IHG Hotels & Resorts’ youngest brand, voco, has made landfall in Singapore, injecting a youthful charm into a landmark property
Location
Voco Orchard Singapore has taken up residence in a 51-year-old heritage building along the bustling Orchard Road shopping belt, one that was vacated by Hilton Singapore. There is no shortage of activities in the area – shopping at Ion Orchard or Scotts Square, catching a movie at Shaw Theatres Lido just across the road, or indulging in a much-needed massage at Natureland nearby.
Rooms
My King Bed Suite affords a spacious living room – great for social catch-ups (with safe distancing and until 22.00) – and a separate bedroom with a bathroom complete with a bathtub.
As a conversion property, the suite is a strange – but not jarring – juxtaposition of old and new. The bathroom features dated marble fittings, a steam function for the shower (a first for me!) and round knobs on doors, alongside plush yellow armchairs, polished wooden cabinets and gold light fixtures.
Having stayed in a range of properties, I am always appreciative when there is a USB charging port or wireless charger at my bedside. I’m glad to report voco Orchard Singapore had both. The king-sized bed was comfortably firm, and contributed to the best eight-hour sleep I had in weeks.
I have no complaints about the high-speed Wi-Fi, large desk and comfortable Herman Miller chair that made my time at work pass quickly, and I think that business travellers will feel very much at home here.
In line with its green ethos, a number of sustainable touches have also been incorporated into the rooms, including bamboo toothbrushes, high-quality linens crafted from recycled materials, and eco-friendly friendly Apotheke shampoo and soap in refillable dispensers.
F&B
There are four F&B options at the hotel: the one-Michelin-star Iggy’s, D9 Cakery, the Opus Bar & Grill, and il Cielo on the rooftop. All are open except for il Cielo, which is currently undergoing a menu revamp from its previous Japanese-Italian inspired plates to a full-fledged Italian menu.
Dinner was taken at the Opus Bar & Grill, where the crispy crab cake – lump crabmeat, mango wasabi mayo, grapefruit salad – started my meal on a promising note.
For my main, I chose the 250g 150-day grain fed Angus tenderloin, and I was delighted with the perfect medium-rare state it was delivered in. Every slice was juicy, and sported charred edges with a cherry-red centre.
Opus Bar & Grill is big on sides, with over 10 varieties ranging from spiced salted egg yolk fries to smoked risotto. I opted for the over-the-top fries (foie gras fat, black truffle puree, parmesan), which was a great carb option. The creamed spinach was, unfortunately, too watery and fell flat.
Opus Bar & Grill offers breakfast service. However, due to Covid-19 limitations, I opted for an in-room breakfast instead. My order – a piping hot and hearty breakfast plate filled with hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage – was delivered in 20 minutes.
Facilities
The hotel offers a well-equipped 24-hour gym, and over 1,850m2 of meeting and social event spaces. There is a small pool on the rooftop and seating lounges, a holdover from Hilton Singapore.
Club guests should take advantage of the Club Lounge on Level 22. From 17.30 to 19.30, they have the opportunity to sample one of the newly-created voco Orchard Singapore cocktails, which tap into the history of Orchard Road and tie into the property’s Stay Interesting philosophy.
Service
Most of the staff have been held over by the previous management, which is a good sign as these individuals are familiar with the property’s ins and outs. Checking in was swift, and all staff members I encountered were polite and top-notch. The F&B manager at Opus was also receptive to my feedback, and we traded steakhouse recommendations in Singapore.
During my one-night stay, I requested to borrow a multi-plug extension from housekeeping so that I could play my Nintendo Switch on the 55-inch TV, and it was promptly delivered to my room without much fuss.
Verdict
Voco Orchard is a boon for business travellers who want to be within easy reach of both the CBD and the shopping road belt, while staycationers will be glad to find the charming property a quiet respite from hectic city life.
This may be IHG’s newest kid on the block, but it sure knows how to deliver on the brand’s hospitality from the heart.
Number of rooms 423
Rate From S$230++
Contact details
Tel: +65 6737 2233
Email: sinor.resvn@ihg.com
Website: www.ihg.com/voco/hotels/us/en/singapore/sinor/hoteldetail
