Hotel NuVe Urbane

The location is great, with everything close by and inexpensive restaurants in the area. The air conditioning worked perfectly, and the rooms were very clean. The bed took up almost the whole room, though, and on the 2nd floor I couldn't open the roller blinds because of the nearby building. The pool wasn't inviting for swimming when I was there in March. It wasn't well maintained, and the nozzles didn't work. In the evenings the corridors were really loud. Whenever I came back from dinner or went out for a later walk, I heard moans in the hallways. It felt more like an hourly hotel than a normal one.

We finally stayed at Hotel NuVe Urbane after often passing the building and wanting to try it. Its central Lavender location, easy directions, and modern look all appealed to us. The exterior has been given a stylish monochrome update, and learning that the building was once the Wong family’s colonial property, built around March 1950 by Archbishop Wong Weng for his business and home, made the stay feel more meaningful. Nuve Group later bought it and renovated it with modern room amenities. Our room was clean and up to date, a decent size though not especially large. It had a fridge, hair dryer, and the usual necessities, plus Twisties and two cookie packets. We liked the complimentary coffee and snack station in the small lobby enough to take some extra packets back upstairs. The welcome from reception was warm. There’s parking for about four cars; there aren’t motorbike spaces, but after asking, we were allowed to use the handicap bay. There are different room types and prices, including windowless and premium options. Donkey expected a bathtub, but I think he’d misread the details, so we got a standard toilet instead. The shampoo and bath products were better quality, at least. There’s also a small pool; we took a few photos but didn’t swim. We mostly stayed in and tried eateries nearby rather than going to attractions or malls. Getting around is easy on foot or by public transport, and the whole stay was a good one.

My first visit felt like a home away from home, thanks in large part to Manager Serene, front desk Wei Xiang, and the housekeeping team. Everyone was superb, and I’m looking forward to seeing them again. I’d booked three nights, then had to add two more at short notice. Even though the hotel was full, they arranged for me to keep the same room, which spared me a move between floors with all my things and a fractured ankle. The cosy double had a shared balcony facing King George’s road. Roadworks were happening outside, but it stayed quiet. The mattress was a happy surprise too, firm and comfortable, and the complimentary minibar had soft drinks and snacks. I plan to return to Singapore with my family in August for at least a week, and we’ll stay here again.

The pool and jacuzzi just beyond the back door of our room were a lovely place to unwind. We had a very pleasant, clean and comfortable stay. The room was a little small for a couple, but still fine, and the rate compared well with nearby hotels. The location was great too. I’d recommend it.