2020 Story

Dim Sum Haus
57 Jalan Besar

https://dimsumhaus.com.sg/

Dim Sum Meal

Zi Char - Quan Xiang Yuan
252 Jalan Besar

https://www.quanxinyuan.com.sg/

Fujian Fried Sweet Potato Cake (SGD $22)

Kor Kai
1 Maju Avenue
#B1-25 MyVillage

https://www.facebook.com/korkaisg/

Meal View

One Farrer Hotel
1 Farrer Park Station Road

https://www.onefarrer.com/


Wonderfully Spacious Rooms, Good Facilities

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Visited: Dec-2020
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $770 per person.
- $770 Accomodation 4D3N
- $0 Room Service


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre, Free Wi-Fi, 2 Restaurants (Garden Pavilion Restaurant, Socieaty By Les Amis), 1 Confectionery (Tarte By Cheryl Koh), 1 Bar (Sunset Bar), Gymnasium, 2 Swimming Pools, 3 Lounges (Lobby Lounge, Skyline Lounge, Garden Lounge), Garden Walk, Adeva Spa, Sauna, Steam Room, Cable TV, Movies-For-Sale, Shuttle Service, Laundry Service, Meeting Rooms, On-Site Parking, Grocery Delivery Service, Music Room, Babysitting Service, In-Room Shopping, Guided Art & Farm Tour, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Work Out, Internet Surfing, Swimming, Meetings, Massage, Spa, Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments, Shopping, Watching Movies, Viewing Art, Farm Visitation


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Introduction
Located about 20 minutes drive away from the Changi international airport in Singapore, the One Farrer Hotel is a towering 5-star urban hotel. Known for their 'hotel-in-a-hotel' concept, which has 4 differentiated accommodation offerings to meet the expectations of different clientele, guests at One Farrer Hotel will enjoy a unique experience depending on which of the 4 hotel concepts they're in.


Ambience
Ambience at One Farrer Hotel exudes a quiet and refined elegance. There is a sense of opulence and culture, with curated artwork, paintings, murals, and sculptures adorning the walls, all created by artists engaged by The Farrer Park Company. Embracing the Greater Asian art culture, the entire complex has over 700 pieces of original contemporary abstract artwork, with unique pieces in each room. High ceilings, warm lighting, marble tiles, and gleaming finishes of gold against wood and metal create a sense of luxury. Cleanliness and hygiene is also taken care of, with regular cleaning being performed, and covid-19 safety measures in place.


Room
Rooms at One Farrer Hotel are large, spacious, and comfortable. I stayed at the Skyline Hotel concept, in the Skyline Studio apartment, which featured a generous floor space (among the largest I've ever seen), expansive city views from the floor-to-ceiling windows, fast wifi, a large working desk, decent cable television with in-room shopping, comfortable king bed and sofa, perfect-view wall mirrors, and an amenities-stocked bathroom with bathtub, dual shower, and closet. Enjoyed how clean and comfortable it was, so relaxing. There's also access to the exclusive Skyline Lounge with private rooftop swimming pool, and up to 3 complimentary pieces of pressing for clothes, per day.


Food
Food at One Farrer Hotel is mostly provided at the Garden Pavilion Restaurant. Fully air-conditioned and set amidst the Garden Walk, with flowy drapes and elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the large dining hall looks so welcoming. Quality of dishes is passable at best, underwhelming at worst. There's also the Sunset Bar, which provides some of the in-room dining options, here, the dishes fare slightly better. Naturally, the outsourced restaurants are the best, namely Socieaty By Les Amis and Tarte By Cheryl Koh, where you'll get consistently high restaurant quality dining. That said, there's a myriad of food options around the Farrer Park, Little India, and Jalan Besar area, all within walking distance, and you'll be spoilt for choice.


Service
Service at One Farrer Hotel is above average. Staff accord each guest personalised attention, and some actually remembered me by name. They work efficiently, and fulfill requests quickly. Thumbs up especially for the polite housekeeping staff, who are quick and tireless in room cleaning and turnover, checking if guests have further requests. Impressed enough that I gave them a big tip. Restaurant service in-house is somewhat lacking though, leading to long wait times to be seated or served, attributable not to individual staff per se, but an overall lack of manpower during peak periods. The service at the outsourced restaurants fare much better, with sufficient attentiveness and speed.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at One Farrer Hotel are more expansive than elsewhere. They even have in-house tours of their art collection and farms! Impressed also with the in-room shopping catalogue, though I wish they offered more free movie channels rather than paid versions. For the Skyline Hotel, there's a small but exclusive fitness corner and private pool, but the main hotel has a better equipped gymnasium and swimming pool. The meeting and conference facilities are spacious and well-equipped, no surprise to see 4 weddings over 2 days during our visit. The business centre is a little lacklustre though. The attached complex has convienence stores, and several shopping malls and markets (City Square Mall, Mustafa Centre, Tekka Centre, Little India Arcade) are just a walk away.


