Singapore has no shortage of slick hotels with infinity pools and skyline views, but few can match the legacy — or the recent transformation — of Grand Hyatt Singapore. Following a meticulous top-to-toe renovation, this Orchard Road stalwart has re-emerged as a city-centre sanctuary, sharper, smarter and more serene than ever. We checked in as a family of three — two adults and a four-year-old — curious to see how the hotel’s rebooted design and hospitality would hold up for modern travellers with small children in tow. The verdict? A city break that genuinely delivers on both style and substance.
A Grand Entrance
The new-look arrival experience feels almost residential in tone. There’s a calm, understated elegance to the lobby spaces now — lots of warm woods, low lighting and quiet confidence. Check-in was swift, helped along by gracious staff who seemed genuinely pleased to welcome a younger guest.
Rooms now start from 42 square metres — a generous footprint in Singapore — and are decked out with Balmain amenities, walk-in wardrobes, and the kind of desk that lets you pretend you might actually work while your child naps. Smart TVs come with casting capabilities (hello, Disney+) and there’s a proper bath for the little ones, plus salon-grade hairdryers for grown-ups needing a post-pool blow-dry.
Poolside, Please
We spent mornings at Oasis, the hotel’s garden-fringed pool and dining area. It’s a rare find in Orchard: leafy, low-rise, and blissfully removed from the bustle. The semi-Olympic swimming pool is big enough for laps, but families will gravitate toward the hydro-massage saltwater pool, which was surprisingly popular with our daughter thanks to its bubbling corners and gentle temperature. You’ll find sun loungers with towels ready, and drinks served without delay — a small luxury in the heat.
In terms of dining there’s Pete’s Place, a heritage Italian trattoria that’s been serving pizzas and pastas since 1973. It was the scene of a wonderfully relaxed Sunday brunch, complete with just the right amount of buzz and a warm, unhurried atmosphere. The buffet may be designed with grown-ups in mind — think freshly shucked oysters, cold cuts, housemade focaccia — but there’s plenty to please younger palates too with pizzas made-to-order and a hearty selection of fresh pastas. And beyond Pete’s Place, the hotel’s evolving culinary line-up includes local stalwart StraitsKitchen, the immersive theatre-dining experience Le Petit Chef, the revitalised martini bar, and much-anticipated Southeast Asian debut of Le Pristine by chef Sergio Herman.
Singapore’s New Wellness Hotspot
The real surprise hit of our stay was Damai — the hotel’s newly revamped spa and fitness complex that’s fast becoming the go-to sanctuary for Singapore’s wellness crowd in the know. In-house guests can join a rotating schedule of group classes, from mat Pilates and vinyasa flow to hatha yoga and tai chi, all set in calming, light-filled studios that feel more boutique retreat than city hotel gym.
For Families, It Works
There’s something almost old-school about the Grand Hyatt’s sense of hospitality, but now it comes wrapped in a refreshingly modern shell. Thoughtful touches —like spacious wardrobes, generous room layouts and dining that doesn’t exclude children — made our stay feel both easy and indulgent. It’s not trying to be a “family hotel”, and yet it’s one of the most effortlessly family-friendly stays we’ve had in Singapore.
As we checked out, our daughter was already asking when we’d be back. Honestly? It’s already on the cards.
Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228211
