Singapore’s dynamic accommodation scene has something for every traveller, from heritage hotels to boutique beauties to heritage hotels. But beautiful hotels that walk the line between being design-led, affordable, and comfortable aren’t always easy to come by. We recently checked into AMOY, on the fringes of Chinatown, to discover a stay that combines all the above with a joyful dose of culture.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of AMOY hotel
A welcome cup of tea at the AMOY
Location is one of AMOY’s chief attractions. The hotel connects to the Telok Ayer MRT station (the ones at Chinatown and Raffles Place are also close by), offering immediate access to some of Singapore’s best drinking and dining, and major business districts. But that’s not all.
Enter the hotel via the Fuk Tak Chi Museum
Guests arriving at AMOY, a Far East Hospitality property like The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, will immediately realise this isn’t your average stay. The main entrance, on Telok Ayer Street, is situated within the Fuk Tak Chi Museum, one of Singapore’s oldest temples. Built in 1824, this was where early migrants, who landed when the shoreline still reached this spot, would come to offer thanks for a safe sea voyage from China. Guests step over the elevated threshold and into a monument to nostalgia, with the museum’s architecture—the original temple—and artefacts depicting the lives of the Zhangzhou people who arrived here in the 1800s.
The lobby tells many stories
Further inside, the lobby area offers insight into the lives, loves, challenges, and culture of the immigrants who once lived here. The central seating area features cushions of Chinese embroidery and displays of vintage items once found in homes here, from calligraphy brushes and steam irons to ceramic teapots and parchment booklets. There’s even a tiled wall displaying the surnames of Singapore’s original Chinese families.
Chinese-inspired boltholes
The 37 rooms here are situated within historic shophouses that offered unique challenges for redevelopment. But this means each floor and room has a one-of-a-kind layout. Though the hotel’s theme, the history of Chinese immigration in Singapore, is obvious in each one.
Our Double Deluxe
Outside each door, a traditional Chinese family name is emblazoned next to room numbers; inside, there are numerous Chinese elements. My Deluxe Double room featured traditional Chinese stools and porcelain basins, a latticed screen separating the bedroom from the bathroom—even a vintage-style rotary phone.
My bathroom featured traditional Chinese furniture and a hand-painted porcelain basin
Some heritage elements have also been carefully conserved, including the unique floor plan (I have to step down into the bedroom area) and floorboards. Peeking through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I discover the classic shophouse shutters remain, offering framed views over enclosed Far East Square below. The room’s decidedly nostalgic, and while it’s not unfettered luxury, it’s comfortable and has all the expected amenities.
Is there more?
This is very much a boutique property, so instead of offering half-hearted facilities, AMOY gets creative to offer guests what they’d expect of a bigger hotel. Onsite, Fourgather offers a menu inspired by Thai street food (though it’s not technically part of the hotel) while the included a la carte breakfast is available across Far East Square at Offbeat by Coq & Balls, a Balinese-style café. And, just around the corner, guests have access to the pool and gym at Clan Hotel, another (more upscale) Far East Hospitality property.
The beautiful lobby mural
My stay includes “An Ode to the Past”, a stay experience designed to enhance the hotel’s cultural and historical immersion. On a character-led tour at Chinatown Heritage Centre, the history and lives of the area’s early settlers are vividly brought to life as we wander through a tailor shop and shophouse styled to mimic those that existed in the 1950s. Being able to see things like ledgers and medicine bottles, while also catching glimpses of how Singaporean street food came to be and how people of the time entertained themselves, is surprisingly insightful.
This is paired with a taste of the area’s modern culture. Next door at AMACHA, Singapore’s first herbal-inspired milk tea house, the black sesame-infused Root Revival is a surprisingly refreshing, contemporary take on classic Traditional Chinese Medicine teas.
Final thoughts
If you’re after all-out luxury or an upscale designer stay, you’ll find plenty around Singapore. But AMOY offers something a little different. The basic comforts are there, but where the property shines is in its historical and cultural insights. For first-time visitors and the eternally curious, this hotel is a unique experience far removed from the Lion City’s more upscale offerings.
Discover more about AMOY or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia
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