Introduction | The Clan Hotel

Like a scene from a romantic film, the Clan Hotel takes hotel lifestyle to a whole new level. Take the lift one floor up and you’ll enter the hotel reception, which is quite simply gorgeous. Japanese interior design firm KKS International have created soaring ceilings with full height windows for sunlight to stream in, bathing the open-shelf display cabinets and plush furniture in a warm glow. Oriental artifacts fill the shelves, while a collection of ornate umbrellas (apparently on sale at four digit prices) line the walls.

History plays a big part in this hotel and is found almost everywhere. Suspended above the check-in counters are 150 painted aluminum panels folded in a variety of geometric forms and hung at different heights. This art installation by Grace Tan is called “The Pact”, and is meant to symbolize the close ties and bonds formed between early immigrants who settled in Singapore in the early 1800s.

Check-In Experience | The Clan Hotel

There’s something mythical about this hotel. From the very get-go, you’re welcomed in a beautiful reception area that is brightly lit by natural sunlight, making it such an inviting space to linger in. Every guest gets the opportunity to experience the welcome tea ceremony in this space, which symbolizes the traditional clan ritual typically done to welcome and show respect to visiting guests.

Since I checked in early, the front desk assured I could still partake in the tea ceremony. Master Chua, the tea master, offered a cold towel to freshen up and served up a cup of Nanyang Ritual tea with a red bean pastry. The tea was part of an exclusive curation (produced specially for the hotel) that blends Southern and Northern Fujian Oolong Teas, both famed for intense fragrance and taste. After the warm welcome amenities were done, another front desk staff assisted once more with the keys to my room and I was off to the 22nd floor!

Premier Room | The Clan Hotel

Premier Rooms are located at the corners of each floor and have wraparound views of the neighboring districts. They are only available in a King/Queen configuration, so those who want twin beds will need to pick a Deluxe Room instead (all rooms take a maximum of two people). The Premier Room strikes a decidedly modern business tone, but the oriental vibes and elements make it more unique. The décor plays it safe with a soothing color palette of muted tones and warm lighting, and the L-shaped layout provides extra space for lounging by the windows. The window bay opposite the bed features a long settee that runs the full length, interrupted only by a work desk, which featured its own electronic outlet panel.

This bed is awesome. The King-sized bed was firm and extremely comfortable, and the pillows were simply fantastic. The bedsheets do a good job of retaining heat, allowing me to set the air conditioning to a pleasant temperature at all times. Both bedsides have a full range of lighting controls, as well as one USB charging port and one universal power outlet. Do note that one of the power outlets is occupied by an Audio Pro sound system, which is bluetooth friendly. Two universal power outlets and USB ports were built into the top left of the desk, as well as an ethernet port.

Back to the desk - the room had a desk that can be used for work or as a dressing area. The stool is backless, which is a slightly different take than a typical work chair.

Now, let’s pause here, because I want to capture something that I really like about this hotel. The Clan Hotel has a pillow menu for all guests, with the following options:

Comfort-U Body Pillow
- Full body support. Enables muscles & joints to truly relax. Multi-functional body pillow
Side-sleeper Pillow
- Extra comfort for side sleepers. Reduces strain on neck & upper back
Latex Pillow
- Made with 100% natural latex. Reduces head & neck pressure. Breathable interior cell structure provides shape retention
Micro-Gel Pillow
- Hypoallergenic. An alternative to goose down feather, Micro-Gel fibre emulates the lightness and air-trapping abilities of natural down and is supremely comfortable

Man on man, that FULL BODY PILLOW - you haven’t lived until you try a U Body pillow. I’d never heard of it before, but it supports your neck and shoulders in a way unimaginable.

The 55-inch TV was mounted on the wall, with the option to pull it out and swivel for easier viewing in bed. While it’s not possible to connect your own HDMI cable (the system is locked down, preventing you from changing input source), there’s a Chromecast already attached for streaming media content. Setting up the Chromecast was a bit clunky, but once it was done it worked like a charm.The open-concept wardrobe at the entrance of the room provided space for luggage storage, as well as an ironing board.

