Hotel Telegraph Singapore -Uber Cool and Quirky

Hotel Telegraph Singapore –Uber Cool and Quirky

Written by Axel Ritenis,Editor Sydney Times

Hotel Telegraph Singapore is an iconic 5-star luxury boutique hotel conveniently situated at the heart of the city-state’s Central Business District – 35 Robinson Road, making it the perfect choice for business and leisure guests. Coupled with exceptional hospitality and state-of-the-art amenities, each of the 134 bespoke rooms and suites is exquisitely designed to provide guests with an elegant yet comfortable stay.

Today, the building has been beautifully restored and refurbished into a luxurious boutique hotel, whilst still retaining much of its captivating neo-classical façade and architecture. Hence, renaming the building Hotel Telegraph pays homage to its rich history. At Hotel Telegraph, Singapore, guests  get to experience old-world allure blended with a contemporary twist at this quintessential city escape.

History and a wealth of Attractions

Built in 1927 and designed by F.G. Lundon from Singapore’s oldest architectural firm Swan and Maclaren, this 4-storey heritage building played an influential role in Singapore’s telecommunications history for nearly a century. Accorded conservation status in 2000, it has housed numerous corporations and government entities, such as the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore, Singapore Telecom, Singapore Post, and advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather.

Connecting Collyer Quay to the docks at Tanjong Pagar, Robinson Road was built on reclaimed land during the 1879 reclamation project on Telok Ayer. The road was then named after Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson, Governor of the Straits Settlement from 1877 to 1879. Despite the completion of the reclamation project in 1887, the development of the vicinity along Robinson Road only began in the 1920s and 1930s.

Take a walk down Robinson Road and you will spot several historical buildings, noticeable by their colonial-era architectural build. One of the more recognisable landmarks would be the gazetted monument – formerly known as Telok Ayer Market, now vernacularly renamed as Lau Pa Sat (“Old Market”). Separated by Boon Tat Street, Lau Pa Sat is just opposite another historical building that currently houses Hotel Telegraph, Singapore.

At the junction of Robinson Road and Boon Tat Street, you will experience Singapore’s only crisscross junction where pedestrians can walk in all directions while traffic in all directions stops.

Since the early 20th century, 35 Robinson Road has been an eminent heritage landmark in Singapore’s business and financial district, playing an influential role in the city-state’s telecommunications history.

Constructed in 1924, this 4-storey curved building was designed in a neo-classical style by F.G. Lundon from Singapore’s oldest architectural firm Swan and Maclaren. Its exterior boasts a long recessed balcony guarded with cast-iron balustrades and large symmetrical coupled columns embellished with ionic capitals.

A watershed year for 35 Robinson Road was in 2000 when it was accorded conversation status, representative of the building’s significance to Singapore’s history and identity.Today, the building has been beautifully restored and refurbished into a luxurious boutique hotel, whilst still retaining much of its captivating neo-classical façade and architecture. Hence, renaming the building Hotel Telegraph pays homage to its rich history.

“At Hotel Telegraph, Singapore, guests will get to experience old-world allure blended with a contemporary twist at this quintessential city escape.”

Whilst you are in a  a really CBD and commercial  area  it feels so different to the Melbourne or Sydney CBD,.. and its incredibly relaxed and easy to get around…  Incidentally the Singapore  taxi’s or their Uber brand GRAB,..are cheap compared to Sydney or Melbourne . Staff also have been very good, room we have is quite small ( called cosy room) but comfortable enough as don’t intend sitting around in the room.

A stylish hotel with a “cool and friendly contemporary vibe” which it manages to pull off pretty well, all inside an iconic historical building protected by the National Trust of Singapore. It is in a great  location with significant tourist objects and sights either within walking distance (which can depend on how hot and humid it is at the time of year you visit!) or a short taxi or metro ride away.

The clincher for me,.. is that there is  a famous hawker market Lau Pasat  right across the street which turns into a Friday night CBD party street with a  Satay BBQ  -only in Singapore !

The rooftop pool area gives  fabulous views over the surrounding Singapore CBD skyscrapers,.. although space around the pool is slightly limited.

For me the early morning swim and the enjoyable breakfast buffet and a little interaction with generally content guests and the friendly staff made for a pleasant stay. As has been observed many reviews what l lifts this hotel is the great service one  encounters at the restaurant, reception and the staff in general,which is genuine and not artificial or contrived -its a really nice human touch so clearly lacking in many large hotels.

 

Location

Position Position Position!

Lau Pa Sat Hawker market is directly opposite the hotel and the  MTR is a short walk away

Strategically located next to Lau Pa Sat and SGX building, the legacy of F.G. Lundon from 1927 stands elegantly among the Singapore skyscrapers. The newly-renovated building itself offers a clean and cozy feeling with perfect conditioning among the heat of Singapore. I also felt like home with all the services that they offer to me and I was constantly in awe with the architecture and quirky interior with contemporary flourishes interposed on the old architecture ..

