Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore

Singapore
Asia

The Experience

Located on 15 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens at the top of the thrumming Orchard Road shopping district, the Shangri-La is a lush retreat in the heart of busy Singapore. More than 100,000 plants, flowers and trees decorate the property. You'll find palms swaying over the Himalayan-costumed doorman, a pool surrounded by coconuts, spider lilies and frangipani, a Display Garden rich with cherry, mango, banana, papaya and numerous other fruit trees, and even an abiu tree planted by the late John Denver. Walking distance from the city's official Botanical Gardens, the Shangri-La is sometimes described as Singapore's "other" botanical gardens, with good reason.

The Rooms

Rooms in the original Tower wing have enclosed balconies and are decorated in earth tones, with flowing, curved edges throughout. Horizon Club premier rooms are actually two rooms merged together, and feature king beds, excellent work areas and access to exclusive lounge, health club and business center areas. In the Garden wing, you'll find a more tropical decor and private balconies; the large corner units overlooking the pool are best here. Top end is the Valley wing, where the lobby bar serves all-day complimentary champagne. Rooms are elegant and spacious; gentle Oriental touches merge with functionality. The two-bedroom Shangri-La suite's private entry, elevator and gym make it a favorite with visiting heads of state.

The Service

Befitting its Singapore location, the Shangri-La strives for international business excellence. Chauffeured limos provide airport transfers, and shuttles run to the central business district and key industrial parks. More than 300 newspapers from 50 countries can be delivered to your room, which is equipped with broadband internet and an iPod dock rigged to built-in speakers. For meetings, the hotel has nearly three dozen banquet and conference rooms, including two large grand ballrooms. Receptions belong on the Waterfall Terrace; the name says why. After work, the Chi spa offers Chinese and Himalayan massage treatments; you'll also find a well-appointed health club overlooking the pool and its greenery, three flood-lit tennis courts, even a three-hole pitch-and-putt golf course.

The Highlights

Of the Shangri-La's six fine food and beverage options, the standout by far is The Line, a theatrical, innovative dining experience that challenges belief. No fewer than 16 different global cuisines are on offer, all made to order by a squadron of chefs working in a series of small display kitchens. Imagine Willy Wonka designing an Everything restaurant, where you can have anything you can think up, almost immediately. But unlike a small-town diner that does everything badly, The Line lives up to its surrounding standards.

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