by Coleen Leong
One of Singapore’s most iconic heritage buildings in the Central Business District has been refreshed and began a new chapter as QT Singapore, after a stylish overhaul by celebrated Australian interior designer Nic Graham, known for his bold use of colours and playful patterns.
The 134-room hotel is the first Southeast Asian outpost for award-winning designer hotel collection QT Hotels & Resorts, which is part of EVT Hotels & Resorts.
Just a year old, but QT Singapore has already made waves by being the only Singapore hotel on TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2025.
In a former life, the 1927 neo-classical style building which houses the hotel served as the headquarters of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. It then became the Cable and Wireless Building, and in 1995, the Telecommunications Authority of Singapore. In 2001, the Ogilvy Centre took over, and in 2014, the building housed SO/ Singapore. Between September 2022 and April 2024, the building was home to Hotel Telegraph, Singapore.
The four-storey curved building on Robinson Road was given conservation status in 2000, preserving its stately stone façade with symmetrical coupled columns, recessed balconies guarded with cast-iron balustrades and semi-circular arch openings.
We spotlight 4 best things about staying at the hotel.
Rest & Relax in Playful, Designer Rooms & Suites
The chic 134 rooms and suites are split across a preserved heritage wing and a constructed building which are linked by a light-filled atrium.
Inspired by Singapore’s colourful past, rooms and suites sport high ceilings, large windows, wainscotting panels that pay homage to the building’s colonial soul, wooden herringbone floors, bold geometric-patterned carpets and cushions, and a gorgeous skylight-inspired panel above fluffy QT Dream Beds.
Mini bars are equipped with Nespresso coffee machines and stocked with Nespresso-compatible pods from Margaret River Roasting Co., and a Japanese cast iron teapot for brewing a selection of Monogram teas. In the white marble-walled bathrooms are bath products created by Australian hairstylist Kevin Murphy and a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.
A highly sought-after suite is the sprawling 90 sqm QT Premier Suite which has a lounge, dining area, and a drinks cabinet filled with premium wines and spirits. The spacious bathroom boasts a freestanding white Tulle bathtub, made from a luxurious blend of repurposed marble and stone, double sinks, a vanity area, and a roomy walk-in shower area with two rain showers and two hand showers!
Another coveted space is the 80 sqm QT Balcony Suite which offers bustling views of Robinson Road from colonnaded balconies.
An iPad by the bedside conveniently serves as a control panel for the TV, Bose speakers, lights, curtains, in-room dining and amenity services.
Indulge in top-quality steaks & fresh Pacific oysters at Cygnet by Sean Connolly
Get ready for a feast headlined by juicy steaks and fresh oysters at Cygnet, a bar-and-grill restaurant inspired by classic Manhattan steakhouses, helmed by Yorkshire-born chef and restaurateur Sean Connolly.
Chef Connolly’s “Meat Library” offerings in the dinner menu are guaranteed to send steak lovers to meat heaven! Cuts include F1 Wagyu Picanha Rump Cap Steak MB4/5, F4 Wagyu Tri Tip MB4/7, Wagyu MB9+ Eye Fillet, and Wagyu Omi Tokyo Strip.
For seafood fans there are crowd favourites like the Black Cod with Leek and Clam Chowder, Crab Linguini tossed in Chilli and topped with Salmon Roe, Roasted Seabass with Gnocchi and Salsa Verde, and Charcoal Baked Squid with Pistachio Pesto and Small Leaves.
PROMOS & OFFERS
• Oyster lovers will not want to miss one of the best oyster deals in town. Order a main dish from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and enjoy fresh Pacific oysters at only $1 each!
• In-house guests get 25% off their total dinner bill at Cygnet by Sean Connolly and complimentary first glass of wine or beer.
Kick back with New York literary-inspired cocktails at Cygnet Bar
Exuding Manhattan vibes, the intimate bar on the ground floor is the perfect spot to unwind and sip on a little decadence.
Cygnet’s cocktails creatively blend New York’s literary legacy with Southeast Asian flavours. The 16-drink menu unfolds in two chapters: The Lion’s Library celebrates cocktails inspired by literary classics, while The City That Never Sleeps showcases New York classics reinvented with Southeast Asian influences.
Must-trys from The Lion’s Library include Here Is New York, E.B. White’s timeless love letter to the city with bourbon, apple brandy, cinnamon and bitters, topped with a layer of luscious cream; Memoirs of a Geisha, which offers a complex sensory journey with its blend of Campari, Sichuan pepper-infused strawberry syrup and white rum; and Up In The Old Hotel, which pays homage to the work of Joseph Mitchell, a longtime writer for The New Yorker, with rye, bitters and a dash of mood.
Crowd-favourites from The City The Never Sleeps include Penicillin, which replaces traditional ginger with galangal to create a more complex, aromatic profile alongside bourbon oak smoke; Vesper, a nod to James Bond’s lover in Casino Royale with house-made pomelo bitters and regional spices like cinnamon, cloves and saffron; and Hemingway Daiquiri, Ernest Hemingway’s choice drink, a blend of Planteray Sealander rum, coconut liqueur, grapefruit and lime, at El Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba.
PROMOS & OFFERS
• Don’t miss The Cygnet Hour, from 5pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, where rotating (monthly) cocktails start at $12 a pop, $22 for two and $30 for three. Classic cocktails go for $15 each or $26 a pair, while house pours start at $13 for single or $21 double.
• The oyster promo continues during the Shuck Yeah! promo every Wednesday from 5pm to 8pm. Oyster lovers can savour up to 12 oysters at only $1 each with their drink of choice.
Enjoy sunny dips & sundowners in style at Rooftop at QT
There’s nothing quite like enjoying refreshing drinks with the wind in your hair on a rooftop bar. Nestled among sleek skyscrapers, Rooftop at QT is right next to the hotel’s 25m lap pool which sports a distinctive geometric pattern.
Soak up the views while sipping on some ice-cold beer, chilled frescas or mezcal margaritas, and indulging in moreish bites like Fried Chicken, Buffalo Fried Cauliflower, Ocean Shelf Oysters, Shoestring Fries, Prawn Tacos and Pulled Short Rib BBQ Sauce Tacos.
PROMOS & OFFERS
• The rooftop bar’s Sunset Spritz at Rooftop at QT ritual is guaranteed to put you in high spirits – literally! From 5pm to 8pm daily, enjoy golden hour views and cool breezes while sipping on $12 Aperol and Campari cocktails, curated beers and wines by the glass.
