Lucy is a freelance writer and blogger based in Singapore. You can find her blogging at Lulabelle Lifestyle where she talks fashion and travel as well as revealing Singapore’s hidden gems. She also organizes #blogmeetsg networking events bringing boutique brands and bloggers together. To keep up to date with the latest blog posts and #blogmeetsg events you can follow her on Facebook. You can also follow the behind the scenes action on Instagram.
Set foot into the newly renovated Hotel Jen Tanglin, a stone’s throw from the bustling shoppping metropolis that is Orchard Road. It has had a whopping S$45 million spent on the renovation to transform it from the old Traders Hotel to the fresh and stylish Hotel Jen, part of the Shangri La Hotel group. On entering the bustling lobby you can immediately see the attention to detail and focus on design that has been carefully thought out with touches such as vintage looking suitcases making up the front desk and retro inspired bikes adorning the wall. I was lucky enough to celebrate Valentine’s weekend there so here’s the full review of what you can expect when you stay here!
GETTING THERE
Hotel Jen is a 25-minute drive from Changi Airport and can best be accessed via a taxi or hotel transfer. Taxis are super cheap here so the usual cost of a taxi from the airport to the hotel will be approximately S$25 and they are also all regulated so you don’t have to worry about being ripped off as a visitor!
CHECKING IN
Despite there being a number of guests checking in at the time of our arrival the check in process was swift and efficient. There wasn’t any help with our bags to the room but this wasn’t a problem for us as we just had small weekend bags with us.
ROOMS
None of the 565 rooms are the same; there are four contemporary designs of wallpaper featuring bicycles, orchids, goldfish and shop houses (we were in a shop house room!) Our Deluxe Club Room was compact yet cosy and stylish yet functional. It is the perfect size for couples on a city break in the little red dot, however if you have children with you I would suggest booking one of the larger suites, which come with lounge area. The attention to detail didn’t just remain in the lobby it is also present in each guest room, with neat ways to utilize the space and an allocated area to place your suitcases and store them away neatly for the remainder of your trip.
DINING
Club Lounge
Being in a Club Room gives you access to the Club Lounge on the 17th floor, which means you can have a quieter breakfast up here instead of the main restaurant J65 (adjacent to the lobby) and it also means complimentary cocktails, wine and canapés from 5-7pm every day! As it was Valentine’s weekend we were treated to a glass or two of Perrier Jouet Champagne, which was delicious. There is also a selection of soft drinks to choose from and the lounge is open 24 hours so you can collect a complimentary drink at any time of the night. As we were having a large dinner later on in the evening we didn’t eat many of the canapés but the real crowd pleaser was the live demonstration of shucking oysters by the chef. The lounge was very busy when we arrived at 6pm and started to quieten down around 6.30pm so I would suggest heading there early for 5pm or waiting until a little bit later.
Breakfast was a continental offering of pastries, croissants, bacon, sausage, eggs, and hash browns along with a selection of cereals and yoghurts. These smaller servings were well proportioned and offered a wide variety.
J65
This stylish open plan restaurant is the heart of Hotel Jen’s dining scene, holding the breakfast buffet, weekend brunches and a lunch buffet during the week. We spent our Valentine’s Day here sampling their Sunday buffet brunch. Due to a little overindulgence the night before we didn’t partake in the Champagne offering although many did and again they served Perrier Jouet Champagne.
The buffet has a wide choice of both western and Asian cuisine and an excellent seafood station with fresh lobster, crab claws, prawns and freshly shucked oysters. A highlight for me was the Asian station serving chicken rice, roast duck, satay and any type of Laksa you can think of! The tiramisu cake on the dessert station was also a real winner for me!
AROUND HOTEL JEN
Hotel Jen is situated adjacent to Tanglin Mall – an expat friendly mall with many fashion, kids and accessory boutiques along with reputable cafes and some fast food chains.
The hustle and bustle of Orchard Road is a short walk away and the Botanic Gardens is situated opposite Tanglin Mall a few minutes walk away from Hotel Jen.
Thanks to Hotel Jen Tanglin for welcoming Lulabelle Lifestyle for the weekend! As always the opinion and photographs are that of the author.
Brought To You By Expat Choice
