Stay: Citadines Raffles Place Singapore

Located in Singapore’s Central Business District, Citadines Raffles Place Singapore is the perfect serviced residence for the dedicated urban professional.

One of the most recent premium serviced residences to have opened up in Singapore’s central district is Citadines Raffles Place Singapore. Opened last October, The Ascott Limited’s flagship Citadines Singapore property at CapitaSpring sits smack in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District and offers an entire suite of lifestyle options for those looking for short and extended stays that seamlessly combines both work and play.

There is a mininum seven-day stay at the 299-room Citadines Raffles Place Singapore. Because of its location, the property is particularly attractive to those looking for temporary accommodations but may need easy and speedy access to their workplace. Professionals who are temporarily assigned by their company on attachment to their Singapore office, for example.

We stayed in the 25sqm Studio Premier, one of the eight room types offered. As one can expect from a spanking new property, pretty much every inch of the room smells fresh and gleams anew. Interiors are modern and practical, with hints of understated Japanese aesthetic with an eye towards current design trends.

The ensuite amenities are what sets Citadines Raffles Place Singapore – as a serviced apartment – apart from your usual hotel offerings. There’s a small kitchenette that comes equipped with a couple of induction hobs for some light cooking. A full-sized fridge ensures that you have enough space to stock necessities for a longer stay. The bathroom is incredibly spacious; there’s no bathtub, but a rain shower offers a modicum of luxury. Some furniture are modular in nature, so you can move it around to suit your needs.

One of the most appreciated features is also the simplest and most practical. Rather than drinking bottled water, guests can simply fill up a jug with filtered water from a tap conveniently situated on every lobby floor as and when needed. It may take you a few steps to get water, but it’s a great way to lower one’s personal carbon footprint.

For digital natives, WiFi is seamless and fast, and plenty of power points ensure enough juice for all your devices. Prefer to keep your work and sleeping arrangements separate? Simply head down to the main lobby. Here you’ll find plenty of seating – in various configurations such as work tables and communal benches equipped with plenty of power points – that’s more than conducive to get that presentation deck done. There’s even an automated Starbucks machine nearby so you don’t have to go far for your java!

At the lobby you’ll also find other shared amenities. There’s a large well-equipped kitchen space here if you need to do heavier cooking, and even comes with a dining table that’s convertible into a bookable meeting space if needed. There’s a laundry room on hand, too.

Looking to relax? There’s a good-sized pool long enough for laps, and you can almost guarantee the sun lounges to always be fully occupied on sunny afternoons. Fitness fanatics may find the cosy gym too small, but there are always outdoor fitness stations – and even a jogging track running the circumference of the property – to complete their exercise routines. You can head up to the Green Oasis located on one of the upper floors of CapitaSpring, and soak in the urban greenery of that space.

Dining options are aplenty in the area. There’s Market Street Hawker Centre within CapitaSpring itself for convenient and affordable hawker eats, and for more luxurious options there’s 1-Group’s suite of restaurants including Mediterranean restaurant Sol & Luna, refined contemporary Australian restaurant Kaarla, or Japanese kappo eatery Oumi. Further afield – but within a 15-minute walking distance – we like Merci Mercel along Club Street for some French bistro fare, California Republic and Rosemead for some modern Californian, or Lau Pa Sat or Amoy Street Food Centre for local hawker favourites.

For night hawks looking for watering holes, it gets even better. Cocktail bars within stone’s throw include Sugarhall, The Secret Mermaid, Chuan by Nutmeg & Clove, and Barbary Coast’s Ballroom and Dead Fall. If you prefer an alfresco view of Singapore’s stunning cityscape while sipping on your choice tipple, there’s Italian eatery and bar Caffe Fernet along the Marina waterfront, or urban sky-high lounge and restaurant LeVeL33 at nearby Marina Bay Financial Centre.

A major plus point for Citadines Raffles Place Singapore? It’s dog-friendly! The serviced residence only allows dogs up to a certain size (and imposes an additional daily fee for them), but it does open up options for pet-owners looking for alternative accommodations in this area. Just don’t expect a dog bed, bowl or other pet amenities provided like those you get at hotels with pet staycation packages.

Verdict: Citadines Raffles Place Singapore makes a perfectly viable medium- to long-stay option for those who need convenient access to their workplaces in the CBD. Rooms are on the cosier side, but contemporary furnishings and thoughtful amenities make it a comfortable stay. Dog-friendly upgrade is a huge plus for pet-owners.

[Images courtesy of The Ascott Limited, unless otherwise stated]

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Citadines Raffles Place Singapore

Address 88 Market Street, Level 9, Singapore 048948 (Google Maps link)
Tel (65) 6958 4188
Web www.discoverasr.com/en/citadines/singapore/citadines-raffles-place-singapore
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