Arena eSports at Orchard

We couldn’t bring ourselves to touch the bed. At check-in, we were offered two rooms, but both smelled bad, were poorly maintained, and had dirty pillowcases. We left and booked another hotel, accepting that we’d lose the night’s money. The Agoda photos were deceptive, and Arena eSports Orchard looked completely different from what had been advertised. The location is excellent, but the place didn’t feel suitable for children. There were many “special ladies” in very little clothing near reception when we arrived, which made us uncomfortable, especially with kids. Very disappointing, and not recommended for families.

It looks like a Japanese LOVE HOTEL in Singapore. This was the worst hotel of my life, and it was expensive. Guests and the housekeeper were noisy in the morning, and the room wasn’t soundproof. It had a musty smell, plus cigarette smoke in the bathroom, which was terrible for someone like me who’s allergic to cigarette smoke. Even the USB didn’t work in the room :)

The room we booked was supposed to have bunk beds because we were curious about the gaming-themed setup, but by the time we arrived it had been changed to a normal layout. It was okay since the rates were really cheap and the location was nice. We enjoyed our time in SG, and the place was close to most things we needed, with lots of restaurants and bars around and a train station and bus stop within walking distance. Just a note, the toilets are shared by all guests, and there aren’t any in the rooms.

The staff were incredible. To the gentleman who handled our check-in and check-out, thank you for being so warm and kind. I’m sorry I didn’t get your name for a personal shout-out. Arena upper management, he was working on 21-22 Nov and deserves recognition for his diligence. We’d booked a room with shared bathrooms, so if you’re looking for a private one, you’ll need another review. Our room was clean, with a really comfortable mattress, plus a handy little sofa and desk. The shared facilities were clean and well kept, with bidets in the toilets, great shower pressure, complimentary shampoo and shower gel in the shower cubicles, and a hair dryer by the sinks. Orchard Rd was a brilliant location for public transport and walking. My partner and I had a wonderful one-night stay at the Cuppage Terrace branch, which was closer to our evening plans. We’d stayed at Arena’s other premise in Bugis in 2023, and we’ve raved about this chain to all our friends. I think we’ll become regulars.