Swissotel Merchant Court, Singapore – Hotel Review

I never knew how close Swissotel Merchant Court is until I had the opportunity to stay here. Located in Clarke Quay, restaurants, bars, and other entertainment spots are just a stone’s throw away from the hotel entrance.

Swissotel Merchant Court houses over 476 rooms, and is a hotel that caters very well to family and business travellers.

Checking in to Swissotel Merchant Court. Singapore

Check-in timing is from 3pm and check-out is by 12pm.

Swissotel Merchant Court’s Room

Swissotel Merchant Court has room categories spanning 7 types, from Premier Room to Swiss Executive Lounge.

The Premier King Room I checked in to for my Singapore staycation had an amazing view of Clarke Quay, though it is slightly covered by the nearby trees because of the low floor.

From my hotel room on level 5, I had a decent view of the hotel swimming pool and Singapore River, which was a warm and lovely sight to see first thing in the morning.

Prices start from SGD350 to SGD988.

Check prices on HotelsCombined, Agoda and Booking.com

I noticed many hotels now subscribe to the Handy device, and I encountered the same device on my staycations in Mercure Singapore Bugis, Bunc Hostel and 5footway.inn Project Boat Quay.

This Handy device helps tourists explore Singapore through the inbuilt articles as well as the option to call internationally. You can even bring it out when you explore the city for wireless 4G connection on-the-go. More about using it in my previous review at 5footway.inn!

The white furnishings in the toilet gave the appearance of it being bright and clean, though I was taken aback that toothbrushes and toothpastes are not provided in the hotel room. I concluded it’s part of their efforts to go eco-friendly.

I did like that they provided me with a comfortable bathrobe and a hairdryer, which helped me get ready for the evening a lot quicker.

The iron and ironing board came in handy for me to do some quick ironing before heading out for a nice dinner date. I was glad for the bedside reading lamp that allowed me to indulge in my bedtime stories before falling into a slumber on the king-sized bed.

I wished the pillows weren’t so soft that it sinks in the moment I lay my head on it though.

Walking around the hotel, I detoured once or twice while trying to find my way to the pool – the signage can definitely be improved on, especially with a property so large.

Read: YOTEL Singapore; Hotel Review

Swissotel Merchant Court’s Amenities

Once done getting cosy in the room, I headed straight to Swissotel Merchant Court’s swimming pool. Overlooking Clarke Quay Riverside Point, this pool is every child’s favourite.

The pool slides are immediately imminent, and I can imagine families with children dashing straight for the slides. On top of the main pool, there is also a jacuzzi for those seeking to relax, a mini-infinity pool for those wishing to take nice photos, and a pool-side bar for those who want to unwind.

I was left in awe the moment I entered Swissotel Merchant Court’s gym. This is one of the most well-equipped gym I’ve ever seen in any hotel I’ve visited!

The gym is divided into 3 sections spread over 2 levels. It includes many state-of-the-art machines, free weights with benches, and a dedicated cardio area. There was even a section spacious enough for me to do some body weight workouts like burpees and jumping jacks, allowing me to have a whole body workout.

(You would know I’m such a work-aholic when it comes to work-ing out, if you’ve seen my fitness Instagram! Yes, I lift. I run. I yoga. I climb. That’s why it’s no surprise that I spent a significant amount of time during my staycay here in the gym.)

The level with cardio machines includes rowing machines and stationary bicycles, on top of treadmills. The treadmills overlook Clarke Quay and Singapore River, making for such a perfect view while exercising!

Read: Singapore Unique Luxury Hotels For Under $300

Swissotel Merchant Court’s Spa, Pürovel Spa & Sport

Being newly open, Swissotel Merchant Court’s spa, Pürovel Spa & Sport, mirrors the Swiss experience. Being the active individual that I am, I constantly battle with having tight muscles.

When I saw that they offered a 60-minute Wellbeing Muscle Recovery Massage, I hesitated no further to try this treatment out during my staycay. Nothing like a spa to relax you on a staycation in Singapore, right?

To ensure dedicated attention is given to each guest, treatment slots at Pürovel Spa & Sport are limited and must be booked in advance. True to their word, when I arrived at my designated time slot, I was the only person they were serving.

