We last stayed at Pan Pacific Singapore quite some time ago, and since then, they have renovated some of their rooms. We have wanted to try it since then but never got around to it. One day, I was going through my emails when I chanced upon a Discovery promotion. Seeing that there was a 25% discount promotion for Pan Pacific Singapore, we jumped at this opportunity. We quickly ran through the dates and saw that there was an availability at a reasonable price, just less than a week away. Just like that, we booked a stay at Pan Pacific Singapore to try out their newly renovated Executive Marina Bay Room!
TL:DR
Newly renovated room
Amazing views of Marina Bay
Nice and quiet business lounge (Studio 26)
Delicious food options at breakfast and at its restaurants
Service:
When we first arrived at the hotel, we noticed that there was already a queue at the check-in counters. At that time, we were carrying quite a few bags, and we had hoped that someone would help take our bags for us. We spotted quite a few hotel staff standing around. However, we noticed that none of them actually approached any hotel guest to help with their bags and luggage. In fact, we saw how a group had quite a few luggages but they were also simply queuing in line with all their bags in tow. That was quite a strange encounter.
Thankfully, we were soon asked to head over to the Discovery counters, where we were assisted with our check-in. During check-in, we were notified that as a Discovery Platinum member, we were accorded a one-tier upgrade to the next room. The staff member mentioned that while we would then be granted access to the Pacific Club Lounge, the Pacific Club King room was not renovated. Hence, she wanted to manage our expectations if we were to accept the upgrade. As we wanted to experience the newly renovated rooms, we declined the upgrade. Nevertheless, she initially said that she would still grant us access to the Pacific Club Lounge. However, she later said that we would have access to the Studio 26 lounge instead. She then stated that the only difference was that the Studio 26 lounge does not serve alcohol. We thought that it was a small issue since we do not really drink alcohol anyway. However, we found to our surprise later on, that it was nothing like the Pacific Club Lounge. Really a business lounge, it offers only snacks (kueh lapis, croissants, cookies, and dried fruits) and non-alcoholic beverages, while there are areas conducive for meetings and hotdesking. We thought that even though our main reason for staying in Pan Pacific Singapore this time was to try out the newly-renovated room and have experienced the Pacific Club Lounge before, we felt a little let down by Studio 26. This is especially so after we were informed about the apparent minor difference between that and the Pacific Club Lounge. For those who might not have experienced the Pacific Club Lounge at Pan Pacific Singapore before, make sure you choose that instead!
During check-out, it was similarly crowded, with hotel guests surrounding the lobby area. I could see that it might take some time before we could check out. Identical to the situation the previous day, we saw hotel guests carrying their own bags and luggage while many hotel staff stood around. I decided to head to the Discovery counter to ask if I could check out there. Thankfully, I could do so and before long, we were able to check out quickly and smoothly.
Hotel Facilities:
Pan Pacific Singapore has the standard facilities most 5-star hotels offer. These include a beautiful swimming pool and gym. It also has an in-house spa, St. Gregory Spa. St. Gregory Spa operates in all Pan Pacific and PARKROYAL hotels in Singapore and a few locations in the region. I once went for a relaxing massage at St. Gregory Spa in PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, and I must say that it was great.
The outdoor swimming pool appears to be the star attraction of Pan Pacific Singapore, and it is easy to understand why. Blessed by a superb location, it offers lots of natural sunlight while offering a great view of the skyscrapers in the vicinity. For those who prefer to be outdoors but in a shaded area, there are also lots of sunbeds, both sheltered and unsheltered.
Families will also love this area as the children can enjoy a dip in the swimming pool while parents enjoy a bite at the Poolside Restaurant & Bar. If you prefer to be closer to the swimming pool, you can always hang by the outdoor bar and grab a drink and Haagen Dasz ice cream.
The gym is located on the same floor and faces the swimming pool. It is relatively big and has the standard equipment, including yoga mats and medicine balls. While we did not work out during our staycation, we thought that the gym was nice and definitely conducive to a proper workout. Complimentary fruits are also provided.
Studio 26 Lounge:
Located on the 26th floor of Pan Pacific Singapore, this lounge is exclusively for hotel guests staying in the Executive Marina Bay Rooms. Promoted as a 24-hour self-service business lounge, it is suitable for business hotel guests who need a proper place to work.
If the Marina Bay-facing hotel room is not quiet or private enough, hotel guests can make their way to Studio 26, where they can enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Depending on the time (7 am to 10 am; 3 pm to 6 pm), you can also enjoy some homemade pastries. During the time we were there, kueh lapis and croissants were served. During the rest of the day, other snacks like butter cookies and dried fruits are available. Cold beverages, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, and processed fruit juices, are served. Coffee and tea are available 24 hours a day, so it is a great place for business hotel guests to work, especially if they are still in New York time.
