Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition - December 2017

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DECEMBER 2017 businesstraveller.com

TRIED AND TESTED HOTEL

BEST FOR...

The luxury hotel-like

amenities.

DON’T MISS...

The outdoor pool and

in-room tech offerings.

PRICE

Based on best flexible

internet rates, a stay in a

one-bedroom apartment

in mid-January starts

from S$420 (US$309) per

night. Minimum of seven-

night stay is required.

CONTACT

6 Shenton Way,

OUE Downtown 1,

Singapore 068809;

+65 6812 6000;

oakwoodasia.com

Oakwood Premier

OUE Singapore

BACKGROUND A grand opening in

September marked the second Oakwood

property in the city, following March’s

launch of Oakwood Studios Singapore.

WHERE IS IT? Situated in the OUE

Downtown mixed-use development in the

CBD, which also houses offices and the

Downtown Gallery shopping mall. Tanjong

Pagar is the closest MRT station, a five-

minute walk away, while Changi Airport is

about a 30-minute drive.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Guests are

welcomed to the OUE Downtown building

by the large, voluptuous form of Fernando

Botero’s bronze Standing Woman sculpture.

The lobby is on level 7, featuring a luxurious

design with comfy sofas and chandeliers,

and plenty of natural light thanks to floor-

to-ceiling windows.

ROOMS There are 268 units ranging from

studio to two-bedroom apartments, located

on levels 8 to 18 and 21 to 32 (accessible

via separate lifts).

My large one-bedroom apartment

featured separate bedroom, living room

and kitchen areas, which can be left open

or divided with sliding doors. There were

no windows in the living room, which was a

shame as it meant no natural daylight, but

the room was comfortable and featured a

Bluetooth sound system and an additional

wardrobe for storage. The long, spacious

kitchen was well-equipped with an oven,

toaster, rice cooker, cutlery and tableware,

though it was lacking a table during my

short stay. A washing/drying machine and

fridge pre-stocked with soft drinks, juice

and milk completes the amenities. The

bathroom had no bath tub but a good-

sized rain shower with glass door, and US-

branded Imperial Barber Grade products

were provided. A mirror cabinet allowed

me to store my toiletries neatly instead of

leaving them around the basin.

The comfortable king-size bed sported

an additional couch at its foot, and there

was plenty of storage space, including

drawers under the bed. The bedroom was

home to a wide work table equipped with a

full set of stationery, a Handy smartphone

and a Samsung tablet (fast, free wifi and

daily housekeeping service are standard).

The tablet was particularly informative,

with weather forecasts, dining options

and tips about Singapore. It also operates

as a guest service device, for ordering

room service (an unexpected bonus for a

serviced apartment), asking for the room to

be cleaned or requesting an adaptor, etc.

The bedroom’s large window provided

unobstructed views over the cruise terminal

• particularly beautiful at sunset.

FOOD AND DRINK The lobby level’s

Se7enth restaurant offers complimentary

daily buffet breakfast, serving a range of

international and local cuisines. The large

room was never crowded during my stay,

and the restaurant staff were friendly

and attentive.

A bar is located on the same floor, with

a selection of signature cocktails such as

Downtown Mojito and Xpresso Martini.

Both the restaurant and bar welcome non-

residents for lunch and drinks.

The Oakwood Executive Club Lounge

(not ready during my stay) is located next

to the outdoor pool on level 7. Once open

it will offer perks such as complimentary

Prosecco breakfasts and evening cocktails.

It is accessible to guests who sign up for

the Oakwood Executive Club Privileges.

MEETINGS Club guests can enjoy

complimentary use of the 20-person

boardroom in the Executive Club Lounge,

which features floor-to-ceiling windows

overlooking the pool.

LEISURE I was very impressed to see

an infinity pool in this serviced residence.

It was a great place to unwind, with views

over the ocean and cruise terminal – and

a dip in the adjacent Jacuzzi topped it off.

There’s also a gym next to the pool, which

again never got busy during my stay.

VERDICT This newly opened serviced

residence feels more like a luxury hotel

with high-quality service, facilities and

hardware. I was impressed with the

additional offerings not commonly found in

serviced apartments, from the room service

to the pool. The apartment itself was

pleasantly designed with plenty of storage

for long-stay travellers. Valerian Ho

The infinity

pool was a

nice place

to unwind,

with great

views over

the ocean

and cruise

terminal