Tatler checks into one of the most romantic hotels in Singapore, Fullerton Bay Hotel

The Fullerton Bay may just be a decade old, but its prime location between two heritage buildings—Clifford Pier and Customs House—and in the vicinity of the almost century-old The Fullerton Hotel Singapore makes it a gem for history and heritage buffs.

On top of that, the hotel has a reputation for being one of the most romantic hotels in Singapore—thanks to its waterfront location, built completely over the waters of the sparkling Marina Bay.

I have never been one for staycations—in fact, I’ve never had one because I never understood staying in a hotel in your own country. But there’s a first for everything, so when the opportunity came to check into this idyllic accommodation, I knew I had to ask my other half along to make up for a failed overseas trip we had originally planned for the holidays. And we weren’t disappointed at all.

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Photo 1 of 2 The Fullerton Bay Hotel's fleet of vintage cars
Photo 2 of 2 The arrival lobby

First Impressions

Our Fullerton Bay Hotel experience began once we stepped out of home—we were chauffeured to the location in a 1980s Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II, which certainly built up our excitement for the staycation during the ride.

As we cruised past The Fullerton into the driveway of our hotel, it became clear that The Fullerton Bay is the glitzier, younger sister to the heritage hotel—a modern tribute of sorts to a bygone era.

The check-in process was very systematic. After getting off the car and learning some trivia about the Rolls-Royce from our friendly chauffeur, we were directed to do our SafeEntry and temperature checks before being escorted past the spacious halls and lounge to the check-in counter. It was fuss-free and brisk, and before long, we were settled into our Premier Bay View Room.

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Photo 1 of 3 Stepping into the Premier Bay View Room
Photo 2 of 3 Looking out to the balcony at the Premier Bay View Room
Photo 3 of 3 The bathroom at the Premier Bay View Room

Do Not Disturb

The Fullerton Bay offers one hundred rooms and suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer expansive views of the Marina Bay waterfront or city skyline. My partner and I were checked into the Premier Bay View Room on the first floor, which was fitted with an additional outdoor deck and two cosy loungers, facing Marina Bay Sands.

Unfortunately, we were there during the rainy season; we didn’t quite get to enjoy the experience of lounging by the bay in the evening. But I did squeeze in some time to take in the morning scenery over a cup of TWG tea—and him a shot of Nespresso—the next day.

Inside the room, the interior decor adopted a colour palette of rich creamy gold with touches of polished rosewood, burl wood, and leather that was inviting and warm, which made us feel right at home.

And speaking of home, don’t worry about not taking along your ergonomic pillow. The Fullerton Bay boasts an extensive pillow menu accessible via the in-room tablet, so you can request for anything from a jade pillow to a feather pillow at the touch of a button. The tablet is also where you can make reservations for dining and spa, and even find out more about iconic landmarks located near you.

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Photo 1 of 2 The rooftop infinity pool
Photo 2 of 2 Lantern

The Extras

If lounging by your private balcony overlooking Marina Bay doesn’t cut it for you, head upstairs to the rooftop pool and jacuzzi, nestled within a manicured tropical landscape. This is also where you can work out a sweat in the gym. Do note however that due to Covid-19 safety measures, prior booking has to be made for both.

The roof is outfitted with many loungers, and at night a section of the rooftop transforms into Lantern, a rooftop bar named after Clifford Pier’s historic Chinese name, Red Lantern Pier. Dig into gourmet bar bites and sip on champagnes and cocktails after a night swim.

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Photo 1 of 4 The Landing Point
Photo 2 of 4 Breakfast at The Landing Point
Photo 3 of 4 The Salon at La Brasserie
Photo 4 of 4 La Brasserie's menu highlights

Food and Drink

The Fullerton Bay Hotel may be surrounded by a wealth of dining establishments, but why head out when you can enjoy excellent dining just steps from your room? Breakfast was served in the form of an à la carte menu at The Landing Point, where we were spoiled for choice with both local and international cuisine that came with gluten-free or vegetarian options.

The Clifford Pier—a favourite for wedding banquets—serves up a savoury dim sum brunch, and also extends out to the Gin Parlour by the pier, which opens from 5 pm for drinks by the sunset.

During our stay, we also got to enjoy a Best of Both Worlds four-hands dinner by Chef Audra Morrice and Chef Zacharie Ong, a unique fusion of Australian and Singaporean ingredients and flavours at La Brasserie. I opted for the vegetarian menu.

While there were more misses than hits for the vegetarian menu as compared to the regular one, I’m definitely thankful for the chefs’ inclusivity of vegetarian options. As for hits—both my partner and I can agree that the laksa broth was the star of the show, and the pandan chiffon cake was the perfect sweet ending to the meal. We tried more cakes from La Brasserie the next afternoon and was equally impressed as well.

Tatler Asia
Above The Fullerton heritage precinct

Tatler Tip

History and culture buffs will enjoy the complimentary tours that The Fullerton Bay has to offer. From the Maritime Journey Tour where you can learn stories of how Singapore’s forefathers first stepped on our shores via Clifford Pier to a Fullerton Monument Tour offering exclusive access to preserved areas of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (first built in the 1920s), there’s a lot to discover and learn during your stay.

If you’re looking for a little more adrenaline, there’s also the Fullerton Sidecar Tour experience, which will have you cruising through the historic Civic District and Chinatown in a vintage Vespa sidecar.

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