The Robertson House by The Crest Collection

Rooms and decor

Picture a building with a bright red tiled roof sitting right on the Singapore River on the Robertson Quay side — enough of a landmark that people walking the waterfront promenade turn to look. That is the first bit of charm at The Robertson House by The Crest Collection, a 336-room upscale hotel that takes a historic riverside building and reworks it in an industrial-chic look, mixing exposed brick, black steel and warm-toned wood with real taste. Open the door and you get a sharp, contemporary scheme that clearly feels different from the usual chain hotel — more like staying in a design-led city apartment than a standard room. The beds are comfortable, the seating corners are well laid out, and many rooms face the river or the handsomely restored old shophouses along it. Waking up to draw the curtains on light bouncing off the water is the atmosphere reviewers praise as stylish and photogenic. If you like a stay with character rather than a plain four-square room, the design here should land especially well.

Food and amenities

If this hotel has one star turn, it is the infinity pool, built so the edge seems to merge with the Singapore River below — the water set against the river and the buildings on the far bank is the shot guests post over and over. Beside it sits a poolside bar for a cocktail or a cold drink while small bumboats slide past at dusk, and the sunset hour here is genuinely a treat for anyone who loves sitting by the water. There is also a fitness centre for a workout on a rest day, plus breakfast to start the morning before heading out. What wins people over at this price is the sense of getting solid facilities for a friendly rate, especially the free shuttle running to the MRT, the Orchard shopping belt and the CBD — a service reviews single out as both economical and handy for getting into town. All round, it manages to be stylish and good value at the same time.

Location and getting there

The setting is on the Singapore River along Robertson Quay, the calmer upstream stretch that is quieter than the busier bar strip further along. The best part is that you can walk the waterfront promenade from the hotel to Clarke Quay — the well-known riverside nightlife district packed with restaurants and bars — in about 12 minutes, so you get riverside calm coming back to rest and night-time fun when you want to go out. As for getting into town, the hotel is not on an MRT station directly, but the free shuttle runs to the MRT, the Orchard shopping belt and the CBD, making it easy to hop into the city to shop, work, or connect onward by train to Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay. The area around the hotel has its own appeal too, full of cafés and stylish restaurants in restored old shophouses — good for a morning stroll or a relaxed coffee. If your idea of a trip is waking up to a riverside walk with the occasional run into town, this spot is a tidy, good-value fit.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, a few honest notes. First, getting around by MRT: the hotel is not right by a station, so you rely on the scheduled free shuttle or a walk to the train that takes a while. If you are used to staying one step from a station exit, you may need to plan your timing and check the shuttle schedule ahead — and on days with heavy luggage or a tight schedule, a taxi or Grab to the door will be easier. Second, room size: some room types run fairly compact in the Singapore city-hotel style, and a few reviews felt the storage or bathroom was smaller than expected, so if you want more space or are travelling as a group, pick a larger room type and check the details when booking. Third, the neighbourhood feel: Robertson Quay is a relaxed riverside area built around cafés and laid-back spots, so late-night food or souvenirs within walking distance are not as busy as at Clarke Quay or in the city centre — for more variety late at night you will walk to Clarke Quay or take the shuttle out. On the whole these are trade-offs for the good value and the fine riverside setting.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, The Robertson House by The Crest Collection nails one thing: stylish riverside atmosphere, industrial-chic design and a river-view infinity pool at a price you can actually reach. If the trip in your head is staying in an iconic red-roofed building on the water, sinking into the infinity pool to watch boats go by, sipping a drink at the poolside bar at dusk, then walking the river to a night out at Clarke Quay, this is a very good-value pick — especially for couples wanting a chic, romantic riverside feel and travellers after value in a good location without paying luxury-hotel rates. But if the heart of your trip is staying one step from an MRT station or you need an especially large room, the location and design-first focus here are worth a second thought. Overall we give it 8.2/10, best suited to couples and travellers who love a riverside design hotel that delivers both style and value in one place.