Oakwood Premier, Singapore
BACKGROUND This is the second property in Singapore from Oakwood, which provides luxurious serviced apartments for business travellers. It also has serviced apartments in nine other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
WHERE IS IT? Situated in the mixed-use skyscraper called OUE Downtown in the Central Business District, which also houses offices and the Downtown Gallery shopping mall. Tanjong Pagar is the closest MRT station, a five-minute walk, while Changi Airport is about a 30-minute drive.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Guests are welcomed to the OUE Downtown building by the voluptuous form of a Fernando Botero bronze Standing Woman sculpture. The lobby, on level seven, features a luxurious design with comfy sofas and chandeliers, and plenty of natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows.
ROOMS There are 268 units ranging from studio to two-bedroom apartments, located on levels eight 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. The living room had no windows, which meant there was no natural daylight, but it was comfortable and featured a Bluetooth sound system and an additional wardrobe. The spacious kitchen was well-equipped with an oven, toaster, rice cooker, cutlery and tableware, though it was lacking a table. A laundry washer-drier machine and fridge containing soft drinks, juice and milk completed the amenities. The bathroom had no tub but instead there was a goodsized rain shower with glass door, stocked with US-branded Imperial Barber Grade products. A mirror cabinet allowed me to store my toiletries neatly.
The comfortable king-size bed sported an additional sofa at its foot, and there was plenty of storage space, including drawers under the bed. The bedroom had 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 device for ordering room service (an unexpected bonus for a serviced apartment), so you can ask for the room to be cleaned, or request an adaptor, etc.
The bedroom’s large window provided unobstructed views over the cruise terminal, which was 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 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 is located next to the outdoor pool on level seven. It offers 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 An impressive feature was an infinity pool, which 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 was never 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