It is a very quiet lounge, which is great for those who need to concentrate on work. There are tables armed with plugs and mice suited for laptops. There are also comfortable sofas that will come in handy for families who prefer to wait in the lounge while their better half get some work done. There is one large conference table with a television at the end, which will be perfect for business meetings. I worked there for a couple of hours in the afternoon and enjoyed myself. Armed with some snacks and a hot cup of coffee, I was really productive working away.
However, it is important to highlight that Studio 26 is not a conventional club lounge. While there are usually food sessions in a club lounge, where hotel guests can look forward to a buffet and alcoholic beverages, Studio 26 has none of that. Hence, it is important to understand the purpose of Studio 26 and who it caters to. For those who wish to have club lounge access, make sure you book the room with the correct lounge access!
Food:
When the time came for dinner, we pondered where to eat. Marina Square and the nearby Suntec City both had many options, but we were not sure what to eat. We decided to have dinner at the hotel since it would be relatively quiet as well. We decided on Pacific Emporium since it served local food, and we usually enjoy having local food in hotels!
We headed down and ordered the Heritage Chicken Rice and Peppery Bak Kut Teh, both signature Singapore dishes. For dessert, we shared a slice of Sakura Red Velvet cake. We ordered a sugarcane juice and orange juice.
The chicken rice was simply delicious. The rice contained all of the fatty goodness and tasted so good even on its own. The steamed chicken was poached to perfection and went well with the rice. Even though it came only with a few stems of vegetables, I loved it. I always enjoy eating vegetables and this time was no different. The soup was simple but complemented the dish well. Before long, I finished the entire dish. Truth be told, this was one of the better chicken rice served in Singapore hotels. A great dish!
Next up was the bak kut teh. Immediately, we could see how thick the broth was. Filled with baby back ribs and tao pok, it was great. The meat was so tender, and the tao pok soaked up so much of the broth. That there were also fried you tiaos made the dish even better. The white rice was perfect with the broth, and similarly, she wiped the dish clean in no time.
The Sakura Red Velvet cake was delicious and was a great way to end our dinner. It was tasty and just had the right amount of sweetness. It was a little crunchy in the cake and we liked this part. The drinks were quite decent and were good. Overall, it was a nice way to end our dinner with fruit juices.
Pacific Emporium is definitely the place to have a meal if you want to try some local dishes but do not want to leave the hotel. The hotel chefs have done the signature Singapore dishes justice, and we would love to have a meal there again soon!
Breakfast:
Breakfast at Pan Pacific Singapore occurs on level 3 of the hotel, at Edge restaurant. Really set up as a buffet restaurant, it offers many types of dishes to please hotel guests. On our arrival, we were able to see many different types of cuisine on offer. From local dishes to Japanese, Indian, and many other Western dishes, the breakfast buffet should please most hotel guests.
One of the first areas we saw was the Japanese section. Pan Pacific Singapore is popular with Japanese guests, and there is one section catered to them so they do not feel too homesick. Some options include chicken teriyaki, tamagoyaki, and global-favourite chicken karaage. It also has soba noodles and cold tofu.
The Indian section is also quite popular, with various curries available. It also serves puma, tomato chutney, and freshly made pratas. For those who enjoy Chinese food, you should also be pleased. It has standard fried rice, stir-fried noodles, braised cabbage, and braised duck.
Pan Pacific Singapore does it well for guests who want to taste local dishes. It offers the famous local breakfast: kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs. It is quite rare to see this served at hotel breakfast buffets so you would definitely want to try this when you are staying at Pan Pacific Singapore! Besides that, Edge also serves Nasi Lemak, where guests can take all the chicken curry, deep-fried chicken, otahs, and sambal chilli they desire. There is a live station serving noodles, so you will be satisfied enjoying a bowl of hot soup. Some dim sum is also offered, so you can enjoy a bao and some siew mai. A local favourite, chee kueh, is served, and you must try this dish. It is usually sold in most hawker centres and is a staple food for most Singaporeans. Make sure you try it! Finally, enjoy some fresh soya milk and beancurd pudding with you tiao. Another staple dish in Singapore, the beancurd pudding, also known as tao huay, used to be enjoyed in the mornings until locals realised you do not need a fixed time to enjoy certain food. Now, it has become a firm favourite for breakfast and supper.
You are in for a treat for those who prefer a continental breakfast. First off, Edge serves the usual items you see at most hotel breakfast buffets. Think sausages, bacon, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms, and baked beans. However, there is much more at Edge. There is an egg section that offers different types of eggs. Besides the standard scrambled eggs and sunny side-ups, think “steamed egg in a cup”, veggie egg frittata, and shakshuka egg. There is even prepared Eggs Benedict for those who enjoy a fancy breakfast. Fresh pizzas are served, along with honey-baked ham. Hot oatmeal with various toppings are available as well.
For those who enjoy cold foods in the morning, there are fresh salads, cold cuts, gravlax salmon, yoghurt, granola, muesli, and fresh fruits. You can decide if you want to eat healthy, enjoy life, or do a little bit of both.
For bread lovers, fret not. There is an area offering different types of pastries and bread. Select from an assortment of Danish pastries, bread, buns, and muffins. Next, get some freshly-made pancakes and waffles before enjoying them with a serving of fresh honey and honeycomb.
