The 19 best boutique and shophouse hotels in Singapore

If you like a little old-world glamour, then Duxton Reserve is the hotel for you. These boutique accommodations are situated within five restored heritage shophouses, and designed by Anouska Hempei (also an ex-Bond girl) to express an eclectic East-meets-West aesthetic – expect ornate French windows, Chinoiserie fixtures, and calligraphy wallpaper. The 49 guest rooms and suites are comparatively minimalist but no less sexy. If it's a special occasion, we recommend splurging on the Skylight Executive Club Suite for extra spaciousness and its crowning four-poster bed. 

Best for: 19th-century glitz

Heritage and colours come to life at the 131-room Hotel Indigo. Situated in storied Joo Chiat, this Peranakan-inspired boutique space offers a culturally rich experience. The rooms are modelled after a shophouse, revealing more private spaces the deeper you walk in. Little details complete the experience – take the Peranakan tiles, wall murals depicting early Singapore, batik rugs, and more. But Hotel Indigo is not short on modern amenities. Enjoy the rooftop infinity pool and 24-hour fitness centre, and definitely don't miss out on the Indigo Pavilion which has been designed as a cosy living room-like space for all sorts of people to meet. 

Best for eclectic design and pet-friendly stays

Set in the heart of Sentosa Island, Oasia Resort Sentosa is a five-star hotel centring around you and your wellness. The hotel in Singapore wants its guests to embark on a journey of refreshing and refuelling the body and mind with their offerings of homely comfort and mindful activities, as well as nutritious food and the onsite spa. The hotel boasts 191 suites and rooms, all with earthy vibes and calming tones, making it the perfect place for a proper relaxing break. All the local amenities and attractions are on the doorstep, so pop out for a day of exploring and return to a blissful and serene place to rest your head and feet. 

Best for: contemporary style

Housed in a restored 1920 black-and-white colonial garrison in Labrador Nature Reserve, Villa Samadhi offers the perfect forest retreat for stressed-out urban folks. The boutique-style accommodations ooze assured charm from its lofty ceilings, teak furnishings and preserved vintage centrepieces. For those who like to stay in, enjoy a meal at the in-house restaurant Tamarind Hill before heading back to your room to enjoy the wooden bathtub and private plunge pool (selected rooms). Meanwhile, the adventurers can head out to the nearby seaside boardwalk, Adventure Cove Waterpark, or even Sentosa. 

Best for: traditional charm

Singapore’s answer to Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel – minus the purple uniform-clad concierge and lobby boy. This pastel-hued, tropical-wallpapered dream pad is complete with Instagrammable opportunities at every nook and cranny – even in each spacious cocoon. There are fives beautifully decorated room types adorned with retro furniture and bold wallpaper. Go big or go home with a night’s stay at The Great Suite (from $195), complete with a study and circular bathtub for a relaxing bubble bath.

Best for: visiting Little India 

Another one from the Oasia brand, the Oasia Hotel Downtown is a four-star hotel that offers an escape from city chaos without being too far from it. Instantly recognizable against the concrete, steel, and glass of the city, you'll spot the hotel straight away with its unique silhouette covered by a lush green façade which is actually a huge vertical garden. Aiming to offer guests luscious tropical vibes, you'll see elements of earth and nature throughout its otherwise very luxurious decor and amenities. There's a gym, two restaurants and bars, and an outdoor rooftop pool for guests to enjoy, plus an indoor infinity pool exclusively for the use of Club Room guests. The rooms are sleek and sexy, providing you with maximum comfort while treating you like royalty. See you there!

Best for: all-inclusive luxury

Nestled on a quiet stretch of road near the bustling Orchard Road shopping belt, Lloyd's Inn is one of the coolest boutique hotels in Singapore. The inn is a millennial haven, boasting minimalist, white-themed rooms with plenty of natural light streaming in. The result? Photogenic spaces from every angle. Step away from the daily grind and get ready to be welcomed by a sense of peaceful comfort. The boutique-style hotel also has a roof terrace, modern garden deck and dipping pool surrounded by greenery.

Best for: an inner-city oasis 

For sweet tooth couples, join Studio M for a sweet escape journey with its Chocolate Temptation package. Enter the magical journey of chocolate, where you’ll immerse yourself in a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired experience. Together with famed chocolatier Janice Wong, the chocolate-making workshop showcases the bean-to-bar process in the specially decorated loft. Learn all about roasting cocoa beans,  winnowing, grinding and conching in this hour-long workshop. The workshop allows you to indulge in a plethora of chocolate delights and create your very own chocolate profiles. From $240 a night, the package also includes a one-night stay at the decorated loft.

Best for: chocoholics

Time Out Singapore in partnership with Heritage Collection

Live it up in a modern shophouse loft apartment with Heritage Collection on Seah from only $99 per night. Each loft is flanked by high ceilings and full-height windows that create an airy and spacious environment, with a bedroom on the upper deck for added privacy. Selected units even feature a skylight window. Tucked in a corner of 39 Seah Street, the facade of Heritage Collection on Seah boasts original ornamental details with timber windows designed in the French Casement style, an ode to Singapore’s colourful past where it was once home to the Hainanese community.