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Christmas 2020

Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo Tasting Session 2020
392 Havelock Road
Level 1 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sat: 12pm - 2:30pm (Lunch), 6:30pm - 11pm (Dinner)
Sunday: 12:30pm - 3:30pm (Brunch), 6:30pm - 11pm (Dinner)


https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/singapore/grand-copthorne-waterfront/grissini/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Yahoo Singapore, Purple Taste, Where To Eat Singapore, and Ms Hannah Chia.

High Tea Set (SGD $49++)

Grissini Tasting Session 2020 - Christmas
392 Havelock Road
Level 1 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

Opening Hours:
Mon - Fri: 4pm - 10pm
Sat - Sun: 2pm - 10pm


https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/singapore/grand-copthorne-waterfront/dining/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Yahoo Singapore, Purple Taste, Where To Eat Singapore, and Ms Hannah Chia.

Gamberi E Caviale

Beast & Butterflies Tasting Session 2020
90 Robertson Quay
#01-00 M Social Singapore Hotel

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 2:30pm (Lunch), 5pm - 10:30pm (Dinner)


https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/singapore/m-social-singapore/beast-and-butterflies/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Yahoo Singapore, Purple Taste, Where To Eat Singapore, and Ms Hannah Chia.

Char-Grilled NoBeef Patty (SGD $88++ for 3-course set meal)

Tipsy Bird Gastrobar
1 Paya Lebar Link
#01-08 Paya Lebar Quarter

https://www.tipsybird.com.sg/

Breaded Calamari (SGD $9)

Shou La Shou Shandong Restaurant
69 Boat Quay

https://handinhandfood.com/

Minced Pork Meat & Bell Peppers Bun (SGD $7)

The Artisan Creator's (TAC) Coffee
Online Store

170 Stirling Road #01-1133

https://www.facebook.com/TACcoffee/

TAC Coffee Drip Bag

Fountain Microbrewery Tasting Session
21 Jurong Town Hall Road
#02-00 Snow City

https://fountain.com.sg/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Her Pen And Fork, msginginly, Eat Dream Love, Doris Goh, Alan Woo, Epicurious Caniggia, and Chubby Botak Koala.

Sausage Platter (SGD $32)

Zi Char - Dynasty Fried Porridge
30 Foch Road #01-02

https://www.facebook.com/Dynastyfriedporridge/

Claypot Loh Shu Fun / Silver Needle Noodles (SGD $5.50)

Pin Tea
Online Store

Various Third-Party Retail Stores

https://www.pintea.sg/


Some pictures / images here in this post are sourced, and credited, to Pin Tea. I am an actual customer of this brand, and personally paid for the products listed here.

Pin Tea Assortment

The Sampan 2020 Tasting Session
63 Boat Quay

https://www.thesampan.sg/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Her Pen And Fork, msginginly, Epicurious Caniggia, and Purple Taste.

5-Spice Szechuan Duck Breast With Pimentos Pomme Puree (SGD $19.50)

Lime Restaurant 2020
3 Upper Pickering Street
Level 1, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-pickering/dining/lime.html

Seafood Platter On Ice

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering
3 Upper Pickering Street

https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-pickering.html


Refreshing Eco-Friendly Staycation

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Visited: Nov-2020
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 5
Value for Money: 6
Budget about SGD $650 per person.
- $650 Accomodation 3D2N
- $0 Room Service


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre, Free Wi-Fi, 1 Restaurant (Lime Restaurant), Gymnasium, Infinity Pool & Poolside Cabanas, 2 Lounges (Lobby Lounge, COLLECTION Club Lounge), St. Gregory Spa, Garden Walk, Jacuzzi, Steam Room, Cable TV, Shuttle Service, Laundry Service, Meeting Rooms, Complimentary Items In Mini-Fridge, On-Site Parking, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Work Out, Internet Surfing, Swimming, Meetings, Massage, Spa


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Introduction
Located about 20 minutes drive away from the Changi international airport in Singapore, the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is a 5-star, eco-friendly hotel. Known for its award-winning 'hotel-in-a-garden' design which incorporates elevated terraced gardens, green walls, water features, solar cells, and rainwater harvesting, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering offers a rejuvenating escape in the midst of the city. Post-COVID, standards have slipped somewhat, as they try to reclaim business and leisure traffic.


