InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay sits on the Singapore River, five minutes' drive from the central business district. The riverfront address suits couples and business travellers who want a calmer base within reach of the city. Two hundred and twenty-five rooms occupy ten floors, check-in opens at three in the afternoon, and the hotel is smoke-free throughout. Rates run from room only to dinner, bed and breakfast, and a Club rate that adds lounge access.

Rooms are bathed in natural light through floor-to-ceiling glass panels, finished with a touch of residential chic. The Classic category covers Studio and Deluxe Studio rooms, and the suites run from the Junior Suite up to the Penthouse Suite. Every room carries a Bose sound bar, a Nespresso coffee machine and internet access. River views, walk-in showers and lounge access come with selected categories, and connecting rooms can be arranged.

Loaner bikes let you follow the river path and reach the neighbouring quays under your own steam. The Club InterContinental Lounge looks out over Robertson Quay, adds a daily cocktail hour with canapes and handles check-out for those on the rate. The Quay Insider, the concierge team's own guide to the neighbourhood, points you towards local favourites and cultural finds rather than the obvious stops.

A single outdoor pool sits on the fourth floor and opens from six in the morning until ten at night. Loungers, towel service and bottled water are provided, and it suits laps as readily as a quiet hour out of the city pace. The fitness centre is open to residents, though the hotel does not publish its opening hours. No spa is listed at the property, so treatments do not form part of the offer here.

Five restaurants and bars operate on site. Publico Ristorante seats 220 beside the water at The Quayside and serves classic Italian cooking with a contemporary turn. Wolfgang's Steakhouse deals in dry-aged beef, while ISHI seats 28 around a sushi counter and a private room. Ummi Lebanese Dining works with fresh organic produce, and CODA pours cocktails built on Asian spirits across fifteen seats. Room service runs around the clock.

Fort Canning MRT Station is the nearest stop on the rail network. Fort Canning Park climbs the hill close by, with wartime bunkers and a spice garden full of local spices. Further out, the Singapore Botanic Gardens cover 82 hectares and hold more than 10,000 species of flora, the National Gallery Singapore occupies two restored national monuments, and Gardens by the Bay holds the Cloud Forest waterfall.