Hotel Review of Mondrian Singapore Duxton
Mondrian Singapore is the chic new hotel in Singapore that is both an architectural marvel and 5 star luxury. I am a full convert of Mondrian properties especially after our stay in Mondrian Doha so I was eager to stay in the Singapore chain. Spoiler alert, it did not disappoint. This hotel review of Mondrian Singapore Duxton covers our 48 hours in Singapore. We stayed in the Mondrian for 2 full days and 2 nights so we got to enjoy it as much as possible.
Mondrian in Singapore is located in Duxton Hill which is in Chinatown. Although it is located in Chinatown, it is on the quieter side just before you get to the more popular streets like Sago etc. This makes it the perfect location as it is close to a lot of the food spots and within walking distance of Marina Bay. The closest train station is Maxwell and it is on the same line with Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and Orchard.
I remember being worried about the location because Chinatown can be quite busy. However, I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived to see that it is not technically within Chinatown. It is on a side street just before you get to Chinatown itself but I guess that due to postcode, all of that area is considered Chinatown.
Getting to Mondrian Singapore
We flew into Changi airport and got a taxi directly to the hotel. Once we got there, we were greeted by concierge who sent us to reception on the 3rd floor. There was a sense of familiarity when we walked in. Mr E reckons it is the air freshener which must have been the same as they had in Doha.
Since we had arrived before check in (really early at 7am), we paid extra to have an early check in. We had hoped for free early check in but it was not available to us at the time of check in. I was just glad to see a bed after flying almost 13 hours.
The Bedroom at Mondrian Singapore
We stayed in the Duxton View King room no 909, which came with a ceiling to ground window view of the city. It was such a beautiful room with accents of green, gold and beige. There’s a huge television and a bar area with a Lavazza coffee machine.
As you walk into the room, there is a nordic style closet to the left where 2 dressing robes hung.
There is a lounge area just in front of the ceiling to floor mirror; on the other side of the bed, perfect for a late night feast. Everything was shiny and new. I really loved that everything was personalised with “Mondrian Singapore Duxton”. Since we were travelling without our toddler, we had booked a “simple” room or so we thought. However, the room was big enough for a cot if we had her with us.
The bathroom was really lovely as well. It had a gorgeous green marble sink and a rainfall shower. Just like Doha, the bath amenities are from MALIN+GOETZ. Even though this is one of their smaller rooms, the ensuite bathroom is big enough and I thought the whole layout was beautiful.
Restaurants in Mondrian Singapore Duxton
In this hotel review of Mondrian Singapore Duxton, we have to discuss the restaurants. They are quite popular in the Chinatown area and open to non hotel residents as well. Mondrian properties seem to be very good at keeping things in house. If you want to spend the whole day in the hotel, you are guaranteed to have no shortage of things to do.
Bottega Di Carna
This was where we had buffet style breakfast both days. It is on the 3rd floor and has the back drop of the hotel’s bar. Breakfast was between 7 – 10.30am and I liked that there was a menu you could order any extras like egg benedict etc. In the afternoon, Bottega Di Carna turns into a relaxing bar and Italian style restaurant. It is open to the public daily for lunch between 12pm – 2.30pm and Dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm. The ambiance feels sexy yet quite family friendly so it has definitely been designed to cater to every travel age.
Christina’s
This is actually the first restaurant in view once you arrive at Mondrian Singapore Duxton. It is located on the ground floor and I’d say it is perfect for meetings, friendly catch ups and work lunches. I can also imagine creatives relaxing in there for meetings or typing away on their laptops. Christina’s has a wood fried Mediterranean and Asian fusion menu. Perfect for those days with friends that turn into nights, filled with cocktails and good chats. It is open all day between 8am to 11pm (up until midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and eve of Public Holidays).
Jungle Ballroom
Now, this one is a tropical cocktail bar that celebrates Southeast Asia. It is described as “tropical disco” and is very colourful. Think amazon rainforest with the colours of the birds and trees; that’s the vibe it gives. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 7pm to 2am. If there is one restaurant to visit in Mondrian Singapore Duxton, it is Jungle Ballroom. There is nothing like it in Singapore so it will feel like an exclusive experience.
Rooftop Pool in Mondrian Singapore Duxton
Now, where do we begin? As soon as I saw the pool, I knew this was going to be the hotel. The rooftop infinity pool is well placed to have a backdrop of the city’s impressive skyline. When you think infinity pools in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands comes to mind. However, Mondrian Singapore Duxton held its own as well. It is much smaller but still quite lovely and I think its size makes the experience feel more special. Even when all cabanas were being used, it never felt too busy. Hotel guests can visit the pool anytime from 7am but the bar is not open until 11am.
Canyon Club
Canyon Club is the rooftop pool club at Mondrian Singapore Duxton. When we arrived, they had just ended their “Dioriviera at Canyon Club” collaboration with Christian Dior. So we got to experience that one day and it was back to its normal look the next day. There are cabanas surrounding the rooftop pool and this requires booking in advance. I would recommend booking a day or 2 before to guarantee a slot. Each cabana can be booked for 2 hours and you are not allowed to book more than one at a time.
