Hotel Review: Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore at Clarke Quay | Refurbished Rooms and a refreshed Ellenborough Market Cafe

Posted on April 5, 2017 by theRantingPanda in Hotel Review

The Hotel Nestled just behind Singapore’s nightlife district of Clarke Quay, Swissotel Merchant Court, Singapore has been a popular hotel given its central location. Good news for vacationers, the hotel had undergone a much-needed revamped last year, which spots refurbished rooms, restaurants, lobby and even a new spa! Minutes from both Raffles Place and Orchard via a car ride, you are also within walking distance from Clarke Quay MRT Station on the Northeast Line. If you are looking to hop on one of those water taxis along the Singapore River, there’s a stop right outside the hotel!

The Room With a take on modern light tones, the refurbished rooms at Swissotel Merchant Court contrast some of the oriental furniture with their usual Swiss details to comfort. We checked ourselves into the Swiss Select Clarke Quay room, aptly named as guests will get to enjoy a sweeping view of the lively Clarke Quay district from the spacious balcony. This room category is also the best rate room before the suites category. Moreover, you definitely wouldn’t mind the complimentary access to the Swiss Executive Lounge in the hotel which comes along with this room package.

Spacious room, complete with a work desk and a Nespresso coffee machine in the room, there is very little excuse to even step out of the room. While it was very tempting to step out into the balcony to sip my in-room TWG tea, it would have been better if the balcony was maintained in a better condition. The age of the balcony is somewhat a stark difference to the refurbished room.

The Facilities Despite being a hotel located in the midst of the city, you will get to enjoy all the facilities you rightly should as with the Swissotel brand. The swimming pool is accompanied by a fitness centre which spans two floors. Yes two floors, you heard us gym fanatics. For all fitness junkies, this is perhaps the perfect hotel for you to burn the calories from your last evening’s party. Our only gripe is that the swimming pool design is quite dated.

If you want to pamper yourself, you may be keen to check out the hotel’s brand new Purovel Spa, which of course ain’t the most affordable of all options.

We also checked out the Swiss Executive Lounge, which offer some light bites and alcoholic beverages during the evening cocktail hour. It is a quiet space to enjoy a drink or coffee, or to catch up on news or work.

The Restaurants We visited Ellenborough Market Cafe when it reopened last year after a major revamp. The restaurant has not only retained its strong positioning as the go-to Peranakan buffet option in Singapore, and its new interior also made the dining experience even better due to the use of vibrant colours and modern Peranakan touches. Do read more on our latest review of the restaurant here.

For an all-day dining restaurant, you will get to enjoy one of the widest spread of buffet breakfast we have seen in our many stays in Singapore hotels previously. Admittedly, we appreciate their wide range of beverage selections from artisanal coffee to the much raved TWG Teas. This is one breakfast you should wake up promptly for.

Rants Now, if you are looking to escape from the busy life from the city, this may not be the most ideal hotel for a staycation. However, if the central location matters more to you, this will perhaps give you one of the best deal in town considering its more affordable pricing levels.

Overall Experience Swissotel is not a brand that seeks to surprise its guests, so a stay here will be executed with the typical Swiss pursuit of silent perfection. Unfortunately, we thought that its revamp could have been more complete if more attention could be placed on their dated swimming pool and fitness centre.