Singapore Staycation Spotlight: The Clan Hotel Brews Up Nostalgic Luxury With Plenty of Tea in Telok Ayer

PUBLISHED May 11th, 2021 06:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2021 12:38 pm

Most luxe hotels have a spiffy doorman or two by the entrance, poised with words of welcome. As we step out of our limo at The Clan Hotel, however, what greets us is the sound of a gong – three deep booms that reverberate off the shophouses of Amoy Street and seem to hark back to a less gentrified era. Our welcome team ushers us into a hushed lift lobby, a subtle floral scent in the air enfolds us, and we’re abruptly in a different realm.

Tucked in the heart of Telok Ayer, Far East Hospitality’s latest property gives five-star luxury a nostalgic touch. A gleaming 30-story building within Far East Square, The Clan Hotel spotlights the area’s rich heritage of clan associations for Chinese settlers. This heritage flavour peppers the whole experience here in delicious style, from the décor to the drinks.

Location & Space

Steps away from Telok Ayer MRT, the hotel sits a stone’s throw from both the skyscrapers of the CBD and the shophouses of Chinatown. You might say that it itself embodies a crossroads of modernity and history, beginning with the lobby – a double-height affair of dark wood and marble that evokes a sumptuous teahouse. Lofty shelves display heritage curios like colossal ink brushes, and teapots of all shapes, and S$1,000 umbrellas. The floor-to-ceiling windows are angled perfectly for sunset views, allowing soft light to gild a flock of origami pieces floating from the ceiling.

Just as clans once offered a haven of support and kinship for Chinese settlers, the Clan strives to give guests something beyond mere luxury – a sense of belonging. Hence, a check-in experience that involves a welcome tea ceremony by the hotel’s dedicated tea master. As we fill out forms, we get to refresh ourselves with bite-sized tau sar piah (sweet bean paste cookies) and oolong tea – fitting, given that Singapore’s oldest Hakka clan association is a stroll away.

Rooms

Sleek and monochrome, the hotel’s 324 rooms span three categories – Deluxe, Premier, and Grand Premier. While fabulous views are a given, the 60 Premier and 18 Grand Premier rooms are all corner rooms, which means two full walls of windows offering glorious, 270-degree panoramas of the city.

Our Premier Room (S$440 nett) is a spacious affair at 31 square metres, with a king bed and views clear over Marina Boulevard to the sea. Premier and Grand Premier guests enjoy a slew of customized room amenities, so besides peppery bak kut teh cookies and more Pryce tea blends, we also get our pick of in-room refreshments. We’re talking treats like smoked cheese crackers, sea salt-laced chocolate, and The Clan Beer – the hotel’s very own chrysanthemum lager, crafted together with The 1925 Brewing Co. Munch on these as you stream shows on your Chromecast-enabled smart TV, or sprawl on the chaise lounge beside the window.

As we’re shown around the room by The Clan Keeper – a personal butler of sorts – we’re also offered a choice from three handcrafted bars of soap. We ask for one suitable for sensitive skin and are recommended the ‘Relaxing’, a gentle option rich with oats and essential oils. In lieu of bottled water, there’s a tap fitted with a Hyflux water filter in the bathroom. And while we hardly need a heated toilet seat in Singapore, it’s still a fun touch, complete with motion sensors and bidet. The noises from its regular self-cleaning can get unnerving at night though, so if it bothers you, check with your friendly Clan Keeper on how to turn it off.

Facilities & Services

Perched on the 30th floor, the rooftop Sky Pool is a stunner, with eight loungers semi-immersed into the water. Given the pool’s narrowness, it’s clearly more for soaking up the sunset than serious laps – but there’s no denying the views are more than distracting enough.

Just round the corner is the Sky Gym, and it might be the most spectacular gym in Singapore we’ve seen yet. There’s plenty of eye candy here, thanks to two walls of full-length windows flooding the room with sky-high views and serene light. Besides treadmills and rowing machines, you can switch things up with trampolines and even a Wing Chun wooden dummy. Best of all, it’s open 24/7 – no fretting about vying for limited slots.

You’ll find tons of cultural gems in the area, but for a deeper dive, the Clan has crafted heritage experiences like sandal-making workshops and food tours for an add-on fee. Our Brewery Culture & Tasting Tour took us to the far west for a tour of The 1925 Brewing Co.’s Mandai microbrewery, including a fun overview on the history of beer-brewing. We then hopped over to their Joo Chiat restaurant for a taste of their famed Teochew fish porridge and durian-brewed Musang King Beer (sold-out by now, sadly).

F&B

While Telok Ayer is a dining oasis, you’ll want to stay in for at least one meal. A Tung Lok Group concept, QĪN Restaurant & Bar dishes up hearty breakfasts in the morning and bold remixes of Chinese classics the rest of the day. Daring to deconstruct our local favourite, the Chili Crab Crostini (S$25) might be more salad than seafood – but the results are surprisingly tasty. Think refreshing layers of crab shreds, avocado, pomelo, and a fiery orange jelly made from chili crab sauce, carefully arranged to suggest a crab shell.

Our Kurobuta (S$38) pork rack arrives overcooked and somewhat dry, but dessert saves the day. The Hot and Cold ‘Orh Nee’ (S$12) features warm taro soy milk poured over yam paste and pumpkin sponge, with a smoky punch from fried shallots. Meanwhile, the Rose Love Letter (S$12) is as luscious to look at as to eat. Served in a dainty butterfly sheath, the love letters ooze bandung-infused cream while staying magically crisp. Upstairs on the mezzanine floor sits the bar, with a small curation of Chinese cocktails such as assam whisky-laced Tic Tac (S$25).

The Clan Hotel is located at 10 Cross Street, Singapore 048417, p. +65 6228 6388. Rates start from S$350++ per night for the Deluxe Room. An Opening Promo of 10% off room rates is currently available till 31 May 2021.