Last Updated on July 17, 2026 by Home in the World
When it came to luxury hotel brands, Mandarin Oriental had been one that had always eluded me. Despite often being seduced by their marketing – I particularly love their slogan of ‘I’m a fan’ –, I had somehow never had the occasion to actually stay at one. Until my most recent experience at the exquisite Mandarin Oriental Singapore, that is.
And what a fabulous choice that was! Read on to see why I recommend this property as the perfect base to stay in Singapore, especially for those seeking a touch of luxe.
As with all my hotel posts, this is an entirely honest and genuine review, as I was a full-paying guest who was not sponsored to write this in any way.
And if you are serious about planning a trip to this part of the world, you may also want to consider reading my recommendations for things to see in Singapore, and downloading my free mini guide to Singapore.
Arrival and first impressions
I had made my booking online, but had emailed the hotel in advance to make a few special requests, and these were responded to professionally and efficiently – something that should be a given but which some properties, including 5-star ones, sometimes fall short of (to this day I am still waiting to hear back from a couple of 5-star properties in Tokyo that never replied even to follow-up emails). So we were off to a good start.
Coupled with my excitement about staying at my first Mandarin Oriental, and the amazing photos I had seen online, it was safe to say I had pretty high expectations.
The building itself is not as tall as some of the glass skyscrapers you will find in Singapore, but, having been recently renovated, it stands out majestically with its pistachio green colour and trademark fan logo. We pulled up the short driveway, flanked by semi-tropical vegetation and were greeted by friendly, Panama-hat-wearing doormen.
A few seconds later, and we found ourselves inside the veritable sanctuary that was the Mandarin Oriental Singapore lobby. We were left in no doubt that we had entered a five-star property, but without the intimidating feeling that some luxury hotels give you. I was immediately struck by the subtle fresh fragrance, the striking floral artworks, the pops of vibrant art and the overall pinky-clay colour scheme that extended up every floor of the atrium-like space, complete with starburst pendant lighting that gave magical fairy-dust vibes.
One of the staff members mentioned that, following the 6-month renovation that was only completed in 2023, the new colour scheme was inspired by the iconic pastels of Singapore’s Peranakan Houses. And I could totally see that. It was such a great way to infuse local elements into the design, and had been executed perfectly.
Check-in was completed swiftly by a wonderfully friendly staff member. I would later discover this was a common thread at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, because every single staff member I encountered was so genuinely hospitable, professional and obliging. The exceptional level of service from start to finish really stood out to me. But more on that later.
The room
Needing a bit of extra space, we had booked a Family Suite, which was absolutely HUGE and actually had two front doors. Located at a quiet end of the 12th floor, it initially opened onto a large living room, semi-sealed off from the front door area by a cane privacy screen, which I found to be a very effective way of demarcating the lounge, and put the ‘Oriental’ in ‘Mandarin Oriental’.
This living area featured a massive corner sofa (which converted into a double bed), as well as a 2-seater dining table, wall-mounted TV, coffee table and handy storage ledge. Leading off this room was also a substantially sized marble guest washroom, complete with Toto toilet, combined washer/dryer and ample cupboard space. And rounding off these ‘living’ facilities was a kitchenette, fully equipped with crockery, cutlery, glassware, utensils, coffee-maker, a small fridge, sink and induction cooktop.
Moving into the master bedroom, which could be totally sealed off from the living area via a sliding door, I was once again struck by the massive sense of space. Despite having a very comfy, plush king bed and casual chair, there was still so much space, with so much room to walk or even do a mini workout in front of the bed! The wall-mounted TV was on a side wall, as the bed faced the window, but the TV could be swivelled a little towards the bed.
A hallway leading off from the master bedroom contained 2 double wardrobes with safe, robes, slippers and good-quality GHD hairdryer. This was also where the second front door was located. From here we had the master ensuite – a pale marble affair with bath, separate shower cubicle with rainshower and hand-held shower, Toto toilet (with all the bidet bells and whistles) and single-basin vanity.
Amenities were by Diptique, and I really appreciated the variety of toiletries provided: shower cap with hair tie, cotton pads, cotton buds, hairbrush, a dental kit.. there was a lot!
Interestingly, the only bin in the bathroom was an open-top one, whereas I think a closed one would be better for sanitary purposes (there was a closed-top pedal bin in the kitchen area). And likewise there did not appear to be a power outlet (apart from the shaver-only outlet) in the bathroom, which I found a little odd, but perhaps is for safety reasons. In any case, it didn’t matter, as there were ample universal outlets (including USB-C and USB-A) scattered throughout the suite – including on BOTH sides of the bed, which is not always a given.
