Conrad Singapore Marina Bay hotel review: a family-friendly hotel in the bay area

Times

a day ago

In-the-know visitors to Singapore tend to base themselves in one of two districts: Orchard Road, favoured by the retail enthusiasts, or the Marina Bay area, with its rich history and thriving business district (as well as plenty of shopping and food). In the latter, you will find Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, one of Singapore's most trusted luxury stays. This smart but unfussy 512-room hotel, which has been around for almost 30 years, continues to appeal to leisure and business travellers alike, with its ultra-friendly vibe, comfortable accommodation, excellent dining options and comparatively affordable rates — at least by Singapore standards. Service is personal and warm and, perhaps most surprisingly for a hotel of this calibre, never snooty.
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Score 7/10Spacious and comfortable, the rooms at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay range from the more-than-adequate 40 square-metre Deluxe rooms — which have sofas, city views and marble bathrooms with separate baths and showers — to the plush 143 square-metre Conrad Suite with its separate bedroom, living and dining areas, as well as a walk-in wardrobe and powder room, and an indulgent marble bathroom with a large tub and glass shower. Not the most tech-forward in terms of nifty switches or gadgets, but oh-so comfortable, all rooms come with a choice of king or twin beds, double vanities and a pillow menu featuring no fewer than 14 options (from anti-allergy or buckwheat to Japanese tatami, famous for its natural cooling and circulation-promoting properties). Depending on how high up you are, the views can be anything from adequate to jaw-dropping, overlooking the city, Marina Bay or the Suntec City Fountain of Wealth. Families will appreciate the adjoining Deluxe Family Rooms and Two-Bedroom Family Suites.
Score 9/10If you live for an expansive breakfast buffet, then prepare to be blown away by the endless cold and hot, healthy and less healthy, western and Asian options on offer at Oscar's. The dinner buffet here is even more formidable, featuring a seafood-on-ice section with crab legs and freshly shucked oysters, as well as on-demand noodles, tandoori and carving stations. For guests staying in suites or executive rooms, a less capacious, more relaxing breakfast is served in the 31st-floor executive lounge, followed by afternoon tea and evening drinks. Lovers of Hong Kong-style Chinese fine dining should steer their course for the fantastic Golden Peony, specialising in dim sum and dishes such as abalone and double-boiled bird's nest, while those with a sweet tooth can tuck into the sumptuous afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge.
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Score 8/10The first thing you will notice on entering the lobby is the striking red Turbulence sculpture by Venezuelan artist Rafael Barrios, a bold introduction to the hotel's contemporary art collection that features some 3,400 bespoke works. The principles of feng shui are present throughout the building, from the lobby representing the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water, to the rooms designed to promote balance and serenity. There is even more of that in the family-friendly Conrad Spa, which offers Asian-inspired massages, facials and body treatments. Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the bright, 24-hour fitness centre, kitted out with Technogym equipment, which also offers complimentary HIIT and yoga classes, as well as guided runs along the bay, while families may prefer to seek counteract the sweltering heat in the sizeable, lap-friendly outdoor swimming pool.
Score 9/10Conrad Singapore Marina Bay is within easy striking distance of all Singapore has to offer. For those who enjoy exploring the city on foot, the Waterfront Promenade and Esplanade Park are a short stroll away. Alternatively, for some of that sweet air-conditioning, the hotel has two shopping centres — Millenia Walk and Suntec City — on its doorstep. The vibrant, historic and food-loving neighbourhoods around Jalan Besar and Haji Lane are less than ten minutes away by taxi, while the closest MRT (Mass Rapid Transit, or Underground) station is a three-minute walk away at Promenade, with easy connections to Chinatown, Little India and the Botanic Gardens.
Price room-only doubles from £210Restaurant mains from £15Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Isabelle Kliger was a guest of Conrad Singapore Marina Bay (hilton.com)
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