The Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore is one of my most frequently stayed hotels in the Lion City. My initial encounter with the Marina Bay icon was in 2013 when I was still fresh to the concept of a staycation. I had never stayed in a luxury hotel prior to that and the level of service totally blew me away. With these fond memories, I decided to book the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore last year and left with the same heightened level of service from the highly professional and eager staff.
Just a few days ago, I went for another stay at the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore. The property had launched its Canvas of Views staycation package which includes plenty of enhancements such as a stay at a Club Room, a complimentary private hotel art tour, admission to the Art Science Museum as well as a lavender bath.
cornucopia at ritz carlton millenia singapore lobby
Guests enter the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore through the lavish reception area graced by gargantuan windows and a hanging metallic sculpture – Frank Stella’s “Cornucopia.” The property boasts of 4,200 art pieces, 90% of which were commissioned specifically for the hotel. Art is a theme that permeates the property, with most of the F&B outlets here housing an art piece or two. Two pieces of Andy Warhol’s “Flowers” series can be found in the Ritz Suite – other works from the same series were valued by auction houses at around US$2.5 million as of late.
Table of Contents
Club Room
ritz carlton millenia singapore club deluxe marina room
As mentioned previously, the package includes accommodation at the Club Deluxe Marina Room. At 51 square meters, the size is similar to the base level rooms except that these are situated at higher floors. The room layout is exactly as I remember from past stays, with a square-ish setup that really creates a sense of space. Almost six years has passed since my very first Ritz Carlton experience but the furnishings are essentially identical. That being said, I did not spot any wear and tear – not even scratches on the chairs – as the hotel has undergone a number of light refreshes over the years. For instance, newly installed power outlets by the bed are meant to cater to the age of smart phones and tablets while curtains that can be drawn with a remote shows that the hotel keeps itself up with the times.
marina bay views from the hotel room
The room itself is not particularly bright in the evenings but the light brown color scheme prevents it from looking unnecessarily gloomy at night while the generous window allows for plenty of natural light to come in during the day. Aside from the fluffy and high bed, the room is also graced by a sofa wide enough to act as a daybed, coffee table as well as working desk. The latter has the enviable position of being situated just by the window, allowing for unparalleled views of the bay. This is my favorite part of the room and I can’t help but get distracted by the scenic view in front of me while doing my work. On second thought, perhaps the placement of the desk is too distracting – in a good way. For those who prefer to pamper themselves, there is a S$30 spa voucher conveniently placed by the desk.
ritz carlton millenia singapore club deluxe marina room
Even the most basic of rooms at Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore have this mini walk-in wardrobe. Carefully hidden by sliding doors, the cavernous space has enough nooks to place one’s luggage and clothes. The safe is also situated here.
tall and fluffy bed
Room cleaning is done twice a day as is the practice for higher-end hotels. I like how housekeeping tends to leave small treats in the form of chocolates in the evening. It’s a nice touch even for someone like me who typically doesn’t eat chocolates.
bathtub of the ritz carlton millenia singapore guest room
A proper review of the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore isn’t worth its salt without talking about the bathroom – and what a marvelous bathroom it is! The hotel was built in the 1990s, way before the age of social media but there’s a great degree of foresight there. The bathtub situated just by the octagonal window has become the most iconic photo of the hotel, attracting guests from far and wide to stay here precisely so that they can take the same tub shot. Indeed, there is nothing like having a soak with such a majestic view right in front of you. To many visitors, this is one of the quintessential luxury experiences to be had in Singapore and rightly so.
asprey toiletries
The presence of a window in the wash area makes Ritz’s bathroom quite inviting and not just the type of place one goes to do their personal business. Toiletries comes from Asprey, as is the case throughout all these years. I noted how housekeeping supplied me with an extra set during turndown service even though I did not use any prior.
At around 9PM, the butler came knocking at my door. It was time to setup the lavender bath (one of the inclusions of the Canvas of Stays package). I rarely use the tub during hotel stays but each stay at Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore proves to be an exception. Seeing how the butler sets the bath to make it as bubbly as possible was an interesting experience in itself. I didn’t know there was a lot of work involved! After a couple of minutes, the bath was ready and the room had the fragrant scent of lavender. It was quite relaxing and just right for a late night kind of soak.
Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore Club Lounge
club lounge at ritz carlton millenia singapore
Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore’s club lounge is notable for having the most number of meal presentations among all the hotel club lounges in Singapore – with a staggering five ranging from breakfast in the morning up to desserts in the evening.