Brought to a waiting room, I was served hot Chamomile tea and given a questionnaire to fill. I absolutely love pre-treatment questionnaires that ask for body parts I’d like to target, because I’m very particular about the skill that goes into loosening tight muscles. It’s one thing to offer such a treatment, and another to effectively execute the strokes.

After changing to a bathrobe, I was brought by my Malaysian masseuse to a private room, and laid on a heated bed. I love that the beds can be heated. That means no cold feet while doing the spa treatment! 😉  

Pürovel Spa & Sport’s treatments use essential oils from Alpine flowers and herbs, a smell that is extremely relaxing and sweet, much like lemon balm. The oil massage focused on my back and limbs, and included a face and head massage. While the massage was very soothing in general, it lacked the strength that I’d hoped out of a muscle recovery massage.

The treatment finished off with a cup of hot Chamomile tea and a biscuit.

Read: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, Singapore; Hotel Review

Dining at Swissotel Merchant Court

Buffet Breakfast

Ellenborough Market Café, Swissotel Merchant Court’s in-house restaurant, has a lovely breakfast selection for guests. You can choose from the classic Western breakfast dishes to popular Asian cuisines such as Peranakan dishes, Indian dishes, and Malay dishes. I started off by having a bowl of delicious congee.

Next, I moved on to the cheese and vegetable omelette and crispy hash browns. They were so good that I had to grab a second plate. Being a huge fan of Indian Food, I was amazed that their chicken briyani was flavourful too. Apart from that, if you want to eat a light breakfast, there are heartier options available such as oatmeal, cereals with milk and an assortment of pastries.

High Tea Buffet

Soon enough, I was back again for their high tea buffet offering. What a decadent staycation life!

I started by having a huge serving of seafood spaghetti with chicken satay topped with peanut sauce. I went back again to grab more food like murtabak, satay, dim sum and laksa. I had to take occasional breaks to make space for more good food throughout the meal.

Durian Pengat, Swissotel Merchant Court’s specialty!

If you’re a fan of durian, then you’re in luck – Ellenborough Market Café serves their famous Durian Pengat, a local dessert made of durian. The rich aroma and smooth texture is one that you must try, even if the pungent durian smell puts you off. (I have to admit that I’m not a durian fan at all, but the dessert gave durian a refreshing twist!)

If that’s not enough, you can enjoy the fresh selection of sashimi and seafood. Even their dessert table has a touch of local, with dessert choices such as chendol and nonya kueh.

Read: Quincy Hotel, Singapore; Hotel Review

All in all, the selection of food, drinks and desserts, coupled with the warm, friendly vibe of the restaurant staff, made the staycation dining experience very memorable.

The high tea buffet is available on weekends and public holiday, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

Swissotel Merchant Court’s Location

Singapore River by night

The hotel is set right in the heart of Clarke Quay. Stepping out of Swissotel Merchant Court’s front entrance, you are right in the heart of the buzzing night life of Clarke Quay.

Clarke Quay is known for being the premier nightlife destination, with an array of bars, restaurants and clubs. Most people head down to Clarke Quay to have a good evening, either by partying with friends or socialising. There are tons of fantastic clubs at Clarke Quay, including the famous Zouk and F Club Singapore.

This thus make it a perfect staycation hotel as you can party all night yet still be able to stumble back to your hotel room without having to hail an expensive cab home.

I had my dinner at Shiraz, a fine Persian restaurant, and was pleasantly greeted by live music and street performances from the various restaurants nearby.

That evening saw me taking a stroll along Robertson Quay and Alkaff Bridge to bask in the serene atmosphere and watch the reflections of Singapore’s night lights, before heading back to the hotel.

Robertson Quay is a place I highly recommend for those wanting to stay away from the buzz of people!

Prices start from SGD350 on Agoda and Booking.com

With family rooms, fun slides in the swimming pool and an ongoing family package, it’s no doubt that this contemporary hotel caters well for family travellers.

Swissotel Merchant Court is also equipped with 6 fully furnished meeting rooms, making it ideal for business travellers as well.

Swissotel Merchant Court, Singapore
20 Merchant Road, Singapore 058281
singapore-merchantcourt@swissotel.com

Special thanks to Swissotel Merchant Court, Singapore for making this stay possible! All opinions remain my own.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]