Final Up to date on August 31, 2022 by Nellie Huang
One of many highlights of our current Southeast Asian journey was staying on the Clan Resort. Right here’s my detailed evaluate of Singapore’s latest luxurious lodge!
It’s been 3 years since I got here again house to Singapore — so this current journey to the Lion Metropolis has been a very long time coming. Our keep at The Clan Resort made it all of the extra particular, as I used to be reminded of what the Singaporean identification means.
Towering over the restored shophouses of Telok Ayer, The Clan Resort is a contemporary luxurious lodge with a nostalgic story to inform. It pays tribute to the Singaporean heritage, by working with native craftsmen to provide distinctive furnishings, incorporating native meals within the breakfasts, and spoiling visitors with old-school Kaya snacks that I grew up consuming.
The Singapore I grew up in was at all times searching to the world, and by no means embracing native tradition and identification. However occasions have modified, as I’ve observed, and this lodge really captures Singapore’s sense of identification and spirit by means of each single element.
The Good Setting in Singapore
Sitting on the crossroads the place the monetary district and Telok Ayer meet, The Clan Resort is simply minutes from the Singapore River and cultural websites in Chinatown. That is the place previous meets new: the low-lying, terracotta-roofed shophouses juxtaposed in opposition to the towering skyscrapers of the CBD (Central Enterprise District).
It was additionally right here, the place The Clan Resort proudly stands, that settlers searching for new alternatives landed within the 1800s. Again then, the road was lined with bustling shophouses and sampans (wood boats) that introduced immigrants alongside the Singapore River. Right now, the identical avenue has flourished and advanced right into a bustling leisure space flanked by edgy glass-walled buildings, restored temples, and modernised shophouses.
The Clan Resort was constructed to replicate the success tales of humble immigrants and their sturdy bond that lasted by means of the generations, from previous to current. It’s evident from the lodge’s art work and inside design, that it attracts inspiration from the clan halls and shophouses of the Telok Ayer space.
![Staying at The Clan Hotel, Singapore [Hotel Review]](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pPPHD6L/0/L/i-pPPHD6L-L.jpg "Staying at The Clan Hotel, Singapore [Hotel Review]")
Embracing Our Singaporean Id
The entire expertise begins on the dimly lit lodge foyer, the place wall-to-ceiling glass home windows, leather-based Chesterfield sofas, and black metal cabinets present an intimate setting for our welcome tea ceremony.
We’re warmly greeted by the in-house tea grasp, who serves us a pot of Nanyang Ritual Tea. He goes on to clarify that it’s an unique curation (produced specifically for the lodge) that blends Southern and Northern Fujian Oolong Teas, each famed for intense perfume and style.
I sip on the tea and eagerly tuck into the tau sar piah, a conventional bean pastry I liked as a child. Kaleya (my 7-year-old daughter) surprisingly likes it, and even asks for a second serving of the pastry!
Rooms with a View
Our cheery Clan Keeper exhibits us to the Grand Premier Room. The lodge offers a personal-assistant service for visitors of the Grasp Collection rooms. The very first thing I discover in our Twenty ninth-floor nook room is the view: huge home windows on all sides reveal spectacular views of the Singaporean skyline. And perched by the glass are window sill sofas that allow you to sit and admire the panorama whereas sipping their signature Nanyang ritual tea.
The spacious room is designed with a distinctively up to date type, however they haven’t forgotten to infuse some Singaporean character into it. The room options standing lamps with Oriental aptitude, polished teak tables, and conventional Chinese language work. The toilet is outrageously large, with a rainforest bathe and an enormous bathtub that permits you to soak whereas consuming within the view.
Having opened its doorways in March 2021, the Clan Resort Singapore already has 324 rooms throughout three distinct room classes — Grand Premier, Premier and Deluxe rooms. The opposite rooms are related in design and elegance to ours, however barely smaller in dimension.
