The Scarlet, Singapore, Review

Written by Rebecca Richardson: 24-November-2010

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Opulent, lavish and sexy. These are the words that came into my head after spending a few minutes in The Scarlet. My husband, who is not quite as expressive, even noted in the elevator on our way up to our room - 'Is this hotel for people in love or something?'

He was right - The Scarlet, a boutique hotel located in China Town Singapore, is the perfect setting for honeymooners, or any couple who wants to spend time canoodling in the dimly lit restaurant, cuddling in the outdoor spa under the stars, or embracing on a SGD$30,000 mattress.

The Scarlet opened its doors 6 years ago - one of the few boutique hotels in Singapore at that time. The hotel has 84 rooms including 5 individually custom designed suits. Each suite has its own colour theme and slightly different styles but are all luxurious.

The rooms...

The rooms include the little extra things that you don't see at most hotels - a DVD player, an iPod dock, a CD of seductive tunes, bath salts and loofah, and a complimentary mini session at The Beauty Empire (located just next door). The Scarlet focuses on the needs of the guests to make it a complete experience.

The décor is bold and grand with chandeliers, tasseled cushions, bold rich colours of red and gold, lots of mirrors, and marbled floors and walls. While Victorian inspired, it's far more seductive and sexy.

(Above: Premium room.)

Restaurants

There are 2 restaurants: 'Desire' on the second floor (open for breakfast and lunch); and Breeze, which provides lovely alfresco rooftop dinner dining.

The feeling in the restaurants is consistent with the hotel's themes - intimate, gourmet. This atmosphere continues into the bar for more informal dining and drinks. The restaurants cater for both Western and more local tastes.

Surroundings

The hotel is located in Chinatown, making it very convenient to the night market, several small shopping complexes, a food hall, and public transport. Signapore's Chinatown is very similar to Chinatowns across the world - I find it difficult to look past the heat, crowds, overwhelming unfamiliar food smells, and uneven footpaths, but Singapore is a small city, and getting around is easy - irrespective of where you stay, all the major sights and attractions are easily within reach. Besides, if you're looking for a hotel like The Scarlet where you don't want to leave the room, then location isn't important.

Staff

The staff are absolutely lovely and helpful. The reception staff greeted us warmly and were overly helpful to ensure we had a great experience in Singapore. They helped us with storing our luggage, contacting tour companies, organising transport, and even locating the closest pizza hut to satisfy the craving of our 2-year-old.

(Lobby)

Best suited for...

While The Scarlet is the perfect setting for romance, families and children are also accommodated - infant beds, high chairs, and even a game of peek-a-boo in the foyer. Although families are welcomed to The Scarlet, the squeals and laughter of a 2-year-old really doesn't suit the sexy and slightly naughty atmosphere evoked and enjoyed by couples coming to have a romantic getaway.

The absence of a swimming pool in Singapore's constant and year round heat and humidity is also something families of young children may miss.

Overall

We had a great experience at The Scarlet, and would recommend it to anybody looking for something a bit different, and looking to indulge themselves while enjoying the city of Singapore.