Into boutique hotels? Here are 6 of the top picks in Singapore

Checking in doesn’t have to be dull. Imagine walking into a lobby where the front desk is behind a brass rhino and you're surrounded by life-sized golden elephant and monkey sculptures.

Unique, bold designs like these are what set boutique hotels apart from the large hotel chains in Singapore. Here are six of our top recommendations for an unforgettable stay:

1. Vagabond Club

A fresh addition to Singapore’s boutique scene, Vagabond Club is designed by Jacques Garcia, the mastermind behind Paris’s Hotel Costes. This stylish hotel brings a touch of Paris to Little India/Kampong Glam with its seductive ambiance, dim lighting, bold decor, and rich red velvet curtains.

The hotel features a bar that leads into a salon, and the 5th Quarter restaurant, which specializes in smoking, curing, and pickling. Art takes center stage here, from the rhino-shaped check-in desk and an elephant sculpture that appears to burst through the lobby wall, to the video art installations in the restrooms and lift.

The 41 rooms are equally “maximalist” and chic, with every inch of wall space adorned with art and intricately hand-painted screens.

Vagabond Club, 39 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207630, Singapore; +65 6291 6677

2. The South Beach

Located across from the iconic Raffles Hotel on Beach Road, this stunning structure designed by Norman Foster features interiors by Philippe Starck. The South Beach comprises two towering skyscrapers and four preserved colonial low-rise buildings.

Despite its 650 rooms and suites, the hotel exudes a boutique vibe. There’s no traditional reception – instead, guests check in at one of several freestanding desks, each a unique piece of art beneath its own bespoke chandelier.

The rooms are bright and modern, featuring minimalist Japanese-style bathrooms. The highlight is the 18th-floor sky garden, offering panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline and rocking chairs perfect for soaking it all in. There’s also an infinity pool, a gym, and a bar on the same level.

The South Beach, 30 Beach Road, Singapore 189763, Singapore; +65 6818 1888

3. Naumi

Naumi’s location is prime – right next to Raffles Hotel and just a short walk from Raffles City and City Hall metro station. But what really sets it apart is its intimate, almost hidden-away atmosphere.

The hotel offers an ultra-luxurious, intimate experience, featuring soft lighting, designer furniture, high-thread-count sheets, and Apple TV.

While the standard rooms are compact, they are cleverly designed to maximize space and never feel cramped. Guests opting for a suite can choose between two themes: one inspired by Coco Chanel’s elegant monochrome style, and another celebrating Andy Warhol with a bold pop art vibe.

The rooftop pool, with its cabana recliners and cocoon-shaped loungers, is a hidden gem available exclusively to guests. Though small in size, it’s not intended for laps – it’s more about relaxing and taking in the view.

Naumi Hotel, 41 Seah Street, Singapore 188396, Singapore; +65 6403 6000

4. Klapstar

Klapstar is a unique and futuristic gem with its cutting-edge design and layout. Once a commercial space in a tower block in the vibrant Tanjong Pagar district, it reopened in 2009 after a redesign by the renowned interior design firm Sawaya & Moroni.

The lobby is truly a showstopper – featuring one-of-a-kind furniture and a massive steel sphere structure, which houses the check-in desk inside.

The 17 rooms and suites are all distinct, each with its own layout and custom furnishings. Some rooms feature showers that open onto balconies, while others boast indoor or outdoor Jacuzzis. The rooftop bar, Fabrika, draped in lanterns and offering stunning city views, is a favorite spot for locals.

Klapstar, The Boutique Hotel, 15 Hoe Chang Road #01-01 Tower 15, Singapore 089316, Singapore; +65 6521 9000

5. Wanderlust

What happens when you bring together four homegrown creative firms, three of which have never worked on a hotel before, and give them free rein to design a hotel? The result is Wanderlust, a quirky hotel in Little India with 29 uniquely themed rooms.

The design is a quirky mix of vintage ads, cement gray tones, bold-colored furniture, and exposed beams and air ducts, creating a deliberately eclectic look. Each design team was given an entire floor of this former 1920s schoolhouse to reinvent.

The rooms on the Eccentricity floor are bathed in a single neon color, making guests feel as though they’re sleeping inside a space capsule. The third floor, ‘Is It Black & White?’, features Pop-Art inspired stenciled art installations, while the Origami rooms have folded ceilings and a choice of four vibrant colors.

The top floor, dubbed Creature Comforts, is the wildest of all, with rooms that look as though they’ve been pulled straight out of a psychedelic dream.

From monsters to typewriters and spaceships, the loft rooms are what the hotel charmingly refers to as ‘whimsical.’ Don’t miss the hotel’s Cocotte restaurant, known for its exceptional rustic French cuisine.

Wanderlust, 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494, Singapore; +65 6396 3322

6. New Majestic Hotel

Owned by the same lawyer-turned-hotelier behind Wanderlust, The New Majestic shares the same bold and nonconformist design style, but this time, it’s located in the heart of Chinatown.

Housed in a beautifully restored conservation shop house, the interiors blend clean lines, stark white walls and floors, with an eclectic mix of vintage and designer furnishings scattered throughout.

Thirty unique rooms are categorized into four main themes. The Hanging Bed room features oversized murals and floating mattresses; the Mirror room provides plenty of voyeuristic views; while the Aquarium room, ideal for exhibitionists, centers around a glass-enclosed bathtub.

The Attic suites feature lofted beds and twin cast iron bathtubs. There’s also a lap pool in the atrium, but be warned – the pool has portholes that can be seen from the hotel’s modern Cantonese restaurant.

New Majestic Hotel, 31 - 37 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089845, Singapore; +65 6511 4700