GETTING HERE:
Disembark at EW14/NS26 Raffles Place Station. Head toward the Singapore River and turn right along the riverfront. You will see the hotel right away.

DESCRIPTION:
A star attraction in Raffles Place's vicinity (apart from The Merlion, of course), The Fullerton Hotel boasts an intricate neo-classical architecture and profoundly rich in history. This five-star rated hotel of 400 rooms and suites interestingly started as The General Post Office back in the 1920s. It was named after Robert Fullerton, the first Governor of the Straits Settlements (Back then, the Straits Settlements consisted of Singapore, Malacca and Penang). The building changed hands a few times, with the likes of the exclusive Singapore Club as well as Singapore's Inland Revenue Authority, before finally a major restoration work had successfully converted it into a luxurious hotel managed by The Far East Organisation.

Indeed, the building is imposing in its own right. You can circle the exterior in a few minutes while basking in its majestic glory. Roman-influenced concrete beams, towering glass-plated windows and steel frames are the proofs of the meticulous design and construction process taken to erect this behemoth.

Of course I did not venture inside, although if you are not a hotel guest, you can still enjoy the many plush restaurants in offering at The Fullerton - Town Restaurant, The Courtyard, Post Bar and Jade (a Chinese restaurant). Across the street on Fullerton Road is a fancy Italian restaurant hosted by San Marco at The Lighthouse by Singapore River, which is an integral part of the hotel complex.

The rooms offered in The Fullerton are aptly named to signify its past history - Post Master, Courtyard, Quay, Heritage and Esplanade. The suites are even more so - Palladian, Loft, Fullerton, Governor and Presidential. I dare not checking how much the cheapest room would cost you here. But really, here at The Fullerton, you get what you pay for.

MY VERDICT:
Singapore's past colonial architecture at its best!