top of page
Mario Ng

Hotel Review: Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite)

Pullman Singapore Orchard
Credit: Pullman Singapore Orchard

Throughout the times we stayed at a Pullman hotel, we always had nothing but praise for them. Whether in Hong Kong, Singapore, or Ho Chi Minh City, we noticed the staff were always very friendly and welcoming. In Singapore, we only managed to stay at the newly-opened Pullman Singapore Hill Street, which was fantastic. We had to find the right time and opportunity to tick Pullman Singapore Orchard off our checklist.


One day, while “Accor App-surfing”, I chanced upon a “Red Hot Room” deal for Accor Plus members. I saw that their Deluxe Premier Room (Deluxe Premier Room, 1 King Bed, High Floor, Orchard-Paragon View Orchard Paragon View) had a promotional price of S$194 (before taxes). We were only looking at an overall cost of S$232.61 for a night’s stay at one of the nicer rooms in Pullman Singapore Orchard. Based on the category, this was the highest room category before club access. I quickly booked it without second thoughts.


One day before our check-in, the hotel sent an automated email offering upgrade options. I initially received this email a few days prior but was not interested in those offers. This time, I saw an offer to upgrade to the hotel’s Deluxe Suite for an additional S$225 (S$269.78 after taxes). I did a quick calculation and thought it made sense. I quickly requested the upgrade, which was approved immediately.


I later double-checked to see the usual prices for a Deluxe Suite. A random check for a mid-week check-in in July 2024 showed that the total cost came up to S$884.57. In comparison, we would only be paying a total of S$502.39 (S$232.61 + S$269.78), thus saving more than S$300. We thought this was a great deal!


We arrived at the hotel around 3.30 pm that weekend. Check-in was a breeze, as there was no queue when we reached the counters. To our surprise, the team informed us that we were further upgraded to Pullman Singapore Orchard’s Presidential Suite! Wow! We were stoked when we heard that, and we were so grateful to the hotel for providing this complimentary upgrade!


A random check on the Accor mobile application showed that a stay at the Presidential Suite could cost a whopping S$2,113.47! We were truly blessed to experience such a lovely stay at Pullman Singapore Orchard!

Pullman Singapore Orchard
Pullman Singapore Orchard
 

TL:DR

  • Large and beyond spacious Presidential Suite

  • Instagram-friendly swimming pool

  • Nice food at Eden Restaurant

  • Great ambience and food options at the club lounge

 

Service:

Service was mostly top-notch during our stay at Pullman Singapore Orchard. From the check-in counters when we first arrived until we checked out the next day, the service was generally excellent. The gentleman at the check-in counter brought us all the way to our room after the check-in was completed. He took the time to explain where the restaurants were and reminded us to use the complimentary welcome drinks, courtesy of being Accor Gold members, at the hotel’s Atelier Lounge and Bar. He then brought us to The Archive Club, the hotel’s club lounge. He shared that there is a daily evening food service between 5 pm and 7 pm, while non-alcoholic beverages could be enjoyed anytime. Breakfast is also served at the lounge if we decide to enjoy a more private meal at the start of the day. Next, he brought us to the room on the top floor, the 11th floor. He guided us around the Presidential Suite and took the time to show us around. We appreciate the excellent service and felt warmly welcomed by Pullman Singapore Orchard.

 
 

Hotel Facilities:

Pullman Singapore Orchard has an outdoor swimming pool located on the fourth floor. Situated beside the outdoor P.S.O. Beach Club and indoor Eden Restaurant, you are always close to food. Indeed, the swimming pool is integrated with P.S.O. Beach Club, so you can order some food, head for a dip, and then come up for a bite. There are several day beds, so you can always leave the food there while soaking in the pool. During our time there, the swimming pool was never too crowded.

One thing we liked about the pool is that it remained functional even at night. We know that at some hotels, the swimming pool is closed at night because the area becomes a bar for guests to party. Over at Pullman Singapore Orchard, we were happy to know that guests can enjoy a dip anytime during the swimming pool’s opening hours, between 6 am and 10 pm daily.


