We first took notice of Pullman Singapore Hill Street when we saw construction going on during a staycation at the nearby Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. We previously stayed at The Parklane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel and enjoyed our time there. Hence, we were excited to book a stay here when it finally opened.
As part of the opening promotion for Accor Plus members, we enjoyed 20% savings off the Best Flexible Rates. In addition to that, we were accorded complimentary breakfast and given a $28 voucher for use at any of the hotel’s restaurants. Since it is a new hotel and we wanted to enjoy ourselves thoroughly, we decided to get the biggest room available for booking, the Studio Suite!
TL:DR
Top-notch service standards
Modern, functional yet easy-to-use equipment in the rooms
A beautiful hotel with amazing amenities
Great food options in the hotel’s restaurants
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Service:
Service standards at Pullman Singapore Hill Street were simply perfect. From the moment we reached the hotel up until we checked out and left, we were met with nothing but great service from every staff member.
When we first reached the hotel, a staff member proactively came up to us and welcomed us to Pullman Singapore Hill Street. He immediately asked if we needed any assistance with our luggage, to which we declined as we were able to handle it. He then brought us to the elevators and explained that the check-in counters were located on the third floor. He then asked if we were here for a staycation and queried if there was any particular reason for choosing the hotel. We mentioned that it was new and we wanted to try it. We also highlighted that we had a positive experience at its sister hotel in Hong Kong. He was happy to hear that and quipped that he hoped Pullman Singapore Hill Street would meet our expectations. It was a short but happy conversation and before long, he wished us a happy stay as the elevator arrived.
Check-in was completed smoothly as the front desk staff member went through the benefits we were entitled to. As an Accor Plus member, he then explained that we were entitled to 2 welcome drinks at the hotel’s restaurants. We were then given a large card stating so, which we thought was quite funny. We were usually given a credit card-sized card but Pullman Singapore Hill Street has decided to go big and gave its esteemed Accor members something to remember for a long time. We loved how big the card is! The staff member also elaborated that we were entitled to the Executive Lounge access where we could enjoy evening drinks and canapes in the evening while also enjoying unlimited refreshments any time of the day.
When we first entered the Executive Lounge around 4 pm for a cup of coffee, we were warmly greeted by the staff on duty. After confirming our credentials, we were immediately asked if we would like any drinks. He then proceeded to make the drinks before serving them to us at our table. Throughout our time at the lounge, we were given the privacy to relax while service was quick and prompt whenever assistance was needed. It was the best service we have encountered in a Singapore hotel for some time!
Check-out was extremely fast. As they already had my credit card details, all they needed was to confirm that I would like to use the same card that was registered during check-in to make payment. Once that was done, we were all set to go. All four staff members who were at the front desk cheerfully wished us goodbye and that they hoped to see us again soon.
Once we confirmed we did not need any assistance with transport, we went down to the first floor to wait for our taxi. The front-line staff, who are one of the most important ambassadors for the hotel, made sure we were attended to and we assured him we already had transport and were just waiting for it to arrive. Once it did, he proactively assisted us with our luggage before leaving. It was the best way to complete a staycation at a hotel. With that, we enjoyed a perfect staycation with top-notch service standards.
Hotel Facilities:
Pullman Singapore Hill Street has 2 swimming pools that everyone must be aware of. The first pool is located on the third floor, which is on the same level as the check-in counters, Executive Lounge, and fitness centre.
The third-floor swimming pool is the hotel’s main swimming pool that comes equipped with poolside cabanas and lounge chairs. It is suitable for children and families as there is a portion of the pool that is not deep and children can play around in the pool safely. We saw children enjoying themselves at the swimming pool while parents lounged around on the lounge chairs.
On the rooftop is an infinity swimming pool facing Marina Bay Sands. This is definitely where adults want to be. Located beside El Chido, the Mexican restaurant, this is where you want to get your pictures taken at Pullman Singapore Hill Street. Besides open-air lounge chairs by the pool, there are also sheltered cabanas so you can order some lunch, and take a dip, before coming up to enjoy some well-deserved tacos.
Another amenity worth mentioning is the hotel’s fitness centre. While many hotels have a gym because they need to have a gym, Pullman Singapore Hill Street meant business when they built a gym. Comprising of state-of-the-art equipment, guests can make use of various equipment to burn some calories. Besides the usual treadmills, there is a rower, a fan bike, a multi-purpose trainer, and a power sled. This is the first time I have seen it at a hotel gym and it seems like Pullman Singapore Hill Street goes all out when they want to create something. Either do the best or don’t do it at all!
