Introduction

Welcome to the future of environmental-friendly hotels of the world. The PARKROYAL Collection Pickering is stunning to behold, both from the outside and from the inside, and can easily transport you from the concrete jungles of Singapore to the lush tropics of the hotel’s lush gardens. How does it stack up against the other Singapore hotels I’ve reviewed? Let’s find out!

The hotel features a total of 367 rooms, making it quite a large establishment. Located right opposite Hong Lim Park, the hotel is easily accessible via either Chinatown or Clarke Quay MRT. Described as a hotel in a garden, the facade of Parkroyal Collection Pickering is distinctive due to the abundance of lush greenery – it’s probably one of the most beautiful hotels in Singapore. If you’re a fan of architecture, this should be a major plus point to consider. In fact, even if you’re not a diehard fan, your instagram will probably thank you, as it’s gorgeous from any angles that you take.

Since my arrival to Singapore at in the early mornings, like all my previous hotel check-in experience in this bustling city, it was quiet in the lobby. I got to the property and was escorted to the Orchid Club where I enjoyed a proper cup of tea while waiting for my room key to be ready. I had arrived quite late - 12:34am to be exact, but was easily pampered by the amazing front desk service.

A quick elevator ride up, and I got the room immediately. Before describing the room, I’ve thought to showcase the hotel facade and lobby during the mornings, as it’s visually stunning to witness. Hong Lim Park during the mornings is full of hardworking aunties and uncles, as well as bustling workers headed to their office.

Room 730 | Deluxe Room

So here it is - I stayed at a Deluxe Room over my work period and it comes with 32sqm of beautifully appointed living space. These rooms are typically located on the upper levels of the hotel but here is something you should take note of - not all rooms have a bathtub so if you are actually looking for one, make sure you make your request known as soon as you can. Since it was work travel, I didn’t really care at all.

Man, I really do love the abundance of natural light in both the bedroom as well as the bathroom. The bedroom of the Orchid Club Deluxe Room is beautiful and being on a high floor gives you a bird's eye view of Chinatown and Hong Lim Park from the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a beautiful merger of nature and future urbanization, all wrapped up in this one building. Do note, the windows are NOT tinted, so if you do open up both blinds, your room is as transparent as the glass itself!

WiFi is complimentary here in the hotel for all staying guests and there is a beautiful work desk located right next to the window where you can really focus on getting things done. If meetings are more of a mandatory type, there is also a dedicated Business Centre located on level two of the hotel and it even provides administrative services like photocopying and printing.

Bed is comfortable and not too firm - next to the bed lies all the controls that one would utilize - this is where you will be able to change the temperature of the room, turn off the lights as well and other logistical switches.

The hotel was awarded the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award, which embraced sustainability as its core pillars of this property. Here, you won’t find disposable plastic water bottles here in the guest room and suites - instead, you will find water filter built into the sink - the tap in Singapore is potable and you can always request for more water to be sent up if required.

Regarding the bathroom, the water pressure in the bathroom is actually quite strong and I had no qualms with the provided amenities. The brand Appelles was developed with the intention of creating an exceptional skin and hair care offer, featuring a combination of the finest essential oils with botanical extracts to deliver outstanding results. There is a bit of a minor problem - the toilet room’s light is somewhat confusing to turn on, as it often doesn’t turn on until you turn off the master switch, and turn it back on. It’s a odd issue as I found myself having to use the bidet with no light.

Infinity Pool & Poolside Cabanas

The iconic moment for this hotel has to be its instagrammable swimming pool on the Wellness floor, which features the fitness center and a never-seen-before 300m walking/running route for guests (this is a first for me!) I was able to enjoy the time of the pool after breakfast and lounged a bit, enjoying the stunning view and the architecture of the place. Guests can enjoy the semi-private pods that sits above the water, as these seating pods resemble bird cages that are set amidst lush greenery and they look beautiful from the inside as well as outside. Clearly beautiful in design, they blend incredibly well with the design elements of this amazing hotel.

As mentioned, there is the fitness center as well as the spa. Sharing the fifth floor with the outdoor infinity pool is a wellness space that incorporates a jacuzzi as well as a decently-sized gym where you will be able to check out some top of the line fitness equipments. The St. Gregory Spa can also be found here if you are looking for a relaxing afternoon in the hotel. Furthermore, there’s quite a sizable and well-equipped gym, with various equipment such as treadmills, stationary bicycles and multiple machines (that I don’t know the uses for) available. The treadmills are modern too, the kind where you can connect your phone and watch videos/play music of your choice. It also has a wide selection of free weights and is definitely one of the most impressive hotel gyms I’ve visited thus far. Lastly, it overlooks the swimming pool so one gets a nice view while working out.

As the “World’s Leading Green City Hotel,” the hotel’s gardens are a must-visit. The 300m garden walkway is impressive. Not only with their beautiful planting but also with the remarkable infrastructure that supports these plants.

Breakfast at Lime

I went back to the lounge in the evening to enjoy the food and cocktails. The next morning the breakfast continued the theme of quality. The breakfast had champagne if you would like to indulge. I went for an omelette and enjoyed a few other items from the buffet. I also want to point out the quality of coffee in the lounge and in the rooms was great. Very smooth and strong, just the way I like it.

The Lime restaurant offered a massive selection of asian/western choice (they are known for their massive buffet selection) and can get busy around 7:30-8:30am. There is also their buffet dinner, where they offer a wide variety of choices from local favorites to International cuisine. It was an excellent chance to sample a variety of Singaporean dishes, such as Kueh Pie Tee, Singapore Rojak, and Singapore Bak Kut Tehat at the buffet stations. Chefs were available to prepare the dishes and provide explanations about the recipes and ingredients.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed my stay at PARKROYAL Collection Pickering. The wooden, Japanese-inspired Deluxe Room is beautiful, thoughtfully designed, and actually had a calming effect on me – I felt serene simply staying there.

The amenities were top-notch as well, with the pool alone worth the price/night. I must say, if you’re a fan of architecture, there is no reason you shouldn’t choose this hotel. There are so many visually appealing angles from each floor, it’s almost a dream to be here. In addition, the close proximity to Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Marina Bay Sands is a vital benefit for those visiting Singapore. In that sense, the PARKROYAL Collection Pickering is a fantastic recommendation from me!