Hardly any other building characterizes Singapore’s skyline as much as Swissôtel The Stamford. It opened in 1986 and was the tallest hotel in the world at 226 meters (741 ft) and 73 floors. Today, it is still one of the tallest hotels in Southeast Asia.
My wife, Karen, and I took a cruise out of the port of Singapore. Before returning home, we stayed at the Swissôtel downtown. We found this hotel exceptional, and I hope this review will help you decide if it is right for you.
As travelers who love to cruise, we often look for quality hotels to extend our stay in the city where we are cruising. On our Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas cruise, we needed a one-night stay in Singapore before making our flight early the following day.
We love to try different hotel brands. I recommend the Swissotel Stamford as an alternative to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel that we could see across the bay.
Getting To Swissôtel Stamford Singapore
The Swissôtel Singapore is centrally located at the City Hall station. It is part of Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system. If you arrive in Singapore in Southeast Asia by plane (Changi Airport) or cruise ship, you can quickly reach the nearest MRT station and be at the hotel within 30 minutes.
After our cruise, Karen and I walked about 600 meters (2,000 ft) with our wheeled luggage to the Harbourfront MRT station. Next, we had a 20-minute transit ride to the hotel.
Here’s the address and contact info for the hotel:
- 2 STAMFORD ROAD, 178882 SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
- TELEPHONE : +65 6338 8585
Alternatively, you can take Grab (Singapore’s version of Uber) to catch a ride from the airport or cruise terminal directly to the hotel. Note that tipping is NOT expected in Singapore for any service such as dining, taxi, etc.
As a Westerner traveling from Canada, I found Singapore’s No-Tipping policy a wonderful surprise!
Rates And Booking This Singapore Hotel
The hotel has 1252 rooms, so there are usually rooms available, even on last-minute bookings.
Rates vary depending on the time of year and room availability but expect to pay from SGD 350-600 per night. However, if you book far enough in advance, you could get an excellent room for approximately SGD 400 + taxes.
First Impressions Of The Swissôtel Stamford Singapore
The Swissôtel Singapore is located in the Raffles City Complex. It includes access to a convention and shopping center. I loved that it has two pools, a deluxe fitness center, and six tennis courts.
There is also 24-hour room service, but Karen and I didn’t order from it during our 1-day stay. The 24-hour front desk offers currency exchange, paperless Chinese newspapers, and concierge services.
The staff speaks English, Malay, Mandarin, Indonesian, and Filipino.
Swissôtel has a self-check-in system in the lobby. Upon arriving, we found the system challenging to use, and almost immediately, one of the nearby staff members needed to come by to help us. So much for ‘Self Check-in!!’
New Accor members will receive a complimentary cocktail at one of the local nightclubs or bars. The kind staff helping us suggested I sign up for my free voucher.
After 10-15 minutes and switching to another computer (!), we finally checked into Room 3653. The staff member was very polite and helpful. We booked a Marina Bay view room on the curved side of the hotel. The hotel’s flat sides contain city-view rooms.
The hotel has two sets of elevators, one to the first 36 floors and the other to the upper floors. We made our way up to the 36th floor and were impressed with the décor of the common areas and the curved hallways.
Swissôtel Singapore – Things We Liked
Swissôtel is a premium brand and this luxury hotel would please even the most discerning traveler. However, no hotel is perfect for all guests at all times. Here are some of the things we favored during our brief stay.
Location
The hotel has a great location within Singapore and is very centrally located downtown near many attractions. Also, you can get to the hotel from the City Hall MRT station without going outside if it’s rainy or too hot, which often is in SE Asia.
Our Room
We asked for a higher floor and were given a room on the 36th floor. To take advantage of the views available at the Swissôtel, you need to be at least on the 20th floor or above. We paid a little more for our Marina Bay view, but it was worth every penny.
Expect to pay a premium for rooms on the top floors—40th floor and above. Upon entering the room, I immediately noticed the massive king-sized bed and the spectacular view of the iconic Singapore skyline.
The hotel underwent a significant renovation in 2017, and our room was simplistic, contemporary, and nicely appointed. It had all the conveniences and amenities we needed. Complimentary Wi-Fi comes standard throughout the hotel.
The hotel room included a Nespresso coffee maker and a selection of coffees, a bar fridge, cotton robes, and slippers. Our spacious, modern bathroom had luxury bath products, and a box filled with toiletries.
We loved the addition of filtered drinking water in the room and the use of a metal water bottle during our stay.