The hotel’s fitness centre is on the same floor as the swimming pool. It is quite hidden, so you can enjoy a workout without anyone bothering you. While there, we noticed people working out and could not capture any pictures.

 
 

Food:

During our staycation, we managed to grab dinner at Eden Restaurant, Pullman Singapore Orchard’s main restaurant. As part of Accor, Accor Plus members get a great deal on dining. For two people, we could enjoy 50% off our meal. This is always a huge factor in deciding where to eat!

Pullman Singapore Orchard - At Atelier Lounge and Bar
Pullman Singapore Orchard - At Atelier Lounge and Bar

For our dinner, we decided on a few items to share. For starters, we ordered the Singapore Chili Crab Bao Bun. A simple appetiser comprising a bun stuffed with loads of chilli crab meat was delicious. The bun was soft and bouncy, while the crab meat tasted fresh. We loved how soft the bun felt when we bit into it. This made it very easy to chew into the crab meat. Within seconds, literally, I devoured the entire bun. This was a delicious appetiser that we cleared in no time.

For the mains, we ordered three different types of food. We first got two conventional Western dishes. We had the Pan-fried Black Cod and Grain-fed Black Angus Fillet Mignon. First up was the black cod. Lightly soaked in a thunder tea gravy with wild mushrooms and peanuts, it was great. The black cod was expertly pan-fried, and the meat melted in your mouth. The thunder tea gravy was refreshing, and I surprisingly enjoyed it. I had an experience before tasting thunder tea and did not like it. Over at Eden Restaurant, I enjoyed it so much that I drank it long after we finished the black cod.


We had it cooked medium rare for the steak, and we think the chef nailed it. Once again, it was expertly cooked, and it came with Sarawak black pepper sauce, where the steak was nicely rested. It was great that the sauce was used sparingly, as guests will surely want to enjoy the steak in its most original form. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves eating the steak without any sauce. It was a very delicious piece of meat! Like the Singapore Chili Crab Bao Buns, we finished the 200g Grain-fed Black Angus Fillet Mignon in no time.


For our final dish, we got the unique wok-fried river prawns, scallops, and locally farmed mussels dish. Cooked in a tangy coconut curry gravy, it also came with two pieces of charcoal you tiao to dip into the curry. It was perfect. Four large river prawns rested on the bowl while plenty of mussels filled the china. We loved that the scallops were cooked perfectly, and we drank up the coconut curry gravy. The seafood tasted fresh and was the best way to complete the meal.

Since Accor Plus offered only a 15% discount on beverages, we used the Accor welcome drinks voucher during dinner. We were informed of our choices, and as usual, we got two non-alcoholic drinks. I went with the Not So, Classic Earl Grey Iced Tea, which is essentially Earl Grey tea with vanilla syrup added, while she went with a classic can of Coca-Cola. The Earl Grey was refreshing while not being too sweet. And, of course, we can have no complaints about The Real Thing.


Overall, it was a nice dinner. Service was excellent, and the staff were always on hand to check on us. The food was also served very quickly, which pleasantly surprised us, considering the full house that the restaurant encountered that evening. For sure, the 50% discount made dinner all the sweeter. We will be back at Eden Restaurant if we want to have a nice meal in the future!

Pullman Singapore Orchard dinner service - Our dinner
Pullman Singapore Orchard dinner service - Our dinner
 
 

Breakfast:

Breakfast at Pullman Singapore Orchard is served at the main restaurant, Eden Restaurant. As guests of a suite at the hotel, we were entitled to breakfast, even if we had not previously selected a room category with breakfast.

Pullman Singapore Orchard breakfast service - Looking out towards the swimming pool
Pullman Singapore Orchard breakfast service - Looking out towards the swimming pool

Suite guests could have breakfast at either The Archive Club or Eden Restaurant. As always, breakfast at the club lounge is a very private and quiet affair. However, you will usually sacrifice choice, as the main restaurant will usually have more options and food for you to select.


During our stay, we decided to have breakfast at Eden Restaurant. However, it may have been a mistake. Read on!

