We last stayed in PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering in 2022, when a stay at the COLLECTION Signature Suite was made. This time, we decided to book a night’s stay in the Urban Deluxe Room instead. We also had some Discovery Dollars that were expiring. Hence, we needed to book a staycation quickly!
TL:DR
Great service
Top-notch food options in Lime Restaurant and through room service
World-famous swimming pool
Beautiful room
Service:
Service was excellent during our stay at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore. During check-in, the staff quickly checked through our particulars and retrieved our booking. She quickly identified that we would be accorded a two-tier room upgrade as a DISCOVERY Titanium Member. However, as the rooms were full, she was apologetic when explaining that she could only upgrade us to the next tier, the Lifestyle Premier Room. That was fine, as we also noticed that the hotel lobby appeared crowded when we checked in around 4 pm. She then added that she would grant us access to the COLLECTION Club Lounge. We were pleasantly surprised and thanked her for her generosity. This was an unexpected bonus. We were grateful for this lovely surprise!
During the rest of our stay, service was excellent, and we appreciated the warm smiles whenever we walked past a staff member. Whether at the swimming pool, the COLLECTION Club Lounge, or breakfast, staff members always appeared eager to help, and we felt grateful that help was always around whenever we needed it.
Hotel Facilities:
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, has a world-famous swimming pool, and it is not surprising to see hotel guests head to the swimming pool armed with their iPhones. Indeed, we often wandered to the fifth floor to snap multiple photos of and around the swimming pool. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, it is also a functional swimming pool with a jacuzzi. Guests who prefer laying on the sun beds can also order food and drinks served to them.
The gym is right behind the swimming pool and has the same beautiful views of Singapore city. It is equipped with several treadmills and sufficient weights for a proper workout. While there, it appeared the least used at night when we only spotted a solitary person using the treadmill. It becomes crowded from the morning onwards. When we were there around 9.30 am, the gym users were already inside working out. A similar situation occurred around noon! PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, hotel guests are serious gym users.
The hotel’s St. Gregory Spa is just beside the swimming pool. Although we did not go for a spa session this time, I once enjoyed a massage at this spa, and I can say that it was great. For those who want a nice spa session in the comfort of their hotel, I highly recommend St. Gregory Spa!
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, has got you covered for those who prefer a nice walk but are afraid of the tropical heat. Located on the same floor as the swimming pool and the gym, the garden walk is sheltered yet breezy thanks to the high ceiling. You can walk around the hotel's perimeter while looking at this green hotel's various plants. We took a stroll along the garden walk, and it was therapeutic.
There is also another nice therapeutic walk that hotel guests can walk around and explore. Located on the 16th floor, the hotel’s urban farm is beside the COLLECTION Club Lounge, where many vegetables, fruits, herbs, and edible flowers are grown. It is part of the hotel’s farm-to-table initiative that sees many foods locally grown on the premises. Seeing so many plants growing and knowing the hotel is farming them for guests to enjoy is pretty cool. We had a lovely relaxing walk around the urban farm, checking out the many varieties of greens being grown.
COLLECTION Club Lounge:
Located on the 16th floor, the club lounge is on the highest floor of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore. The COLLECTION Club Lounge faces the Marina Bay area, offering the best views from the hotel. Those window seats are the most popular and are always where the guests first sit.
The COLLECTION Club Lounge hosts three food sessions: a breakfast service between 6.30 am and 10.30 am, an afternoon tea service between 3 pm and 5 pm, and an evening cocktail service between 6 pm and 8 pm.
After checking in and dropping our bags in our room, we headed straight to the club lounge as we were starving. We originally wanted to head to the nearby Chinatown Point for a bite but were thankful we could enjoy some complimentary bites in the comfort of our hotel. Admittedly, regarding quantity, the food options at COLLECTION Club Lounge could be better. There were three hot food options: jade dumplings, tuna puffs, and scones. There were also chilli crab and vegetarian sandwiches. These options tasted great, but I enjoyed the chilli crab sandwich and scones the most.
