Choosing Lloyd’s Inn: Less, But Better
Lloyd’s Inn takes a very different approach to the hotel experience. The concept is based on a simple idea: bringing nature, architecture and everyday comfort together without adding unnecessary decoration.
What caught my attention is how much the hotel does with very little. Raw materials, natural light, open spaces and greenery create the atmosphere. There is no need for grand interiors or a long list of facilities to understand what Lloyd’s Inn is about.
The relationship with nature is also part of the experience. The architecture brings greenery and outdoor elements into the stay, while the open-air showers are probably the clearest example. You get the feeling of being outside without giving up the privacy of your own room.
I also like that the concept is not trying to feel luxurious in the traditional sense. Lloyd’s Inn is more about space, simplicity and slowing down. It feels designed for travellers who notice materials, light and small details rather than needing everything to be bigger or more elaborate.
For me, that is what makes the brand interesting. Lloyd’s Inn has a very clear idea of what a hotel should feel like, and it sticks to it. You come for the design, but the real experience is having less around you and actually noticing more.
PS: Check out highlights from my recent trip to Singapore → Singapore
A Quiet Corner Close to Orchard Road
One of the things I liked about Lloyd’s Inn was its location. You are close to Orchard Road, but the hotel itself feels surprisingly removed from the busy shopping district.
It sits in River Valley, on a quieter stretch of the city, with plenty of restaurants and cafés within easy reach. Orchard Road is also close enough when you want shopping, bigger hotels or more city energy. I liked having that choice without having to stay right in the middle of it.
The location also makes sense when you understand the design of the hotel. Lloyd’s Inn was redesigned by Singapore-based architecture and design studio FARM, with the idea of connecting the city, nature and the traveller. That relationship is easy to notice once you are there.
There are courtyards, open spaces and pockets of greenery throughout the property. Even from some of the rooms, you are constantly aware of light, plants and the outdoors. It gives the hotel a very different feeling from the typical city stay.
For me, that was probably the biggest surprise. You are in one of Singapore’s most convenient areas, but Lloyd’s Inn never really feels like you are in the middle of the city.
And that is exactly what I appreciated about it. After a day exploring Singapore, it was nice to come back somewhere that felt quieter without being inconvenient.
It is a good option if you want to stay close to Orchard but prefer a smaller, more design-focused hotel with a completely different pace.
My Room at Lloyd’s Inn
I stayed in The Business Room, one of Lloyd’s Inn’s more distinctive room types. It is split across two levels, with the living and working area downstairs and the bedroom upstairs. It feels more like a small loft than a conventional hotel room, which immediately gives it a different character.
The outdoor shower was probably the detail I enjoyed most. It sits within a private garden area, so you get that feeling of being outside while still having your own space. It is a simple idea, but it changes the whole experience of the room.
I also liked how much natural light comes into the space. The materials are simple, the palette is restrained and there is very little decoration. Instead, the greenery and the open spaces do most of the work.
There was also a handwritten note waiting for me when I arrived, welcoming me to Lloyd’s Inn and inviting me to ask the team for anything I needed. It was a small gesture, but it made the arrival feel much more personal than a standard printed welcome card.
Lloyd’s Inn has several room types, and this is where the concept gets interesting. There is The Standard Room, while The Reading Room and The Garden Room offer different takes on the same minimalist approach. The Business Room adds the loft layout, while The Big Garden Room gives you more outdoor space. Then there are the larger Sky and Patio rooms, including options with terraces and more room to spread out.
I think choosing the right room matters here because the layouts are genuinely different, rather than simply being different sizes of the same room. The Business Room worked particularly well for me because the two levels made the space feel more like a little apartment.
I also noticed that the hotel avoids many of the little single-use plastic items you tend to find in hotel rooms. There are thoughtful alternatives and a general effort to keep unnecessary plastic out of the experience. It is not something that dominates the stay, but you notice it when you pay attention, and I appreciate hotels that make these choices part of the everyday experience.
And then there are those outdoor bathrooms. That is probably the Lloyd’s Inn detail you remember most. The design gives you the feeling of being surrounded by nature without turning the experience into a traditional resort stay.
For me, the room summed up what I found interesting about Lloyd’s Inn: it does not try to give you more. It makes you look at what is already there.
Breakfast, Neighbourhood & a Little Lloyd’s Inn to Take Home
Lloyd’s Inn takes a different approach to breakfast. There is no restaurant inside the hotel, so guests receive a voucher to have breakfast at one of two nearby spots.
