Manawatu Standard

Fact file:

The place

Set in the vibrant Orchard Road district, COMO Metropolit­an Singapore is a chic urban escape that is all about modern elegance punctuated with splashes of quirky fun.

Towering above Singapore’s shopping mecca, this relatively new luxury hotel is an unexpected oasis in all the hustle and bustle. Metres outside, you’re immersed in the energetic pace of the city, but stepping into the hotel make you feel like you’re crossing into another, much calmer realm.

This hotel is a bit of a homecoming for the upscale internatio­nal brand, which was originally founded here, but has had properties in other places around the world, rather than at home.

The space

The hotel’s design is minimalist, characteri­sed by clean lines and soft, neutral tones. Shared spaces are decorated with a mix of contempora­ry art and modern furnishing­s and expansive windows to ensure plenty of natural light.

But it’s not all beiges and greys

– while the rooms are minimalist (a welcoming sense of calm in a city with all the lights, noises and colours), some of the other areas have plenty of unexpected vibrancy.

A great example is the lobby with coffee made without human interventi­on; the ‘robot’ Bruno is really something to observe, it literally does everything from scooping the coffee right down to the final latte art.

Right beside it, there’s a giant digital wall that initially looks like a large mural, but morphs every few minutes into new stunning floral designs – a dream for the selfie kings and queens.

The room

The Metropolit­an Suites are full of light, due to the huge windows, and have really interestin­g views. If you’re on one side, you’ll see the city, but on the other, it’s more urban, with apartment blocks and green spaces, which, while not as glamorous, provide a fascinatin­g insight into day-to-day Singaporea­n life.

The room’s design is simple luxury, with white walls, soft grey and brown

The lobby and its giant digital mural.

furnishing­s, grey panelling and light wood floors. The bed is super comfortabl­e with high-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and there’s a cute round table with two plush chairs by the window, providing the perfect spot for a morning coffee.

There’s plenty of space to hang and fold your clothes, and a lot of attention to detail in little things like the sleek taps, art deco mirror and modern bed light fittings.

The bathroom is spacious, with gorgeous gold-hued shower heads, but make sure you draw the day blinds if you want privacy.

The room comes equipped with all the modern convenienc­es you could need, including a smart TV, Bluetooth speakers, a compliment­ary mini-bar (with both indulgent treats and healthy snacks) and a Nespresso machine.

The amenities

COMO Metropolit­an is all about relaxation after long days spent exploring Singapore.

The brand’s Shambhala spas are well known in other properties, and this is no exception, with its Shambhala Urban Escape offering a range of therapies, from facials to deep tissue massages, using its signature products.

There’s also a well-equipped fitness centre, daily yoga and Pilates classes, and a serene infinity rooftop pool, with aclearpane­lattheedge­ifyoudaret­o look down at the road below.

Food and drink

The hotel makes a huge effort to cater to

Staying there: Stay in a Metropolit­an Suite from NZ$382 per night.

See: comohotels.com

Getting there: Singapore Airlines flies direct to Singapore from Auckland and Christchur­ch.

See: singaporea­ir.com