Hotel Review: InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay (Quayside Corner Suite) - Suite Life
The InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay is quite possibly the most beautiful IHG property in Singapore. Opened in late 2017, this property is located in a quieter area of Singapore (which is quite popular amongst expats) and the rooms (albeit small) are luxuriously-furnished. When I stayed in a Club Riverview Studio King room last year, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and I think it is safe to say that this property has the best Club InterContinental Lounge (with a proper cocktail menu) in the country.
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You will find plenty of restaurants around the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay and many of these establishments are located near the Singapore River. Even though Robertson Quay is situated in the ‘quieter’ end of the area, you can easily make your way down to Clarke Quay or Boat Quay where you will find more bars and restaurants (which are a lot more touristy). If you would like a great dining experience without getting fleeced, Robertson Quay is where it is at.
The InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay runs a Suite Life room package which I took advantage of during this stay. As the name implies, this room package allows you to book one of the beautifully-furnished suites (including the exclusive Penthouse) and it comes with some additional perks like access to the Club InterContinental lounge, a bottle of French Champagne upon arrival, a late check-out as well as an exclush bath bomb from Lush to make your stay a little more memorable. Since my reservation was made for a Quayside Corner Suite, I proceeded directly to the Club InterContinental Lounge for check-in. As mentioned in my previous stay, the lounge consists of an indoor as well as an al fresco area which is actually really popular amongst guests. I enjoyed a solid cup of espresso before getting my room keys and I lingered a little while longer to soak up the feeling of being idle (a luxury that a lot of us can no longer afford).
The Quayside Corner Suite is the second largest suite here at the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay (the largest being the Penthouse) and it is 41sqm in size. In comparison, the lead-in room category is only 23sqm in size but as I have mentioned in the previous review of this property, the rooms are actually really well-designed and I absolutely love all the room inclusions (e.g. Monogram tea and leather-bound folios). The suite that I was assigned to for this stay was located on a high floor and it overlooks the Singapore River as well as the city skyline from a distance.
The floor-to-ceiling windows (complete with automated blinds and shades) allow you to take in the wonderful sights from the comfort of your own suite but more importantly, it floods the suite with natural daylight during the day which is just beautiful. The space also exudes a posh and luxurious residential feel which is something you do not typically get even at top hotels here in Singapore. There is a small living area (if you’d like to call it that) where you will find a two-seat sofa as well as a table (which doubles as a work desk) and there is also a separate lounging area which is located by the window, next to the bed.
Even though the Quayside Corner Suite here at the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay does not look out to the famous Marina Bay area which everyone seems to love (so yes, this is not a hotel to book if you would like to see some fireworks), I do like the peace and quiet that the area brings. There are so many restaurants that I love in the area (even Publico which is located within the hotel is excellent) and I love how you are within (comfortable) walking distance to Raffles Place and even City Hall.
Another thing you will probably notice is how the pillows are arranged here - instead of the usual four pillows that you will typically get at most luxury hotels, the rooms and suites here come with 7 pillows (even though two of them are tiny and I have absolutely no idea how to use them). If you would like even more pillows, all you have to do is to pick up the phone next to the bed to request for them to be sent up to your room or suite. The bedding is excellent and I love the sheets that go with these beds - perfect for a great night’s sleep!
As I have mentioned earlier, there is a small control panel located next to the bed and you will be able to control the automated sheers and blinds with the touch of a button. Most of the lights in the room can also be switched off easily so you do not need to get out of bed to switch off a light once you are feeling sleepy. Honestly, there are some hotels that I have been to over the years where I cannot quite figure out how to switch off all the lights (which is terrible for me since I prefer to sleep in complete darkness). There is also a universal power outlet located next to the bed in case you would like to leave your devices charging by the bedside. There is also a handy phone located by the bedside which you can take along with you during your stay - this will provide you with mobile data and recommendations as you make your way through the city (useful for visitors but probably no value to a local doing a staycation here).
The Quayside Corner Suite comes with a massive 49” LCD television that is stocked with a wide range of international satellite channels. There is also a rather impressive sound system from Bose (with Bluetooth capability) so you can not only watch your favourite channels on TV but also stream your favourite playlist for that extra feel-good moment.
As an InterContinental Ambassdor member, I was given a guaranteed 4:00PM late check-out but if you do not have any status and you have booked the Suite Life room package, you should be accorded the same privilege if it is available. The Suite Life package comes with a bottle of French Champagne and at the time of check-in, one of the friendly lounge staff actually confirmed on the time that I would like it sent up (you could therefore book this room package to surprise a loved one in the event that you are celebrating a birthday or an anniversary). I asked for my bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Champagne to be sent up immediately (since I was feeling thirsty and could do with an afternoon beverage). Rafael who is the Director of Club InterContinental (whom I have known since years ago) also sent up some other special amenities for my stay and I really appreciate it when loyal guests are recognised.
