Hotel Telegraph review: A boutique hotel that's steps away from Lau Pa Sat

If you are looking for a staycay or recommending a hotel in Singapore to a foreign friend, consider Hotel Telegraph, an iconic 5-star luxury boutique hotel built in 1927. Nestled at the heart of the city’s Central Business District at 35 Robinson Road, merely steps away from Lau Pa Sat (yes, steps!), you get to enjoy the creature comforts of a beautiful hotel with vibrant food, architecture and the arts scene all within 15 minutes away.

Ahead of the hotel's first anniversary on 28 September 2023, we were invited to a two-night stay at the boutique hotel. Hotel Telegraph has curated a series of activities for guests to immerse themselves in Singapore's heritage and culture. Foreigners and locals will be introduced to Singapore's rich but forgotten stories.

Hotel Telegraph at a glance

What I love about Hotel Telegraph

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Within the hotel

Room facilities, toiletries

We were housed in the heritage wing, with a beautiful skylight, king-sized bed, bathtub and a spacious shower separate from the toilet. The room has the usual creature comforts, including WiFi, a safe, towels, a fridge, complimentary snacks and water. A work desk, comfortable chair and a Nespresso machine, which churns out decent coffee on command, should make this hotel your workcation of choice.

If you are the type who prefers holing in your hotel for a truly decadent staycay, you will lap up the decent-sized bathtub, which should comfortably sit a couple at the same time. Besides the rain shower feature, a clear winner for the bathroom is the provision of Penhaligon’s toiletries, which includes shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Wouldn't it be grand if they threw in a bath bomb as well?

Moreover, the room comes with free newly-released movies and 24-hour room service, which should more than occupy your time there. Most hotels charge a pay-as-you-use in-room movie screening, but Hotel Telegraph knows how to spoil their guests with its wide selection of recent movies. Room facilities, including the drawing of curtains, light switches, and television, are controlled from an iPad next to the table.

My thoughts: Due to the ornate design of the hotel, the full-length mirror is split into half along the corridor leading to the bed. Also, technology can be a bane or a boon. After exploring the movie channel, I was preparing to turn in when the iPad refused to shut down. I called the friendly receptionist, who offered to send a technician immediately, but I declined as it was past midnight and I was already dressed for bed. Luckily, I found the switches, manually switched off all the controls, and finally turned in after about an hour trying to determine if the fault lies in the faulty iPad or my poor technology skills. Early the following day, when I was properly attired, the hotel sent a technician who took less than 5 minutes to resolve the issue. The iPad never gave me any other issues after that.

Food & drink offerings

Not keen to venture out? Soak in Hotel Telegraph’s one-of-a-kind view surrounded by Singapore’s towering skyscrapers, as you partake in bar bites and the hotel’s signature cocktails and drinks such as Hotel Telegraph’s signature cocktail Singapore Sling or the Telegraph Collada concocted with Dark Rum, Light Rum, Pineapple, Coconut, and Grenadine.

There’s a decent selection of bar bites infused with local influences. Choices range from Crispy Har-Jeong Chicken Wing, Homemade Spicy Otak Slider Truffle Mushroom Arancini Ball and many more. Their homemade dips are to die for.

Hotel Telegraph plans to host a Singapore Sling masterclass, where guests can learn how to mix and shake their cocktails using local ingredients. Check with the hotel for details.

Hotel breakfast buffet

I don't know about you, but I always look forward to hotel buffet breakfasts. I love customising my egg omelette and indulging in an aromatic coffee to kickstart the day. During my stay, the hotel provided local delights such as soon kueh and carrot cake (the Asian version), complete with sambal chilli. Bak kut teh with charcoal fried dough cakes were served the next day.

My favourite breakfast? The Teochew porridge that comes with eight different condiments such as picked cucumber, century eggs, salted eggs and braised peanuts. What's more, should you so desire, there's free-flow alcohol such as Mimosa, an easy-to-drink cocktail concocted with a mix of champagne and chilled citrus juice, and Bloody Mary on demand.

24-hour gym, pool

During hotel stays, I love to check out its pool and gym. This one has a rock climbing wall, a full-length mirror, on-top weights, barbells, a cycling machine, treadmills and an elliptical flank in the 24-hour gym. The gym also comes with bottled water and towels for your convenience.

My thoughts: Strangely, there was no restroom near the gym, and if you are not staying on the same floor, you will have to go to your room to access the bathroom.

Outside the hotel

Discover Singapore like never before

Heritage tours and activities were available as an add-on option during your stay. Start your day with a Heritage Walk by a storyteller and familiarise yourself with the area. Working with a local historian, the hotel aims to initiate heritage tours that pay homage to our country’s beginnings. Guests are invited to embark on an intriguing walking tour to surrounding places steeped in nostalgia. The route for travellers begins at the hotel’s 1927 building, which survived bombings from World War II, before continuing to the Civilian War Memorial, passing through Lau Pa Sat, Cavenagh Bridge and Esplanade Park.

Those keen to explore further can embark on alternative routes towards the nearby Chinatown, which include historical landmarks such as the 1903 Jinrikisha Station and Yueh Hai Ching Temple — one of Singapore’s oldest Taoist temples, built 128 years ago. Inform the concierge ahead of time to arrange a heritage walk. Do note that the heritage tour is chargeable.

Visit a Local Microbrewery in a Historic Building

While Tiger Beer is known to visitors as the Singapore beer, Hotel Telegraph is eager to show both locals and tourists the teeming food and beverage scene in the city by showcasing an up-and-coming craft beer brand. Working with Lion Brewery Co, the hotel will take the heritage tour group on an educational microbrewery tour at the Brewlab in a heritage building.

Built in 1928, the art deco style building was used to house printing and bookbinding businesses on the ground level with residences above. At the end of the tour, guests will also have the chance to savour six refreshing craft beers brewed perfectly for the Southeast Asian climate. Lion Brewery Co Microbrewery Tour is available at S$60 nett per pax and includes the tasting flight of six beers and a 30-minute tour of the Brewlab.

Architecture and heritage

Built-in 1927 and designed by F.G. Lundon from Singapore's oldest architectural firm, Swan and Maclaren, this beautifully restored 4-storey heritage building, with 134 bespoke rooms and suites, played an influential role in Singapore's telecommunications history for nearly a century. Accorded conservation status in 2000, it has housed numerous corporations and government entities, such as the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore, Singapore Telecom, Singapore Post, and advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather.

Featuring a captivating neo-classical façade and architecture, Hotel Telegraph makes for a great romantic weekend staycation or an important business trip – where you can experience old-world allure blended with a contemporary twist at this quintessential city escape.

So, is Hotel Telegraph worth it?

Previously known as So/ Singapore, the revamped five-star boutique hotel retains its old-world charm. Merely three minutes walk from Telok Ayer MRT and a five-minute walk from Shenton Way TEL, Hotel Telegraph makes for a perfect workcation or staycation should you be looking for luxurious comfort in a hotel. Its plethora of hawker fare (think Lau Pa Sat), cafes such as Paris Baguette and Starbucks, mid-range restaurants and bars means you will never go hungry even late into the night or early morning. For those looking for an artsy trail during the day, you will never go wrong by walking towards the Civic District, less than 10 minutes away. Its in-room service and long bathtub complete the staycation experience.

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