Hotel Review: Six Senses Duxton (Duxton Duplex Suite) - Luxury Hotel with Sustainability Focus

The Six Senses Duxton is the first city property for Six Senses and it is also one of the most highly-anticipated hotels to open in Singapore this year. The Six Senses Duxton has been sustainably-restored by famous British designer, Anouska Hempel and it features a synthesis of Chinese, Malay and European design elements. The Six Senses Maxwell (which is just located a couple of minutes away on foot) is slated to open in October 2018 and guests staying in either property will be able to enjoy all the amenities across both hotels.

Click HERE to check out the room rates for Six Senses Duxton!

Lobby
Six Senses Duxton

There are eight different room and suite categories here at the Six Senses Duxton and due to the layout of the building, Anouska has given each one of the 49 guest rooms and suites its very own personality - no two rooms (or suites) are exactly the same. I got to the property slightly ahead of the check-in time and fortunately for me, my room was already ready (not common in luxury boutique properties). I stayed in a Duxton Duplex Suite for the weekend and there are only nine of such suite types here at the Six Senses Duxton.

Living Area (Lower Level)
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

The Duxton Duplex Suite is spans over two floors and it has a living area (which really resembles a bar) on the lower floor. The upper level is where you will find your bedroom as well as the ensuite bathroom. The actual floor space of the Duxton Duplex Suite ranges between 36sqm to 46sqm (depending on which one you actually get) but due to the double-height lounge area, the suite feels a lot larger than it looks on paper. 

Living Area (Lower Level)
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

The living area on the lower floor is definitely my favourite part of the whole suite - it is dark (sliding doors in front of the windows can black out the entire suite), polished and extremely luxurious. The sofa itself is big enough for four adults and the extensive minibar comes stocked with premium spirits and snacks at a fairly reasonable price (more on this later!). 

Six Senses Drinking Water
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

If you are already familiar with the Six Senses brand, one of the most prominent brand pillars is about being a sustainable operator that is committed to preserve the environment. As such, it is very common to find plenty of sustainability-focused initiative on each and every Six Senses property. Here in Six Senses Duxton, plastic bottles are not given in the guest rooms and suites - what is provided instead is the Six Senses drinking water which is (glass) bottled in-house to reduce wastage from single-use plastic. If you prefer sparkling water, there is also one in the fridge and this is complimentary for hotel guests to enjoy (they are also replenished each day). 

Living Area (Lower Level)
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

There is a large flat-screen television here that comes with an extensive range of satellite channels so you can enjoy your favourite programs while pigging out on the snacks available in the room. There is also a Nespresso coffee machine here in the room so you do not have to wander too far out of the property if you are in need of a caffeine fix.

Tea Selection and Nespresso Coffee Capsules
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

Tea-lovers will also be able to enjoy a curated selection of Chinese teas that have been provided by Yixing Xuan Teahouse. In fact, hotel guests can also choose to learn more about tea leaves and tea preparation from Yixing Xuan Teahouse which is located just a short stroll away from the hotel - simply ask one of the guest experience makers on-property!

Singing Bowl and Welcome Amenity
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

You also get your very own singing bowl (that you cannot bring home, unfortunately) in the rooms and suites here. It is believed that the singing bowl helps to promote stillness and well-being through the inculcation of deep-relaxation and emotional clarity - there is really something calming about the sound that is emitted! As part of my welcome amenity, I received a handwritten note as well as a massive pear in place of the regular fruit platter.

Minibar
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

Now let's get to that minibar that I have mentioned previously. In large chain hotels where there is an existence of an executive lounge (or equivalent), I always recommend getting a room with club access since it actually saves you money (especially when you enjoy a tipple or two in the evening). However, since the Six Senses Duxton does not have an executive lounge (this is not a typical business hotel after all), the minibar becomes the next best alternative - the Yellow Pot Bar is nice but drink prices are definitely on the higher side. The minibar in the Duxton Duplex Suite comes fully-stocked with an extensive selection of spirits, liquors and snacks. If you are looking for a bottle of Champagne, the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (half bottle) is priced at S$98++. Here are some of the other drink prices (most of them are half the size) for reference:

