Aloft Singapore Novena

Location
Aloft Singapore Novena stands tall among strips of old-time shophouses and along the Balestier Heritage Trail, with the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall as its neighbour. This area is loved by locals for several famous eateries that specialise in favourites like chicken rice, roast duck, bak kut teh pork ribs soup, and tau sar piah traditional Teochew mung bean paste pastry.

While the hotel may appear far from Singapore’s main shopping and commercial zones on the map, it is not, as the hotel offers free shuttles to Novena MRT Station, which connects hotel guests quickly to leisure and business centres.

Accommodation
Part of the mixed-use commercial complex Zhongshan Park, Aloft Singapore Novena occupies two towers and packs in 785 rooms, including four suites. Guests have their pick of twin, queen, king and triple options, making the hotel popular among business travellers and holidaying families.

While rooms range from 18m² to 23m² in size, ceilings rise 3.45m in the East Wing and 3.3m in the West Wing – much higher than most hotel rooms in the city-state. Japanese interior designer KKS, which has a knack for maximising use of spaces, cleverly crafted beds with storage area underneath for suitcases and bay windows where guests can rest and enjoy the views outside.

There is also a selection of rooms with outdoor patio.

I spent a night in an Urban King room in the West Wing. This room was flooded by natural light, yet double-glazed windows kept the Singapore heat out wonderfully – a feature that speaks to the crucial energy conservation movement. Furnishing is practical – numerous charging points with traditional sockets and USB points at sensible locations by the bed and desk, and bathrooms with plentiful hooks and just enough space on the vanity for toiletry pouches and beauty knick-knacks.

The Urban King room also comes with a customised armchair that converts into a single bed by the bay window.

I had a chance to take a look at the other room types across the hotel, and all are similarly furnished – practical, with welcoming colours, and a good sense of space due to the high ceiling.

For guests whose intention is to get out and make the most of their time in Singapore, these rooms are ideal for resting and recharging.

Aloft Singapore Novena

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F&B
The hotel has two main restaurants. 21 on Rajah, a halal-certified restaurant that specialises in Mediterranean and South-east Asian cuisine, needs little introduction among local Muslim diners who love its good buffet spread for lunch and dinner.

Yuè @ Aloft, the other main dining venue, presents Chinese cuisine and fresh seafood, with names of dishes inspired by popular karaoke songs.

There is also the W XYZ bar in the lobby, which serves an extensive drink menu and bar bites. On Friday evenings, this venue turns into a music lounge that features budding local bands and musicians, and draws both hotel guests and locals residing in the area.

Recognising the many gourmet lures in its vicinity, the hotel gladly points guests in the direction of eateries not to be missed and replaces its in-room dining service with a convenient 24-hour snack station, Re:fuel. Here, guests can pick up chips, chocolates and cup noodles.

Facilities
Since its rebranding, the property has become a lot more colourful and youthful – all in alignment with the Aloft brand that targets modern travellers who favour a vibrant and sociable environment during their stays.

The lobbies in both wings are colourful, with overhead digital artworks that depict iconic scenes and landmarks in Singapore. Music plays in the background all day, so no matter the time of day one checks into the hotel, there is always a sense of activity.

Public spaces in the hotel are designed accordingly to cater to guests who wish to mix and mingle – the business centre is open, without restrictive enclosures, and blends into other seating areas in the lobby. When W XYZ bar is packed out, guests can take any of these seats and enjoy their favourite tipple.

Guests have access to two gyms (one in each wing), an outdoor swimming pool plus children’s wading pool along with a large sun deck and generous supply of loungers, and launderettes in both wings. The gym in the West Wing deserves a special mention – it comes with an outdoor workout area, equipped with a hanging punching bag.

Both wings come with manicured lawns that are popular with private events.

Service
The laidback, youthful character of the brand is reflected in its service standards. Hotel associates are dressed in stylish pants and vests over gingham shirts with rolled-up sleeves – not stuffy suits and ties. While they come in all ages, they share a common energetic vibe. They are smiley, casual – and definitely polite – and always ready to strike up a conversation.

Verdict
Aloft Singapore Novena will score with travellers who love hotels in meaningful addresses and surroundings to explore on foot as well as fuss-free top-notch comfort.

Contact details
Website: www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sinnv-aloft-singapore-novena/