Besides these amenities, it is worth noting there are also meeting rooms and outdoor spaces around the hotel. One that caught our eye was the Shimbashi meeting room in the hotel lobby. It is essentially a meeting room that guests can book if required. However, there are likely to be guests around. This could be a good place for corporations to hold a seminar where it is beneficial for the public to be aware of. Outside the lobby, there is also a large outdoor event area, known as Oculus. Equipped with a kitchen and large fans, it appears to be suitable for corporate events or even a small seminar with delicious grilled food. We are not sure why, but we love this concept where the event areas are in full view of hotel guests.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is held at Madison’s, the hotel’s main restaurant located on the first floor. Outside of breakfast hours, it is an American diner that serves famous New York-style food.
Pullman Singapore Hill Street’s buffet breakfast is a nice affair where guests can make use of comfortable spacious seats to relax after a heavy breakfast. There were also various newspapers so guests could enjoy a nice reading after finishing their noodles.
There is an egg station where a staff member will whip up some eggs your way. We chose my favourite sunny side-ups and some scrambled eggs. Both tasted great and the sunny side-ups turned out perfect. There was also a live station that served the noodles of the day. On the day of our breakfast, the restaurant was serving local favourite Mee Soto Ayam, which is spicy chicken noodles.
The standard breakfast spread is available here so guests can enjoy some bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese, and cold cuts. We loved the baked beans as it was heated and tasted great. There was also smoked fish and I must have taken quite a few portions of the smoked salmon. It was really tasty. We also helped ourselves to a croissant and took a variety of sauces, including the orange marmalade, strawberry jam, and honeycomb honey. The best part about being on holiday is how you can eat certain food without being judged. We thoroughly enjoyed eating our croissant with all three sauces. Delicious!
Guests can enjoy some fresh fruits and sweet treats at breakfast. Local favourite kueh lapis is available we took 2 slices of them. Fruits like plums and oranges are available as well. The highlight of the dessert table must be the pancakes and waffles. The reason is because of the presence of the Nutella dispenser. Simply push a button and the Nutella flows out continuously until you stop. It was a sinfully good way of enjoying a waffle.
Guests can make use of the seemingly sophisticated Nespresso machine to make a cup of coffee while Dilmah teabags and hot water are available at the tea station. For those who might be daunted by the machine, guests need not worry as the friendly staff members are always ready to assist them. Indeed, we saw a few guests who had difficulty figuring out how to use the Nespresso machine. Overall, guests should be satisfied with the caffeine options at Pullman Singapore Hill Street.
Even though breakfast officially ends at 10.30 am, we were not chased out immediately. We admittedly had a late start, having entered Madison’s only around 9.45 am. Hence, we were only halfway through our breakfast by the time guests started leaving. Thankfully, we were left undisturbed and were able to continue enjoying our breakfast. Of course, we were aware that Madison’s has a lunch service at noon and we tried to finish our breakfast soon without disrupting their preparations. By the time we finished our meal, we were thanked by a staff member and we were on our way out. It was a nice breakfast experience at Pullman Singapore Hill Street.
Executive Lounge:
The Executive Lounge at Pullman Singapore Hill Street is located on the third floor just beside the elevators. It is a great place for guests to do some work while being able to enjoy some light snacks in the evening. Guests can enjoy all-day refreshments and cookies while evening cocktails and canapes are served each evening between 5 pm and 7 pm.
The lounge’s caffeine options come in the form of Nespresso coffee and Dilmah teabags, and staff members are always on duty to assist guests of the Executive Lounge. When we arrived at the lounge, we were immediately asked if we would like any refreshments and he promptly made them and served them to us at our table.
During our staycation, we had quite a heavy and late lunch at El Chido, the rooftop Mexican bar. We decided to head to the lounge for some coffee and tea and I took the opportunity to read the newspaper while relaxing in the comfortable chair. It is becoming rare to see a physical copy of the newspaper at hotels and I was stoked I was able to see The Straits Times in its physical form in the Executive Lounge. While enjoying the Nespresso coffee, I took some time to read through the day’s edition of The Straits Times.
Come evening, we made our way to the Executive Lounge around 6.15 pm. As we were still so full from the day’s lunch, we tried to delay our entry as late as possible. Upon entry, we were asked if we would like anything to drink and we were then off our way to grab some food.
