Choosing The Standard: More Than a Hotel
Choosing The Standard means choosing more than a hotel. The brand has built its identity around design, food, music and culture. Its hotels also have a strong social side, making them feel connected to the cities around them.
What I find interesting about The Standard is that the experience does not revolve around the room. Restaurants, bars and social spaces are an important part of each property. They also attract locals and visitors, giving the hotel a more lively feel.
That was one of the things I wanted to experience in Singapore. There are plenty of beautiful hotels in the city, but not all of them have such a clear personality. With The Standard, you already have a sense of the atmosphere before you arrive.
For me, that is the appeal of the brand. You are choosing a hotel with a point of view. The public spaces matter as much as the room, while food, design and social life become part of the stay.
It is not necessarily what I would choose for a traditional luxury hotel experience. However, if I want my hotel to add something to the city I am visiting, The Standard makes a very different proposition.
PS: Check out highlights from my recent trip to Singapore → Singapore
Between Orchard Road and the Botanic Gardens
The location was one of the things that made The Standard, Singapore interesting to me. Set on Orange Grove Road, the hotel sits between two very different sides of the city: the energy of Orchard Road and the greenery of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
I liked having both within easy reach. Orchard Road brings shopping, restaurants and plenty of city energy, while the Botanic Gardens offer a completely different pace. It means you can spend the morning surrounded by greenery and, not long after, find yourself back in the middle of Singapore’s urban buzz.
There is also a complimentary shuttle between the hotel and Shaw Centre and ION Orchard. It runs from 8am to 9:40pm, every 20 minutes, making it easy to get into the heart of Orchard Road without relying on a taxi or Grab.
And, of course, it is not just any shuttle. The service runs in The Standard’s distinctive red bus, which feels like a small extension of the brand’s playful personality. I actually liked this detail because even getting from the hotel to Orchard becomes part of the experience.
For me, that balance works particularly well when you are exploring Singapore for a few days. You are close to one of the city’s main areas, but the hotel itself feels slightly removed from the intensity of Orchard Road.
It also gives you a different perspective on Singapore. Instead of staying right in the middle of the busiest areas, you have a quieter base with the city still very much within reach.
That combination was exactly what I wanted from my stay: a good address, plenty to explore around it, and somewhere that still feels like a place to come back to.
My Room at The Standard, Singapore
I stayed in a room that felt very much in line with The Standard’s approach: comfortable, contemporary and designed without unnecessary formality. It was a space I could easily imagine coming back to after a full day exploring Singapore.
The bathroom was one of my favourite details. Yellow and white tiles gave it a playful feel, while everything I needed was there without making the space feel cluttered. It was practical, but still had that distinctive Standard touch.
I also appreciated the small details waiting for me in the room. On arrival, there was a handwritten note that said: “Hi Vanesa, Welcome! We’ve put together a few things for you to enjoy. Dig in, indulge a little & have a wonderful stay 😉 The Standard Family.” Alongside it, they had prepared a few snacks for me.
It may seem like a small gesture, but these are the details I remember. A handwritten note feels very different from a standard printed welcome card, especially when it is addressed to you personally.
The room itself had everything I needed for a comfortable city stay, from a good bed and seating area to a Bluetooth speaker and the usual essentials. Nothing felt excessive, which I actually liked.
The Standard, Singapore has several room categories, from Standard rooms to larger options with pool views. There are also corner rooms and twin configurations, depending on what you need.
For me, though, the important thing was not the number of categories. It was having a comfortable base that still felt connected to the personality of the hotel. It felt like The Standard, rather than simply a room in The Standard.
Eat, Drink & Start the Day Well
Food is a big part of the experience at The Standard, Singapore, and Kaya was one of my highlights. The restaurant serves Japanese-inspired sharing plates, with bold flavours and a menu built around the table rather than individual main courses.
I had the chance to try the menu during my stay, and I genuinely loved it. There was a great mix of familiar flavours and more unexpected combinations. Choosing what to order was almost as enjoyable as eating it. The portions are made for sharing, so I would definitely recommend going with a few people and ordering several dishes for the table.
Kaya also has its own bar, with twenty highballs and a drinks menu designed to work alongside the food. It gives the restaurant a lively feel without making dinner feel rushed.
Then there is Café Standard, which became my go-to spot for breakfast. The concept mixes classic American breakfast dishes with Japanese touches, creating a menu with plenty of choice.
The breakfast is served semi-buffet style, and this is where I think The Standard gets it particularly right. You can choose from an extensive menu and order as much as you want, rather than being limited to one set dish. There are eggs, Japanese-inspired options, pastries and plenty of smaller dishes, so every morning can be a little different.
I loved that breakfast felt like a proper part of the stay rather than something to get through quickly. The menu is simply the kind of breakfast where you want to try everything, which is a dangerous combination when you are travelling hungry.