Also worth noting is the fact that there was no landline phone in the bathroom or living room; only in the bedroom. And there was no clock in the bedroom. I realise many people don’t care about that now, as they use their phone, but it was just an observation I made. Light switches were plentiful and, despite the variety of options, were easy to use and well labelled (once again, not always a given at some hotels!).
Both rooms had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Raffles Boulevard, the Pan Pacific and several other high-rise buildings. As such, they were light and bright, complementing a colour scheme of warm pastels with the occasional pop of colour – a seamless continuation of the lobby vibe.
As an MO member, there was also a lovely bowl of fruit, three jars of sweet snacks, a welcome pack of speciality teas and a bottle of wine waiting in the room on our arrival. Plus, as an extra belated birthday surprise for my mum, some delicious cakes and chocolates presented in gorgeous ornamental tiered china bowls. I assume these treats came from the patisserie downstairs. A really lovely and greatly appreciated gesture.
Every evening around 6.30pm, the turndown service would prepare the master bed, lay out slippers, clear the bins and set up the sofa bed. It was all done so beautifully and with a smile. But if you prefer not to have this, you can simply call reception and tell them you don’t need it. We did this on a couple of nights.
All in all, an absolutely stunning suite that we felt comfortable in from the moment we stepped in and, after 8 nights, didn’t want to leave! So far, the Mandarin Oriental Singapore was definitely delivering.
Dining
In terms of on-site dining, there is an abundance of options. We personally only tried Embu restaurant and room service.
Embu is the Mandarin Oriental Singapore’s all-day dining restaurant, and is where the buffet breakfast is held every morning. It’s a huge restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating (though unfortunately the outdoor patio was closed for maintenance during our stay).
We tried the breakfast and found it to be ok. There were many different stations of international and Western fare, though the layout felt a little scattered at times. And there did not appear to be standard options like grilled tomatoes and baked beans. Still, I appreciated the variety of pastries, cereals, fruit and eggs to order. And the main room, with leafy greenery hanging from – and projected on – the ceiling, had a sanctuary-like vibe.
We also tried the in-room dining for both breakfast and dinner, and it was always an excellent experience. I liked the feature of ordering online via a QR code, allowing you to make your choices and tick the various options. It is a lot more streamlined than the old-school way of calling up the dining department and placing orders, as that has often led to miscommunication in the past. I’ve noticed several properties have now started adopting online room-service orders, and it’s a trend I can really get behind.
Every request we made, including sometimes for extra cutlery, plates etc., was catered to perfectly. For breakfast we tried the Mandarin Oriental Breakfast and Wellness Breakfast. Both were positively lavish, with so many choices, that 2 were more than enough to share between 3 people. The Mandarin Oriental Breakfast was a standard comprehensive Western breakfast, with cereal, pastry basket (including toast, muffins, croissants and cakes), choice of eggs, choice of meat (or vegetarian option), fresh fruits and berries and tea/coffee.
The Wellness Breakfast, meanwhile, was similar, except the hot food was a choice of omelette or smoked salmon with smashed avocado on sourdough (the latter being what I chose, which was delicious!) and there was an option for a fruit or vegetable smoothie with plant-based milk. Extremely wholesome and truly set me up for the whole day! Never felt hungry for lunch!
Of the room-service dinner options, we tried the Hainanese chicken rice, spaghetti bolognese and club sandwich, all of which were of excellent quality. I was extremely impressed with all of our in-room dining experiences, not just in terms of the food itself, but also the friendly staff who would deliver it and set it up. Nothing was too much trouble for them, there were never any mistakes in the orders, and everything was presented beautifully with substantial portion sizes.
Those were our only experience with dining at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, though other on-site establishments offer Cantonese, Japanese and Italian cuisine, as well as an American steakhouse, plus there are lounges and bars in the form of Bay@5 by the pool, the Lobby Lounge (especially popular for afternoon tea) and the MO Bar.
And as you first step into the lobby on your left, you will see the picturesque Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop, from where I suspect the sweet treats in our room came from – in which case I can certainly vouch for them!
Other facilities & services
Being a 5-star hotel, the Mandarin Oriental Singapore is not short of other facilities to make your stay even more enjoyable, most notably in the form of wellness. I personally did not try them, but there is a 24-hour gym, an award-winning spa, a nail salon and of course the stunning pool overlooking Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline. I highly recommend heading up there both by day and night; it’s got a lovely resort-like feel with its tropical palm trees, dreamy cabanas and striped loungers.
At the time of writing this (June 2026), there does appear to be a new construction going up in front of the hotel, however. And it looks like it will partially obscure the gorgeous panoramic view from the pool, and presumably some of the rooms facing that way. It was not clear how tall this new development was going to be, but fingers crossed at least some of the view can be preserved.
I also noticed signs advertising yoga classes for guests, as well as a Marina Bay run. I found this a nice touch and a fun way to bring guests together.
