This was published 5 years ago
Fullerton Bay Hotel review: Singapore's boutique-like, 100-room, five-star-plus hotel
Fullerton Bay Hotel: One of Singapore's smartest addresses.
THE PLACE
This boutique-like, 100-room, five-star-plus hotel, opened in 2010 and is overlooked by its more conservative counterpart hotel, The Fullerton, housed inside Singapore's grand and erstwhile General Post Office, 90 years old this year. The Asian owners of both of the Fullertons also now own Sydney's historic 19th century GPO. The group announced last week that it would re-badge the existing Westin Sydney hotel that operates in the building to the Fullerton Hotel Sydney. It will be the group's first overseas property.
THE LOCATION
Views of Marina Sands Bay.
The six-storey Fullerton Bay, true to part of its title, overlooks Singapore's Marina Bay, one of its competitor properties, the eponymous casino, entertainment complex and hotel complex with its imposing trio of cricket stump-like towers. Fullerton Bay is directly connected to historic Clifford Pier, once a major arrival and departure point for local and overseas shipping and ferry passengers. The terminal, with its timber-arched roof, has been gorgeously converted into an elegant Fullerton-operated restaurant-cum-function space.
THE SPACE
If the Fullerton Hotel is the Fullerton Bay's more conservative, dowager-like big sister, the latter establishment is its glamour puss sibling. The main Fullerton Hotel is listed as a Singaporean national monument. It's conveniently connected to the newer, unabashedly contemporary Fullerton Bay by an underground pedestrian walkway. The rooftop of the Fullerton Bay, which is built on concrete pylons set into the bay, is the spectacular location for Lantern, an alfresco bar best experienced after dark, as well as the hotel's swimming pool.
Lighthouse Restaurant & Rooftop Bar.
THE ROOM
The view from the spacious, most desirable bay-facing modern suites – all chrome, mirrors and dark timbers – are dominated by those impossible-to-miss casino towers. The water virtually lapping at the lower-level rooms, with their double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies facing the bay, is actually Singapore's actual water supply. It explains why only electric-power boats are allowed to operate on the bay and the river. As befitting rooms at this rate all rooms, which start at a generous 45 square metres, are lavishly-appointed and include Bluetooth speakers, coffee machines, quality Egyptian cotton linen and 100 per cent goose down pillows.
THE FOOD
One of the modern, bay-facing suites at the Fullerton Bay Hotel.
The Fullerton Bay includes two main restaurants, the formal La Brasserie and the casual Landing Point while in the nearby One Fullerton complex you'll find a range of upscale bayfront, eateries. One of the benefits of staying at the Fullerton Bay is the access provided to the dining establishments at the main hotel such the Cantonese-themed Jade for lunch or dinner Jade and rooftop, Italian-themed Lighthouse Restaurant & Rooftop Bar.
STEPPING OUT
Aside from its proximity to the Marina Bay complex and its various attractions, the hotel is close to Singapore's official heritage precinct featuring some of the island city-state's most important colonial era buildings such as the National Gallery, the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall. Guests of the Fullerton are entitled to a free, fully-guided "Maritime Journey Tour", conducted on selected days, which takes you outside the hotel to detail the birth of Singapore, which began around this quayside area.
THE VERDICT
The Fullerton Bay, and indeed The Fullerton itself, offer a taste of what we can expect when this classy, well-established brand, already popular among Australian visitors to Singapore, soon arrives in Sydney. In the meantime, the much smaller and swankier of the two existing Fullerton hotels remains among Singapore's smartest addresses.
ESSENTIALS
Doubles start from $SGD680. The Fullerton Hotel, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore, Singapore. Ph: +65 6733 8388. See fullertonhotels.com
HIGHLIGHT
The plush bayside rooms, and the expansive rooftop bar, offer some spectacular views of Singapore by night.
LOWLIGHT
A stay at the exclusive Fullerton Bay comes with a weighty price-tag so check its website for deals and packages.
Anthony Dennis was a guest of the Fullerton Bay Hotel and Singapore Airlines.
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