The hotel finished a top-to-bottom renovation in late 2025, led by its original designers, so it feels new without losing its character. Original Picassos hang among the art in the public rooms, and Champagne is sabred on the grand staircase every evening.
Our Astor Grand Deluxe room was spacious and soft in colour, with wallpaper drawn from the Botanic Gardens. The bathroom is the showpiece, with a deep tub in the middle, a separate shower and two sinks. A St. Regis Butler was a phone call away for coffee, pressing or packing.
Breakfast at Sophia, the Italian restaurant off the lobby, is one of the most complete spreads we have seen, Asian and Western alike, and the chef came round the tables to ask how it was. We came back for lunch, under tall windows that look onto the gardens.
The St. Regis Bar became our favourite spot, with Picassos on the walls and a creative list; try The Straits Mary, its local take on the Bloody Mary. The pool is a quiet escape from the heat, and the gym was fully re-equipped in the renovation.
For families, rooms can connect in threes, there is a children’s library, and the hotel can set up a teepee tent with galaxy lights in the room.