When returning to Singapore as visitors, after having lived there before, we stayed at the new Hotel Jen on Orchard Road. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect – the ShangriLa hotel company was transforming its mid-scale “Traders” brand to something more stylish, targeting the millennial generation. The Hotel Jen at Orchard Gateway was the first one to open and I was excited to try it out!
Location: The Hotel Jen is located at the Gateway and Somerset malls on Orchard Road, with the entrance on Somerset Road. This is a great location with lots of shopping, dining and entertainment choices in walking distance. With an MRT (red line) station right below the hotel, it’s easy to get anywhere in the city quickly and conveniently on the excellent public transport. A taxi from Changi Airport takes about 20-25 minutes.
Service: We were greated by friendly, young staff with their iPads, making check-in a breeze. It certainly had a “millennial” touch. There was no bell staff or concierge available. Housekeeping was on top of their task and they did their job quickly and thoroughly each day. While hotel service in Singapore is generally very good, the Hotel Jen staff was delivering above the targeted mid-scale category level!
Room: The rooms are modern and held in light colors. I liked the light, hardwood-look floors in the entrance area and the carpets in the bedroom area. The white, nicely structured bed headboards flanked by wooden panels look impressive. The king-size bed is very comfortable with nice sheets and there is a large desk with work chair, something some “millennial” targeted hotels have done away with The rooms are well equipped with a large flatscreen TV, large safe, coffee/tea facilities and iron/iron board.
I also liked the open bathroom with a sliding, wooden slat divider between the bedroom and vanity area. The toilet and shower have green frosted glass doors for privacy and can be used separately from the vanity. The layout makes the room feel more spacious and bright and is also practical, as two people can get ready in parallel.
Restaurant/Amenities: The Jen Hotel offers 24h room service as well as a deli counter to pick up a snack and a full-service restaurant. You’ll also find a club lounge and club level rooms. With some of my favorite restaurants in walking distance, like Brotzeit, we didn’t try any of the offers.
One amenity I loved is the rooftop pool with an infinity edge and glass walls, giving you a stunning view similar to the spectacular Marina Bay Sands hotel. There is a rooftop bar (that was used for a private event during our stay) and plenty of loungers. At night, the lighting around the pool is especially stunning! This is certainly one of the better city hotel pools I’ve seen and worth spending time at!
There is also a large, well equipped gym with cardio and weight equipment for a full workout – much better than the frequently tiny fitness rooms other hotels in this category often offer!
Conclusion: For around $180/night, you get a modern, stylish hotel in a great location with much better than average amenities – making it a great value for Singapore. I’d consider it a step up from the Holiday Inn Express across the street (that sells for a similar price) and much more stylish than the 50% more expensive Marriott Orchard a few blocks away. I’d recommend it and would certainly stay again, especially if I’m planning on some pool time!