The sweet treats included bite-sized carrot cakes, fruit tarts, and gluten-free citrus cups. I enjoyed the fruit tart the most. Of course, I could not resist macarons and chocolates. I was not too fond of the macarons but enjoyed the simple, delicious chocolates.
Fresh strawberries and blueberries were also provided, and it was nice to have fresh fruits to complete your meal. Besides food, there were some excellent drink options. You can choose from the various coffee and tea options, soft drinks, and fruit juices. However, hotel guests at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, can enjoy herbal tea with tea leaves handpicked from their Urban Farm. During our stay, the herbal tea offered was a Jasmine Green Tea blend infused with handpicked French Marigold, Rosemary, and Lemon Balm from the Urban Farm.
During the evening service, the food looked delicious. First up was the cooked-to-order pan-seared scallops with peperonata. It contained two scallops and a nice small serving of peperonata, and it was delicious. Within seconds of arriving at our table, we wiped the plate clean!
The hot food options included a Chinese dim sum dish called a steamed chicken bundle with yam and carrot. It was good, and we enjoyed it with a nice chilli sauce. The deep-fried tempura fish and cheesy chicken balls were quite decent as well.
The smoked salmon sushi was all right, while the otah salmon terrine tasted unique. Salads, fresh fruits, and cakes were also available during dinner service. During our stay, the cakes during the afternoon tea and dinner service were the same.
As always, the highlight of the evening service must be the cocktail service. Alcoholic drinks are served during this period, and many guests enjoy using this opportunity to indulge in some tasty beverages. Since we do not really drink alcohol, we opted for some mocktails. Deciding between the Limenade and a Shirley Temple, we went with the latter. It was a simple drink consisting of Sprite and grenadine syrup. Nevertheless, we loved the drinks made for us.
Alcohol lovers can enjoy wines, spirits, liquors, beers, and cocktails. Looking around the tables, prosecco appeared to be the favourite choice.
The view is also the loveliest at this time as the sun begins to set over the city. The buildings light up, and the Marina Bay area looks even more beautiful. We also loved walking outside to the outdoor area on the 16th floor for some fresh air and to catch the sights of Marina Bay.
For those who prefer a quieter time at breakfast and appreciate privacy, you should enjoy breakfast at the COLLECTION Club Lounge. Of course, the choices are more limited than the Lime restaurant's main breakfast buffet. However, if you are not too fussy about food, you should have a great time at the club lounge.
Global favourites include baked beans, hash browns, tomatoes, bacon, and sausages. There was also a live egg station where a chef would cook your favourite style of eggs. Those who love pastries, including me, will enjoy those on offer. We saw croissants, chocolate croissants, mini muffins, and Danish pastries presented for our taking. All looked very tempting. There was also an assortment of plain breads, from baguettes to sourdough. There was then a large Nutella machine so you could spread Nutella all over your food if you fancied it. This is fast becoming a must-have for hotel breakfasts!
There was an area for local food where you could self-serve a plate of nasi lemak with unlimited servings of deep-fried chicken. You could also enjoy some dim sum if you so prefer. This was a perfect combination of local food!
For fans of healthy living, fret not. There is a station where you can enjoy fresh fruits, fruit juices, Bircher muesli, and yoghurt. There is also an assortment of vegetables to make your salad. For those who fancy breakfast cereals, they are served. Cold cuts are served, and we saw the ever-delicious smoked salmon, hams, and cheeses. Breadsticks and lavosh are available, too.
We can definitely enjoy a full and sumptuous breakfast at the COLLECTION Club Lounge. We saw most of our favourite food here and will be satisfied having a meal here. However, we wanted to try breakfast at Lime restaurant as we had yet to manage to do so the last time we stayed here. Hence, we made the tough decision to head down instead.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience at COLLECTION Club Lounge. We loved the high ceilings; the area felt spacious and airy. We also liked how peaceful it felt and enjoyed the live stations at breakfast and during evening service. We enjoyed the service the most, as the staff were always happy to serve us whenever we needed help.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, is served at its main restaurant, Lime Restaurant.