• Kavalan Single Malt Whisky: S$52++
• Belvedere Vodka: S$52++
• Kyro Napue Gin: S$35++
• East Imperial Mixers: S$5++

Minibar Snacks
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

In addition to the relatively-affordable drinks in the minibar, guests staying at the Six Senses Duxton can also enjoy a selection of premium snacks at a relatively-reasonable price. Enjoy popular local snacks like the salted egg yolk fish skin and potato crisps or go for something a little safer like the dried mango or cocoa nibs with cashews and coconuts. The price of snacks start from just S$6++ so there is really very little reason to head out of this beautiful suite - if you have to, there is a 7-11 located just across from the hotel if you wish to stock up on your own snacks. 

Bedroom (Upper Level)
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

The bedroom of the Duxton Duplex Suite is located on the upper level so you will have to climb up the beautiful spiral staircase to get to the bedroom (and the bathroom!). There is another flat-screen TV here located in-front of the bed so you are not obligated to watch it downstairs. There is also a sliding door if you prefer to hide the TV away so you can focus on what matters most to you. To one side of the TV is a small wardrobe where you will find space to hang your clothes (even though no iron or ironing board is provided) - this is also where you can find the bathroom slippers. 

Bed (Upper Level)
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

The Naturalmat organic mattresses used here in the Six Senses Duxton are made from 100% natural ingredients that have been sourced from sustainable sources. There is a portable Bose bluetooth speaker located on the side of the bed so you can enjoy your music regardless of where you plan on hanging out. Interestingly enough, there is also also a pair of Chinese meditation balls (also known as Baoding balls - 保定健身球) located on the side of the bed. 

Bathroom (Upper Level)
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

The bathroom of the Duxton Duplex Suite is spans across the length of the upper floor and it is tucked away towards the end of the bedroom. As you might already expect, there is no bathtub here in the Duxton Duplex Suite (perhaps due to space constraints or maybe just another step towards being more sustainable and careful with water usage) but the bathroom is really quite attractive - the dark colour scheme and gentle lighting creates harmony in bringing the entire theme of the suite together. 

Bath Amenities by The Organic Pharmacy
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

Bottled bath amenities are also no offered here at the Six Senses Duxton to reduce wastage from single-use plastics. Instead, bath amenities which are provided by The Organic Pharmacy can be found in these reusable pump bottles. 

'Do Not Disturb' Door Hanger
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

If you are used to flicking a switch to turn on the ‘do not disturb’ sign, you will not find that here - what you will find instead is a really adorable door hanger that you can put in front of your door for privacy. I usually turn on the privacy sign right from the moment I get into the room to avoid any strange encounters with housekeeping. It is sometimes difficult to hear the doorbell when you are staying in a suite that is large enough. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

If your room rate comes inclusive of breakfast, it will be served at Yellow Pot and it will consist of your personal coffee choice, a selection of juice, a starter as well as a main. I was really craving for something local that morning so I opted for fried dough sticks (delicious!) with warm soy milk. 

Breakfast
Yellow Pot - Six Senses Duxton

There is a fairly-diverse menu to select from for breakfast and it ranges from the classics like simple poached eggs to re-visited ones like the Chili Crab Omelette. Guests who are looking for something a little more special may opt for the Braised Beef Noodles. I personally went for poached eggs since I already had my local food fix as a starter. 

Spiral Staircase
Duxton Duplex Suite - Six Senses Duxton

While I have personally gotten accustomed to the comforts of staying in a large international business hotel, the Six Senses Duxton is a breath of fresh air for business travellers or even weekend staycation-goers. It may not have an Executive Lounge (or equivalent) but the food at Yellow Pot is decently-priced and there are a number of star dishes that I really enjoyed. While the drink prices over at Yellow Pot Bar lean towards the higher side, the extensive mini-bar in your very own room and suite makes it easy to create an even better drinking space since it is comparatively private and honestly, the drink prices are really reasonable. I really love the space that you get with the Duxton Duplex Suite - it does not seem like much on paper but everything you touch feels premium and polished. 

The Shutterwhale stayed as a guest of the Six Senses Duxton.

Six Senses Duxton
83 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089540
Website | Email