PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering: The Hotel-in-a-Garden in Singapore

Unwind at this otherworldly foliage-filled luxury hotel in Singapore, inspired by the cascading rice paddies of Bali. Read on for my first-hand PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering review.

Singapore is also known as “The Garden City”, so it is only fitting to check yourself into PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, one of the best city hotels in Singapore.

This is a jungle that happens to have a hotel in it, what the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering refers to as a “hotel-in-a-garden” concept inspired by the rice paddies of Bali.

In fact, the 50+ species of lush plants and foliage make up more than double the land area of the hotel. The property is a living, breathing structure that has won sustainability awards around the world – the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering hasn’t merely installed in-room filtered drinking water taps and gotten rid of plastic straws and called it a day.

The layers and blankets of emerald-toned foliage aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, their purpose extends far beyond that: they absorb heat and provide much-needed shade from the Singaporean sun for the hotel and its 367 guest rooms, thereby significantly reducing energy consumption across the property as well as improving the overall air quality.

I had to pinch myself to remind myself that I was still in one of the most densely populated and built-up places in the world. Read on for my experience and review of the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering hotel – one of the greenest hotels in the world.

The Rooms at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

The PARKROYAL Pickering has 367 rooms and suites, spread across 10 room categories from the most “basic” Urban Deluxe room (28 square meters) to the COLLECTION Club Lifestyle room (32 square meters) which I stayed in, all the way up to the uber indulgent COLLECTION Suite at 166 square meters.

All of the rooms feature a common and unified theme: earthy and modern design featuring clean lines, allowing natural daylight to flood into the room and brighten the space. The room is warm and welcoming, just like the rest of the hotel. My room on the 11th floor overlooked the overhanging garden, perfectly framing the city and Hong Lim Park below.

The brightly-lit and spacious rooms showcase functional design – a sliding wall in my room sectioned off the bathroom area, and 3M filtered water taps eliminate the need for single-use plastic bottles. A seemingly small change, but this eco-friendly switch saves approximately 230,000 plastic bottles every year. There were ample electrical outlets throughout the room, though no USB outlets by the bedsides which have become an industry standard over the past few years.

The Parkroyal Collection Pickering offers deliciously-scented shampoo, conditioner and body wash from Australian brand Appelles Apothecary & Lab in the shower area (no tiny, single-use bottles here) as well as biodegradable in-room amenities such as toothbrushes.

In the small kitchenette area you’ll find the usual (and some unusual) suspects: a Nespresso machine and capsules, as well as tea and sugar, and the curious “smart” stocked mini fridge which automatically bills you for any item removed for more than 60 seconds. The wardrobe offers ample hanging space should you wish to unpack and make yourself at home – which I happily did for my 5-night stay! You can check rates and availability at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering.

The COLLECTION Club at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

There are a lot of room category options at the PARKROYAL on Pickering and the choices can be overwhelming. But one key takeaway of this review is that the “COLLECTION Club” rooms at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering are the ones to book.

This tier of room rates include exclusive access to the sunshine-filled club lounge on the 16th floor which offers breakfast complete with prosecco, afternoon tea as well as evening cocktails and huge array of snacks. Even during the busiest weekend in Singapore the Club Lounge at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering was peaceful, quiet and relaxing.

I opted to head straight to the Club Lounge for breakfast every morning instead of the main restaurant downstairs, looked forward to the scrumptious homemade raisin scones with cream and jam served in the afternoon, and even cancelled dinner reservations at restaurants outside the hotel – all because I already had everything I needed and had no reason to leave.

The open-air rooftop lounge at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is one of Singapore’s best kept secrets. Forget the crowded and insanely expensive rooftop bars in Singapore – booking one of the COLLECTION Club rooms means that you can take your pick from the club lounge’s wine, spirits and cocktail menu between 6-8 PM every afternoon.

This was the place to be for sundowners in Singapore, with a view overlooking Boat Quay and the layers of the city. Ready to book your stay? Click here to check rates and availability at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering.

Note: Children under the age of 12 are welcome for breakfast and afternoon tea in the club lounge, however guests are respectfully requested to refrain from bringing young children during the evening cocktail session.

The Facilities at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

Head straight to the 5th floor of the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering to go on an urban 300-meter long Garden Walk that wraps around the entire level shared by the infinity pool, spa and gym. I promise you won’t even realize you’re still in the city when you are surrounded by monstera varieties, bird of paradise, frangipani trees, calatheas, ferns and so much more.

The practically self-sustaining hanging garden cleverly utilizes rainwater harvesting and auto-irrigation to keep water usage to an absolute minimum – the hotel saves 6 million litres of water a year!