Even though I would recommend for you to head down to the Club InterContinental Lounge (think of it as your extended living room) for coffee, there is a Nespresso coffee machine located in your room and you will also find a selection of tea from Monogram (by the Gryphon Tea Company). Bottled drinking water is provided here in the room and you can easily request for more if you would like extra. If you are looking for a delicious tea to try, check out the Milky Oolong (unfortunately they only stock this in the lounge and not in your room) while you are there!
The bedroom of the Quayside Corner Suite is gorgeous and it looks a lot better than the one from my previous stay here. All suites here at the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay come with a bathtub but not all of them come with a view from the tub. I really like the deep-soaking tub and the excellent water pressure (which is important for you to fill up a tub quickly and effectively).
I really love how sleek the bathroom looks - the toilet area is also simple, functional but the design is modern and contemporary. There is also a separate shower area if you prefer a quicker shower experience or if you are just one of those that prefer not to waste water in a bathtub.
As part of the Suite Life package, I received a Intergalactic Bath Bomb from Lush (retail price at S$18 each) which smells of cedarwood and vetiver essential oil. Watching it is also a treat so make sure you save this for a special moment - this is a one-use item so be sure to have your camera ready for that perfect Instagram story!
If you have been to multiple InterContinental properties, you will notice that the bath amenities offered here in the Quayside Corner Suite of the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay are different. Instead of the usual Agraria-branded amenities (which smell like dishwashing liquid to me unfortunately), guests staying in select suites here will get to enjoy bath amenities from Grown Alchemist instead. I really like the smell of the body wash and the bar soap in particular but most importantly, suite guests will get to bring home an InterContinental wash bag (photographed above) that regular guests will not have access to. I love getting good quality wash bags since I stock them with my personal amenities and leave them in areas like my office and the gym.
After spending some time in the suite, I decided to check out the Club InterContinental Lounge for Afternoon Tea (2:00PM to 4:00PM daily) since I did not manage to do so on my previous stay. Even though the lounge used to be open 24/7 (which was a nice touch for international travellers suffering from jetlag), they have now amended the operating hours to 6:30AM to 9:30PM.
The indoor area of the Club InterContinental Lounge is beautiful but I personally prefer the al fresco area which is located nearest to the entrance of the lounge.
I opted for an iced long black since the weather was incredibly warm that afternoon (you know, the usual) and one of the lounge staff brought a three-tier stand out which consisted of a selection of savouries and sweets. They were alright but if you have plans to be outside of the hotel, the Afternoon Tea is probably worth skipping (unless you are in need of coffee!).
What you should not skip however is Evening Cocktails and Canapés at the Club InterContinental Lounge which runs from 6:00PM to 8:00PM each day. Even though Champagne is not poured here during this time, you can opt for the Prosecco from Nino Franco Rustico which is decent. Otherwise, there is also a small selection of wine (two reds and two whites) that you can choose from. Alternatively, opt for one of the solid cocktails here - I recommend the Espresso Martini and the Negroni. Other cocktails like the specially-concocted Quayside Sling, Gimlet and Dry Gin Martini are also offered so make sure you get a menu to see what is available.
Some light canapés are also served during this time - while all of the dishes that I have sampled were great, I did wish that the portions were larger. However, it is common practice nowadays for hotels to serve them in tasting portions to reduce the potential for cannibalisation of restaurant sales. No issues there since I was really here in the lounge for the drinks anyway! With so many restaurants to choose from in the vicinity, there is really no reason why you should not head out for a decent meal.
Hotel guests who have access to the Club InterContinental Lounge have the option having breaking either inn the aforementioned location or Marcello located downstairs. It is definitely worth noting that breakfast runs from 6:30AM to 10:30AM (instead of 11:00AM) so you should try to go down earlier to avoid the breakfast crowd.
Since I checked out the lounge for breakfast on my previous stay, I decided to head down to Marcello for the full buffet breakfast experience instead. Hotel guests with breakfast-inclusive rates can select one a la carte item (per diner) from the menu and they will also be able to enjoy the buffet spread. There is a good selection of international as well as Western dishes on the buffet line and there is also a live egg station where you can order it the way you like.
If you are looking for a weekend of indulgence and you would like to break away from the usual properties, the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay offers a great Suite Life package for you to enjoy an extended weekend where you can not only enjoy the perks of being a Club InterContinental guest but also to luxuriate in the comfort of your own suite (e.g. warm bath and a bottle of bubbly). If you have plans to stay in an InterContinental property, I highly recommend for you to check out the InterContinental Ambassador membership since it gives you instant Platinum Elite status as well as a few nice perks (some of which are guaranteed) whenever you stay on an eligible rate.
InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay
1 Nanson Rd, Singapore 238909
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The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.