Pullman Singapore Orchard breakfast service - Our breakfast at Eden Restaurant
Pullman Singapore Orchard breakfast service - Our breakfast at Eden Restaurant

During our stay over the weekend, Eden Restaurant was expectedly packed during breakfast. We arrived around 9.30 am, and it was still quite full. Thankfully, a staff member soon appeared, and we gave him our room number. He then checked through the rows of rooms on the pieces of paper and told us our room did not come with breakfast. We were surprised as we were pretty sure it should have breakfast included. Besides, the staff during check-in personally told us we could enjoy our breakfast at either the club lounge or Eden Restaurant. He checked again to no avail. He said he could check with the relevant staff, but we thought it might be faster to check with the check-in staff instead. We headed down to clarify this and were assured we should have breakfast. They quickly apologised and informed us they would write a note immediately to the folks at Eden Restaurant. We then headed back to the fourth floor and waited for another staff to attend to us. The same staff member appeared and asked how he could help. That was surprising as we just had a conversation 5 minutes prior. I clarified that he should have received a note from the hotel staff. Strangely, he took a quick look at the computer, smiled a little, and then asked us to follow him.


The staff member quickly found an empty table for the two of us. He told us he would set the table up while we could grab some food first. We thanked him and went on our way towards the food counters. By the time we had the first plate and headed back to the table, it was taken by another group. Flashbacks about the breakfast situation at W Kuala Lumpur appeared. My partner then found an empty table, and just as she placed the plate on the table, another group told us the table was theirs. This is fast becoming challenging. We soon found another staff member and explained to her our situation. She found a table that seemed to be just cleared. She led us to the table, and this time, we made sure at least one of us remained at the table, or at least with a plate full of food!


Regarding the food choices, breakfast at Pullman Singapore Orchard was decent, although it did not come with a large variety. Perhaps limited by the kitchen space, there was not much space to include too many options. For the cold choices, there was a full salad table with all types of choices. It also had some cold cuts selection, cheese, and smoked salmon, the must-have for every hotel buffet breakfast. It also had a few types of bread available, with just a couple of pastry options. Fans of healthy living can rely on the fridge for fresh fruits, yoghurt, muesli, and juices to satisfy their need for healthy food. Seeing the bircher muesli reminded me of our previous stay at Capitol Kempinski and how wonderful it tasted. Having said that, we did not try it this time.

Fans of a continental breakfast should be pleased with the hot food choices. They have the usual sausages, scrambled eggs, hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms, and bacon. I made myself a continental breakfast. The egg station came in handy, as I usually have sunny-side-ups, and the chef was able to whip up a perfect one for me.


Local food fans can rely on fried rice, stir-fried broccoli, ginger chicken, curry vegetables, and vegetarian samosas. Porridge and udon are also available. Sambar and Vadai are the vegan choices.

We later made a detour to The Archive Club to check out the breakfast situation. We wanted to see what breakfast would be like at Pullman Singapore Orchard’s club lounge. As expected, it was quiet and peaceful, with only a few groups enjoying breakfast. The choices were also less than what we saw at Eden Restaurant, especially the hot food options. However, we thought the cold food options were quite similar. The club lounge had yoghurt, muesli, fruit juices, and limited salad options. It also had cold cuts, smoked salmon, and cheeses. Pastries and bread were available, while the usual club lounge offerings of popcorn and nuts remained on the table.

Pullman Singapore Orchard The Archive Club - Ala carte breakfast options
Pullman Singapore Orchard The Archive Club - Ala carte breakfast options

The Archive Club thrives in the ala carte breakfast options. A breakfast menu is on each table for guests to review and order. It ranges from an American Big Breakfast to Banana Pancakes, from Chicken Congee to Mee Rubus. These are, in fact, options that are unavailable at Eden Restaurant. The Archive Club pampers its members with a unique breakfast experience. Rather than simply repeating and providing a limited buffet breakfast experience, it adds value by offering a la carte options exclusive to club lounge guests. We love this aspect of Pullman Singapore Orchard and how it seeks to differentiate itself from other hotels.

