Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore - a slice of jungle paradise in the city

Just a couple of blocks from colourful Chinatown and a five-minute cab ride from Boat Quay, the 367-room Parkroyal on Pickering, which opened in 2013, has one of the best locations in Singapore outside Marina Bay. Although nothing is very far from anything else in the Lion City, being within walking distance of the best nightlife, restaurants and shopping - and just a few minutes from the buzzing business centre - is a plus.

This property is an architectural stunner. Its imposing exterior was built in an undulating, wave-like pattern in alternate shades of grey to evoke a Balinese rice terrace, and the "hotel inside a garden" concept inspired the creation of 15,000 square metres of cascading foliage, sky gardens (below), waterfalls and wall planters throughout the property. The back-to-nature theme is continued in the lobby, with its natural wood elements, water features and moss-inspired carpets.

The hotel takes its eco-friendly ethos seriously, and has been recognised for its efforts with several awards, including the Green Mark Platinum Award; the highest given by the Singaporean government. Measures and gadgetry to help conserve resources in the 16-storey property include a rain harvesting and water recycling programme; heat pumps to generate hot water; open-air guest corridors; LED light bulbs and movement sensors; energy-efficient air-conditioning; and solar panels on the roof.

It depends on your style. If big, luxurious bathtubs and plush upholstery are what you're into - sorry, keep walking. The designs are minimalistic, with an emphasis on natural colours and textures: mossy headboards and light wood furniture, for instance. Smart and simple, the rooms (below) seem to have been designed with the business traveller in mind. And while those attractive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city may keep you from using too much electricity, unless you like to put it all out there, you'll want to be a little cautious when showering and changing. (Can you still be arrested for inadvertent exhibitionism in Singapore?)