Further refreshments were found at the mini-bar area, in the form of a Nespresso machine and tea selection. Tea is a common motif across Far East properties, and just like The Outpost and Barracks Hotels, two canisters of tea were available at the minibar: British Breakfast and The Ritual blends by Pryce tea. I found myself enjoying both during the morning and at night, the The Ritual Blend being a great way to cap the day.

Bathroom | The Clan Hotel

The bathroom’s blend of marble and stone textures gives the space a contemporary and luxurious feel. The bathroom features Toto Washlet bidet functionalities, a single vanity with a sizeable sink as well as an enclosed rainfall shower area with lotus and osmanthus-scented bathroom amenities from Vuudh, a lifestyle brand from Thai luxury skincare company Harnn.

Guests are also able to choose one from three different fragrance bar soaps specially handcrafted by the hotel. The room does not offer bottled water, but guests are able to help themselves to water dispensed from a Hyflux filtered water tap.Other bathroom amenities include two dental kits (with mini Colgate tubes), a shower cap, sanitary bag, shaving kit, comb and vanity kit. I had no problems with the premium water dispenser.

As part of the hotel’s environmental policies, plastic water bottles are not provided. Instead, a special tap has been installed for filtered water. You can simply ask for a bucket of ice should you perhaps want a colder take on your hydration.

Amenities | The Clan Hotel

Perched on the rooftop (30th floor), the Sky Pool and fitness center is perhaps one of the coolest and most atheistically pleasing place to be in the hotel. It is a calming oasis offering a bird’s eye view of the surrounding heritage district and the surrounding business district. The pool itself is rather small and the semi-submerged lounge chairs do get filled up pretty quickly, but the views definitely make up for it. There is also a smaller, heated jacuzzi pool surrounded by greenery where many folks took advantage of with the sunset.

The Clan Hotel’s swimming pool is located on the 30th floor, and is open from 7 a.m to 11 p.m daily. The pool has a maximum capacity of eight guests, though I’d rarely see more than two people utilizing the pool for their regular swim lane routine.Thanks to its rooftop location, the infinity pool boasts commanding views of the surrounding business district/chinatown and gets plenty of sunlight during the day. There are exactly eight partially submerged pool loungers, so every guest is guaranteed one.

Also on this level is the Sky Gym, complete with Fitness-on-Demand personal training, as well as a traditional Wing Chun wooden dummy for a well-rounded workout. If you want to live your Ip-Man life, this is the hotel!

I can tell you this is one of the most impressive gyms I’ve seen in a hotel. It’s done up like a dojo, with an extensive range of equipment. Beyond the usual treadmills and free weights, there’s also a trampoline, punching bags and even a Wing Chun wooden dummy. Exercise mats and medicine balls are stacked on racks, and everything is in pristine condition. It’s definitely one of the prettiest hotel gyms I’ve seen. There are also shower suites available for early check-ins and late check-outs.

Dining | The Clan Hotel

Breakfast is served at the QIN restaurant on level 4. Breakfast is served daily from 6.30 a.m till 10.30 a.m (11.30 a.m on weekends and public holidays). As there isn’t much seating space within the restaurant itself, some guests were ushered to dine at the Terrace, an open-air area across the hallway. Breakfast is not bad but not anything noteworthy. I think guests won’t have any regrets passing up breakfast if it’s not included.

Guests can each choose one of the six items available; chef’s special rotate daily and a free flow of coffee/tea and (bottled) juice is also served.

Conclusion | The Clan Hotel

Given Far East Hospitality’s association and strength with the mid-tier segment in Singapore, I did not come with expectations of luxury, but it must be said that my experience at The Clan Hotel, Singapore certainly exceeded any expectations I did have. From the stellar service levels to the impressive interior design of the premises, I was surprised by how much effort the team had put in to elevate the product into something more closely fitting the luxury market, and more importantly how successful these efforts have been thus far.

The hotel boasts a very confident product in terms of both software and hardware, and it may just be one of the best new Singapore hotels I have stayed at in recent times.