Admittedly, the food options in the Executive Lounge were quite limited. It is probably suitable for guests who would just like to have some light snacks before a late dinner. Or, like in our case, a substitute for dinner after having a heavy and late lunch. There was a beef bruschetta with sauerkraut that was simply delicious. It contained a generous amount of sauerkraut but did not overwhelm the bruschetta. It was great. There were also tortilla chips with numerous dips for you to choose from. Cheese lovers can enjoy some cheese and cold cuts while veggie lovers can enjoy some salad. Outside the lounge, there was a hot station containing 2 types of food. There was a vegetarian samosa that was yummy, while the highlight of the lounge must be those chicken satays. To be frank, those satays could fight with the popular hawker stalls around Singapore. The peanut sauce was perfect, with the chopped peanuts neither too large nor too fine. It was just perfect. We controlled ourselves and limited each to just 2 sticks. We nevertheless enjoyed a huge amount of peanut sauce, some cucumbers, and onions.
Overall, we loved the space at the Executive Lounge. It was quiet enough for guests to be able to do some work, while the evening canapes were good for guests to nibble on before having a proper dinner afterwards. It could also be considered as having pre-dinner drinks if guests enjoy having complimentary alcoholic beverages.
Food:
Pullman Singapore Hill Street has three restaurants, comprising Mexican, American, and Japanese cuisine.
El Chido
On the day of our arrival, we had lunch at El Chido, the Mexican rooftop bar that serves some delicious food with a great view. The best part of El Chido is how guests can get a great view of Marina Bay. Besides looking at Swissotel The Stamford, guests can also look out and see PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton, and of course, the world-famous Marina Bay Sands. Guests can also choose to go for a dip or simply soak in the water after having a heavy lunch. We know we snapped so many pictures during the one hour that we were there.
As we were starved, we ordered a chimichanga appetiser, shrimp & chorizo tacos, and a fried barramundi tortilla. While it all sounded and looked very carb-heavy, we surprisingly did not have too much difficulty finishing all of the food.
The chimichangas came in three deep-fried rolls that were crispy yet tender on the inside. Even though it was a vegetarian dish, we as meat lovers enjoyed every bite of it. The sauce went perfectly with the chimchangas and before long, we devoured all three rolls. This is a dish that everyone has got to try. We then went for the tacos and they were similarly great. The shrimp tasted very fresh and we loved the minced chorizos within the tacos. Even though the portions looked huge, they were not so rich that we could not eat anything else. Finally, came the tortillas. We love fish and we enjoyed the deep-fried barramundi. By this time, even though we were reaching the limits of our tummy space, we were still enjoying ourselves. We liked the purple cabbage slaw and thought it complimented the deep-fried barramundi well. Before long, we had also finished them.
We decided to use our complimentary drinks at El Chido since we were already having lunch there. Even though we could select the house wines, we decided to go for the classic orange juice since we do not really drink alcohol. Although they were not freshly squeezed, they were all right to go with our lunch.
After our dinner at the Executive Lounge, we decided to head up to El Chido once more to have some desserts before calling it a night. We tried out the empanadas and churros. Perhaps similar to how our lunch went, it was carb-heavy and deep-fried. While the empanadas were served with coconut cream, the churros came with a generous amount of tequila chocolate sauce. Being the sweet tooth I was, I had the majority of the tasty desserts while my partner was satisfied trying out a portion of each dessert.
Madison’s
During our stay, we had the intention to dine at Madison’s, which serves American comfort food. However, thanks to our late lunch, food in the Executive Lounge, and a hearty breakfast the next morning, we did not have the chance to do so. We decided to make a trip down after work one day to try out their food.
We headed down for dinner a few days after our checkout. Surprisingly, one of the staff members recognised us and asked if we were still staying at the hotel. It was nice that he remembered us and we were brought to the same table where we had breakfast just a few days ago.
The service was consistently fantastic and another server came over to take our orders. As we had trouble deciding what to order, we asked for his recommendations. We knew we wanted the New York Strip and we were going to share our meal. Hence, he suggested going for the Shrimp & Shrooms Grits and the Reuben! Reuben!. As we are not particularly heavy eaters, we were slightly concerned about the portions. He assured us that the Shrimp & Shrooms Grits was not a full dish while the Reuben sandwich was perfectly portioned for 2 people. We trusted his recommendations and waited.
When the food arrived, we were thankful to have trusted his recommendations. The New York Strip was awesome, of course. The Shrimp & Shrooms Grits was, like he said, really an appetiser. The Reuben sandwich is also nicely cut into 2 portions so that 2 people can share. All in all, it was a perfect dinner for 2 people to share and enjoy together.
