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Would we stay again? Yes – and we'd book the suite with the circular bathtub specifically, which is large enough for four adults and deep enough to actually float in. That alone tells you something about how Varel Singapore thinks about the guest experience.
Part of Marriott's design-led Tribute Portfolio hotels, Varel Singapore sits on Selegie Road – six minutes from Rochor MRT and within easy walking distance of Little India, Bencoolen, and Dhoby Ghaut. It's not an obvious luxury hotel district (the immediate neighbourhood runs mostly budget to mid-range), so Varel's level of considered, hyperlocal design feels like a real surprise. Two giant saga seed sculptures greet you on the ground floor, Five Stones sculptures beautify the lobby, and complimentary TWG iced tea and Denzy gelato arrive at check-in. It makes it plain from the get-go that someone has thought carefully about this.
Varel's 128 rooms span five categories, coming in either a light or dark colour scheme. A full 90 percent of rooms have a private balcony attached. We stay in a Varel Suite – dark scheme, with deep forest green panels, walnut wood, and black marble – with a cosy living area partitioned from the bedroom. Local motifs run throughout: dim sum basket lamps, chendol-inspired swirls in the carpet, and grilled panels that recall vintage shophouse lifts. It's coherent and inviting – though it's worth knowing that the view will be of surrounding HDB blocks rather than anything scenic.
The bathroom is our favourite part of the suite. Bronze Hansgrohe fittings and Maison 21G toiletries add a touch of luxury, but it's that unusual circular bathtub that elevates the space from 'shower' to 'private spa'. It anchors the terracotta-tiled wet area and is wide enough to stretch out in – and trust us, you'll float in there for longer than intended. We didn't think to ask for bath salts, so don't make the same mistake.
On-site dining isn't an afterthought, either. Varel's flagship restaurant is Hathaway Autograph, the sister concept to Hathaway at Capital Tower. The breakfast spread here is solid (the nasi lemak is worth the impending food coma), but dinner is where the kitchen shines with confident renditions of Southeast Asian classics.
A velvety otah otah mousse ($9 for three pieces) starts us off strong, paving the way for a chilli crab dip ($19), green beans with tempeh in kecap manis ($14), and a spicy grilled octopus ($32) that's worth every cent for its sweet-smoky sambal glaze. Hathaway's Chicken Rice ($25) does Singapore's national dish proud with silky cold-poached chicken and fragrant rice. We finish with Princess of The Straits ($14), a balanced dessert that pairs kueh salat and pengat sauce with salted gula jawa ice cream, sneaking in just enough durian without it being overwhelming.
Cap the night at Saga Bar, but Varel club members might want to come earlier, because you get complimentary drinks from 5pm to 7pm daily. Downstairs, Vernacular Coffee faces tough competition from nearby heavyweights like Nickel and Apartment Coffee, but we appreciated its smooth, balanced iced latte. Plus, Varel guests get to claim two free drinks per day. Sit in air-conditioned comfort inside – there's still plenty of light through the full-glass walls – or go al fresco for an idle afternoon of people-watching.
Facilities are boutique-scaled – in other words, don't expect a spa, full-fledged gym, or a massive resort pool. But what's there is charming enough: lush sky terraces on levels 3, 5, and 7 feel private and tranquil, and the rooftop pool is long enough for you to get decent laps in.
There's enough in the neighbourhood to occupy your time anyway. Walk 10 minutes in either direction and you'll hit either the vibrant streets of Little India or the indie-cool enclave of Bencoolen. We easily spent an entire day eating through Fortune Centre and exploring Bras Basah before hunting down dinner and desserts in Bugis – all on foot. With hotel-led neighbourhood tours and food trails in the works, you'll soon have expert guides to let you in on all the local secrets, too. And after clocking those daily steps, you will (like us) be immensely grateful for the superbly plush bed back at Varel to sink into.