Wanderlust
A Singapore schoolhouse playing hookey from academic achievement makes for an object lesson in humorous hoteliering in Little India’s Wanderlust. Past the barber chairs and fussball table, you fall down a rabbit hole to the bottom of a swimming pool—the teal room of the Pantone floor, all lined in mosaic tiles with a sunken bed where a bath might have been. Nespresso pods, telephone, TV and earplugs are to hand—and the rest of the room is a series of bathroom cubes and closet, making up three-fourths of the space. The soft drinks in the mini bar are free and toiletries Kiehl’s…mmm. Upstairs, in Whimsical, a typewriter monster swallows up some guests and a spaceship disgorges others in the duplex loft rooms. In between sit origami folded chambers and Pop Art spaces on the Mono floor. The Pantone floor has a vibgyor soaking pool on a deck outside. Down the warrens of Little India and beyond the seemingly incessant roadworks, this is just an incredible bolt hole. There is breakfast included, at Cocotte, the casual-fine French restaurant past the reception rabbit-hole, beyond the bar with the vintage Campari-bottle light ‘shades’ hanging off the plumbing pipes. Breakfast should really be called brunch with its mounds of bacon and pancakes or fruit salad with Chardonnay dressing. The industrial-edged bistro-chic eatery remembers its roots with its honest-to-goodness ‘show kitchen’, fresh-faced behind the huge picture windows. For lunch it transforms into a chic bistro and the communal table heaves under whole grilled squid and roast pork collars and cote de boeuf and artisanal cheeses. Outside, Little India bustles and sizzles in the noonday sun. We could readily stay lost here. From S$170, 2 Dickson Road, wanderlusthotel.com
Sofitel So Singapore
It is quite the Asian coup to outdo Bangkok’s marvellous So Sofitel property. Since the Accor brand moved its headquarters to Singapore, this soon-to-be flagship property promises to be the big marquee of the year when it launches this May. Overlaying the luxury DNA of the Sofitel brand, So adds a contemporary skin and designer muscle. It stars Karl Lagerfeld’s work behind the neoclassical facade, vs Christian Lacroix at the Thai sister. With 3-metre-high ceilings and a skylight above the bed, the rooms also have complimentary minibars and free wi-fi—and a Mac mini, iPad mini and iPhone 5 for guest use! Just 134 rooms, 9 suites and 6 balconies divided between a Hip and a Heritage wing… and a rooftop golden pool. sofitel.com
The Club
On fashionable Ann Siang Road, among the chi-chi boutiques, this 1900s shophouse has 22 modern minimalist rooms with bold local design (calligraphic animal mascots, Chinese pillars, traditional terrazzo floors, antique lamps), rainforest showers and great soundproofing, a rooftop bar and a whiskey bar downstairs, a cafe and—a rarity for heritage properties here—a window in every room. From S$210 (breakfast excluded), 28 Ann Siang Road, theclub.com.sg
Naumi Liora
We liked staying at the original Naumi a lot. This newer one in the heart of Chinatown sounds better still. Sister brand to Hong Kong-based Ovolo, Naumi has a similar approach of contemporary with local colour and location. Rooms are, yes, shophouse snug and there is no restaurant—which forces you to walk down to a cafe they offer vouchers for, which is a good thing for discovering the lovely little eateries around. Nice extras here include a great bouncy bed and a nibbles area with free coffee and ice cream and cookies in the lobby. A Jason Atherton cafe (Snacks) sits downstairs, and you will have special access to a speakeasy-style bar. From S$185, 55 Keong Saik Road, naumiliora.com
The Daulat
This young Little India property has Sealy Posturepedic beds, Nespresso and Twinings teas, rain showers with Penhaligon amenities and Geneva sound machines in its 16 snug rooms, free soft drinks in the lobby—and the quaintest 14m mosaic alley of a lap pool we have seen, complete with underwater sound system, under the stars. The building is over a 100 years old and was once a cattlehouse. Now the interiors include modern wooden floors, granite vanities, mosaic rain showers, cane chairs and patchwork-quilted accent upholstery within a blaze of whites. From S$190, 16 Madras Street, thedaulat.com
Hotel Clover
This small chain of boutique hotels run by a trio of doctors(!) now numbers three. The original North Bridge location has rustic modern chic with nostalgic 1950s flair, and we like it best (the Hong Kong street property has smaller rooms and the new South Bridge one seems more kitschy). A bullock cart sits in the lobby. There is a bar and a café. And the rooms truly are plush while being trenchantly modern minimalist. From S$320 (but often with deep discounts of 45%), 769 North Bridge Road, hotelclover.com
Rabbit Carrot Gun/Trenchards Arms
Mad as a March Hare, these folks. And this is certainly not a Beatrix Potter bunny on their coat of arms. The ‘eclectic English’ food here gets raves: casserole of mushrooms, gamekeeper’s shooting breakfast, chicken liver and Madeira parfait, and home-brewed buckshot ale. The five little suites above the restaurant and gastrobar in this 1925 Katong shophouse are reminiscent of sleeping in a nice pub—with the extra perks of excellent soundproofing and rather posher accommodation in mid-century Modern, heritage or hipster styles. Rabbit Warren rooms from S$160 on airbnb.com, rabbit-carrot-gun.com