The best boutique and shophouse hotels in Singapore

Singapore’s answer to Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel – minus the purple uniform- clad concierge and lobby boy. This pastel-hued, tropical-wallpapered dream pad is complete with Instagrammable opportunities at every nook and cranny – even in each spacious cocoon. There are fives beautifully decorated room types adorned with retro furniture and bold wallpaper. Go big or go home with a night’s stay at The Great Suite (from $195), complete with a study and circular bathtub for a relaxing bubble bath.

Live like a local in the vibrant neighbourhood of Keong Saik at this restored three-storied shophouse. Whether you’re here for a short while or a long stay, the ‘flexible living solution’ is bathed in a bold Mediterranean turquoise palette, boasts stylish social spaces and an international roster of eclectic restaurants and bars including award-winning The Old Man from Hong Kong. The sweet digs of KēSa House also provide a relaxing, comfy home with the offerings of a serviced apartment. Sleep tight in the Sky Double (from $200) where you can fall asleep under a blanket of stars – protected by a ceiling window, of course.

Oozing with charm, this luxurious pied-à-terre’s guestrooms and suites are equipped with custom furnishings, original artwork and personalised touches for an unparalleled experience. There are four room configurations and two spacious suites. Ditch your bedroom for a night at The Terrace (from $390) where each room is designed with European-style interiors that complement the hardwood timber floors. It has a private balcony for a romantic night under the stars, where you can soak in views of Tanjong Pagar with a glass of bubbly.

With its electric blue and gold facade, the Ann Siang House is hard to miss. The hotel’s apartment-style rooms (from $260) are decorated with bespoke furniture – think lavish leathers, geometrical tables, contemporary chairs and avant-garde artworks. Squeeze in a bit of #fitspo atThe Active Studio, which comes with an in-room stationary bike. For a little R&R, opt for The Wellbeing Studio that has a massage chair, bath salts, electric burner and essential oils. The best bit? Each room is equipped with the world’s most comfy bed, the Hypnos Firenze, for the ultimate snooze.

Decked out in deluxe crimson velvet and adorned with gold details, the hotel flirts with decadent Parisian influences, making it a sensuous playground for the mischievous and high-spirited. Step into a realm of culture and creativity as you rub shoulders with the hotels artists-in-residence or immerse yourself in classy live Jazz music whilst sipping one of the bar's signature cocktails. Thrill-seekers can embark on the Vagabond Vice and Nice tour – venturing through the surrounding ethnic enclaves of Kampong Glam and Little India, as you uncover the secret delights Singapore has to offer.

With its spectacular columns, wide arcs and full-length colonial shuttered windows, The Sultan Hotel is no doubt an architectural marvel. Nestled in one of Singapore’s most culturally vibrant districts, Kampong Glam, this gleaming white property comprises 10 faithfully preserved shophouses in an idyllic tribute to Singapore’s rich heritage. Differing in visual themes, views and spatial set-ups, each room proffers its own adventure – always giving patrons something to look forward to. Opt for the prestigious double-storied Sultan Loft if you’re on the hunt for something more spacious.

Employees donned in Cheongsams greet you as you arrive – a mere preview of the hotel’s proud homage to its Chinese heritage. Each hotel room takes on the surname of a pioneer Singaporean Chinese families and is outfitted with carefully curated Asian-inspired furnishings, ranging from porcelain sinks to embroidered cushions. Pay a visit to the hotel’s Fuk Tak Chi temple museum and trace the footsteps of early Chinese immigrants. While it’s grounded in rich historical narratives, Amoy’s unrivalled personalised service ensures that your modern comforts are still well taken care of.

As compact and functional as the name suggests, The Pod is fitted with personal lockers and over 100 bed-only capsule rooms. Located in Singapore’s lively city centre, the cosy minimalist hotel affords you the opportunity engage in lively conversations with tourists from all walks of life. But if you’re an introvert who values personal space over small talk, fret not. Simply draw down the discrete blinds and retreat into privacy. The best part? This ridiculously affordable hotel offers complimentary hot buffet breakfasts and dry cleaning services too.

Surrounded by museums, malls and eateries, the centrally located Hotel G houses 308 rooms, split into 3 categories – good, great, greater. A colorful dreamcatcher hangs from the ceiling of every room, tying together a wonderfully appealing aesthetic created by the atmospheric lighting and vintage furnishings. Each room is intended to dazzle with its vivid colors and unique design. The snazzy lifestyle hotel boats relaxed communal spaces that play host to exciting programmes and food connoisseurs will have a hard time passing up on the hotel’s dining options. Ginett Restaurant and Wine Bar’s extensive menu spans across cold cuts and gourmet cheeses paired with exclusive wines to farm-to-table dishes and French wine, of course. 

Beneath Wangz Hotel's distinctive façade is a tranquil urban oasis that’s known for its impeccably intuitive service. Taking its cue from its verdant surroundings, the hotel’s spacious rooms are perked up with botanical artwork and tinged with soft hues. Its elegant rooftop restaurant, Upper Place, plates up modern European cuisine in a relaxed setting – perfect for business lunches and intimate group dinners. Complimentary shuttle bus services to the city’s chicest hotspots are provided but hardly necessary as this hotel is located in Tiong Bahru, a neighborhood brimming with hipster boutiques, trendy cafes and cool restaurants.

Pioneered by a group of passionate backpackers, The Shophouse perfect for international wanderers and adventurers who appreciate the homely ambiance of this humble shophouse-turned-inn. Tucked away in one of Singapore’s major cultural enclaves, Bugis, the hostel is in the vicinity of all that Arab Street is renowned for – a blend of traditional stores selling textiles, Persian rugs and Turkish lights as well as indie hangouts and bohemian watering holes.

The Unlisted Collections is one of Singapore’s most well-regarded boutique hotel groups, which makes the prices at Wanderlust too good to pass up. Even the lobby lounge makes a statement with refurbished saloon and dentist chairs and a foosball table for fostering conversations. Wanderlust is at the edge of Little India, close to the behemoth Mustafa Centre that offers shopping 24-7, and near the bus station to Johor Bahru. You’ll never go hungry either – there’s a great mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay eateries that open into the night.

Decked out in rustic wood and perked up with repurposed furniture like bar stools made from bicycle wheels, this hotel is strongly reminiscent of the area’s heritage as a warehouse and industrial district. Be dazzled by a casual elegance from the moment you step into the hotel lobby, where high ceilings and cement-washed walls emphasise its fuss-free design. Subtle accents add a touch of dynamism to this industrial homage while wide, open spaces paneled with wood and ambient lighting create a relaxing environment, allowing guests to escape the urbanized corporate grind.