Hotel Telegraph

It’s apparent from the merest glance that the Hotel Telegraph is an authentic piece of Singapore’s colonial-era history — this neoclassical monument was built in 1927 by local architects Swan and Maclaren, whose firm, incidentally, is still in business a century later. It’s been a listed landmark since 2000, which means its original architecture, meticulously restored, looks like it hasn’t aged a day, even as it’s made the long journey from telegraph office to corporate headquarters to government ministry and, finally, a charmingly individual luxury hotel.

As faithful as the restoration has been, the Telegraph is anything but a pure period recreation. Its designers have felt free to update its interiors in ways both subtle and broad, with decorative elements that display a playful modern sensibility and artworks that are nothing if not eye-catching. Meanwhile the rooms and suites are equipped with all the contemporary necessities, and, in terms of comfort, are on a level with anything in town.

Rather than a formal fine-dining restaurant the Telegraph comes with a versatile all-day café, restaurant, and bar, serving a blend of local and European cuisines. And on the top level is the 1927 Rooftop Bar, a verdant space that opens onto the pool deck and takes in a vew of the four-story Telegraph’s imposing high-rise surroundings.