Best for: sleek and modern rooms

With its spectacular columns, wide arcs and full-length colonial shuttered windows, The Sultan Hotel is no doubt an architectural marvel. Nestled in one of Singapore’s most culturally vibrant districts, Kampong Glam, this gleaming white property comprises ten faithfully preserved shophouses in an idyllic tribute to Singapore’s rich heritage. Differing in visual themes, views and spatial set-ups, each room proffers its own adventure – always giving patrons something to look forward to. Opt for the prestigious double-storied Sultan Loft if you’re on the hunt for something more spacious.

Best for: walkability and travel links

Decked out in deluxe crimson velvet and adorned with gold details, the hotel flirts with decadent Parisian influences, making it a sensuous playground for the mischievous and high-spirited. Step into a realm of culture and creativity as you rub shoulders with the hotels artists-in-residence or immerse yourself in classy live Jazz music whilst sipping one of the bar's signature cocktails. Thrill-seekers can embark on the Vagabond Vice and Nice tour – venturing through the surrounding ethnic enclaves of Kampong Glam and Little India, as you uncover the secret delights Singapore has to offer.

Best for: opulent decor

Live like a local in the vibrant neighbourhood of Keong Saik at this restored three-storied shophouse. Whether you’re here for a short while or a long stay, the ‘flexible living solution’ is bathed in a bold Mediterranean turquoise palette, boasts stylish social spaces and an international roster of eclectic restaurants and bars including award-winning The Old Man from Hong Kong. The sweet digs of KēSa House also provide a relaxing, comfy home with the offerings of a serviced apartment. Sleep tight in the Sky Double (from $200) where you can fall asleep under a blanket of stars – protected by a ceiling window, of course.

Best for: funtionality, comfort and local attractions.

Decked out in rustic wood and perked up with repurposed furniture like bar stools made from bicycle wheels, this hotel is strongly reminiscent of the area’s heritage as a warehouse and industrial district. Be dazzled by a casual elegance from the moment you step into the hotel lobby, where high ceilings and cement-washed walls emphasise its fuss-free design. Subtle accents add a touch of dynamism to this industrial homage while wide, open spaces panelled with wood and ambient lighting create a relaxing environment, allowing guests to escape the urbanised corporate grind.

Best for: Industrial vibes 

The trendiest co-living space in town, Hmlet Cantonment is punctuated with a minimalistic colour palette, indoor plants, and natural accents right out of a Pinterest mood board. Hmlet Cantonment takes over a restored heritage site from the 1950s while keeping its retro elements such as the original staircase with terrazzo handrails and feature walls to retain its heritage. Not only that, the co-living facility also provides other perks like the common canteen, yoga and fitness studio, an outdoor garden lounge, and also a plunge pool. 

Best for: contemporary design and outdoor leisure

Mahogany veneers, astoundingly original furniture design and specially commissioned art pieces converge to create a luxurious yet homely space that is Naumi hotel. Its thoughtfully designed rooms range from the youthful Eden & Nirwana – an Andy Warhol-inspired suite popping with colour – to the tasteful Gabrielle & Camellia, which pays homage to Coco Chanel with its grandiose yet subdued elegance and monochrome palette. Behold the intoxicating sights of Singapore’s city vistas from the rooftop infinity pool or lounge on cabana recliners with a refreshing cocktail in hand.

Best for: 'laiback glamour'

Housed in a 1920’s building in Little India, the Wanderlust Hotel in Little India is now welcoming guests after undergoing a complete transformation. The newly reimagined hotel merges old-world charm with essential modern-day comforts. Swing the doors of the adorned facade of the original Peranakan tiles and you'll step into a peaceful and inviting lobby, which contrast beautifully against the vibrant neighbourhood the hotel is in. There is a range of rooms for you to choose from – be it the Loft category, Studio category or the intimate Wanderlust Room.

Best for: understated luxury

Stay right on the edge of Tiong Bahru at the newly revamped D'Hotel Singapore. The boutique-style hotel combines classic and modern decor, boasting stylish rooms equipped with 32-inch flat-screen TV, Google Chromecast and a complimentary mini-bar – perfect for your Netflix binge. Want some fresh air? Head up to the lush rooftop bar and lounge, which offers panoramic views of the surroundings. 

Best for: spacious rooms

Surrounded by museums, malls and eateries, the centrally located Hotel G houses 308 rooms, split into 3 categories – good, great, greater. A colourful dreamcatcher hangs from the ceiling of every room, tying together a wonderfully appealing aesthetic created by the atmospheric lighting and vintage furnishings. Each room is intended to dazzle with its vivid colours and unique design. The snazzy lifestyle hotel boats relaxed communal spaces that play host to exciting programmes and food connoisseurs will have a hard time passing up on the hotel’s dining options. Ginett Restaurant and Wine Bar’s extensive menu spans across cold cuts and gourmet cheeses paired with exclusive wines to farm-to-table dishes and French wine, of course. 

Best for: trendy rooms and local eateries

Employees donned in Cheongsams greet you as you arrive – a mere preview of the hotel’s proud homage to its Chinese heritage. Each hotel room takes on the surname of a pioneer Singaporean Chinese families and is outfitted with carefully curated Asian-inspired furnishings, ranging from porcelain sinks to embroidered cushions. Pay a visit to the hotel’s Fuk Tak Chi temple museum and trace the footsteps of early Chinese immigrants. While it’s grounded in rich historical narratives, Amoy’s unrivalled personalised service ensures that your modern comforts are still well taken care of.

Best for: hospitality and traditional vibes