Originally opened in 1971, Shangri-La Singapore is Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' first property. Today, it remains one of Singapore’s most beloved and long-standing five-star hotels, famous for hosting dignitaries and high-level international summits. It is cloistered in the leafy and exclusive Tanglin area, just a stone’s throw from the World Heritage listed Singapore Botanical Gardens and Nassim Road, a quiet, and tree-lined street that is home to some of Singapore’s most prestigious real estate.
An exclusive address — where diplomats and heads-of-state stay
The Shangri-La Singapore is made up of three “wings”, each cloistered into a different corner of the 15-acre tropical grounds and offering a different atmosphere.
The Valley Wing is the most traditional of the three and the chosen wing of visiting heads of state and dignitaries, thanks to its private entrance and butler service. The lobby of the Valley Wing is nothing if not stately, decked out in white marble and crystal chandeliers and dominated by a majestic 8.6-meter mural in the Chinese style that is inspired by the mythical Himalayan idyll of Shangri-La, from which the name of the Shangri-La hotel chain itself is said to have been inspired. The Valley Wing rooms are decorated in a traditional style, with carved wooden furniture, patterned upholstered armchairs and sofas, and porcelain table lamps that evoke a classical English sensibility. Guests of the Valley Wing can enjoy an exclusive breakfast in the Valley Wing’s Summit Room, daily afternoon tea at The Valley Wing Lobby Lounge and daily evening canapes at the Valley Wing’s Marble Bar.
The Tower Wing and Horizon Club
The oldest, the Tower Wing, is – as the name suggests – a 24-storey tower housing the hotel’s main lobby and most of its dining outlets. Although opened when the hotel was built all those years ago, the Tower Wing is contemporary and stylish, having been treated to an eight-month facelift during 2017 at the hands of Tokyo-based designer Ryoichi Niwata. Niwata took inspiration from the hotel's surrounding greenery as well as the stone and water gardens and this approach is evident through details such as the canopy of thousands of stylised metallic leaves hanging from the lobby ceiling (a creation of another Japanese, artist Hirotoshi Sawada) and the Lobby Lounge’s 9m-tall basalt rock feature wall, which is adorned by real plants that are potted and hung on the wall.
A highlight of the Tower Wing is the Horizon Club lounge (available to club room and suite guests), an expansive space occupying the top floor of the Tower Wing and boasting panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows lining both sides of the building. The Horizon Club lounge offers breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canapes. The breakfast spread is generous and I fully recommend upgrading to the Horizon Club to benefit from a more exclusive dining experience compared to The Line, which is the hotel’s main all-day dining restaurant on the ground floor.
Adjacent to the Tower Wing is the Garden Wing, a lower-rise complex built around an outdoor atrium featuring a real, living and breathing micro-rainforest. The rooms of the Garden Wing, with their wooden flooring, ceiling fans and wide planter-lined balconies, evoke a more barefoot, colonial vibe. There are even adorable turtle friends that call it home here!
“Singapore’s second botanical garden”
The lush, green environs of the Shangri-La are replicated within the hotel’s own grounds, which the hotel proclaims to be Singapore’s “Second Botanical Gardens”. It’s not an unfair moniker: here, soaring tropical palms, a magnificent banyan tree, serene water lily ponds, manicured flowerbeds and well-tended orchids all combine to create a veritable urban resort – not in the sense used to describe those skyline party pool hotspots that are so “in” right now (IYKYK), but in the sense of a serene Equatorial oasis, a respite from the relentless energy of the city outside.
Wellness & Spa
Within a sanctuary of emerald palms and tropical greenery, the large outdoor pool serves as an enclave for effortless repose. Here, cool, crystalline water offers a welcome respite from the midday tropical heat, inviting you to take a dip or simply recline with a cool drink in hand and enjoy immersion in nature.
If you are feeling athletic, a beautiful tennis court also invites you for a match or two, set beneath the canopy of towering palm trees that rustle in the breeze.
Luxurious yet quietly grounded, Chi, The Spa, is as an intimate sanctuary devoted to personal stillness and holistic well-being. Intuitive therapists harness refined technique and an attentive, restorative touch to renew fatigued muscles and calm overstimulated senses.
Dining
The culinary craft here rivals both the stunning setting and the refined service, offering a series of dining experiences for travellers as well as local diners.
The Lobby Lounge
The Lobby Lounge is a plush yet relaxed space where you can enjoy Singaporean and Malaysian classics from the comfort of a capacious armchair overlooking the verdant greenery outside.
Even the bookshelves invite slow contemplation, curated with storied volumes on Singapore’s vibrant heritage, architectural chronicles, and Nonya literature celebrating rich Peranakan culture.
Generous portions of local favourites like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa, Bak Kut Teh, Assam Pedas, Beef Rendang, Hokkien Mee, and traditional kueh are delicious, authentically prepared and reasonably priced.
Beng Hiang
Tracing its lineage back nearly five decades to a modest Chinatown shophouse, Beng Hiang has long stood as an enduring pillar of Singapore’s culinary soul, evolving through historic enclaves before finding its latest home in the Shangri-La Singapore. Originally conceived by three visionary Hokkien founders, the institution built an impassioned following anchored in soulful regional cooking, deep communal kinship, and a reverence for heirloom recipes passed through generations. Today, the restaurant enters an elevated new era without surrendering an ounce of its original warmth or authenticity.
Waterfall Ristorante Italiano
Waterfall Ristorante Italiano serves Southern Italian cuisine surrounded by tranquil greenery, in an intimate, unhurried atmosphere. The kitchen focuses on heritage cooking, delicate house-made pastas, and prime coastal seafood elevated by seasonal harvests, while a curated cellar offers a vintage tour across Italy’s most renowned wine regions. The authenticity here is genuine, evidenced by the restaurant holding the official Ospitalità Italiana seal from the Italian government—a distinguished benchmark honouring true regional culinary tradition and world-class hospitality.
Shang Palace
Shang Palace is the hotel’s elegant Cantonese restaurant, known for its refined take on classic dishes and an extensive wine list to match. A fixture of Cantonese fine dining since 1971, Shang Palace honours the depth, elegance, and vitality of Cantonese cuisine. Here, cherished heritage recipes are thoughtfully reimagined for the contemporary palate.
Origin Grill
For Western fare, Origin Grill offers a moody, urban atmosphere and a classic steakhouse menu — think prime cuts, crab cakes, and bold salads.