For everyone’s reference, here is the list of benefits at the club lounge of Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore:
- Breakfast from 7AM to 11AM
- Midday snacks from 11:30AM to 2PM
- Afternoon tea from 2:30PM to 4:30PM
- Evening cocktails from 5PM to 8PM
- Desserts and cordials from 8:30PM to 10:30PM
- Complimentary pressing
- Complimentary tea or coffee served to the guest room within 10 minutes at any time of day
- Complimentary limo service from 7AM to 10PM within the Marina Bay area
- Exclusive use of The Library for meetings
The 32nd floor club lounge here is plush and affords even nicer views than my guest room. It retains the same light brown color scheme that one finds in the rooms. It is not particularly big but I never saw it crowded – not during the two instances I’ve stayed in a club room.
the library at the club lounge which is used for meetings
For those with an artistic streak, there’s a corner which acts as The Drawing Room. Guests can choose to spend some time sketching the Marina Bay area through the easel, paper and pencils that are provided.
evening cocktails at the club lounge of ritz carlton millenia singapore
Another interesting feature of the club lounge is the free-flowing champagne which you can have at any time while the lounge is open. Fancy a champagne breakfast? Done. How about champagne with desserts? Also possible! There are two brands of champagnes used here. First is the flagship Ritz-branded champagne which is produced by Barons de Rothschild. The second is Moet.
breakfast at the club lounge
I dropped by the club lounge for most of the meal presentations. The variety is not particularly huge but the quality is high and the sheer number of meals offered in a day (five) is definitely the most I’ve seen anywhere. Breakfast is mostly the continental sort, with porridge, bacon, eggs, fruits, salads, potatoes and chilled juices – definitely nowhere near as grand as the famed breakfast buffet at Colony downstairs.
the chef in action during evening cocktails
However, the evening cocktail spread is relatively generous compared to other hotels. There is one live station helmed by a chef. At the time of my stay, they were serving Wanton Noodles cooked as you order. There were also a variety of hot dishes including Ngo Hiang and Cream Chicken.
complimentary limousine service for club guests at ritz carlton millenia singapore
Apart from the actual trip to the Art Science Museum, I did not have any real need to go anywhere in the vicinity so I asked the club lounge staff if I could just use the limousine for a spin. They acquiesced to my request and in no time, I was told that the car was waiting for me downstairs. The car took me on a leisurely drive around the bay, past some of the well-known attractions such as Marina Bay Sands, Fullerton Hotel and the National Gallery. As with typical Ritz style, the car was well-stocked with mineral water, newspaper and event mints. I am not 100% sure but it’s probably the same type of car the hotel uses for airport transfers.
Facilities
the swimming pool of the ritz carlton millenia singapore
Elsewhere, the hotel’s facilities are topnotch and have mostly been refurbished as of late. The swimming pool has been given a nice refresh and is quite picturesque in the evening when seen together with the round window from the lobby level.
The fitness center of Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore is one of the largest in Singapore, perhaps second only to the gym at Shangri-la Singapore. The equipments at the Ritz are much newer though and I couldn’t help but notice the level of detail here. Each exercise equipment conveniently has a water bottle and small towel next to it so that guests don’t have to walk elsewhere for rehydration. I certainly wouldn’t mind becoming a member here. Perhaps it will encourage me to workout more.
Verdict
As I said in the beginning, the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore was the very first 5-star hotel I’ve ever stayed in. I have stayed in dozens more luxury hotels in the almost six intervening years since but I still think the hotel’s – at least its soft product – remains one of the more impressive I’ve experienced. There is a degree of eagerness here by the staff to ensure guests leave with more than just a good impression.
Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039799
+65 6434 5179
Booking It: The hotel currently has a sale for stays until 30th June 2022 with 25% off best available rates. Compare for the best prices HERE
You May Also Like
Hotel Review: Andaz Singapore – Stylish Hyatt Hotel in Bugis- Hotel Review: Marina Mandarin Singapore
- Hotel Review: Swissotel the Stamford – Unparalleled Views & Highly Convenient City Hall Location
- Hotel Review: Conrad Centennial Singapore – Newly Renovated Rooms & Two Types of Executive Lounges
- Hotel Review: The Westin Singapore – Of Stunning Bathtubs & Infinity Pools
- Hotel Review: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach – Trendy Club Rooms & Compelling Dining Concepts
Leave a Reply