Hotel 1929

The Hotel 1929 is a hip boutique property located in a historic shophouse building. The exterior, a sophisticated ivory facade, features stylish balconies and shuttered windows. Inside, decor throughout is bright and modern with retro accents, and most of the common spaces have floor-to-ceiling windows that let in loads of natural light. A highlight of the hotel is its impressive and eclectic collection of funky chairs, including a barber's chair and a bright red butterfly chair that sit in the lobby. While rooms are tiny and amenities are limited, the hotel offers what many larger and better equipped hotels lack -- atmosphere. Guests tend to be tourists, including a large number of solo travelers. 

Hotel 1929 has a central location in southwestern Chinatown, near nightlife and a few attractions, including the impressive Sri Marimamman Temple, a couple of night markets, and the Chinese Heritage Center. Kreta Ayer, as this section of the neighborhood is known, is a popular tourist destination for its great local food and shops, though stores are geared more toward locals. The neighborhood has a lot of historical and cultural significance, and many of its buildings and streets have been declared National Heritage Sites. The hotel is also located a short walk from the Chinatown MRT station and several bus stops, which offer easy access to the downtown area and most other attractions.

• Six-minute walk to Chinatown MRT station
• Six-minute walk to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
• Seven-minute walk to Chinatown Heritage Center
• Nine-minute walk to Sri Marimman Temple
• 22-minute walk to Parliament House (seven-minute drive)
• 22-minute drive to Changi International Airport (without traffic)
• 25 minutes to Raffles Hotel via public transit (30-minute walk)
• 30 minutes to Esplanade Park via public transit (27 minutes on foot)
• 30 minutes to Orchard Road shopping area via public transit
• 30 minutes to Gardens by the Bay via public transit

Guest rooms at the Hotel 1929 are big on atmosphere but small on space. But while they lack square footage (some are teeny tiny), they are clean and modern with retro touches. Parquet floors, funky chairs, and mosaic tiled bathrooms stand out against clean white walls and bedding. Bathrooms are trendy but essentially situated in the rooms themselves with in-room sinks and glass-enclosed wet-room-style showers with toilets off to one side. Luggage storage can be a problem, but the front desk will store any suitcases too big to fit comfortably in the room. 

Amenities are modern: air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, LCD TVs, iPod docks, and free loaner smartphones, which includes free data, plus local and some international calling. Rooms also have safes, umbrellas, and electric kettles for coffee/tea. All rooms include mini-fridges with free non alcoholic beverages, though in entry-level single rooms these fridges are tiny, only holding about two drinks. Bathrooms include toiletries and hairdryers. Suites and upgraded rooms may add other extras like Nespresso coffeemakers, balconies, or cool in-room clawfoot tubs. Two Terrace Suites feature rooftop spaces and outdoor tubs. Guests often complain about street noise, though back-facing rooms tend to be quieter.

Features are limited at the 1929 -- there are no wellness facilities for example. The hotel does offer a simple breakfast, which may or may not be included in the room rate, free snacks from reception, and a modern, casual restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows. The latter serves international cuisine with an Asian twist (though it's not open for both lunch and dinner every day of the week). The front desk is open 24-hours, and the hotel can arrange for laundry service, car service, airport shuttle service, or childcare. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.