This chic hotel with heritage walks and rooftop bar is opening at the former Selegie Centre site

One of Singaporeans’ favourite pastimes? Staycations. While the list of great hotels is already never-ending, here’s another one we think is worth bookmarking: Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Set to open in Q2 2026, it’s located at the old Selegie Centre site. And it’s not your typical city hotel – it's the neighbourhood’s new go-to for design, food, and culture. 

If you’re familiar with the area, you’ll know Varel sits right smack in the middle of Singapore’s art hubs. Step outside and Selegie–Mount Sophia comes alive: pre-war shophouses, indie cafés, late-night eats, and arts campuses like Lasalle, Nafa, and Sota. Varel leans into all of it, with even programmed heritage walks and curated ‘makan’ tours that’ll let you explore the neighbourhood like a local.

With 128 rooms, the hotel’s interiors nod to Southeast Asian heritage with warm textures, artisanal details, and cosy corners. And what makes Varel stand out is in the details – handcrafted mugs, cushions, evening rituals, and guided neighbourhood introductions.

Dining here isn’t an afterthought, too. You’ll find restaurant Hathaway Autograph mixing up Southeast Asian and British flavours for all-day local-inspired bites, Vernacular Coffee serving up beans roasted in-house, Saga Bar shaking up cocktails with gentle spice notes, and the rooftop pool bar giving you a city-view perch perfect for winding down.

Varel Singapore is also part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio. This means it comes with all the perks of Marriott’s global loyalty programme – book a stay and you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, enjoy member rates, and tap into benefits like mobile check-in and flexible cancellations.

Rooms start from $289++ with breakfast included, while the Varel Club Room ($389++) includes afternoon refreshments, evening drinks, and complimentary laundry. Reservations are now open here for stays starting April, with 15% off for reservations made 30 days in advance.

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