I actually liked this approach. It gives you a reason to leave the hotel first thing and see a more local side of the neighbourhood. Instead of having everything served downstairs, breakfast becomes part of exploring the area around Lloyd’s Inn.
There is also complimentary coffee and tea at the hotel, with a machine you can use whenever you like. It is a simple detail, but very useful before heading out for the day.
And then there is the Lloyd’s Inn merchandise. I have to admit, this was dangerous for me. The bathrobes in the rooms are so good that I immediately wanted one of my own. You can actually buy them, along with other pieces such as tote bags and Lloyd’s Inn-branded items.
The robe is called a Yukata, a Japanese-style bathrobe and loungewear designed to keep you cool and comfortable in a tropical climate. And yes, it is exactly the kind of thing you put on in your room and immediately think, I need this at home.
The shop also extends the Lloyd’s Inn aesthetic beyond the stay, with pieces that feel more like part of the brand than conventional hotel merchandise.
I always find this interesting when a hotel gets its own identity right. When you want to take something home, it usually means the brand has made an impression.
For me, that is very much the case here. Lloyd’s Inn does not try to give you everything inside the hotel. Instead, it encourages you to experience the neighbourhood, while giving you a few very tempting ways to take a little piece of the hotel with you.
A Different Kind of Hotel Experience
Lloyd’s Inn feels very different from the kind of hotel where everything happens around a lobby, restaurant or bar. There is no big social scene to keep you inside, and that is part of its appeal.
The spaces are designed to slow things down. Open-air areas, courtyards, natural light and plenty of greenery create a sense of privacy without making the hotel feel isolated.
I liked that the experience was quite understated. You are given the space to enjoy the hotel at your own pace rather than being surrounded by things designed to keep you busy.
There are also small details that make the experience feel personal. From the open-air showers and pockets of greenery to the different room concepts, Lloyd’s Inn plays with the relationship between nature, architecture and everyday life.
For me, this is where the hotel makes the most sense. It is not trying to compete with the city’s bigger lifestyle hotels. It offers something much quieter: a place to disconnect for a while, while still being right in the middle of Singapore.
Design, Nature & The Spaces In Between
One of the things I noticed at Lloyd’s Inn is how much of the experience comes from the spaces in between. It is not a hotel where you simply move from your room to a lobby or restaurant. You are constantly coming across courtyards, open-air areas, greenery and small architectural details.
The design is deliberately minimal, but that does not mean it feels empty. Raw concrete, timber, natural light and plants create a very particular atmosphere, with the architecture allowing nature to become part of the hotel rather than simply something you look at.
I particularly liked the way the different spaces open up as you walk around. Skylights, courtyards and double-height areas bring in light and greenery, while the more enclosed spaces feel private and quiet.
The architects, FARM, approached the redesign by looking at the relationship between the city, the hotel, nature and the traveller. And you can actually feel that idea when you are there rather than simply reading it in the design brief.
There is also something quite clever about the way Lloyd’s Inn avoids trying to make every corner look spectacular. The design is understated, but the combination of light, raw materials and greenery gives the hotel a very strong identity.
For me, that is what makes it memorable. It feels designed, but never like it is trying too hard to show you that it is.
Would I Stay at Lloyd’s Inn Again?
After spending a few days at Lloyd’s Inn, I understand why the hotel has developed such a strong following among travellers who appreciate design.
It is not about having the biggest room, the longest list of facilities or a packed social calendar. The appeal is much simpler: good architecture, thoughtful spaces, greenery and a different way of experiencing a city hotel.
I particularly liked that Lloyd’s Inn has such a clear identity without feeling like it is constantly trying to show it off. The design is there, but so is the sense of calm. And being able to step outside and find yourself in a lively part of Singapore, while still having this quiet little world to come back to, works surprisingly well.
It was also interesting to see how the concept extends beyond the hotel itself. The breakfast arrangement, the neighbourhood around it and even the little pieces of Lloyd’s Inn you can take home all feel connected to the idea of experiencing Singapore rather than simply staying in it.
Would I stay at Lloyd’s Inn again? Yes.
I think it would be particularly easy to come back here on another Singapore trip, especially if I wanted somewhere that feels more personal and design-led than a conventional city hotel.
And now that Lloyd’s Inn has properties in Singapore, Bali and Kuala Lumpur, I’ll definitely be keeping the brand in mind for future trips. Singapore was my first experience with Lloyd’s Inn, but I’m curious to see how they translate the same philosophy to other cities.
For me, that is what makes a hotel worth remembering: not just that you enjoyed staying there, but that it makes you curious about where else the brand might take you.
Book Lloyd´s Inn Singapore
2 Lloyd Road, Singapore 239091
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