On the same floor you will find one of the best infinity pools in Singapore, complete with bird cage-inspired private cabanas and sun loungers (though the entire area is largely shaded during the day). QR codes with the pool menu can be found on the tables, and though the water can be slightly chilly (or refreshing, depending on how you choose to see it) it is still a great spot to kick back. I found that the poolside area was laid back and quiet, and never too crowded during the day.

The fitness center at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering overlooks the pool and city, and though the square footage is on the more compact side it is well-equipped with all of the gym essentials.

You will also appreciate the fitness and wellness classes held on the first and third Saturday of each month, check the website for the updated schedule. Classes are free for in-house guests.

Last but not least, the St. Gregory Spa rounds out the offerings on the wellness floor. One of the best city spas in Singapore, the spa features only a handful of treatment rooms named after flowers commonly found in Asia, as well as a spacious couple’s suite for special occasions.

I walked in and was immediately feeling zen-ed out – the room was filled with a light aromatherapy scent and plants gently swaying in the wind behind the frosted glass window. I opted for the 60-minute Balinese massage, and I could not recommend it more highly – Jasmine is an excellent therapist, if you like firm massages then she is the woman to ask for. Check rates and availability at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering here.

The Dining Options at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

Aside from the Club Lounge, there is also a main restaurant at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering on the ground floor. Lime is the property’s international restaurant serving up Western and Asian cuisine, as well as local classics.

Don’t miss out on the char kway teoh (stir-fried flat noodles), laksa and Kueh Pie Tee, a classic Peranakan bite-sized pastry cup filled with vegetables and chopped prawns – trust me.

A number of vegetables, flowers and herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint are grown in the hotel’s urban rooftop farm and used in the hotel’s dishes. I also spotted a small passionfruit tree though it wasn’t bearing any fruit at the time. As is the case in most city hotels I believe it is still heavily reliant on external suppliers for produce rather than its own rooftop garden.

For those of you who don’t want to leave the comfort of the rooms at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, scan the QR code on the desk and order some in-room dining. I happily chomped down on my club sandwich and fries in bed after a long day of back-to-back meetings. Delivery was swift and the food was still steaming hot when it arrived.

Things to do around the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

Chinatown and the famous Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is just steps away, as is the bustling Boat Quay. For your dumpling fix head to the nearby Dumpling Darlings, and for the perfect flat white coffee go to Rough Guys Coffee – discreetly tucked away on the upper level of a traditional shophouse.

Plenty of vibrant street art lines the quiet alleyways in Chinatown – I loved going on a walk to discover all of the pieces along the Chinatown street art trail! Don’t miss the colourful and intricate Chinese Opera and Old Trades murals.

To get around, walk over to the neighboring Chinatown or Clarke Quay MRT stations (both of which are a 2-minute walk away), or book a Grab taxi. The hotel also offers free rental bicycles if you want to explore the streets of Singapore on two wheels and reduce your carbon footprint. Click here to check rates and availability at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering.

The verdict

The Singapore PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is one for the books. From the lush greenery that surrounds you at every corner and sustainability measures and features hardwired into the hotel’s DNA and ethos, to the stunning infinity pool overlooking the cityscape and fantastic food & beverage offerings, there’s a lot to love about this city hotel.

This is the perfect luxury stay in Singapore with a conscience and a lower environmental impact. Singapore hotels are often fully booked, so I recommend checking rates and availability at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering ahead of your trip to avoid missing out.

But you should also know: This hotel is a no-brainer for independent and business travelers, but aside from the infinity pool which has a small shallow end with stairs there are no other facilities for families traveling with very young children. If that is important to you, there are other options you might want to consider instead.

For those of you who are GHA Discovery members, you may be entitled to membership perks at Parkroyal Collection Pickering. Other well-known member hotel brands in the program include Anantara, Avani, Capella, Kempinski and Outrigger, which means that frequent travelers are most likely already signed up as a GHA Discovery member. I hope this PARKROYAL on Pickering review helps you to better plan your stay and know what to expect!

You might also find these Singapore guides helpful:

• Not sure where to start? Check out my guide to spending 3 days in Singapore
• If you love unique stays then you are in for a treat as Singapore has some seriously cool properties – from converted shophouses and warehouses to design-focused spa hotels. Here are a few personal recommendations for luxury and boutique hotels in Singapore

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I was hosted as media on a familiarization stay at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering. These media stays allow me to experience the property and give a first-hand, honest review of their rooms, facilities and service.

This article contains affiliate links. If you choose to book using these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my website by using these links.

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