The Sultan hotel in Singapore offers old-school decadence

For all that one might lambast Singapore for being a nanny state, you can't deny its sense of preservation. While Hong Kong happily tears down centuries-old structures to forge a gleaming metropolis, Singapore is searching for an ideal balance: towering skyscrapers alongside quaint examples of its culture.

The Sultan is a prime example of the latter. The hotel is located in the predominantly Malay and Arab district of Kampong Glam, an area which still retains much of its old appeal; there are ornate mosques, dusty antique stores, and decades-old eateries lining its many side streets.

Sitting comfortably in this heady brew of exoticism is The Sultan - but you wouldn't notice it unless you were looking closely. The hotel's lobby is accessed through a small side door that could easily go unseen. Once you've penetrated the entrance to the compound, the labyrinthine corridors become a kind of a maze.

But with the assistance of the hotel's helpful staff, guests are guided through this hidden escape. The hotel's owner, a great enthusiast of the city's history and heritage, bought up 10 neighbouring shophouses, with plans to convert them into a boutique property where colonial intricacies met Middle Eastern indulgence.

The result is a hotel of old-world charms: pure white walls, bamboo courtyards, open-air shutters and rustic carvings. The Sultan's 64 rooms and suites are designed with this in mind - and while many share such features as high ceilings and ornate details, no two are alike.

For example, our Skylight Suite was located on the hotel's top floor, with bright-blue views of the city, but its discreet use of earthy whites and browns meant it felt more modern than the warm reds and yellows of neighbouring rooms.