Staycation Review: A Pet-Friendly Aparthotel In Singapore That’ll Put A Spin Bike In Your Room, Or Let You Adopt A Plant
The rooms here boast some of the best views in the CBD… and no, it’s not of your office.
Everything’s better when you can customise it to your preferences, including a staycation. One hotel that knows that is Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore, formerly Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore. In fact, the rebranded aparthotel, located within OUE Downtown in Shenton Way, is so serious about a bespoke stay that they’ve got a multitude of choices for guests who check in to one of the 268 serviced apartments here.
What does a tailor-made staycation look like?
For starters, parents can request a playtime set-up for the kids, like tea parties or safari adventures that include a teepee tent and a set of toys for the munchkins to take home; pawrents can request for pet amenities to be included in the room for furkids, like we did (more on that later).
Fancy some #selfcare? Guests can also request for in-room spa accessories such as a sweat blanket and LED red light therapy, or fitness equipment like weights, yoga mats or spin bikes.
Indeed, fitness fanatics can request for a spin bike from spin studio Absolute Cycle to be placed in their rooms and take part in one of their on-demand virtual classes, though guests have the option of booking complimentary trial classes at Absolute Cycle’s outlet in Downtown Gallery as well. Hotel guests can also conveniently slink over to Haus Athletics and Boulder Movement, both in Downtown Gallery too, for a sweat sesh, complimentary for hotel guests.
But if cooking is your cardio, you can whip up a meal by requesting for fresh produce boxes, supplied by local company Avo & Co — choose from an Asian Cuisine Box, Bread and Butter box, regular fruit and veggie kits, and then some.
The Experience: A 2D1N stay in a one-bedroom premier suite
We check in at the lobby located on the seventh floor — it’s a breezy, quick affair made even more pleasant by the bright lobby with a IG-worthy plant wall. The potted plants, by the way, are available for guests to ‘adopt’ and spruce up the serviced apartment during their stay here.
Our pet dog is joining us for the staycation, so we've requested for pet amenities in our one-bedroom premier suite (from $520++ per night). As we step into our digs for the night, it immediately feels like we’ve come home to a swanky apartment in the middle of the business district.
You’re first greeted by a well-equipped kitchenette and dining area. The former has all the cutlery and utensils you’ll need to dine in, or even whip up a meal. Long-stay guests will appreciate that the suite’s kitted out with a dishwasher and washing machine too.
Don’t get us wrong, we like the spacious bedroom in all its modern contemporary goodness, and the plush king-sized bed is perfect for a good night’s sleep. But the panoramic view is probably the highlights of the suite.
No need to worry about hunger pangs on this staycay, with a myriad of dining choices at the likes of Amoy Street and Telok Ayer area nearby. But if you prefer to stay in, the hotel’s contemporary restaurant, Collective, is located right next to the lobby on the seventh floor (this is where daily breakfast is served too).
For guests who book the Dao+ staycation experience, complimentary cocktails and canapes await from 5pm to 8pm at the Living Room, a snazzy lounge area next to Collective. Munch on light bites like satay and truffle chicken wings, while drinks menu runs the gamut from coffee to cocktails.
For dinner, we opt to have it in-room instead of dining in at Collective — room service is prompt and efficient, and the hearty spread is delivered on time and warm, not something to be taken for granted at a staycation.
Feeling stuffed from all the feasting? Take advantage of the hotel’s location and wander around the vicinity — pop in to one of the bars and restaurants for a nightcap, or take the pooch out for a breezy night walk in the quiet CBD now that the cubicle rats have gone home and the staycationers have come out to play.
Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore is at 6 Shenton Way, OUE Downtown 1, #07-01, Singapore 068809. More info
Photos: Jasmine Teo, Dao by Dorsett