Hot spots: Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan, Singapore

Singapore’s got plenty of good hotels, why would we stay at this one? In a word, character. While Singapore generally does a better job of preserving its historic architecture than certain other Asian financial centres (cough, cough … we’re looking at you, Hong Kong), heritage-style accommodation options have long been confined to extremes – the cheap and cheerful backpacker hostels of Little India and Chinatown, and the over-thetop colonial grandeur of Raffles. The Hotel Clover chain may have remedied that with this brand-new property, which occupies a row of 17 restored shophouses on the fringes of the atmosphere-rich Kampong Glam district. With rooms available online from about S$150 (HK$915), it’s solidly in the midrange of the hotel-pricing continuum.

So what’s it like? With its rich, dark wood accents, Southeast Asian textiles and ceramics, and miniature gardens, the hotel strives – with some success – to be a tropical hideaway in the middle of the city. The rooms, while small, are cosy and well-appointed, with impossibly plush beds, flat-screen displays and comfortable workstations. The top-ofthe- line Loft Suites (above right and below) are particularly impressive, taking advantage of the shophouse attics to create two-level chambers each with enough space for a small family.

What kind of amenities does it have? Architectural limitations mean this hotel can’t compete with bigger properties when it comes to pools, lounges and the like – but it does pretty well, all things considered. There’s a small restaurant on site that serves up breakfasts and artful (if slightly anachronistic) Italian-Japanese fare. There’s also a tiny gym – OK, more a workout room – and plenty of open-air nooks and crannies in which you can rest with a book or drink in hand. Arguably the hotel’s biggest perk is its location. The delights of one of Singapore’s most interesting neighbourhoods – including the eclectic boutiques of Haji Lane and the renowned Malay-Muslim restaurants around the gold-domed Sultan Mosque – are a short stroll away.