We went to the hotel's first floor and straight to Lime Restaurant. We were requested to scan our hotel key cards, which would immediately show the staff if our stay came with breakfast. After they confirmed this, a staff member brought us to a table. There, he asked for our beverages of choice. Afterwards, he was very kind in getting us around the buffet spreads and explaining what was available. That was a lovely touch, especially considering it was a busy morning at the hotel. He took his time and showed us around the different tables, explaining the food options and cuisines. It was a nice personalised moment for hotel guests.
One excellent selling point about Lime Restaurant is its numerous local food options. During breakfast, we chanced upon many local food choices that we do not often see at many other Singapore hotels. Besides the standard congee and assorted condiments, there was also hot soya bean milk with fried fritters, Singapore Bak Kut Teh, and Chee Kweh. Now, these are typical local breakfast dishes that many Singaporeans enjoy. However, one might not expect to see them in an international hotel breakfast, even if it is in Singapore. We were surprised but glad that tourists could get a chance to taste some local food in the comfort of their hotel. We often eat them, so we sacrificed ourselves and went for other types of cuisine instead!
Besides these local delights, Lime Restaurant serves the usual Western options, from the live egg station to French toast, bacon, baked beans, sausages, hash browns, salads, cold cuts, oatmeal, and Bircher muesli. There was also an automated pancake machine and an assortment of pastries complete with their Nutella dispenser. I know I used it to spread some Nutella over my pancakes!
Another live station served local noodles, which she enjoyed as comfort food! Fans of Asian food can try their kimchi and some Japanese light bites, including tamago, sushi, and noodles. There was also an assortment of Indian food options that should please many Asian friends.
Another highlight of Lime Restaurant is the many fresh fruits served during breakfast. We enjoyed the freshly cut dragonfruit, honeydew, grapefruit, and watermelon. There were also mandarin oranges and longans.
Hot beverages are self-served, so you can choose the type of coffee you want and push the applicable buttons on the machine. The coffee beans are by Lavezza and should please most hotel guests. I enjoyed my cup of Americano a lot. Tea drinkers should enjoy a cup (or two) of TWG tea. Choose from their many choices of teabags and let it soak in a cup of hot water.
Overall, we were delighted with our breakfast at Lime Restaurant. The number of choices was fantastic; we loved all the food options. Our only regret was that we could not eat that much during breakfast. However, the breakfast situation at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, is a decisive pull factor for us to book another stay with them shortly!
Room Service:
During our stay, we managed to get a late check-out at 4 pm. Considering we had a sumptuous breakfast at Lime Restaurant, we decided to enjoy room service for lunch. This was convenient and useful as I had to finish some work that afternoon.
We love the various dishes that PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, served during breakfast and could not wait to order more food for lunch.
We decided to go with a mixture of local and Western dishes. She got the crayfish nasi lemak, a luxurious version of the humble nasi lemak dish widely enjoyed in Singapore and Malaysia. I got the pan-seared barramundi, an attempt to eat a little healthier, even during staycations! We then got a Fresh Fruit Platter to share, all in the name of eating healthier.
We did not order any drinks since we had complimentary coffee and tea in the room. There was also free-flow filtered water, so we decided to save on the drinks.
The crayfish nasi lemak was divine. It came with an entire crayfish coated in sambal chilli and a generous portion of peanuts, an essential part of a nasi lemak dish. Achar and a boiled egg completed the dish. Additional greens came in the form of sliced cucumber, while the rice was yummy blue pea rice. It was fantastic because she finished the dish in no time. In fact, I did not even manage to try her dish. This is a testament to the dish’s tastiness!
Next up, I had the pan-seared barramundi. As its name suggests, the star of the dish is the fish. Perfectly pan-seared, it was delicious. It helps that I love eating fish. Squeeze the lime onto the fish, and you are good to go. I liked how the cauliflower was meticulously cut to mimic rice or risotto. For those who need some greens, fret not. This dish comes with a bowl of freshly harvested greens, which would have been grown in-house by the hotel staff. You cannot get fresher greens than that! Needless to say, the vegetables tasted fresh and delicious! Before long, I cleared the entire dish as well!
