In Love with an Elegant Personality
“You’re smiling, that’s a good sign” – I remember Erna, the staff of AMOY Hotel, said to me as she showed me my single room during the weekend I spent in Singapore. And I can’t help but agree with her as the room was indeed cosy and oh so homey that I secretly wished that I could have stayed there a bit longer.
Upon entering the room, I was immediately awash with ease; I received a room designed in a clever blend of vintage modernism with Oriental touches such as the traditional Chinese stools and porcelain basin. There was nothing that made the room over-the-top. Instead, the room passed as tastefully elegant and not too overwhelming, a boon for the sophisticated travellers. The bare light-coloured brick with two big windows created the illusion of a much bigger space, which in reality was a tad tight for a standard room. Should guests require more space, it is worth to upgrade themselves to a Double Deluxe Room. For those who are not planning to leave the room at all, they will be pleased to learn that Wi-Fi and mini bar are complimentary.
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AMOY Hotel sits within a collection of shop houses dating more than 170 years, designed to mirror the life of Singapore’s early Chinese immigrants. Even the rooms are emblazoned with a Chinese family name on the door, a small gesture to commemorate the early migrants who lived around the area. Guests may request for a room that has their surname, subject to availability. The service, moreover, is gracious and genuine. Every now and then, the staff will engage in small yet productive conversations with the guests, making guests’ feel more engaged and valued.
Why do we love the property?
AMOY Hotel’s strategic location makes it a refreshing alternative to the other hotels in the city. It is accessible via Telok Ayer MRT train station, just a few steps from the hotel and 10 minutes’ cab ride from Singapore’s Central Business District, perfect for guests who enjoy convenience and peace. While some may think it is strange to build a hotel in a relatively old neighbourhood, however that is precisely what had me falling in love with the property. It is vibrant, rich in culture and understatedly refined.
The past is very much present in AMOY as one part of the hotel comprises Singapore’s oldest temple, Fuk Tak Chi Temple, built in 1824 facing the Telok Ayer Street where early migrants first landed. The temple then became an important headquarters for the Hakka and Cantonese communities throughout the years. Now, it has been converted into a museum where its original parts still remain intact.
The neighbourhood, moreover, is where travellers can witness the harmonious intermingling of Malay, Peranakan, Chinese and Indian cultures expressed through the side-by-side places of worship, cuisines and languages. Should travellers have extra time in their hands, I suggest that they participate in the Tea Master class or watch the local production of Chinese opera, both proven to be interesting and informative. Little did I know that the Chinese Opera was originally meant to be performed for the Gods and there are over 300 varieties of opera depending on dialects used in the shows.
*Good to Know: Almost all lanes here have two names. This is because some of the given names are difficult to be pronounced by the Chinese, so they decided to come out with new simpler words.
Who should stay here?
Cultural travellers, those who like to discover, immerse and be actively involved in the culture, people and settings of the places they visited. Since Amoy itself is rich in culture and heritage, staying here will definitely make guests feel like they are a part of the host community.
The room rates at the AMOY Hotel start at SGD268.
AMOY Hotel
76 Telok Ayer Street
048464 Singapore
+65 6580 2888
www.stayfareast.com/en/hotels/amoy
About The Author
Officially a Deputy Editor with over 10 years in travel media. Unofficially? A professional suitcase overpacker with a knack for turning chance encounters and itineraries into vivid, story-driven features. When not fine-tuning articles, she's likely front row at a concert, taste-testing something spicy, or deep in a conversation that veered wonderfully off-topic.
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