Hotel Review: Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore (Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room)
The Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore (which is also the first Shangri-La Hotel in the world) unveiled a brand new Tower Wing with new F&B outlets and refurbished rooms back in May 2017. I checked out the hawker fare in the Lobby Lounge and fell in love with the authentic renditions of local hawker delights. Located slightly off Orchard Road, the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore is home to two other wings as well - the Garden Wing (which offers a lush tropical escape from the city) and the Valley Wing (which is opulent and even includes all-day Champagne).
Hotel Lobby
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
As my car pulled up on the driveway of the Tower Wing (there is a separate entrance and drive way for the Valley Wing), I was immediately greeted at the door. Even though it wasn't the first time I am seeing the newly-refreshed Tower Wing (I caught a glimpse of it when I dropped by NAMI for dinner a couple of weeks ago), it was the first time I actually took my time to appreciate the different design components located throughout the lobby - check out that impressive green wall!
Bedroom
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Booking a Horizon Club room meant that I could enjoy a private check-in experience at the club lounge but since I was rushing for time, I decided to simply check-in at the main reception area - it was seamless and since I have already linked my Golden Circle membership to the reservation, they had everything they needed for the stay and I only needed to provide my signature. As a Golden Circle Jade member, I was proactively offered a late check-out time of 4:00PM (as per published benefit) and I find this commendable since you generally have to ask for a late check-out even if you hit top-tier with some international hotel loyalty program (I am a Diamond member in Hilton Honors and I can barely get anything past 2:00PM usually).
Wardrobe
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
I stayed in a newly-refurbished Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and the oddly-shaped room (more on this later!) offers an expansive city view (similar to the view you would enjoy from NAMI). It is to my understanding that some of the rooms in the category offers a pool view as well so it is definitely worth stating your preference(s) in the pre-arrival email that you will get. One of the things that immediately stood out to be when I entered the room was that beautiful see-through wardrobe (photographed above) - while it is not uncommon to find an open area for the hanging of clothes in select-service hotels, the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has managed to convert this simple space into something so elegant.
Bedroom
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
As mentioned earlier, the room here in the Tower Wing are oddly shaped (yes even the Grand Premier Rooms!) and in the room that I stayed in, the angular area of the room is a massive work desk with great views of the city area. While nowhere near as spacious as the lead-in category rooms in the Garden Wing and the Valley Wing, the Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room features 38sqm of carefully-appointed space. The only narrow part in the room is perhaps the space between the foot of the bed and the cupboard in front of the television but an average-built traveller will not have any kind of trouble getting past it. What you can't see from the photo above however is the small dressing table that is located next to the wardrobe (in my defense, I only found out about it much later the following morning) - the table opens upwards to reveal a lighted-mirror and this is also where the hairdryer is kept in the room.
Bedside Controls and USB Charging Ports
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
I love the button controls that are located by the side of the bed and it is possible to control the blinds, curtains and room lighting very easily from here - you can also tap on the Master light control when you are ready for bed and that will switch all the lights off without you having to figure out how to switch off that one remaining light (especially when you are already all comfortable in bed).
Work Desk and View from the Room
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
I do spend a lot of time writing or editing photos in hotel rooms - I treat staycations as a co-working space in the day, a bar in the evening and a bed in the night. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised at the sheer size of the work desk here in the Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. Having just completed a major refurbishment process, the rooms (and suites) in the Tower Wing has been completely redesigned and it is evident that plenty of thought has been given to this space in order to meet the requirements of the modern traveller - there are plenty of USB charging ports and universal power outlets which I always appreciate when I am travelling internationally. The room that I was in also looks out to the lush greenery in Singapore and you will be able to see Hotel Jen Tanglin in a distance as well.
Large Flat Screen TV
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Consistent to my experience across the Shangri-La hotels that I have visited, WiFi is provided free of charge in the hotel (even if you are not a staying guest in this property!) and the large flat screen TV that you can find in front of your bed has a wide range of satellite and cable channels (perfect for staying-in!). There is also a well-stocked minibar that is located on the bottom right corner of the cupboard but do note that these items are chargeable.
Nespresso Machine
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Guests staying in the Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe rooms will also find a basic Nespresso machine in the room (something that I appreciate a lot). I am definitely not saying that Nespresso is a substitute for good coffee but as far as instant coffees go, Nespresso is definitely one of the best ones you can get (though I do prefer illy a little more) - you get six coffee pods in the drawer (two are decaffeinated) and these are replenished during evening turndown and in the morning when your room is made up.
Welcome Fruit Platter
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Instead of using fresh flowers, the rooms in Tower Wing feature air plants that I simply want to take home - but I did not. I love how they are being presented in such a modern way and it is probably easier for the hotel to maintain these plants as opposed to placing fresh-cut orchids. Another thing that I really appreciated was the fruit platter that was placed in the room. I love how it features tropical fruits (some of which are uncommon to international travellers) like longans which you do not find frequently in your fruit platter.