Our bed was very comfortable and the room extremely quiet. We did not hear any neighbors or other guests in the hallway. Even when rush hour traffic started in the morning, we couldn’t hear it 36 stories up.
Check-in time is typically at 3 pm. However, since the hotel was not full, we could check in early, around 11 am, which was a nice bonus!
The Views
The biggest advantage of staying here is the VIEWS! The vistas from the hotel are breathtaking during the day but even more stunning in the evening. Many hotels suffer from obstructed views because of other towers or hotels nearby.
This downtown hotel has maintained spectacular views for over 40 years since its construction. However, as it is still one of the tallest hotels in Asia, with over 70 stories, it’s no wonder!
Many travelers stay at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel for the view. However, we enjoyed the skyline vistas for a fraction of the price.
Dining At The Swissôtel Singapore
The Swissôtel in Singapore offers several dining areas, including JAAN by Kirk Westaway, which is renowned for its British cuisine. At the top of the hotel is SKAI, a high-end restaurant (with $$$$ prices) with panoramic city views.
There’s also the Asian Market Café, which features local and regional cuisines, and the Stamford Brasserie, which serves a mix of French, Swiss, and international dishes.
We dined with family at The Clove, which offers a spectacular buffet. Since we were hotel guests, our dinner rate was SGD 45 instead of the non-guest rate of SGB 78 each.
The Clove featured many types of seafood, lamb, beef, desserts, breads, and more. It was one of the best buffets I have ever enjoyed, and we all came away stuffed!
Since Karen has food allergies, we liked that dishes were marked with allergy alert signs. There were lots of gluten-free, daily-free, and vegan choices. Plus, the chefs prepared made-to-order dishes that were allergen-free.
The Pools
Accor owns the Swissôtel Stamford and the Fairmont Singapore, constructed side-by-side in the same location. The hotels share two pools on Level 7.
Luxury lounges and covered surround the round pools, which are exclusively used by hotel guests. A bar in the middle offers refreshing drinks and cocktails.
The Spa And Fitness Facilities
Like the pools, the spa and fitness areas are shared among Swissôtel and Fairmont hotels. We crossed over at Level 7 from the Swissôtel into the Fairmont to get to the Willow Stream Spa and Fitness Center.
As a luxury hotel, the Swissôtel did not disappoint in terms of fitness areas. Karen took advantage of the steam room, hot tubs, and cold plunge pool as a healthy detox after our day of exploring the local area.
The spa area is open daily from 6 am to 9 pm. However, the fitness center area is open 24 hours a day. Note that the spa is divided into separate areas for men and women.
Tennis Courts
In addition to the spa and fitness area, the Savitar Tennis Center offers grass tennis courts. I found this unusual, as tennis courts are rare in Singapore hotels.
However, if you are a tennis player who likes to keep up your game, even when traveling, the Swissôtel is ideal. The courts are another example of luxury amenities at this luxury hotel.
What’s Near The Hotel
The Swissôtel is connected to Raffles City Center, which has 330 shops and services. We stopped by the Food Court—just steps from our hotel—to grab a quick lunch. By the hotel lobby, there’s a TWG Tea shop to stock up on your favorite blends.
Outside the hotel, it’s a short walk to well-known Singapore attractions such as the Harborfront and the Merlion, Singapore’s mascot.
If you’re up for some exercise, doing a walking tour around Marina Bay offers picturesque views.
Other Singapore Attractions Accessible Via The MRT
Singapore is an exquisite travel destination with many ‘Must-See’ attractions. Explore these sites using their incredible MRT transportation network that is both efficient and economical:
- Chinatown’s heritage areas
- Marina Bay Sands
- Gardens by the Bay
- Little India
- Haw Par Villa
- Botanical Gardens
Final Thoughts
On arrival in Singapore, we spent two weeks at the Ji Hotel Orchard near Dhouby Ghaut MRT. While it was less luxurious, we liked that it was centrally located within a few minutes of transit.
For our post-cruise stay, the Swissôtel The Stamford was an impromptu choice. Even though we stayed only one night, we enjoyed most of its luxurious amenities. It’s a 5-star hotel, and on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a 9.5.
It’s a beautiful hotel in a fantastic location. It is part of the Raffles City complex, accessible without going outside. Many of Singapore’s best attractions are within walking distance.
While there are less expensive hotels in the area, Swissôtel is #1 for a stay with a view, without breaking the bank. Consider staying even a night or two and enjoy the views that will leave you breathless!