Besides these food options, The Archive Club offers something fantastic for breakfast. Champagne lovers will jump at this. Unlimited champagne is provided, and we saw at least one glass of mimosa standing in the fridge, ready to be taken and drunk. This is yet another reason to have breakfast at The Archive Club.


Admittedly, we regretted our decision to have breakfast at Eden Restaurant a little. However, every mistake is always a lesson to learn from! The next time we are at Pullman Singapore Orchard, we will surely enjoy breakfast at The Archive Club!

 
 

The Archive Club:

The Archive Club is Pullman Singapore Orchard’s club lounge. Located on the fourth floor, it is hidden amongst the Club Residence, a category of rooms newly built after Pullman took over. For those who are keen, the Club Residence rooms also come with lounge access.


The Archive Club offers two food presentations: breakfast and evening service between 5 pm and 7 pm daily.

Pullman Singapore Orchard The Archive Club - Heading towards The Archive Club
Pullman Singapore Orchard The Archive Club - Heading towards The Archive Club

During our stay, we chose not to have breakfast at The Archive Club, which we regretted a little afterwards. Evening service was a nice, quiet affair as well.


There are not many food options during the evening service. Think of it as a light dinner or evening snack rather than a complete dinner. On the cold dishes, club guests can enjoy a limited selection of cold cuts, smoked salmon, and cheeses. Nuts and dried fruits are available as well. On the hot dishes, guests should enjoy them a lot as well. Among some of the selections, we enjoyed the unique crispy prawn and egg sliders, of which we had multiple helpings. The Hachis Permentier was delicious and did not feel too heavy, such that you are filled after just one serving. We tried a little of everything and thought that the food served was fresh, and we enjoyed trying everything once. We loved the complimentary popcorn and found ourselves going for additional helpings repeatedly.


Besides various alcoholic beverages, there are different types of soft drinks, sparkling water, and fruit juices. Fresh fruits already cut are served in a cup as well. Those needing caffeine can help themselves via the coffee machine, where Common Man Coffee Roasters coffee beans are used. Tea lovers can look forward to Dilmah teabags, with hot water just a tap away.

During our time there, it was relatively quiet, even though there were quite a few groups of guests. For those who need to work, this is a spot where you can concentrate while enjoying a bite. Newspapers are also provided so you can enjoy reading a copy of The Straits Times during your alone time in The Archive Club.


Overall, the Archive Club is a nice place to chill and hang out with your friends or better half. If you are bored of your room, always head down to The Archive Club for a fresh cup of coffee or tea. Make sure you get some of those complimentary popcorn and nuts while reading the newspaper!

Pullman Singapore Orchard The Archive Club - Evening cocktails food options
Pullman Singapore Orchard The Archive Club - Evening cocktails food options
 
 

Room:

Pullman Singapore Orchard’s Presidential Suite is located on the hotel's top floor and measures a whopping 116 square metres. Comprising a large living room cum kitchen, two bedrooms, and 1.5 bathrooms, there is plenty to like about this suite.

Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - A homely living room
Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - A homely living room
Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - View from the living area
Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - View from the living area

When you first enter the Presidential Suite, you are greeted by a hallway separating the living room and the two bedrooms.

The living room and kitchen are on the right side of the room, which take up half of the Presidential Suite. The living room feels spacious and has plenty of room for families and children to run around and have fun. The living room is also designed like a family home, so families will feel at home here. You are welcomed by a large L-shaped sofa with plenty of pillows to hug. A lovely coffee table is presented at the front, while a console table with the coffee table books is behind the sofa. The living room television measures 65 inches, so that you can enjoy many excellent movies after dinner. We caught some Formula 1 action in the living room before retiring to the master bedroom for a cosier environment. For those who prefer streaming, the suite’s televisions also come equipped with Chromecast. This worked perfectly for us as I enjoyed streaming HBO Go and caught an episode of Entourage!

Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - Catching some Formula 1 action
Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - Catching some Formula 1 action

Behind the living room area is the kitchen and dining area. Except for a stove, it is a fully functioning kitchen with a fridge, washing basin, coffee machines, and china. All the items needed for a party are stored in this kitchen. Different beverages are also available in the fridge, so you can always help yourself to a cold one. The dining table seats eight, so everyone should have enough space to grab a seat.

The living room faces Hilton Singapore Orchard and Ngee Ann City, so you can check out the crowd level before heading down to do some shopping. Looking at the roads in the morning can be quite a sight, as Orchard Road seems so empty and quiet. Similarly, seeing the streets so empty at night can be fascinating.


On the left side of the Presidential Suite are the two bedrooms. The first bedroom is the common bedroom, which is slightly on the smaller side but still comes equipped with a Queen-sized bed and a 50-inch television. It has enough space to fit a small sofa, so you will not feel claustrophobic in this room. The window faces Somerset, so you can also get some lovely views. If you feel like you need some alone time, this bedroom is more than sufficient to spend some quiet time with the television.


The master bedroom is at the end of the hallway, almost like a private enclave. This bedroom definitely feels more spacious with more real estate between the 55-inch television and the King-sized bed. There is also much more space to fit a small table beside the windows. Besides putting your belongings there, a laptop is also suitable for work! On the other side of the room is a dressing table that can also be used as a workstation. The small mirror acts as a way to check out your partner lying on the bed after staring at your laptop for hours. At the end of the bed is a bench that can hold more of your belongings or another way to catch up close to the action on the television. I was guilty of doing that for a short while when watching the Formula 1 qualifying action!

We love the master bedroom's location. It feels spacious yet cosy, and the room feels warm, which must be due to the colour theme. You are also treated with a great view of Somerset and Orchard Road, where I spent some time taking various photos of Orchard Road and beyond.


Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - Stream a television show using Chromecast
Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - Stream a television show using Chromecast

The bathroom is something to shout out about. It is wonderfully spacious, as couples can take a bath and shower at the same time without ever feeling too close for comfort. On one end of the bathroom is the toilet, which is without a bidet, unfortunately, while the double-sink basins are located at the centre of the bathroom. There is plenty of space in the middle, so couples can take their time in the morning to wash up. Toiletries are by C.O.Bigelow, the same brand used by their sister hotel, Pullman Singapore Hill Street. As always, it smells terrific!


The bathtub is quite remarkable as it comes with waterjets. When you want to enjoy a relaxing bath after a long and tiring day shopping on Orchard Road, head over to the bathtub, fill it with water, and push the button for the water jets to start operating. It is automatic and will begin operating when the water level reaches a certain height. After that, lie there and let the water jets do their job. A conventional soak in the bathtub is also available if you so prefer. For those who want to take a quick shower, head to the other side to enjoy a rainforest shower. The water pressure is good, so you can stand there and think about your life choices thus far. After your shower, join your partner on the King-sized bed and catch some movies on the 55-inch television until the both of you doze off!

Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - Catching the Formula 1 qualifying action
Pullman Singapore Orchard (Presidential Suite) - Catching the Formula 1 qualifying action
 
 

Views captured from our iPhone 15 Pro Max:

Overall, it was an enjoyable and fun stay at Pullman Singapore Orchard. We initially grabbed the chance to stay here after chancing upon a Red Hot Room and then proceeded to grab another opportunity to upgrade our room at a lower rate. The final surprise came during check-in when we were further upgraded to the Presidential Suite for free. The service was almost perfect, except for the minor incident during breakfast. The Presidential Suite was perfect as it allowed us to roam about, and we enjoyed staying in such a large suite for a change! We will definitely be back again one day to try one of Pullman Singapore Orchard’s more “normal” rooms!


Click here to find out more about Pullman Singapore Orchard and book a stay today!

 

Cost of Presidential Suite: S$502.39 a night - stayed over a weekend in May 2024

 

Please note that this article may contain links to websites, where any subsequent purchases made may provide straitstravellers with a referral commission. This in turn helps support the running of this website. We appreciate your support thus far. Thank you!

 

Comments


bottom of page