Hotel Review: Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel (Pool Terrace Room)
The Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in Singapore and definitely more so in Orchard. The Crossroads Cafe (located on street level), known for being one of the best spots to people-watch, is usually packed with thirsty individuals in the evening. I had a pretty amazing afternoon at the Pool Grill (which is located within the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel) lately. In fact, with an American Express Platinum Credit Card and above, you will receive up to 50% off all food expenditure at Pool Grill - find out more here!
Click HERE to get the best room rates for the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel!
One of my weekends were spent in a luxurious Pool Terrace Room in the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel which isn't particularly big but it is one of the most beautifully-appointed rooms that I have ever stayed in. Offering 52 sqm (including 10sqm outdoors) of space, the Pool Terrace Rooms are all located on level five of the hotel (where Pool Grill and the swimming pool both are) and offer access to the swimming pool within a couple of steps.
Firstly, the room is absolutely beautiful. I love the open bathroom concept and the beautiful natural light streaming in from the back of the bathroom. For extra privacy, the sliding doors can close up the bathroom (see photo above!) but I definitely recommend leaving it open for a greater sense of space.
The Pool Terrace Rooms come with Executive Lounge access which gives you a range of benefits. In fact, if you've seen my previous review of the Executive Room, you will know that the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel is the only hotel that I know of to offer four hours of alcoholic beverages in the evening (530PM to 930PM). At the time of writing, the Executive Lounge at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel is undergoing some refurbishment works and therefore, the temporary Executive Lounge is now located on level 2 with the same privileges:
Complimentary wireless Internet access
Complimentary Continental Breakfast (Mon-Fri: 6AM to 10AM | Sat,Sun,PH: 6AM to 11AM)
Complimentary Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres and Desserts (530PM to 930PM)
Complimentary Pressing Service (one garment per day - non-accumulative)
I absolutely love the bathroom and this is hands-down one of the best bathrooms I have ever been to in Singapore. Sure, the bathroom isn't clad carefully in beautiful marble but the clever use of natural light by the side and the whole sense of openness it creates is just pure amazing. I really love the massive free-standing tub which allows for a good warm soak. For the complete experience, an essential oil burner (which comes complete with eucalyptus oil) can be found by one of the sinks. After drawing the curtain (of course) and dimming the lights, I can assure you that this right here is one of the best soaks I have had in this city. In fact, it felt so much like a spa that I almost drifted off to sleep.
Another thing that get me excited during my stay was the provision of premium Bulgari-branded bathroom amenities. I remember that THANN-branded bath amenities were provided during my previous stay at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel. I love how beautiful these Bulgari amenities smell and the photo above was taken where the natural light enters in the bathroom - amazing spot for photos really!
Apart from looking beautiful, the bathroom is also really intelligently designed. For a start, the wardrobe is located within the bathroom - something that I think all hotels should adopt unless there's sufficient space for a walk-in wardrobe. You can now shower and dress-up without having to leave the bathroom (perfect if you are sharing this room with a friend).
As mentioned earlier, the Pool Terrace Rooms offer (somewhat) direct access to the beautiful swimming pool but remember this works both ways for you - it might get quite busy on a weekend afternoon since the hotel draws in some family crowd and sun-worshipers from all over the world. Still, I did not really have any issue with noise or whatsoever but there's definitely less anonymity when staying in these rooms.
I have also made sure to call for evening turndown of the room - always a nice touch but I would highly recommend leaving a small tip for the housekeepers. Apart from making up the room and replacing the towels, I was also given a new set of Bulgari bath amenities and some chocolates by the bed.
When I visited the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel in October, the old Executive Lounge was still in use. As mentioned earlier, the Executive Lounge is currently (at the time of writing) still under refurbishment and has temporarily relocated to level two. This is definitely a much-welcomed change since the previous Executive Lounge was a little too small (especially with Gold and Platinum Marriott members) and dated. The four hours of free-flowing alcohol is definitely a nice touch though!
Similar to other luxury chain hotels, guests with access to the Executive Lounge can choose to have breakfast between the club lounge and the main all-day dining restaurant. In this case, I have opted to have breakfast at Marriott Cafe which is located on street level.
There was quite a healthy selection of fresh salads, cold cuts, breads, local selection and typical breakfast food. While I haven't tried the breakfast at the Executive Lounge before, I actually prefer the layout of Marriott Cafe which is a lot more spacious (although it does get a little crowded at certain times of the morning).
The Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel has surprised me tremendously with the Pool Terrace Rooms. While the Executive Rooms were quite typical of a five-star business hotel, the Pool Terrace Rooms are on a whole different league of its own (in the best way possible). Apart from enjoying more space and executive lounge privileges, my experience at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel reminded me more of a luxurious spa retreat more than a typical weekend staycation. Having the swimming pool at your doorstep and that amazing lunch at Pool Grill also definitely help to create this unique experience in the heart of Singapore's busiest shopping strip.
To say that I have enjoyed my stay at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel's Pool Terrace Room would be a complete understatement. It is so much more than that from the very moment you realise that your room faces the pool. Sure, the Pool Terrace Rooms (S$610++) do not necessarily come cheap but if you were to compare the Weekend Rate for an Executive Room (S$505++), you get so much more with S$105++ more a night which is a small price to pay for an experience like this.
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865
Website | Email
TRIBE Living Bangkok Sukhumvit 39 is a great value choice for budget-conscious travelers but its slightly longer walk from Phrom Phong BTS Station may make it less convenient compared to more accessible (but pricier) options in the area.