A Childhood Dream Come True at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

I’ve been visiting Singapore since I was 7 years old. I must have been more than a dozen times by now and while the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa was our Singapore hotel of choice until recently, it’s sadly not what it used to be. So instead, for my most recent visit I stayed at The Fullerton Hotel, and had an unbelievably good experience.

This may sound odd, but as children we would always visit The Fullerton to use their restrooms while we were in the city. I have weirdly fond memories of washing my hands with their fancy soaps before gazing up at the large open lobby, wishing that one day I could stay there instead of just stopping by for a rest stop.

Finally, twenty-five years later, my childhood dream had come true…and it was worth the wait.

Arriving at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

We arrived at the acclaimed five-star The Fullerton Hotel on the Saturday evening, to balmy temperatures and a strong welcome from the hotel staff. Doors were flung open, suitcases were lifted from the boot of the car, and we really didn’t have to do a thing other than walk to the front desk and then up to our large Quay Room that overlooked the Anderson Bridge and Singapore River.

Our suitcases soon followed, brought up by the friendly bellboy, and we were given a quick tour of our room and the features it included. We spotted the kind gifts left for us on the table: a platter of fruit and sweets, and complimentary bottles of water.

Twin Quay Room

Alone in the room, we started to explore and then unpack. I was staying with a friend and so we had a twin room. Both beds were large and comfortable. The room was immaculately presented and expertly designed: sockets next to each bed, and light switches too. There was plenty of storage space to place belongings and hang up clothing in the closet, and the only thing we found was missing was a dressing table or desk with a mirror behind it – this would have made the room more accessible for those with disabilities (like me, as I faint after 10-mins of standing thanks to PoTS), and also been handy for drying hair and putting on make-up while the other person was using the bathroom.

The bathroom was luxuriously large and decked out in beige marble and with Balmain amenities. A large bath tub stood opposite the sink area (complete with filtered water tap) and the (albeit rather weak) shower. In a separate room behind a door was the magic toilet, which had sensors that meant the lid lifted up as soon as you walked through the door.

Overall, the design of the room was calming and sophisticated with soft beiges, creams, and greens. The room came with a balcony that overlooked Anderson Bridge and the old colonial buildings on the opposite side of the Singapore River. If you’re staying in a king room rather than a twin, they have rooms overlooking the Marina Bay Sands and Merlion.

The Rooftop Swimming Pool

You really can’t visit The Fullerton without using the hotel’s rooftop swimming pool. Located on the Singapore River side of the hotel, the rooftop pool is large and beautiful. With a backdrop of the hotel’s towering columns shadowing the river and its buildings opposite, it’s a lovely place to relax and read a book in the warm afternoons after a morning of sightseeing. We found plenty of sunbeds and extra-large, plush towels by the door on arrival.

Food & Drink at The Fullerton

With plenty of incredible restaurants and bars in Singapore to try, we only tried the breakfast at The Fullerton. We had access to the Club Lounge, however, we tried the Club Lounge one morning and the ‘normal’ buffet in the hotel’s ‘Town Restaurant’ the second morning to compare. Both involved a beautiful buffet spread with something for everyone’s tastes, as well as a la carte options in the Club Lounge, and an omelette station in Town. We loved the juice choices and the pastry selection – pandan cake was a highlight!

The Fullerton Hotel Location

And if all that hasn’t sold it for you, the location certainly will. Nestled between the Merlion and Boat Quay, it is the perfect location for sightseeing and first timers. Even for me, having been to Singapore possibly a dozen times over the years, it felt a real treat to be in such close proximity to everything we wanted to do and see. You can easily walk to most places, and for those too far away it’s a very quick MRT ride or Uber drive away. I felt very spoiled after so many times staying on Sentosa Island which is much further away from the action.

As well as being very close to the main sights, you’re also right by some of Singapore’s best bars and restaurants. KOMA at Marina Bay Sands is a favourite of mine, and we loved Atlas, which has been named one of the world’s best bars. You’re also just a 10-minute walk away from Lau Pa Sat on Raffles Quay, one of Singapore’s best hawker markets. And if you’re in search of a famous Singapore Sling from the Raffles Long Bar, it’s simply a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute Uber.

Final Thoughts

The Fullerton Hotel is the ideal historic hotel for any traveler visiting Singapore. With an unbelievable location, unbeatable customer service, and truly stunning guest rooms as well as the rooftop pool, you won’t find anywhere else that’s comparable to The Fullerton. We had a really incredible two-night stay and I can’t wait to revisit the next time I’m in Singapore! It certainly lived up to those childhood expectations from all those years ago.

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