For a healthy dessert, we shared the fresh fruits. It was a nice plate of fruits that we enjoyed. We also loved that it helped us meet our target servings of fruits each day. The pineapples, watermelons, honeydew, grapes, strawberries, and blackberries all tasted delicious. We loved it!
Overall, it was a delightful lunch. I could focus on my work while the chefs cooked our meals. We then enjoyed a lovely lunch in our room and slowly sipped our coffee courtesy of the room’s Nespresso machine. We managed to take a final shower before checking out of the hotel. We cannot wait to do this again soon!
Room:
The Lifestyle Premier Room measures between 28 to 32 square metres, depending on the room allocated to you. The room faces Hong Lim Park, assuring hotel guests of greenery. However, if you are allocated a room on the higher floors, you will also see many of the city’s skyscrapers. We could see the Marina Bay area from our room, including JW Marriott South Beach and Swissotel The Stamford.
When you first enter the room, you see the King-sized bed with a sofa at the side of the bed. Yet, it still feels spacious. The wardrobe, minibar, and utensils are cleverly hidden behind cabinets so guests can feel that the room is more spacious than it is.
On the bedside, you will see the switches that allow hotel guests to switch between different light modes and adjust the air-con temperature easily. There is also a wall plug that comes with both a USB A and USB C plug. This is an excellent addition that the hotel has proactively made that will surely be welcome for iPhone users. We loved that the hotel has this option.
The wardrobe is smaller, but it should be sufficient for most hotel guests on a few-day visit. The safe is located in a cabinet within the wardrobe. Our stay included a complimentary minibar, so hotel guests should be pleased to hear that. You can enjoy soft drinks, sparkling water, and a can of Tiger Beer. Caffeine options come in the form of TWG teabags and Nespresso capsules. You cannot go wrong with Nespresso coffee, and I enjoyed a cup of Nespresso coffee during our room service meal!
The living area has a comfortable sofa and workstation located by the windows. You get a very comfortable chair, making working during your vacation enjoyable. I could work for a few hours undisturbed while sitting in that chair. The natural light shining into the room was also welcome. If you need a break, sit on the sofa and catch a show on the 55-inch television. Various plugs are beside the workstation, so you will not have an issue charging multiple gadgets during your stay.
A sliding door separates the bathroom from the bedroom. This is great, as the room feels very spacious when the door is not closed. However, the bathroom is also quite spacious on its own. Hotel guests can enjoy a shower and bath, depending on the day’s itinerary. We did not manage to soak in the bathtub since we were busy eating and working! Toiletries are by the Australian brand Appelles, and we enjoy washing ourselves using this brand’s toiletries. When thirsty, enjoy tasty filtered water from the comfort of your bathroom. It is excellent as we could drink to our heart’s content without getting more from the hotel or buying bottled water from a nearby convenience store.
We particularly like the view from the room as we see both greenery and the Marina Bay area. We loved natural light during the day, as well as the city lights at night. For those who enjoy privacy, the night blinds will shut off all light in the room. We tried it and can say with certainty that the entire room turned dark instantly. It is good to see that the hotel caters to all hotel guests.
Views:
Finally, the views from PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, must be highlighted. We were able to capture many pictures of the Marina Bay area and the surrounding buildings. We love that the hotel is situated in the middle of the Central Business District, which offers us a unique view of the Singapore city centre. We leave you with some of the pictures we captured during our stay!
Overall, we loved our stay at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore. It is the second time we have stayed here, and the service improved by leaps and bounds. Coupled with the delicious food options offered by the hotel, this is fast becoming one of our favourite hotels in Singapore. We will be back at this hotel, again, for another staycation!
Click here to find out more about PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore and book a stay today!
Cost of Lifestyle Premier Room: S$441.85 a night - stayed over a weekend in June 2024 (Note: The original room booked for the price stated above is the Urban Deluxe Room)
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