Arriving by Limo Taxi or rideshare like GRAB is probably the common practice for  hotel guests ,..however as I was on a tight schedule,..I worked out that getting to the Hotel by the fabulous Singapore MRT is also possible ,..You can get from Changi Airport to Raffles Place MRT  and then take a brisk walk 8 minute walk and you arrive at the Telegraph! ,..I thought that was faster and much cheaper then availing myself of a Taxi. The point is the location is very convenient in all respects ,.. From the large Raffles Place MRT station you need to come up to ground floor and head straight for go straight for  Robinson Road

As many an astute observer has noted,..this Hotel is central and is situated in the middle of all notable places such Marina Bay, Gardens by the bay, Merlion, Sky Flyer, Chinatown and not so far from Little India, Pinnacle, Wealth fountain -and there is a myriad of choices  to eat and drink. If you mange to score a balcony suite,.. in the evening You  can seat on a balcony with glass of  Chablis or a Tiger Beer in hand  (from your rooms Bar fridge) and watch the amazing Singapore City sky scrapers, before converging on the Satay Stands opposite at the Hawkers market.

I also found the Housekeeping was immaculate,..and the range of drinks and snacks from the Minibar was good,.. as mentioned  Infinity pool is not huge like toeh marina bay Sands ,..but good enough and not generally crowded. Guests should be aware however ,that there are only 3 or 4 sunbeds, so if you want to lie around th pool , you need to get in early. They have good  beers on tap, reasonable  priced food and drinks.

After a tough week in Sydney attending to NSW Government  Media reports and  attending an   Italian Prosecco Masterclass at Otto Ristorante n Woolomooloo,.. this correspondent was relieved to escape for a leisurely familiarization of a fine Hotel.

“I really relished staying at this hotel,.which I had actually “sussed out”  on a previous “brief reconnoitre some  six weeks previously”  on my previous trip here  . …..and I must confess the Grande Old Dame didn’t let me down.,..I really  felt elevated and magnificent in this iconic Hotel with the quirky and funky decor,..  surrounded by sky high buildings.”

 

Contemporary art and decor in the historic Singapore building

“The rooftop infinity pool was great for laps in the early morning and in the afternoon, due to the close proximity to the Sate vendors, one could smell the fires starting up!The rooftop infinity pool was great for laps in the early morning and in the afternoon, due to the close proximity to the Sate vendors, one could smell the fires starting up!”

“The rooftop infinity pool was great for laps in the early morning and in the afternoon, due to the close proximity to the Sate vendors, one could smell the fires starting up!”

Infinity pool and  Bar area

For me in my vintage years ,..I really value the opportunity to start the day with a swim service, just to get the joints and the body limbered up. OK this is not the Marina Bay Sands rooftop pool but if  you do a few laps its plenty big enough,.and it is  actually a genuine  Infinity pool and they have a nice little bar area with tasteful furntiture with good Bar service so if you are aftr some company ,..ant there are plenty of Australian and Europeans guests here,..you can easily while away an afternoon and take in the sunset Cocktail in hand and observe the glistening light  of the sunset reflecting on the vast sykyscapers depicted in our images .

Although its a smallish hotel,only 6 floors with the rooftop pool bar and seating area upstairs. Beware only 3 to 4 sun beds so not the place if you want to lay around a pool , unless of course you get there first. Nice beers on tap, reasonable priced food and drinks. I was on a Familiarization visit with a bunch of other PR people and Journalists ., but I spoke to some other guests on  luxury escapes packages,.. and they were pleased with the Buffet breakfast being included in their packag .

Whilst you are in a  a really CBD and commercial   area  it feels so different to the Melbourne or Sydney CBD and its incredibly relaxed and easy to get around…  Incidentlally the Singapore  taxi’s or their Uber brand GRAB,..are cheap compared to Sydney or Melbourne . Staff also have been very good, room we have is quite small ( called cosy room) but comfortable enough as don’t intend sitting around in the room.

 

ACCOMODATION /ROOMS

. Pillows and beds are comfortable clean and luxurious room setup with a complementary mini bars items. Cool room feature such as iPad and iPhone.

The hotel is beautiful. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Pillows and beds are comfortable clean and luxurious room setup with a complementary mini bars items. Cool room feature such as iPad and iPhone.

Now as far as the Rooms are concerned I really enjoyed mine ,..the amazing Marble bathroom with bath was a massive plus.  The basic level room is referred to as a  Cosy Room (standard as part of most  packages) but you can opt for a Mini Suite.  The rooms themselves are  quite  beautiful and different to standard boring old hotel rooms.My room was  an  odd shape  becasue of the old historic building being quite long and narrow ,..but it ddint worry me ,it  just adds to the charm and “understandable when you know the building was the home of the Telegraph company when it was built in the 1920’s!”

As I mentioned the Bathroom is lined with marble and shower nice and hot with good pressure. The large Bath is  big enough for a couple ,..pity I didn’t find a friend.!?

I found the   Control Tablet (with a welcome message from the GM) which controls everything from the TV and Cable News services including CNN and BBC and even the good old ABC! Great choice of channels and music  and the Bar fridge was well stocked with useful beverages ,.also the Coffee machine was quite adequate ,.. although I found the glasses a little weird. I did prefer drinking my espresso dopia in the downstairs dining room.

 

“The Hotel Telegraph offers an undeniable status as a boutique small luxury hotel with an amazing services.The hotel is located in a heritage building but is very modern inside. The decoration is bright and welcoming.The reception staff are efficient. The bellboys are wonderful, providing a cheery welcome every time that you return to the hotel.I was also admire the warmth of the service where all staffs were really nice to me. “

Pillows and beds are comfortable clean and luxurious room setup with a complementary mini bars items.

“The Cool rooms have such  features  as iPad and iPhone. Very nice rooftop pool with bar convenient location too as its near to convenience store and Lau Pa Sat food market. Fabulous service offered by the concierge and staff in general.You can Luxuriate in modern opulence and comfort in this 20th century monumental beauty”