The Sky’s The Restrict
Perched on the rooftop (thirtieth ground), the Sky Pool is a relaxing oasis providing a chicken’s eye view of the encompassing heritage district. The pool itself is fairly small and the semi-submerged lounge chairs do get stuffed up fairly rapidly, however the views positively make up for it. Subsequent to the Sky Pool is a jacuzzi with heat effervescent water that my daughter liked!
Additionally on this stage is the Sky Fitness center, full with Health-on-Demand private coaching, in addition to a conventional Wing Chun wood dummy for a well-rounded exercise. It’s positively one of many greatest lodge gyms I’ve seen. There are additionally bathe suites out there for early check-ins and late check-outs.
A Tribute to Singaporean Delicacies
Breakfast is a severe affair on the lodge’s solely restaurant, QĪN Restaurant & Bar. We get to select from an a la carte menu, and the multi-course breakfast certain is a variety. I am going for the Singaporean teochew porridge (rice congee) and roti prata (Indian flatbread), whereas Alberto opts for the total English breakfast. Kaleya gleefully devours a beneficiant portion of waffles with strawberries and maple syrup. All of those are served alongside a juice, espresso/tea, and a yogurt with combined fruit.
Like the remainder of the lodge, QĪN Restaurant & Bar is a contemporary Chinese language restaurant that celebrates our native Singaporean tradition. Govt chef James Tay serves up inventive renditions of Asian classics, such because the Siphon Mushroom Tea, Chilli Crab Crostini and ‘Sang Mein’. He additionally designs a rigorously curated record of every day specials to incorporate standard Singaporean dishes like Bak Kut Teh.
Nostalgic snapshots right here transcend the plate – the restaurant inside additionally presents a country rendition of Asian décor, rightfully elevated with a beneficiant view of town. A stand-out design function of the restaurant is the wall of Chinese language drugs packing containers, stretching from the staircase touchdown all the way in which as much as the ceiling — for example the life-long bond of the clans from the previous occasions.
Free Precinct Tour of the Space
However what actually wins me over is the native precinct tour that the lodge offers freed from cost to Grasp Collection visitors. The 1.5-hour guided tour brings us into the backstreets of Telok Ayer and Chinatown, and varied corners that I by no means knew existed. Our Clan Keeper might not be Singaporean, however he’s lived right here for 15 years and is aware of town higher than I do (I haven’t lived right here for 17 years).
The strolling tour covers the important thing heritage websites and cultural spots which are positioned close to the lodge, such because the Thian Hock Keng Temple and Fuk Tak Chi Museum. Our principal cease is The URA Centre’s Singapore Metropolis Gallery, an informative showcase of how the Republic has reworked over the previous 50 years (an ideal spot to go to particularly should you’re touring Singapore with youngsters!).
All through the stroll, our Clan Keeper makes common stops to share fascinating nuggets concerning the historical past. We finish off the tour with a cease on the well-known Maxwell Meals Centre, the place our Clan Keepers will get us native drinks to pattern and have a chat about Singapore.
Data concerning the native precinct tour:
• Each Wednesday and Saturday, 4pm (topic to availability and climate circumstances)
• Visitors to contact The Clan Keeper (for MASTER Collection visitors)
• For as much as 9 visitors, topic to availability on a first-come, first-served foundation
• Every tour will final about 45 minutes to 1 hour
COVID Security Measures
The lodge has been licensed by the SG Clear – a whole-of-Authorities initiative. This certification displays the stringent sanitisation and hygiene measures that they’ve taken. All their employees put on masks always, funds are in digital kind, and check-in information is shipped to your electronic mail.
General Evaluation of The Clan Resort Singapore
The lodge is implausible for individuals who have a mushy spot for heritage and tradition. The Clan Resort has included the Singaporean identification into each single element and staying right here provides you with a greater sense of the nation.
It’s positively a spot I might return to after I’m in Singapore once more.