This property (formerly known as South Beach Hotel) has intrigued me ever since it opened for business. Back then, it was such a breathe of fresh air for the local hotel landscape and it expectedly created a small rustle amongst hotel lovers. Room rates were not terribly affordable hovering around $400, but of course for a designer hotel.

Fast forward to now, its been re-branded as a JW Marriot (finally the 2nd Marriot in SG!) and still an iconic designer hotel which deserves a fair bit of attention.

I admit that I was still curious about the property. And I found the perfect excuse to have a staycation there once I got my Gold status match from the Marriot-SPG merger. Executive Lounge access with a basic category room? Any time!

Address – 30 Beach Road Singapore 189763. Tel: +65 68181888. Website.

Price – $313 ($266++) with the 30% Limited Time Offer for a Deluxe Room. In my opinion, a superb deal given that Gold member benefits (upgrade etc) apply.

Location – Right smack in the middle of Cityhall and underground access to 2 MRT stations (EW line Cityhall and CC line Esplanade – so efficient for getting around town for touristis. For staycationers like me, it means ability to go shopping rain or shine. Yay! The connecting block of South Beach Avenue has multiple dining options which I didn’t try because I was too obsessed with the Lounge offerings.

Check In – The day before, I checked in via the marriot app and it stated my upgrade is eligible and still pending. The next morning, I was excited to see my room type is reflected as Club Room instead. Yay to Gold upgrades! I also requested for early check in @ 12noon and late check out at 4pm in-app. Upon reaching the hotel at 12:30pm that day, they already had my particulars and key ready.

BUT they did not offer to check me in at the Lounge, which was a little disappointing. I was also given a generic letter listing the Lounge benefits – it would have made the experience better if they had personalised the print out.

I also think they should have someone guiding the check in queue as the system was confusing and a rude guy cut the queue blatantly. Sigh. So much for manners.

Room – I was assigned room 504 (a higher floor would have been nice!) – a corner room of sorts right at the end of the corridor (corridor was absolutely freezing). The room was advertised at 37SqM and felt like it indeed. The room was compact but still spacious enough for 2pax with small luggages and indeed bathed in an artsy tone. The joined twin beds were super comfy and cleanliness was no issue. Everything was hidden (ie modern), niceee. Toiletries was not to my liking unfortunately. I had a view of Suntec City which did nothing for me honestly.

Facilities – Housed on the interesting 18th floor, I saw a spacious gym (not crowded at all), super cool outdoor but sheltered “infinity” pool on the 18h floor (with freezing water), complete with some whimsical design of chairs in wading water level. Non swimmers had a blast trying to wade in water for plenty of photo taking.

The most interesting part of this signature floor was there was also plenty of sofas and chairs laid out (I saw people celebrating their birthdays there!) – super conducive for spacing out. There was also a table tennis area, a pool table, and a football table. You can literally spend the whole day there doing random things. It does NOT feel like you are in Singapore at all!

(there is also a 2nd but smaller pool on 6th floor but that is far more less enticing than 18th floor. And you swim facing Suntec City. Abit strange)

There is also a JW marriot spa on 6th floor but you’d have to pay $38 to use just the steam room and sauna. I think it’s a strange policy and I dont agree with it at all.

Executive Lounge – Where do I even begin? I was impressed right from having to walk that sky bridge (exclusive entrance eh), the huge space (probably sits around 100?), the deco (some yellow and pink rooms for you?), and……wait for it……a live noodle station! Yes, at a Club Lounge! For all the millions of executive lounges I’ve been to, never have I seen this and it was so nice to be able to eat hot piping laksa during cocktail hours. The spread is also a mini buffet by itself – shouldnt be called hors d’oeuvres at all. Maybe BIG hors d’oeurves. We had salads, fruits, cakes, pasties, hot dim sum and bites, soup, cookies, and of course the hot noodle soups.

Alcohol wise, they had wines, beers on taps, prosecco, real single malt whiskeys (not just JDs!), and cocktails. Terrific coffee and hot chocolate too by the way.

The best part?

• Breakfast: 6:00am – 10:30am (plenty plenty food + live egg station!)
• Tea: 2:30pm – 5:00pm (finger sandwiches + pastries + desserts)
• Horsdoeurves: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
• Cocktails: 5:30pm – 9:30pm

You literally will not ever feel hungry throughout your stay and eat at the lounge for every meal. And 4 hours of free flow alcohol hehe. I feel light headed just saying this already.

Service also rocks. Like, really. Most staff I see are happy to do what they are doing, and it shows via their attitude and smiles.

Check Out – Compliments to the front desk for accommodating my request til 6:00pm, because I was simply having too much fun by stufing my faces and doing nothing. I dragged my luggage to the lounge to check out, and had dinner there as well. Oh its just bliss.

Hands-down, one of the best Executive Lounge I’ve ever been to, both locally and overseas. I think only Conrad Centennial beats it in terms of food and drinks offering (theirs is all day round alcohol.  But also $400++ per night).

I am dying to find another excuse to stay again already!