Serial staycationers, a spanking new boutique hotel is now open in Robertson Quay. Dreamy lofts, an Instagram-worthy design and great grub at Beast & Butterflies awaits at M Social: our favourite new weekend pad
Singapore’s hotel scene has never been more exciting – swish pads are constantly sprouting up all over the city, racking up serious notches on our staycay list. The latest to join the cream of the crop in boutique retreats? M Social. Sporting cutting-edge premises (in both design and tech), this millennial magnet is the city’s hippest hotspot of the moment.
Located in the quiet precinct of Robertson Quay, M Social’s proximity to the best eating spots – cool cafes and riverside restaurants included – already makes this a winner in our books. A five minute walk takes you to speciality roasters like Toby’s Estate and Common Man Coffee Roasters for brunch. Trotting to dinner in your heels? Don’t sweat it – famed restaurants like Les Bouchons and Bella Pasta are only minutes away.
Hot on the heels of design-driven (and Instagrammed-to-death) hotels, M Social trumps its competitors with one major selling point: it’s designed by renowned French design maverick, Phillipe Starck. His famed influence is apparent from the get-go; bronze sculptures greet visitors from the driveway – one includes what Starck himself calls a “mystery” – while eye-catching, patterned titles lead up to the reception area, where a 10-metre long table awaits on an alabaster floor lit from the inside.
Adjacent to the lobby is Beast & Butterflies, the hotel’s in-house resto. Stepping into the psychedelic space feels a lot like going down the rabbit hole. A brilliantly bizarre combination of textures and light will immediately arrest your senses; tan leather and retro-style checked sofas sit pretty beside clusters of lava lamps and stacks of books (perfect for a breakfast read – we spotted Martin Amis’s Time’s Arrow). Eight different chandeliers hang lavishly from the ceiling, while black columns lining the space showcase painted murals by Spanish artist Luis Urculo. Add the Starck-ling mish-mash of prints and diverse lighting options and you’ve got a masterpiece.
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But let’s get to what you’re dying to know. Next to Beast & Butterflies, rooms are tamer in design, but no less chic nor avant-garde. Our stay for the weekend was the duplex-style Loft Gallery room with a generous high ceiling and sleek, mirrored surfaces. But despite its cutting-edge interiors, the room remained wonderfully “snuggish”. Tufted leather and plush linens in cream and taupe make up the firm yet cosy bed while designer lamps pepper the room’s space. FYI: Accommodation options at M Social range from the Alcove rooms (with their distinctive inverted V ceiling) to the Loft Terrace rooms which boast lush outdoor gardens.
Simply from its name, it’s obvious that M Social is a millennial magnet. Self check-in kiosks line its lobby area, and communal spaces – from its long desk in the reception area to its communal tables in Beast & Butterflies – are aplenty for networking. Wall-mounted tablets, where artists from all over can submit their creations for exhibition, accompany diners through meals. Free Wi-Fi is available hotel-wide – perfect for when you’re writing up a storm in your room, ‘gramming your breakfast in the restaurant or hunting Pokemon poolside.
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And if you get peckish, know that Beast & Butterflies knocks it out of the park. Much like its whimsical design, its cuisine seamlessly melds influences, resulting in a borderless, “food for all” menu. Light and refreshing starters like the Crab & Leaves ($22) and Fragrant Sea ($26) whet appetites for meaty mains. The popular Beast Burger ($28) is oh-so-tender and goes perfectly with the accompanying crispy garlic cheese fries. But the real showstopper here is the Beef Ichiban (wagyu beef marinated with soy-mirin-garlic sauce). The price tag ($60) is worth every penny – the dish is incredibly tender and boasts bags of flavours.
Desserts-wise, we tried a four-in-one platter made up of the restaurant’s famed sweet treats. The Chocoholic ($10), composed of a chocolate and banana sphere, sichuan pepper sauce and passionfruit sorbet, is a match made in heaven for cocoa fans. But if you’ve got more of an Asian palate, dive into the Sawadee ($12) – much like a crispy mango sticky rice – as well as the Yam brulee ($10), a creamy, full-flavoured take on the French dessert. If you’re still hungry after all that, read our full restaurant review.
Despite its buzzy restaurant and tech-driven amenities that kept us connected to the real world, we got the respite we deserved – after all, it’d be impossible not to with such comfy abodes. A weekend at M Social simply wasn’t enough for us. We’re booking the Loft Terrace on our next stay; it’s the most spacious of the lot and has a handy little outdoor garden for star-gazing (which we did while we pool-idled through the night).
M Social Singapore, 90 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238259, p. 6206 1888.