Breakfast was definitely a delight and we can say that it is one of the main reasons for staying at Pan Pacific Singapore. The next time you book a stay at Pan Pacific Singapore, we highly recommend booking a stay that comes with breakfast!
Room:
The Executive Marina Bay Rooms are newly renovated and located on the upper floors of Pan Pacific Singapore. Each room measures approximately 46 square metres or 495 square feet, which is quite a large room, as some hotels’ junior suites are approximately the same size. All of the rooms face Marina Bay and this is the key feature of booking a stay in the Executive Marina Bay room.
When you first enter the room, you can immediately tell that the room has undergone a recent renovation. The room looks much brighter and the bathroom looks very beautiful as well. The toiletries are provided by Balmain, while the other essentials, like your toothbrush, toothpaste, and vanity kits, come pre-packed in their in-house packaging. There is a tap for filtered water, so you can drink all the water you need to your heart’s content. However, tourists might be pleased to find out that bottled water is provided as well. This could be useful to bring it along with you when you head out sightseeing. When you come back after a long day, simply top it up with refreshing filtered water and you are good to go.
There is a standing shower and it comes with a rainforest showerhead as well. For those who enjoy sitting down while showering, there is another rainforest showerhead that is adjustable so you can still enjoy the water drops while staying seated.
Beverage options come in the form of a Nespresso machine and TWG teabags. Assorted china and glasses are provided for all your beverage needs. The minibar has some non-alcoholic beverages, but it is unnecessary to take them since you could always head to Studio 26 to enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic drinks.
The bed itself is placed to face Marina Bay so guests can wake up catching a view of the beautiful sight. The switches and plugs are located on either side of the bed, so either party can turn off the lights before heading to bed. USB-A plugs are also located on either side of the bed. Behind the bed is a table that is perfect for busy people working. The table spans the entire width of the bed, and you can use it to place your laptop and other writing materials. It has plugs so you can charge both your iPhone and laptop, while a phone is available to contact the concierge or your colleagues in the event of an emergency. The chair, by the way, is very comfortable so you will be able to enjoy working without realising the time.
The open-concept wardrobe is a little small, but it comes with quite a few hangers. There is also another hidden wardrobe that stores the bathrobes and ironing board. Otherwise, the open-concept wardrobe will have to do.
The room’s sofa faces inwards, so your partner can lie on the bed while you chat. It can also be used to watch television alone, and that was exactly what I did while she was lying on the bed watching TikTok. If bored, simply walk a few steps and head to the balcony to admire the Marina Bay view. That was precisely what both of us did as well, countless times throughout our stay. The television is mounted to the side of the room but it can be shifted to face the bed if you so fancy. During our stay, we shifted it a few times, depending on whether we were watching television from the sofa or from the bed. It also comes with both AirPlay and Chromecast, so you can watch YouTube or stream a movie from your mobile phone. I managed to do just that during our stay.
Lastly, the flooring has been changed to vinyl and that made wonders for the room. Unlike many hotels that have carpeted rooms, hotels are now changing, and it is becoming common to see vinyl flooring in the rooms. For some reason, we quite like it and makes it feel homely. Perhaps it is the same flooring you see in many people’s homes, which is why we felt quite at home staying in Pan Pacific Singapore. That and the nice colour theme used in the newly renovated rooms.
During our stay, the hotel warmly welcomed us with a bottle of red wine and the famous Pan Pacific Singapore pineapple tarts. For those who are unaware, it is a tradition at Pan Pacific Singapore to welcome guests with their in-house pineapple tarts and I have always loved eating those. The next time you stay at Pan Pacific Singapore, make sure you try them!
Views from the room:
As its name suggests, one of the key highlights of staying in the Executive Marina Bay Room is the amazing views that it offers.
Facing Marina Bay, it has some of the best views hotels in that vicinity can offer. Even though it is situated farther back than PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay and Mandarin Oriental Singapore, the design of the hotel means that guests staying in the correct rooms are blessed with some of the best views of Singapore. What made the icing on the cake was the more affordable hotel room rates Pan Pacific Singapore offers, as well as the balcony that our room came with. Add both of them together, and you get a value-for-money hotel room that gives you a fantastic view of Marina Bay.
Throughout our stay, we took numerous pictures of Marina Bay at different times. From the afternoon to the evening, from the night view to the morning view, we were taking pictures nonstop. We hope you will enjoy these pictures as much as we do!
Overall, it was a great stay at Pan Pacific Singapore. We thoroughly enjoyed the newly renovated room, the great views it offers, the nice and quiet business lounge, the amazing breakfast, and the delicious dinner we had at Pacific Emporium. It is definitely a great place to have a staycation where you can eat to your heart’s content. We know that we will be back at this hotel again soon!
Click here to find out more about Pan Pacific Singapore and book a stay today!
Cost of Executive Marina Bay Room: S$510.01 a night - stayed over a weekday in August 2023
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