Hotel Review: Stay in Heritage Elegance at the Grand Park City Hall, Singapore

The Grand Park City Hall sits tucked between City Hall and Clarke Quay, a little distance from the Central Fire Station and the banks of the Singapore River From breakfast on the ninth floor, you can see everything: Singapore’s historic center, a number of the colonial lodges that form the Museum District, and the peaceful green of Fort Canning. It’s got a quiet elegance to it, with its Peranakan tiled floors and vintage trunk decor, that fits right into the age of history that surrounds it.

This 5-star hotel offers 343 rooms and suites, and comes equipped with all sorts of modern amenities alongside heritage elements. It incorporates elements from old St. Gregory’s Place, including ten shophouses (colonial-era two-storey buildings, built across the then-Straits Settlements, with Peranakan or Chinese Baroque influences), and feature a façade of arched white columns topped with sleek long windows.

The Grand Park City Hall was named Tripadvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award Best of the Best in 2024, and again Traveller’s Choice in 2023. It also won the ASEAN Green Hotel Award once in 2024, and the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard Award twice in 2023 and 2022.

Location of Grand Park City Hall

One of the biggest draws of the Grand Park City Hall is its proximity to the City Hall MRT Station: it’s on two major lines, the North-South Line and East-West Line, so you can go literally anywhere in the city from the comfort of the hotel. That’s only if you run out of things to do around the hotel, which are so many that it could take days to experience them all.

The Grand Park City Hall is minutes away from the Museum District, a stretch of conserved colonial buildings that have since been converted into museums. The Peranakan Museum, a homely three-storey museum with Nyonya heirlooms on display, is a four-minute walk away, as is the Children’s Museum. The National Gallery Singapore is four minutes away, the Asian Civilisations Museum is eight minutes away, and the National Museum of Singapore is ten minutes away. You could pop into Victoria Concert Hall, home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, for some evening listening: the original bronze statue of British settlement founder Sir Stamford Raffles stands there, more than a hundred years old.

Fort Canning Hill, originally named Bukit Larangan, is right at the doorstep of the hotel: the site of a 14th-century settlement and palace, this tiny hill is littered with ancient Malay ruins. It’s also home to Singapore’s last operational World War II-era bunker, which is now tourable as a historic site.

Boat Quay glows on the riverbank just eight minutes away: find vibrant nightlife, riverside seafood restaurants, and some of the best views of the Singapore skyline from a rooftop bar. Clarke Quay, right next to it, is a mainstay of Singapore’s entertainment scene, and has recently been given a makeover: you’ll find new restaurants, retail spots, and live music. If you’re willing to walk just a little further, you’ll find Raffles Place and Chinatown, the historic heart of Singapore’s commerce.

It’s remarkably easy to reach the airport from the hotel: Changi Airport can be accessed from the East-West Line, and the journey from City Hall to Terminal 2 takes under half an hour.

Rooms at Grand Park City Hall

The hotel’s Oasis Junior suite, on the fourth floor, was located just steps from the pool, separated by its own gate and little courtyard. It’s a compact room, but with plenty of space: the floor-length windows are angled so that they let the light in while avoiding the full strength of the afternoon sun.

The private courtyard, with a gate that opens to the hotel’s pool area, has a seating area and a private jacuzzi: this fits a maximum of three people, and has numerous functions. The gate is high and hidden behind landscaping, so your courtyard has almost complete privacy while you relax in the water in the evening.

The room is furnished with black-and-white portraits of Singapore landmarks, and charming details like a vintage suitcase nightstand. There’s a minibar, water dispenser and coffee machine, and welcome gifts: a small plate of chocolates and a fruit platter decorated with orchids. Heritage decorations are everywhere, in the dark wood-panelled floor and textured yellow storage trunks with aged bronze clasps.

The room has some interesting features, like a steam shower and a remote control that can be accessed from a QR code in your room. The remote control does handy things like providing preset configurations for the lights in your room, and even a platform for ordering in-room meals.

Facilities at Grand Park City Hall

With our room, we had access to the Crystal Club Lounge on the ninth floor: an intimate dining room like an early 20th century train cabin. Breakfast (6:30am to 10:30am), afternoon tea (2pm to 4pm), and evening bites (6pm to 8pm) are served there every day for guests. We got to try breakfast at the Crystal Club Lounge in the morning, which had a small selection of breakfast foods like bacon, eggs and sausages, a baked goods display, a yoghurt stand and Asian staples like steamed buns and curry. There was the option to order eggs, cooked in several ways: custom omelettes with toppings like onions and ham, sunny side-up eggs, and poached eggs on English muffins.

On the fourth floor, there’s a swimming pool and fitness center, both of which are generously sized: the swimming pool is good for lounging, and is built with shallow areas for children’s play or for soaking up the sun. There’s a QR code provided that allows you to order poolside cocktails to a bar counter. Up on the top storey, a rooftop garden gives you a panoramic view of the City Hall area and Fort Canning Hill.

Dining at Grand Park City Hall

Tablescape, the modern-European restaurant, is next to the hotel lobby with a  bar and lounge area. It’s got a neoclassical look, relaxing warm lighting, and dining is accompanied by the hum of guests in the lobby and the bartenders making drinks.

We had the three-course set dinner, available all week except Sundays: at 88++, it’s a very reasonably priced meal of European contemporary favourites. We started with a Duck Foie Gras dish with smoked duck breast, confit peach, beetroot, Sicilian pistachio and the slightest hint of truffle: a rich and celebratory small plate. Other appetisers, like the lighter Burrata with Heirloom Cherry Tomato, rocket salad and aged balsamic vinegar, kept to the theme of classic and pleasing.

Of the mains, we had a Fettuccine and a Stony River Australian Beef Ribeye, both of which were elegantly done and very hearty. The fettuccine was dense, with a bite, and tossed in a glossy Parmigiano, truffle and sage sauce. The ribeye was extraordinarily tender at medium rare, finished with merlot jus and paired with garlic potato mousseline, roasted vegetables and red wine-infused shallot.

For dessert, Tablescape goes light but satisfying: the Valrhona choc pots de cream features a Manjari chocolate cream brulee, a velvety mousse of chocolate and cream with a burnt sugar crust, paired with a quenelle of chocolate ice cream. The Champagne, which came out in a smoking saucer with dry ice, was a refreshing concoction of champagne gel, mascarpone and forest berries.

Stay In Singapore’s Heritage District With Style

The Grand Park City Hall stands surrounded by Singapore’s history, in the center of its gleaming future. It’s got all you need for a city break, and a little extra.

If you’d like to give it a try, here’s some ongoing deals for you:

Staycation with Club Lounge Upgrade (breakfast, afternoon tea, evening dinner & drinks)

• Enjoy Club Lounge Privileges when booking Best Flexible Rates Offer, or the Book & Stay Offer, for stays from Jun to Aug 2025.
• Input "SG60" as your special request when confirming your booking.
• *Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents only, show relevant ID upon check-in for verification.

10% off admission to Kiztopia (simply flash your room keycard)

• Flash your room keycard for 10% off Kiztopia Marina Square & Skypark @ Orchard Cineleisure.
• Valid from 9 June to 8 September, for single admission tickets only (you may buy multiple tickets).

SG60 Heritage Menu Specials

• Choose from a selection of local dishes inspired by Singapore's culinary heritage, available until 31 August only.
• 3-course set (Main, Dessert, Drink) at $38.