Words by John Gordon, Director of Content | Expat Choice
Returning to Singapore always brings fresh eyes. The city evolves faster than memory — a place where history keeps pace with innovation. Chinatown, once the domain of tailors, traders, and tea merchants, is now leading a quiet revolution in small-space living. Here, heritage shophouses and modern micro-hotels prove that intimacy, not scale, defines luxury.
A Chinatown Hotel (formerly Hotel 1929)
There’s honesty in a name that says exactly what it is. A Chinatown Hotel doesn’t hide behind grandeur. This hotel is a three-star stay, and it takes pride in that rating.
The rooms are tight, about twelve square metres, just enough for a suitcase, a bed, and a good night’s rest. The flooring — a hard-wearing mesh-line surface — speaks of durability, though it adds a hint of chill. Yet the essentials shine: spotless white sheets, a mattress that finds the right balance between firm and forgiving, and housekeeping that keeps things genuinely clean, even if the walls wear a few stories of their own.
It’s the kind of place made for travellers who value purpose over polish. What lifts it is the people. The front-desk team radiate that effortless, genuine warmth found only in Asian hospitality — quick smiles, efficient check-in, and farewells that feel personal. For location, it’s unbeatable: steps from Keong Saik’s streets and alley ways, morning incense drifting from Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple, and the quiet buzz of local cafés.
A Chinatown Hotel is humble, heartfelt, and human — proof that hospitality doesn’t need glitter to glow.
Claude Hotel — Refined Minimalism in a Shophouse Shell
Just around the block, Claude Hotel redefines what 'boutique' really means. Housed within a row of preserved shophouses, it merges old bones with sleek restraint.
Clever design turns twelve square metres into something far more expansive. Glass partitions, slate-tiled floors, and mirrored panels amplify light and space. The bathrooms are discreetly enclosed and private yet practical, and you’ll find thoughtful inclusions — a compact fridge, a hairdryer and a free bar fridge selection on your arrival, and fittings that feel quietly premium.
One of the unexpected highlights was the on-site laundry service — a genuine value-added perk for travellers. I used it during my stay, and there was something wonderfully liberating about doing a quick load mid-trip without having to step outside. It’s a simple touch that makes a short stay feel lived-in rather than like passing through.
Step onto the Juliet balcony and you’ll overlook a slice of old Singapore — terracotta rooftops, temple spires, and the gentle hum of Chinatown at dusk. Lanterns glow; incense curls skyward. Claude Hotel feels both rooted and refined, offering a peaceful pause in the heart of the city.
Contact Claude Hotel
12-16 Teck Lim Road, Singapore 088388
📞 +65 6390 1255 🌐 claudehotel.com
The Dorsett Singapore — Comfort That Endures
A short stroll away, The Dorsett Singapore represents the district’s confident maturity. Built above Outram Park MRT, it combines convenience with a quietly assured sense of style.
Rooms are carpeted and spacious, dressed in soft drapery with queen or king beds that invite you to stay a little longer. Bathrooms are bright, well-planned, and finished in glass and polished tile — an indulgence rarely found at this price point.
While the newer micro-hotels prize intimacy, The Dorsett delivers scale without excess: ample storage, soundproof calm, and consistent service. For around SGD 200 a night, it’s one of the best values in downtown Singapore — trusted, comfortable, and refreshingly elegant.
Contact The Dorsett Singapore
333 New Bridge Road, Singapore 088765
📞 +65 6678 8333 ✉️ info.singapore@dorsetthotels.com
🌐 dorsetthotels.com/dorsett-singapore
Choice Perspective
In Chinatown, you learn that luxury isn’t about space — it’s about soul. From the honest simplicity of A Chinatown Hotel to the sleek efficiency of Claude Hotel and the enduring comfort of The Dorsett Singapore, each offers a different rhythm of rest.
This is Singapore distilled: compact yet generous, efficient yet emotional. In a city that never stops rising, these hotels remind us that the most memorable stays happen not in vast lobbies, but in rooms designed — and staffed — with heart.