Location
The Mandarin Oriental Singapore is located in the Marina Bay area of the city, which is personally my favourite. I did toss up about staying at one of the many hotels around Orchard Road and Scotts Road, but, having seen how hectic it is there, I’m glad I didn’t.
The Mandarin Oriental’s immediate vicinity felt calmer and more spacious. It is within easy walking distance of the Merlion Park, the Downtown Core, several museums (National Gallery of Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum), the Chijmes dining precinct and the Raffles Hotel, which you can read more about in my post on things to see in Singapore.
Also worth noting is the fact that immediately adjacent to the hotel is a large, multi-storey shopping mall, with all kinds of food options, a foreign-exchange outlet, clothing stores etc. It is very handy indeed, and we made use of the currency exchange facility a few times.
In terms of transportation, the closest MRT (subway) station to the Mandarin Oriental Singapore is the Esplanade station, about a 5-10 minute walk away. We did not try this, however, as we opted for Grab instead (Singapore’s answer to Uber, as Uber does not operate there).
All in all, I highly rate the Mandarin Oriental Singapore’s location, and think it makes for an excellent base for exploring the city.
Looking for other hotels in Asia? You may want to read my reviews of the following properties:
Ritz-Carlton Chengdu in China
Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort in Cambodia
Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh in Cambodia
Fairfield by Marriott Phnom Penh in Cambodia
Shangri-La Far Eastern Taipei in Taiwan
Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka in Japan
JW Marriott Seoul in South Korea
How to book the Mandarin Oriental Singapore
You can book your stay at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore via its official website or using your preferred booking platform:
Mandarin Oriental Singapore on Expedia
Mandarin Oriental Singapore on Hotels.com
Mandarin Oriental Singapore on Booking.com
Getting to Singapore
Singapore is home to what is routinely named the world’s best airport in the form of Changi International. It’s certainly my favourite airport. Serving as the hub for the national carrier, Singapore Airlines, and serviced by almost every other major airline in the world, it will likely be your gateway to this tropical city-state. Don’t forget to check out the Jewel at T1 once you’ve cleared immigration!
I recommend using Skyscanner or Trip.com to find and compare the best fares.
Why choose the Mandarin Oriental Singapore
It is safe to say that my first experience with the Mandarin Oriental brand lived up to all expectations and more.
Our stay at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore was one of the nicest we have had to date (and we’ve had several lovely hotel experiences).
The property is much more than just a pretty face of aesthetic decor, plush rooms and abundant, high-quality dining options. What truly made our stay, as it often does, was the people. The service at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore was truly impressive from start to finish. And that is not always a given, even at 5-star hotels. Every single person went above and beyond to assist us – and always with a warm smile and friendly chat.
This property had the sophistication of a luxury hotel without the pretention or intimidation. It still felt truly grounded and down-to-earth, while absolutely delivering on modern design and luxury aesthetic.
I am not at all surprised to see that, at the time of writing this post, it has just been named the 3rd best hotel in Singapore in Travel + Leisure‘s Luxury Awards for 2026. It is a wholly deserved honour.
The Mandarin Oriental Singapore is a gem of a place in every respect, and I will certainly stay there again whenever I am next in Singapore. It’s also made me extremely keen to try more properties in the Mandarin Oriental chain. I’m most definitely a fan!
| MANDARIN ORIENTAL SINGAPORE |
| 5 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039797 |
** This stay was not sponsored in any way; it is a genuine, non-biased review based on my own personal experience as a full-paying guest **
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
Before you go…
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For more Asia travel content, feel free to check out my posts from Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and of course Singapore, plus my older travel memories (more narrative style than blog style) from Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia.
And for more luxury hotel content, visit my Hotels section, where you will find my reviews of other properties in the Asia region, as well as further afield.
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Hi Emily,
Just want to let you know your review of The Mandarin Oriental in Singapore is excellent. Having stayed there some 20 years ago, it was fabulous to read a review from a recent Guest that was not generated on a Travel Website, rather a trusted & very comprehensive personal view. I have been using your Newsletter this year to research from a personal perspective, in particular Japan and Perth.
Thank you for your great work. Kind Regards Carol
Oh thanks so much Carol! I really appreciate the kind words, and am so glad you have found some of my content helpful. Amazing that you stayed at the Mandarin Oriental all those years ago. Hopefully you can get back up to Singapore sometime soon and check it out again now that it has been renovated. And it makes me very happy that you appreciate the human work behind this blog. I do very much believe in authenticity and human-generated content, so thank you for appreciating that! 🙂
As with all your hotel reviews, the authenticity stands out and that’s so important👏
Thank you, I do value authenticity a lot, especially when it comes to reviews