chinatown

Review: Hotel Clover the Arts – Singapore’s First True Art Hotel

July 16, 2014 by Bino 1 Comment

Hotel Clover The Arts is a new concept boutique hotel just a stone’s throw away from the key areas of Clarke Quay, Chinatown and Singapore’s CBD. It is the newest addition to the rapidly expanding chain of Hotel Clover branded properties all around Singapore. In fact, I stayed at their sister hotel just next door, Hotel Clover 5 Hongkong Street, less than a year ago. This being said, Hotel Clover The Arts is their most exciting property yet! Probably the first “art hotel” in Singapore, the creative quotient is a major plus and is certain to at least draw some “oohs” and “aahs” even from those not inclined to the arts. No two rooms are the same in this 44-room hotel – perfect for those looking for individuality and vibrant surroundings in their stay.

The hotel has several room categories, ranging from single rooms without windows to corner rooms with king-sized beds. There’s a small plaque stuck on to each room’s door that give guests a preview of what the interiors look like. I stayed in their “Clover Executive” room, their second highest room category which measured a cozy 17 square meters. It was also a bright corner room, overlooking Raffles Place and Marina Bay Sands in the distance. When I entered, I was surprised to find a welcome basket filled with cookies and chips, not to mention a complimentary array of drinks in the fridge – a great first impression to my stay!

In summary, these are the room inclusions:

Free minibar (2 canned drinks inside plus bottled water)
Hair dryer
In-room safe
Toiletries
Nespresso Coffee Machine + 2 capsules of Nescafe Dolce Espresso
Free wifi

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Favorite Streets: Keong Saik Road in Singapore’s Chinatown

June 25, 2014 by Bino 1 Comment

keong saik road when i visited in 2013 just after tong ah eatery closed down in its original location

The southern part of Singapore’s lively Chinatown district has come a long way from its dilapidated and red light past. I remember passing by only two years ago and the place was still filled with karaoke bars. What were ones seedy brothels have become hotbeds for a fairly unrelated and somewhat juxtaposing bunch. On one hand, you have all these speakeasies and fine dining restaurants catering to the business and society set, and at the other end you have these fiercely independent establishments- some of which can only be entered with a password – that are more attuned to hipsters and creative types.

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Wink Hostel: Indulgence on a Budget in Singapore

December 18, 2011 by Bino 12 Comments

I often have friends asking me for recommended places to stay in Singapore. Although I am familiar with most of the hotels in the country, I’m not sure whether it’s a wise idea to rely on a local resident to provide this kind of advice (just kidding!). Seriously speaking, I think for now I do have one to recommend. I normally don’t write an entire entry about a hotel (in fact, I never have!) but I thought this particular one deserves a special mention. Also, if someone asks me again next time, I’ll have this to refer to.

I’ve stayed in all sorts of places. I’ve stayed in a hostel where all I got was a filthy bunk bed. I’ve stayed in one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and I have stayed in chain hotels. There’s one concept I haven’t tried though — that’s the capsule hotel which is found all over space-deprived Tokyo. If given the chance to go there next time, I would want to stay in one. When I found that Singapore recently opened a lodging that took inspiration from this concept, I knew I had to check it out.

exterior of wink hostel

The trendy and charming Wink Hostel in Singapore’s Chinatown has been open since October and I’ve known it for about just as long. Located just one block away from the Chinatown MRT station, the hostel is an easy 3 minute walk and is conveniently located right at the commercial area of Chinatown near the souvenir shops and restaurants, and about 8 minutes away from the bar district and Raffles Place (where I work!).

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