We went for the steak first. Comprising cherry tomatoes, sweet potato fries, and a sunny side up, we loved that this dish gave us lots of protein and complex carbs. You do not have to eat unhealthily to enjoy great-tasting food! The steak was slightly overdone but we loved it nevertheless. The portion was huge and was just perfect for sharing. One could taste the quality of the steak, which is an MS3 grain-fed beef steak. Before long, we cleared the entire plate!
We then tried the Shrimp & Shrooms Grits. It came with 2 jumbo grilled prawns, parmesan cheese-filled grits, and a spicy mushroom stew poured all over the shrimp and grits. We enjoyed the chunky mushroom slices and we took our time to savour the jumbo prawns. The stew tasted like a laksa gravy that we thought was pretty unique. We enjoyed this dish for sure and thought it was a great way to start dinner.
Finally, it came to the Reuben sandwich. For those who are familiar with Modern Family, you will know what the right way to make a Reuben sandwich is. Thankfully, Madison’s version hits the spot. It is made with corned beef and not pastrami. However, in terms of the order of the rest of the sandwich, we could not tell. We only know that there was sauerkraut and Emmenthal cheese. There was a Pullman’s Reuben dressing which may or may not have been Russian. Nevertheless, we loved the Reuben sandwich. Jay’s favourite pickles are also served along with a salad so you do not feel too stuffed after having the sandwich. If not for the fact that we are steak lovers, the Reuben sandwich might be our favourite dish of the day. By the time we finished all the food, we were too full. We originally wanted to have some desserts but were filled. We will be sure to head back one day to try out their desserts.
As an Accor Plus member, dining at most Accor hotel restaurants also entitled us to a sometimes substantial discount. At both El Chido and Madison’s, we were given a massive 50% off our food bill. The cost of our lunch was reduced by half to S$40, our supper was reduced to approximately S$20, and our dinner at Madison’s was cut to S$75. This is a huge benefit that Accor Plus members should be aware of. This benefit is a win-win for both Accor hotels and members since this entices members to dine in at their hotel restaurants more often. We know we have been doing so! The best part is that most of their restaurants serve delicious food!
Keen to know more about the Accor Plus membership? Find out more here!
Room:
Pullman Singapore Hill Street’s Studio Suites come with 33 square metres of space. It is not the largest suite one can find in Singapore but this does not at all represent the quality of the Studio Suite.
When you first enter the room, it immediately feels spacious. The King-sized bed is located beside the windows while there is a small dining table nearer to the door. There is a shelf near the table that comes equipped with a Nespresso machine and a Wells The One water purifier. The Wells water purifier is only available in Studio Suites so you know there are other benefits besides just getting a larger room. Having the Wells water purifier was so convenient and easy to use. Whether you need hot or cold water, you can easily get it with just a few touches. The taste of the water was great as well. We found ourselves hydrating more than usual, which could only be good news for our internal organs. While there is also a conventional water kettle, you can rest easy knowing that is not needed.
The Nespresso machine is the Creatista Plus version, which is the highest-spec machine Nespresso currently has for its original range. It is easy to use and you can get a nice cup of coffee whenever you want. However, it may not even be required as you could easily hop down to the Executive Lounge for a fresh cup of Nespresso if you wanted.
For tea lovers, Studio Suite guests are provided with 4 Dilmah teabags. Simply select a cup of your choice from the cabinet, put a tea bag in and let the Wells water purifier work its magic. We think it is getting quite obvious how much we love the machine. Guests with lounge access, which includes Executive rooms, are provided with a one-time complimentary minibar during their stay. This means you get to enjoy those delicious snacks and tasty non-alcoholic beverages in the minibar. We had the Pullman-branded honey lemon drinks and they were great thirst-quenchers for a warm day.
Just beside the entrance is the Studio Suite’s open wardrobe that is big enough for a couple. There is also enough space to put a full-size suitcase at the bottom. It could fit two if you turn the luggage around to its side. The room’s safe and bathroom slippers are cleverly hidden within the shelves below the wardrobe. For guests who enjoy ironing, the ironing board and iron are also very cleverly hidden within the shelves to the side of the wardrobe. Simply pull the handle and you will see another compartment. The other shelf contains a yoga mat for guests to put in some exercise after feasting in one of the hotel’s lovely restaurants. We must say we like the shelves and wardrobe design and can see ourselves adapting this design for our home.
