The Harbour Studio at the Pan Pacific Singapore was the first room type that I stayed in when I first started writing The Shutterwhale. My previous review (and one of my first!) for the room type can be accessed via this link - I have to warn you though, it was a seriously brief review. Therefore, I decided to revisit the Harbour Studio once again (out of my own budget of course) to find out what made me fall in love with this property in the first place.

I made a reservation for a Panoramic Room but was given the Harbour Studio (one-tier upgrade) with my GHA Black status. The GHA Black status generally gives you a double upgrade at participating properties (subjected to availability) so I must have lucked out at my previous stay. The Harbour Studios are beautifully appointed with 46 sqm of space and feature an open-studio concept. The first thing you will notice as you enter your room is the expansive view of the Singapore harbour (thus named the Harbour Studio) and the South China Sea.

As a GHA Black member, I was given an early check-in at 9am and a late check-out at 6pm instead of the usual check-in at 3pm and check-out 12pm. This essentially increases the duration of my stay significantly from 21 hours to 33 hours (at least 1.5X more) so see, loyalty pays through mysterious ways! Anyway, back to the Harbour Studio! You will find an extensive pillow menu by your bed where you can choose from buckwheat hull organic, foam, contour and coil polyester (subject to availability upon request) pillows.

You will also notice that the Harbour Studio comes with its very own mini-bar counter (with mini-bar seats) so you can concoct your very own lethal beverage. As a GHA Black member, you will receive S$12 mini-bar credit per night (which I believe is non-cumulative but I will have to check). Also, one thing to note about the mini-bar is that they are filled with weight-sensors. What this essentially means is that you will not be able to remove drinks from the fridge to put your own. That being said, the hotel provides some space in the mini-bar for you to store your own stuff but it will probably not fit a 1.5l carton for instance. There is also a Nespresso machine and a selection of tea if you are in need of your caffeine fix.

The luxurious marble bathroom in the Harbour Studio comes with Hans Grohe fittings, signature rain shower and a standalone Kaldewei bathtub. It is worth noting that only the Panoramic room types and above come with a bathtub - the Deluxe and Deluxe Balcony room types do not have a bathtub. The bathroom also comes with integrated speakers so you can continue watching TV through the glass while you enjoy a nice soak in the beautiful tub. You should also know that the television can be adjusted so that it faces you while you are in the tub.

What broke my heart slightly was the replacement of Elemis products with these in-house 'em-brace' ones instead. However, while I was not excited over them initially, I thought they were of excellent quality with really good extracts and ingredients (like spirulina and Irish moss!).

You will also find a large work desk in your Harbour Studio where you can read the newspaper (which is complimentary for GHA members) or get some work done with the complimentary internet provided in the whole property.

As a GHA Black member, I was also given two boxes of chocolate pralines and two mangoes as a local amenity.

If you have access to the beautiful Pacific Club (which I briefly reviewed a while ago HERE), you will have the following privileges:

Champagne Breakfast (6am to 1030am)
Afternoon Tea (3pm to 5pm)
Sunset Cocktails and Canapés (6pm to 8pm)

If you are ever at the Pan Pacific Singapore to celebrate an intimate occasion (e.g. anniversary or birthday), be sure you opt for the Pacific Club rooms and suites since they offer such immense value (and views!) for a nominal fee. That being said, The Shutterwhale does not advocate throwing large parties in hotel rooms. There seems to be a growing trend in Singapore, of people clustering in one room to celebrate someone's birthday. Most rooms and suites allow up to 2 (or 3) registered guests so be sure to check with the hotel. This is obviously out of respect to other guests and safety reasons.

A range of savoury and sweet snacks is provided during Afternoon Tea. It is generally a lot quieter as compared to the evening cocktails so it is great for you to take some photos or enjoy the peace and quiet.

The Pacific Club fills up pretty quickly during the Sunset Cocktails and Canapés timing so be sure to come in early (before 6pm) to guarantee a table by the window that overlooks the Marina Bay Sands or the harbour.

Food and a generous selection of alcoholic beverages (that you can access via an iPad) are complimentary during this period. The Pacific Club is one of my favourites in terms of the quality of food, choice of beverages and the standard of service.

The most exciting discovery for me during this stay has to be in-room dining for breakfast. If you have Pacific Club membership, you get to choose between the extensive buffet spread (which I love) at Edge (level 3), the luxurious champagne breakfast in the Pacific Club, or the in-room dining menu. Since I have eaten at the other two places multiple times, I thought I would give the in-room dining breakfast a try and boy was it a good idea! Within 30-45 minutes from the time I ordered, breakfast was delivered to my room and was set up within a minute. Enjoying the incredible harbour views without having to go through the whole motion of dressing up before breakfast meant that I could take my time to enjoy my food while being in my pyjamas.

My stay in the Harbour Studio with Pacific Club privileges has further cemented Pan Pacific Singapore's position in my list of favourite hotels. From an excellent product (i.e. room standards) to the quality of service, this hotel truly surpasses every other property with a similar price tag around. The next time you are looking to spoil yourself silly or to celebrate a special occasion with a loved one (read: singular), try the Pacific Club Rooms and Suites and experience the incredible charm of the Pan Pacific Singapore yourself.

Pan Pacific Singapore
7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595
Website | Email