Ambience
Ambience at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is the highlight of any stay here. Surrounded by lush greenery despite the urban setting, the hotel is an oasis of escape. With high ceilings and water features around, the place exudes a calm tranquility, setting the mind at ease. Wood decor and energy efficient features complete the sustainable experience. The facade looks sleek yet welcoming, with ample greenery and water ponds flanking the walkway. Temperature taking is performed only at the main entry, so other entrances are currently closed.


Room
Rooms at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering are large and relaxing. I stayed at the COLLECTION Lifestyle Room, which has a comfortable king bed and sofa. The working desk is decently sized, complete with an ergonomic Herman Miller sayl chair. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow ample natural light, but there are no views because of the ample landscaping outside. The bathroom is stocked with amenities, and there's a choice of multi-function shower or bathtub. The high-speed internet wifi is stable, but the cable television has limited channels. Post-COVID, the minibar isn't stocked at all, but the Nespresso coffee machine with capsules are still available.


Food
Food at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is provided by the in-house Lime Restaurant. A vibrant modern restaurant specialising in Singaporean, Southeast Asian, and European culinary delights, the chefs use fresh premium ingredients to create appetizing plates. Quality ranges from underwhelming to good, but the options for desserts and pastries are more limited now. While the restaurant is decent enough, with the myrid food options surrounding the hotel, you'll actually get much better dining experiences elsewhere.


Service
Service at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is inconsistent, with the lower numbers of staff sometimes struggling to keep pace with the demand. Bags took 1.5 hours to arrive at the room after check-in, and there was disorganised confusion in which bag to be delivered to which room. On a particular afternoon, staff seated us in the lounge, but forgot to offer anything, leaving us sitting there without any menu, drinks, or tidbits. There was poor service recovery when a guest was unable to get a room on a high floor despite the request. All that said, staff were generally friendly and polite, and tried their best to manage difficult situations, but additional training might have helped.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering are pretty good. The meeting rooms are large and decently equipped with a drop-down ceiling projector and good sound systems. The gymnasium has a wide range of workout equipment, and to prevent crowding, specific time-slots for guests to use. The business centre offers some privacy for quiet working, and the garden walk has clear signage for the various herbs and spices grown for the kitchens. The infinity pool is rather small but picturesque, flanked by the colourful poolside cabanas. The hotel's convienent location also makes walking to Chinatown, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, or Tanjong Pagar a breeze.


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George Town Tze Char And Craft Beer Tasting Session 2020
81 Boat Quay

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 11pm


https://www.facebook.com/georgetowntzechar/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Jennifer Yeo Lifestyle, and Esth3r Esth3r.

Marmite Ribs (SGD $18)

Garang Grill By New Ubin Seafood Tasting Session
15 Swan Lake Avenue

18 Tampines Industrial Crescent

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 2:30pm (Lunch), 6:30pm - 10pm (Dinner)


https://www.facebook.com/garanggrill/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Her Pen And Fork, msginginly, Epicurious Caniggia, and Chubby Botak Koala.

Chilli Crab Rillette (SGD $12)

Deepavali 2020

Creamery Boutique Ice Creams
139 Tyrwhitt Road

https://www.facebook.com/creamerysg/

Choc-A-Lot With Berry Cheesecake (SGD $9.90)

King's Cart Coffee Factory
328 Joo Chiat Road #01-05

https://www.kingscartcoffee.com/

Cocktail Rum Pum Pum (SGD $20)

Summerlong - Closed
60 Robertson Quay #01-04

https://www.summerlongsg.com/

Citrus Mille-Feuille (SGD $15)

The Lobby Lounge Shangri-La
22 Orange Grove Road
Level 1, Tower Wing, Shangri-La Hotel

http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/bars-lounges/lobby-lounge/

Pink Hope High Tea Set (SGD $48++ per set, for 2 pax)