For me, this is another reason The Standard works so well as a hotel. The restaurants are not just there because guests need somewhere to eat. They are places I would happily choose even if I were not staying upstairs.
A Hotel With Its Own Social Life
One of the things I noticed at The Standard, Singapore is that the hotel has a life of its own. There is always something happening, from happy hours and brunches to events designed to bring guests and locals together.
I like hotels that do this well. It means you don’t have to leave the property to find a good atmosphere, but you also don’t feel like you are staying in a hotel that exists only for its guests.
During my stay, I could see how the different spaces worked together. Café Standard, Kaya, The Garden and The Pool each have their own feel, while the events give people another reason to spend time there.
The Standard also offers experiences that go beyond the hotel itself. One example is The Social Loop, a weekly experience for World of Hyatt guests. It starts with a welcome drink before taking a small group around Singapore, passing through places like Chinatown, Marina Bay and the Singapore River.
And if you are travelling with a dog, The Standard takes its pet-friendly approach quite seriously. In fact, the hotel calls itself “pet obsessed”, with dedicated stays that include a dog bed, bowls, treats and even ice cream. Dogs can also join their owners in selected outdoor areas of the hotel.
I think this says a lot about the brand. The Standard doesn’t simply create beautiful hotels and leave you to figure out what to do. It creates its own little social world, while still giving you ways to connect with the city outside.
Design, Greenery & Those Little Details
The Garden is one of those places where you keep discovering something as you walk around. It is not just greenery. There are little corners tucked between the plants, sculptures, unexpected details and touches of personality that feel very The Standard.
I enjoyed wandering through it without really having anywhere to go. One corner leads to another, and the different levels make the garden feel much bigger than it actually is. You can sit with a coffee, meet friends for a drink or simply find a quiet spot away from the road.
I think this is where the hotel’s design works best. It doesn’t feel overly polished or formal. Instead, there is a playful mix of greenery, art and details that keeps the space interesting.
Then there is The Pool, which feels completely different. Tucked behind the hotel, it has a surprisingly private feel despite being so close to the city. From the pool, you can see the neighbouring Shangri-La, which gives the view a very Singapore feel: lush greenery, hotels and city life all mixed together.
I liked spending time here because it doesn’t feel like a pool designed only to look good in photographs. There are loungers, music, cocktails and enough space to actually stay for a while. As the afternoon goes on, the atmosphere changes and it becomes more of a place to hang out than simply somewhere to swim.
For me, these spaces say a lot about The Standard. The personality isn’t only in the rooms or the restaurants. It is hidden in the little details you notice as you move through the hotel.
The Standard Look
There is something very easy to recognise about The Standard. The retro-chic look, the playful details and even the staff uniforms all feel part of the same visual language.
I noticed it especially around the pool. The furniture, colours and styling give the space a slightly retro feel without making it look dated. It is polished, but there is always something a little unexpected going on.
Even the staff uniforms add to that feeling. They don’t look like traditional hotel uniforms, and that small detail makes a difference. Everything feels more relaxed and a little more fun.
Then there is the merchandise corner near reception. And this is where my willpower was seriously tested. There are so many things you actually want to take home with you. From clothes to little branded pieces, it feels less like hotel merchandise and more like a collection you would genuinely want to wear or have at home.
I think that says a lot about how strong the brand identity is. The Standard doesn’t just want you to stay there. It makes you want to belong to it.
Happenings: A Reason to Come Back
I didn’t manage to join any of The Standard’s happenings during my stay. There simply wasn’t enough time. But after looking through the programme, this is definitely something I would keep in mind for a future visit.
There is a lot going on. Weekly events, happy hours, brunches, bingo nights, special evenings at Kaya and The Social Loop, which takes guests beyond the hotel and into Singapore.
And this is where I think The Standard gets it right. These events don’t feel like activities added to a hotel calendar just to fill it. They give people a reason to come back, even if they are not staying there.
This was also my first stay at a The Standard hotel. What I discovered in Singapore was a brand with a very clear point of view. The design, the food, the people, the social side and even the smallest details all feel part of the same world.
Would I stay at The Standard, Singapore again? Absolutely.
But more than that, The Standard is now a brand I will be looking for when I travel to other cities. After this first experience, I know I will be checking where the next Standard is and keeping its hotels very high on my list.
For me, that is probably the best sign that a hotel has done its job: you leave wanting to discover where the brand will take you next.
Book The Standard Singapore
12 Orange Grove Road, Singapore
More Travel Inspiration & Unique Stays
Find travel inspiration here
For a curated selection of unique places to stay around the world, start here—use the filters in the top menu to browse by country or region and discover your favorite.
Follow along on Instagram or TikTok for more fresh content
Stay curious. Stay kind. Keep exploring.