36 Newton Road, Singapore, Singapore | (618) 248-8274
Quiet location is walkable to several public transportation options
Rooms have mini-fridges, ironing equipment, and tubs
Outdoor pool and sun deck
24-hour Trishaw Coffeehouse also offers room service
Small gym with cardio and strength-equipment
Free parking
Business center with a printer and Wi-Fi throughout (for a fee)
On-site laundry available (for a fee)
Lobby, amenities, and rooms all need refreshing
Not walkable to most tourist sites
Fees for internet in business center and Wi-Fi throughout
No bar on-site
Pool and gym are small
This 331-room, three-pearl property is located in a quiet residential area, and is one of Singapore's older hotels. Facilities are clean, but show the hotel’s age. Rooms have mini-fridges and tubs, but old-fashioned drapes and couches, plus fees for Wi-Fi. The gym, pool, and business center check off the boxes as far as standard amenities go, but have old carpets and outdated computers. Breakfast at the cafeteria-like, 24-hour Trishaw Coffeehouse isn't included with rates, but there is 24-hour room service. Tourists who don’t mind the lack of ambience here do appreciate the proximity (within 10 minutes on foot) to several public transport options. Closer to the city center, Hotel G Singapore’s industrial design is much more chic.
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Scene
Functional for tourists who don’t need many frills
The aging Hotel Royal Singapore doesn’t have the ultra-modern, glitzy vibe that the city is now known for, but it’s a well-maintained spot for tourists who need a simple, quiet stopover. The lobby is a functional space featuring fluorescent spotlights, mirrored pillars, an old-fashioned spiral staircase, fountain, and Chinese wall prints. Restaurants and amenities throughout the property have the same dated feel. While the atmosphere can be slightly dismal, and there aren’t many appealing lounging areas, travelers who don’t mind functionality over aesthetics will find the scene here suitable.
Location
Quiet neighborhood; close to public transport; about 20 minutes to center of town
Tucked in the quiet Novena neighborhood, the hotel is surrounded by residential properties, without much action nearby. Most tourist sites aren’t within walking distance, but a bus stop just outside the hotel, and two MRT subway stations are under a 10-minute walk, making it fairly easy to reach the larger attractions. The major shopping belt of Orchard Road is 16 minutes away by public transport. Marina Bay Sands is about 30 minutes away by bus or 12 minutes away by car. The Singapore Botanic Gardens are a 10-minute drive or 25-minute bus ride away. The Singapore Zoo is 40 minutes away by train and 30 minutes away by car. Singapore’s Changi Airport is a 23-minute drive away.
Rooms
Electric kettles and mini-fridges, but charges for Wi-Fi in dark rooms
Like the common areas, standard rooms here serve their purpose. But without much character or ambience, they fall into mediocre territory. Dark furnishings make the spaces feel dim, and several features, like the drapes, desk chairs, and bed runners look dated. Room amenities are decent and include air-conditioning, safes, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, mini-fridges, and ironing equipment. However, Wi-Fi comes with extra fees.Bathrooms are basic, with plain polyester shower curtains and small sinks, but large mirrors. All bathrooms have shower/tub combos with fixed showerheads. In addition to the supplied toiletries and hairdryers, extra toothbrushes and toothpaste can be requested. Family rooms are larger, but otherwise similar to the rest of the rooms.
Features
24-hour restaurant with room service, small pool, tiny gym, and fees for Wi-Fi
The hotel’s highlight is Trishaw Coffeehouse, open 24 hours a day. The room is on the dark side and feels like a cafeteria, but the corner booths, fashioned to look like rickshaw seats, add some character to the otherwise generic-looking space. Local Singaporean dishes, along with western items, are offered for breakfast. Though the selection isn’t bad, it can get repetitive for longer-term guests. 24-hour room service is also available. The small outdoor pool is clean, and provides a deck lined with plastic sun loungers and a few tables and umbrellas. There’s also a small gym on-site with only a handful of dated cardio machines and a single strength-training machine. The two computers and single printer in the business center are also outdated, and fees apply for internet use. In fact, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel comes with a fee for usage. There are also charges for laundry services. Parking, however, is free.