Golden Circle Jade Member Amenities
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
As a Jade Member in the Golden Circle program, I was once again given all the right nominated amenities - cookies and milk, chocolate pralines and instant noodles. If you hit the highest-tier of the program, you may even opt for a bottle of red or white wine which makes one-night staycations that much worth it in terms of the value you are getting. Complimentary water is also provided in the room and they are replenished all the time. If by any chance, you do run out of them, simply dial '0' on your phone to request for more - they will be sent up to your room in no time!
Bathroom
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Despite being only 38sqm in size, the bathroom of the Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room comes with a deep-soaking tub as well as a separate standing shower (which is once again located in a slightly angular corner). There is only one sink in the bathroom but that is expected for a room this size.
Bath Amenities by L'Occitane en Provence
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Since I stayed in a Horizon Club room, bath amenities are provided by L'Occitane en Provence - I believe you get in-house branded ones if you stay in a regular room. These are the same ones that you get in the luxurious Valley Wing of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
Lobby Lounge
Refined and Authentic Hawker Fare in Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
During my stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, I checked out one of the brand new F&B outlets in the hotel - Lobby Lounge - was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the hawker fare is. In fact, since my stay was over a weekend, the semi-buffet lunch which comes with your choice of main is priced affordably at just S$45++ per adult. Feel free to check out my feature on the Lobby Lounge above but if you are looking for a quick recommendation, you will not go wrong with the Bak Chor Mee with Fish Maw Soup (S$24++).
Horizon Club
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
The Horizon Club in the Tower Wing of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has also been completely redesigned. In fact, if you have been to the fine-dining Japanese restaurant NAMI, located on the same level, you would definitely notice a slight resemblance. Conceptualised by renowned Japanese designer Hirotoshi Sawada, the new Horizon Club offers plenty of space and seating configurations that cater to different groups of travellers - opt for one of the couches if you are traveling with family or simply find a quiet corner for two if you are here with your loved ones.
Horizon Club
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
The Horizon Club at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore enjoys plenty of natural lighting in the day and the atmosphere is dramatically different in the evening as well. This is also where you can enjoy a private check-in and check-out experience if you are a Horizon Club guest. While you will be able to enjoy all-day refreshments and complimentary coffee/tea, the most impressive meal period for me personally was during evening cocktails which runs from 5:00PM to 8:00PM (a generous 3-hour period!) each day.
The Horizon Club offers a huge selection of drinks during the evening cocktail hours - beers, red wines, white wines, prosecco, spirits and even an Enomatic wine dispenser for the most unique (and usually more expensive) wines. I have to say this explicitly though - the Horizon Club does not serve Champagne during these hours but the wines definitely make up for that. In fact, there is even a cocktail recipe book located near the spirits so feel free to concoct up a drink of your choice (or ask one of the friendly lounge staff!).
Evening Canapés
Horizon Club - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
The Horizon Club definitely provides enough food during these hours for a light dinner - perfect if you intend to simply stay in! If you do not feel too motivated to walk out of the hotel, there is a complimentary shuttle service that runs every hour and it is best to check with the concierge or the Horizon Club staff on the departure and pick-up timings.
Evening Canapés
Horizon Club - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
I love how there were at least three different hot food items on the buffet line that evening - one of which is a delicious interpretation of an otak-otak! If you are staying over at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore's Tower Wing for a weekend staycation, I highly recommend booking a room with Horizon Club access as it makes a world of difference (very much so if you intend to just stay in the room). Being able to pop into the Horizon Club, get fresh coffee and work done on a weekend is also a great perk - something that I value a lot!
Bed
Tower Wing Horizon Club Deluxe Room - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
After plenty of drinks and food at the Horizon Club, I headed back to my room for a much-needed sleep. I have actually just gotten back from Beijing that very same morning (check out my trip report of Air China's Business Class!) where I stayed at the Hotel Jen Beijing. Possibly due to how tired I was, I had a really good sleep in the room but managed to wake up early for breakfast anyway.
Buffet Breakfast
The Line - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
As a Horizon Club guest, I was given the option to enjoy a full buffet breakfast at The Line or enjoy a quiet and more private breakfast at the Horizon Club. Since I managed to get up relatively early (before 8:00AM) and I was just at the Horizon Club the previous evening, I decided to head down to The Line to enjoy a much more extensive spread. The teh tarik (pulled tea) is actually quite good as well so I definitely recommend for everyone to try that if you are here for breakfast - there is also prosecco hidden somewhere in the buffet line so make sure you scout for that if you are a morning drinker.
Buffet Breakfast
The Line - Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
The Garden Wing of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore used to be my favourite amongst the three but after this stay, I am a Tower Wing convert. I do believe that the room rates have gone up following the refurbishment (even though rightfully so) but the experience you get here as a Horizon Club guest is unrivaled. The food at the Lobby Lounge is delicious (make sure you sign-up for The Table for at least 10% rebate), the rooms are beautiful and the Horizon Club experience is something that you will definitely remember.
The Orchid
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
The JW Marriott Auckland is still refurbishing its guest rooms and suites (with an expected completion date in November 2024). I stayed in a Deluxe Room (non-refurbished) and have found the experience to be lacking of a typical JW Marriott property.