PUBLISHED October 25th, 2022 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 01:31 pm
Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore is the new aparthotel brand’s first property to open in Asia, following its London debut in June this year. Located at OUE Downtown in Singapore’s vibrant business district, it was rebranded from Oakwood Premier OUE Singapore. Dao (‘道’ in Chinese) translates as ‘the way’, and Dao by Dorsett is inspired by the belief that every person should be able to create their own path towards harmony.
Dao by Dorsett’s approach to hospitality spans three pillars – Harmonious, Custom-Fit and Social – and allows staycationers and travellers alike to ‘live their way’, as we find out for ourselves.
The Location
Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore is spread across the upper floors of mixed-use development OUE Downtown. The first floor of the building is pumping with activity: hipster coffeeshops and check out the eclectic retail shops take up most of it. And if you’re in the mood for food, Telok Ayer and Lau Pa Sat are just a short walk away.
The lobby on level seven, though, is quite the contrast. The high-ceilinged space with its plush carpeting, marbled floors, and intricate overhead lighting comes across on point of a luxury home. They’ve eschewed the typical reception counters for desks with cushy seats that make the check-in process that much more comfortable.
Part of that process here, is also for guests to pick a houseplant from the custom-built Dao Plant Library. Presented by local company The Botanist & Her Thieves, adopting a houseplant during a hotel stay is certainly something new for us. The staff are happy to provide care tips to new plant parents too.
The Rooms
Accommodation options at Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore start from the Studio Deluxe King at a very decent 28 square metres; the One-Bedroom Executive Suite category we tried out ranges between 46 to 54 square metres. The living space boasted unique views of Singapore’s port, and adjacent to it is the laundrette and kitchenette that’s more well-equipped than my home kitchen. In the pantry, you’ll find Nespresso coffee, Bacha coffee, and TWG tea for that caffeine kick.
The comfort of the bedroom is without doubt and comfortable enough for longer stays, though the bathroom is not not overly generous in size and lacks a key feature we look for on staycations – a bathtub. The sustainability approach in the rooms work too, with bathroom amenities from vegan-friendly beauty brand Abyssian dispensed from recyclable and refillable aluminium bottles. Long-stay guests also get a new water filter upon arrival to use with the in-room BRITA Filter Jug set-up.
Select room categories welcome pets, with up to two fur kids allowed in each apartment at S$20 each, per day. Comfortable beds, treats, toys and bowls are all on offer, though we didn’t manage to keep Nala and Leo overnight as the room was missing a litter box. The restriction on our canine friends are up to 14kg and 25cm in height. Just make sure their vaccinations are up to date if you’re on paw parent mode!
The Experiences
The folks at Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore also try their best to empower guests with choice and flexibility throughout the stay. For an experimental evening in, we opted for a seasonal fresh produce box curated by local company Avo & Co. The staff were happy to offer some butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper from the hotel’s kitchen, so we managed to whip up a meal of Spanish omelette and pan-fried sea bass. The living room did smell like fish after, so we would recommend using the oven instead.
If you always feel the need to move, the wellness partners of Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore include Haus Athletics and Boulder Movement. Both are offering complimentary trial classes for guests, while Absolute Cycle even brings the studio to the room upon request. Spin bikes can be delivered to each room along with a wide variety of on-demand classes.
Facilities & Services
Prefer working out the old-school way? The infinity pool and fitness centre are located on the seventh floor. Room service runs relatively late into the night, with last order at 10.15pm and food from the property’s contemporary restaurant, Collective. Some stay packages will include cocktails and canapés at The Living Room on level seven, a space styled similarly to the lobby.
Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore’s approach to hospitality is admirable, given the extensive range of partners they’re working with to offer guests experiences that we likely won’t find in other hotels. Given that the current management has only take oven since July and our experience working in hospitality, we’re giving them the benefit of teething issues. Our stay was not unenjoyable but there are definitely areas for improvement.
Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore is located at OUE Downtown, 6 Shenton Way, Level 7 (lobby), Singapore 068809.