The small dining table is great for couples to enjoy a meal while catching a show on the room’s large television. When we first entered the room, we were greeted by a nice letter explaining the benefits. More importantly, we were also provided with a plate of fresh fruits and some sweet treats. We devoured the sweet treats that same afternoon and washed them down with some still water from the Well water purifier. We then made our tummies happy by enjoying some grapes, plums, blueberries, gooseberries, and strawberries. You can tell the dedication put in by the hotel when you consider the types of fruits they provide to guests.
The King-sized bed faces the huge television directly. It is just the optimal distance to enjoy a great viewing. The bed is also big and comfortable enough so you can work on your laptop on the bed while watching a television show. This is great as Pullman Singapore Hill Street happens to have many channels on their televisions. There are quite a few movie channels to choose from, with Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Western, and Malaysian channels all available. Sports fans will love this hotel as I was able to catch the Formula 1 qualifying and Premier League football match from the comfort of the King-sized bed. Nothing can be better than enjoying a cup of tea with some snacks, snuggled up in bed, and catching a sports programme live on television.
For those who want to be closer to the action, there is a small sofa right in front of the bed. While most parents will frown upon such actions, those who can find an excuse will love watching television up close. Plugs are available at the front of the television so the sofa with the small coffee table is a great place to do some work as well. Similarly, for the dining table, there are power plugs available nearby so workaholics can always get some work done without fearing the laptop will run out of power at the crucial time.
The curtains are powered mechanically so all you need to do is push a button to either open or close the day and night curtains. This is a nice modern touch to the hotel and we always love it whenever we see hotels that have mechanical curtains. For the bathroom, guests can also catch a great view with floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests can admire the view while washing their faces first thing in the morning. When it is time to take a shower, simply push a button and the blinds will roll down.
The Studio Suite’s bathroom has both a standing shower and a bathtub. Because of the limited space available, it is a little cramped in the showering area. This means that water will most likely splash into the bathtub while you are taking a shower. However, this should not be of concern to guests. There is a large wall-mounted mirror facing you so you can admire yourself while taking a shower. Technically, a couple can be enjoying both a shower and a bath at the same time. The partner taking a bath might not enjoy the water splashing down all the time though.
The Grohe showering controls are simple to use. Simply decide if you want a rain shower or make use of the shower head and push the correct button. Turn the knob to adjust the temperature of the water and you are good to go. It is both functional and easy for guests to use. We also like the shiny new controls that were just sparkling.
The bathroom comes with double vanity sinks, which is impressive considering the size of the suite is only 33 square metres. It felt spacious and we loved the space of the bathroom. Each side has its own liquid soap and body lotion so there is no need for your partner to scoot over while you are trying to wash your hands. Similarly, each side also has its wall-mounted vanity mirror. We love the mirror light feature which has the function of having some backlight on the mirror itself. It is also great to have if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and it is pitch black all around.
All the liquid toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, liquid soap, and body lotion, are by C.O. Bigelow, which is known as the oldest apothecary in America. Founded in 1838, it has come a long way and has a focus on producing hotel amenities. Guests can find these products in quite a few American hotels. We enjoyed showering and washing our hands in the C.O. Bigelow products. It would be fantastic if we could buy some products directly from Pullman Singapore Hill Street.
The restroom is another great place to enjoy. The Geberit toilet bowl comes with a built-in bidet that has controls on a remote control. You might ask why there is a need to have a remote control. We do not know why but we are happy to see this feature. Besides having a remote control, the features of the bidet are good. Push a button to activate the spray. Choose the strength, location, and even the temperature of the water. After some time, the bidet spray will automatically stop. It is that simple to use. For those afraid of the dark, this bidet also comes with a backlight. Push the light button on the remote control and there will be some backlight behind the toilet bowl. Similarly, this is a great function to have if you need to use the restroom in the middle of the night. And yet that’s not all. For those who prefer a conventional bidet spray, there is also one available. Hence, you can always rely on the trusty spray to do its job. We love how the bathrooms in Pullman Singapore Hill Street are so functional yet easy to use. Guests are just being pampered in this hotel.
Overall, we loved our stay at Pullman Singapore Hill Street. Even though it is still very new, the hotel staff all appeared well-trained and were most friendly to hotel guests. The high service standards were what made us happiest during our stay. With a top-quality hotel room with fantastic features for guests to enjoy, we were truly pampered during our one-night stay here. We will be back at this hotel for another staycation!
Click here to find out more about Pullman Singapore Hill Street and book a stay today!
Cost of Studio Suite: S$560.74 a night - stayed over a weekend in November 2023
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