Canyon Club is also open to the public so this is a great way to enjoy the hotel even if you are not resident. Cabanas will need prior reservation and time slots are from 12pm. However there is a minimum spend required and grace period of 15 mins.
Hotel Review of Mondrian Singapore Duxton: Around the hotel
As it is in the vibrant Chinatown neighbourhood, you only need to walk a few steps to be fully immersed. We spent our first day walking around the area; discovering cafés and food halls and just familiarising ourselves. There is the Jinricksha Station aka Rickshaw station. This building has been in existence since 1903 and was the depot for Singapore’s rickshaws.
Sri Mariamman Temple which was built in 1827 by the Hindu immigrants from South India. It is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple and is a major tourist attraction due to its architecture and significance. It is now a national monument and is renowned for providing a place of worship for new immigrants. The temple granted shelter to them as well until they found work and other accommodation.
The Mondrian Singapore Duxton is well located as it is only a few mins from the popular Gardens by the Bay. We got the train from Maxwell station and it was only 3 stops which meant that we were able to catch the late night light shows. I love how convenient the location was and if we ever go back to Singapore, I would not mind staying there again.
What we loved about Mondrian Singapore Duxton
Proximity to a lot of places we wanted to visit
Singapore is small so everywhere is around everywhere. Changi airport to Mondrian Singapore Duxton is around 25 mins drive. We walked under 15 minutes to Market Street which is where you will find a lot of the offices. Mondrian Singapore Duxton is also close to a train station, Maxwell which serves a number of popular spots. There is a direct line to Marina Bay Sands (3 stops), Gardens by the Bay (4 stops) and further along, Orchard.
The hospitality
Once they found out we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, they left a cake in our room. They also offered us champagne when we visited Canyon Club which I thought was so sweet. It felt like every staff knew we were celebrating and kept congratulating us at every point. Every staff made us feel really special and I appreciate that extra touch. It is what makes one hotel stand out from the next.
The Aesthetics
It is a beautiful hotel. We already knew this about Mondrian properties but from the minute you step into the building, it screams chic. The elevator, reception and of course the room are just beautifully designed. The green marble sink sticks out in the bathroom and the tiles look like they were intentionally sourced.
Every corner of this hotel is an instagram lover’s dream. The rooftop pool with the backdrop of Singapore’s skyline is also something to marvel at. It felt intimate and grown up. Chain hotels have a way of looking quite samey and almost boring. However, this was not the case with Mondrian Singapore Duxton. It was quite different to the Doha hotel and even though it has about 300 rooms, it felt boutique.
Breakfast time
I love a hotel breakfast, let me get that point out the way first lol. We are that couple who go down to breakfast 15 mins before it closes because we love a lie in. I also am not a fan of eating breakfast too early so catch me strolling in at 10.15am.
Now, back to the scrumptious breakfast. It was buffet style with all the familiar things – eggs, hash browns, beans, sausages. There were sections for fruits and of course, local Singaporean delicacies. We also had a menu to order a few specials like an Egg Royale or French Toast etc. Everything was available for breakfast and I had to stop myself from picking it all.
Hotel Review of Mondrian Singapore Duxton: FAQs
Is Mondrian Singapore Duxton family friendly?
Mondrian Singapore Duxton is very family friendly. Although we did not go with our toddler, I am always subconsciously looking out for this factor. We saw kids everywhere around the hotel. At breakfast, which is where you tend to see the hotel guests every morning, I saw highchairs for toddlers. I also noticed that there were kids of all ages – teenagers, babies, toddlers etc. We even saw 2 toddlers with their parents at the pool; one drinking her milk while chilling on the cabana; the other splashing in the pool under the watchful eyes of his mama.
Are non-guests allowed to the rooftop pool?
Yes they are. However this will need to be reserved prior to required date as spaces go very quickly. For hotel guests, the rooftop pool is free to use; however, to use one of the cabanas, a booking beforehand is also required.
Is staying in Chinatown noisy?
This totally depends on where exactly the hotel is located. Mondrian Singapore Duxton is located just before the main entrance to Chinatown, in an area called Duxton Hill. In fact our driver described it as being outside Chinatown. The area is very quiet and you’re not around any noisy streets. However there are some hotels which are within Chinatown and I’m not sure what the noise levels would sound like. What I will say is that I did not find Chinatown particularly noisy anyway. It was busy and there were people all around but it didn’t feel like somewhere I would not stay.
Hotel Review of Mondrian Singapore Duxton
We really enjoyed our stay in this hotel and would easily go back if we visit Singapore another time. The proximity to most places, customer service, luxurious amenities and aesthetics are just some of the reasons why.
It is such a chic, bougie hotel that does not feel pretentious in anyway. Luxury hotels in Singapore are generally quite pricey but I feel like you get your money’s worth for this one. It seems I have now started a love affair with Mondrian hotels; let’s see if I stay in any others in the future and if they wow me.
For what we did in Singapore in 48 hours, read the next post to see what we got up to.
Our next stop, a bucket list trip.
Bisous, Bugo
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