AMOY by Far East Hospitality

Opened in 2013, the hotel was created out of a number of historic shop houses and a temple that date back 170 years. At one entrance, guests enter a hotel corridor off the busy street through glass sliding doors. Chinese seating lines the corridor into the lobby, providing places for guests to linger, and a mural on one wall depicts historic Chinese scenes. A soaring ceiling with a skylight allows plenty of natural light into the lobby during the day. A huge wall above the front desk is decorated with Chinese surnames, and the motif is repeated in the hallways. The wall facing the front desk is wood, with subtle decorative lighting and a fountain -- it's an artsy touch that plays up the hotel's boutique sensibilities. The lobby is a perfect representation of the hotel's theme of "Old Meets New, East Meets West." Another entrance to the hotel is through the Fuk Tak Chi Museum, which displays a fascinating mix of historic Chinese objects. Guests are drawn to the slightly funky charms here, and come from all walks of life. The varying room sizes mean that solo travelers are especially welcome.

This upscale boutique hotel is situated on Telok Ayer Street in the heart of the business district and close to Chinatown. It's surrounded by converted shop houses that contain restaurants and pubs. The area is busy and bustling during the day, but it gets quiet at night. Tourists can make their way to major attractions with ease as there are multiple MRT train stations within a five minute walk. Chinatown and its attractions can be reached with a five- to 10-minute stroll.

The hotel also is ideally located for business travelers as it is situated in the heart of the Central Business District, and you can reach many businesses easily on foot. One of the hotel entrances leads to the Fuk Tak Chi Museum, which was formerly a temple and the headquarters for the Hakka and Cantonese communities in the 1800s. Far East Square mall also is attached to the hotel. Changi Airport is a 20- to 25-minute drive from here.

Because of the historic nature of the building, rooms differ in layout but they can be on the small side, with Cosy Single Rooms coming in around 194 square feet (18 square meters), while Deluxe Double Rooms have 215 to 258 square feet of space (20 to 24 square feet). Each room was named for a Chinese family, and their name appears on the door. Decor varies, but all rooms feature historic Chinese architectural details and furnishings such as traditional Chinese stools and beautiful porcelain sinks in bathrooms. The hotel has successfully achieved its design goal of re-creating the living experience of early Chinese settlers and giving it a modern twist -- contemporary lattice work screens and window treatments, modern palettes of gray and tan, and modern pieces with clean lines lend the rooms their contemporary edge. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, free minibars, coffeemakers, and safes. Each night, housekeepers leave hand-written notes with motivational quotes. In some rooms, bathrooms are separated from the sleeping area by a few steps, which could pose a challenge for guests who are less mobile. They also have glass walls, which modest guests may find bothersome. Overall, bathrooms are tiny, but modern and fresh, with square sinks, rainfall showerheads, individual toiletries, and makeup mirrors. Large windows look out onto the street or the sides of buildings.

Despite having four-pearl-level rooms and style, the amenities on-site are relatively thin, though there are a good number of freebies. There are numerous dining spots and tea houses within walking distance of hotel. WI-Fi is free as well and a free welcome drink is provided. The museum is attached to the hotel for guests looking to explore some of the area's history, and a mall is attached as well.