combined with the dark color themes results in a dark, brooding atmosphere. Additionally, some of the rooms have no windows at all (the entry-level Sanctuary rooms).
• The hotel does not have much in the way of facilities, with the exception of the outdoor pool. The pool looks great, but we felt it was quite exposed, as it overlooks two busy streets… so we didn't do lots of sunbathing.
• Breakfast is only served in the Po restaurant (there is no in-room option).
• The Warehouse follows the latest fad (admittedly very cool), of the glass-encased en-suite bathrooms, so it might not be the best choice as a business hotel if you share a room with a colleague.
• The hotel is only 30 minutes away from the airport. The hotel could not pick us up and provide transfer from the airport, but the Singapore taxis are cheap, reliable, regulated, and plentiful, so there was no problem.
• Getting there: Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeairlines.com), Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Cathay Pacific (cathaypacific.com) all operate flights to Singapore from major international cities.