In the wake of my enchanting and successful stay at the Sofitel So Bangkok, I went on to stay with his cousin in Singapore. It had been a while since I had deserted Accor for my travels abroad but considering the excellent surprise of my stay in Thailand and my first experience with the Sofitel So brand, I might as well continue on my way.
For this stay I had chosen a So Cosy room, the “entry level” product of the hotel.
First impression: boutique, kitsch and cosy
The hotel is ideally located in the center of Singapore, close to subway stations and two blocks from Raffles Place and Marina Bay for those who know.
The cab drops me off in front of the main entrance.
In fact there is a drop off/pick up zone in the street next door but the information did not reach the attention of all the cabs. That does not pose any problem for me but that could have been a little more annoying for people a little more loaded, more especially as one finds oneself in double parking.
With each Sofitel SO having a pronounced personality away from the uniformity and sanitized nature of the big chains, I am eager to discover the interior.
If the chain claims the “boutique hotel” side of its establishments, I would add Kistch and Cosy without taking it in a pejorative way. The assembly of “fake” old and modernity gives a mixture a little surprising which makes all the charm of the hotel. Sophisticated and warm, you will quickly feel at home.
Overview of the hotel lobby:
The checkin is quickly done and after a refreshing welcome drink I can join my room. I will find my way to my room alone. Is it because I did not book a superior room or because the service protocol differs from Bangkok but there I had an accompaniment.
Hallways:
A pleasant but small room
So I discover my room. We said boutique, cosy and kitsh? Here we go.
Here’s the video tour.
Bulk impressions:
– The set is pleasant, surprisingly warm.
– The video is taken at night so you won’t see the view. In fact I am on the 5th and last floor (above is the pool). The hotel is therefore a very low-rise building in the middle of the skyscrapers of the city center. I am sure that some rooms have a much better view but anyway we are surrounded by the neighborhood.
– The room is not especially large but it fits the level of range I took. A few more square meters wouldn’t have been a bad idea, though, and I think that with two people it must really be crowded with little room to move around.
– The bathroom on the other hand is really small. I got almost the same size in an ibis.
It would be tempting to make the comparison with Bangkok but I won’t do it. The rooms are not in the same range, Singapore is more expensive than Bangkok, the design of hotels different. One can prefer the style of one or the other, take rooms more or less large, more or less premium. Only one thing is certain, given the height of the building we can’t compare the views. If you want something higher in Singapore try the Marina Bay Sands.
Everything is driven by an Apple media center. TV, video on demand, the ability to stream your own content to your TV.
All home automation features are controlled by an iPad.
The room is richly equipped with power supplies to recharge any type of device, regardless of the brand.
I really like the decorative light feature above the bed that gives the illusion of a dome.
The size of the bathroom (shower, no bathtub) is just like the rest.
The bed will prove to be very pleasant.
The products provided in the bathroom were of high quality and I came to regret that unlike other hotels they are not offered for sale to guests. Especially the room fragrance: the Raffles having stopped marketing its own, I would have adopted that of this Sofitel for my interior.
End of this aside but the conclusion is the same as in Bangkok: design, background music, perfumes… all the senses are mobilized.
A rooftop bar/pool that leaves you wanting more
In these regions there is no hotel of this category worthy of the name that does not have its pool and bar on the roof. The Sofitel So Singapore is no exception to the rule.
Given the height of the building the pool does not dominate the city but gives the impression of a breathing space between the skyscrapers.
It is of quite respectable size even if after the Sofitel So Bangkok and the Marina Bay Sands we tend to become demanding and believe that the exceptional is the norm.
It is surrounded by a bar (we will come back to this), tables and deckchairs. If you want to sit comfortably on a sofa or a chair, that’s fine. If you opt for a deckchair, you should know that there are less than ten of them. Seats are rare.
At the end of the pool there is a glass wall and a glass stall that gives the impression of taking a few steps suspended above the void. Funny.
In short, the pool area is very pleasant but is not exceptional compared to many establishments of similar standing. And things get worse when you decide to enjoy the place a little.
If you think you can relax for a few hours and have a snack you are in for a big disappointment. The bar located next to the pool only opens at 3pm. Before, there is nothing to eat or drink. During my stay I saw a number of clients leave disconcerted after waiting in vain for someone to come and take care of them.
Yes we are in the city center and not in a “resort”. Yes, people have rather urban activities (tourism or business) and do not come there only to swim. But at this level of promise and price, it is simply unacceptable not to be able to order a dish on the terrace in the sun.
In the evening the place becomes a bar that is advertised as one of the “cool hot spots” of Singapore.
As in Bangkok the card is presented on a backlit stand, very practical.
And the green tones of the pool finally look better at night than during the day.
The atmosphere is rather noisy, due to the DJ, but the DJ stops his activity quite early (10-11am) so it becomes quiet again. On the other hand, the eagerness of the staff to make you understand from 11pm that they would like you to leave the place quickly is quite annoying. We remove the decorations on the tables, we bring the bills without asking the people if they want to consume again (whereas the bar is supposed to remain open well beyond).
A warm glass of Ruinart served in a plastic glass
The cocktails are creative for some but average in the execution. A standard in hotels now I think to the point that I don’t have too many expectations in this field. As for the glass of Ruinart served warm in a plastic glass…I let you judge. Indeed we are at the edge of a swimming pool…but the rest (beers included) is well served in glass containers thus…
Fortunately there is another bar, located on the ground floor, next to the check in desk.
The menu is infinitely more creative.
The execution is also superior. Although the size of the ice cube compared to the volume served leaves me doubtful.
Fortunately it was good.
On the other hand the place is not judiciously located. Located in the lobby (yes..I know it sounds like a “boutique”) it lacks privacy, charm. One has the impression of being in the entryway and the lighting is that of the lobby. Bottom line: for the menu and the service it’s the place where you want to go and linger but the location of the bar gives the opposite message. What a shame. For a bar called ‘Xperience’ and given the creativity of the menu there was surely a concept to be explored.
The restaurant is located right next door. It too is open to the Lobby, but more in the background. I don’t know if it impacts the customer experience because I haven’t tried it. The menu looked very appealing.
I haven’t tried the SPA either.
Conclusion: can do better
It is a good hotel. It is well located, the staff is friendly, helpful, helpful (except at the bar on the terrace). He has a personality, a style.
On the other hand, and maybe especially because I had stayed in its alter ego in Bangkok the days before, there is something missing in terms of experience. We expect more quality and service on the rooftop, something more intimate and cosy in the lobby. At this level of promise and price, it is not forgivable. It’s not that it’s not good, but there’s a discrepancy with the promise and at this level the smallest detail counts.
As much as I will have to find solid reasons to go somewhere else than the Sofitel SO in Bangkok, in Singapore in this price range there is enough to try to make me want to see something else. In any case the “thing” that makes you want to come back absolutely was not there.
In my opinion, the hotel also suffers from its relative “smallness” which limits the possibilities in terms of services, hence this catch-all lobby which, if it contributes to the boutique spirit, is not good for the bar and perhaps the restaurant.
A good experience but nothing more. But for this category I will grade it “almost good”.
Ah last point: my stay was not credited “for inexplicable reasons”, I had to claim my loyalty points 10 days later.
The entire photo album of my stay at Sofitel So Singapore is here.
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