Naumi Hotel Singapore

The colonial style reigned in Singapore hotels for quite a long time. But today a new generation of design-conscious boutique hotels is moving in. In the place of what was once the Metropole, a fairly standard budget hotel, the Naumi now stands proudly clad in steel mesh, just down the street from the Raffles (and, to the great convenience of business guests, just a few minutes’ walk from the convention center).

Inside it’s at once crisp and flamboyant, with clean lines and sober colors livened by expressive touches like brightly-colored design-classic chairs or ornate wallpaper patterns etched into glass. In terms of comforts, the rooms are a step up from the boutique-hotel norm, verging on luxury territory: business travelers will be happy with the full-sized desks, IP telephones, and complimentary wi-fi; leisure guests will make use of flatscreens with Apple TV and BluRay players; and everyone can benefit from the bathrooms, equipped with rain showers stocked with SOAK toiletries.

What sets the Naumi apart ultimately is the service. Table by Rang Mahal slings flavor-forward Indian plates and inventive cocktails with equal aplomb. Guests are assigned a “Naumi aide” upon check-in, a sort of concierge-butler-assistant — so you’ll never be on your own. Further thoughtful touches include the ladies-only floor, three gyms, and the infinity pool, already beyond what’s strictly necessary for a 73-room hotel, and all the more so for its view from the building’s rooftop.