Talking Fork

Hotel Jen is the 4 star creative cousin of the Shangri-la group. Catering to a new generation of independent travelers, this mid market offering is all about affordable quality, comfort and value with a playful twist and friendly service. Hotel Jen embraces the love for life and travel, helping adventurous souls explore and discover.

There are currently 10 Jen properties (most of which were Traders Hotels) at the moment across the Asia Pacific region, with each one offering a unique and creative neighborhood vibe.

Jen Hotel Tanglin in Singapore sits in a nice location just off Orchard Road and actually in quite close proximity to its sister property Jen Hotel Orchardway as well as the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It's a quiet and peaceful area and not too far away from the main shopping areas of Orchard Road but not really close to any MRT Station.

This hotel like many others in this market space is all about providing innovative and engaging experiences and a unique design style that is functional and bold. For Tanglin, the aesthetic was delivered by Hong Kong's BTR Workshop and features the heavy use of wood, locally crafted wall papers and a very thematic use of Singapore's ubiquitous bicycle to convey a distinct sense of local flavour.

The main restaurant named J65 sits a few steps down beyond this area and serves as the property's All Day Dining Concept. The menu changes daily in what is described as a dynamic menu approach and highlights local Singaporean flavors. The breakfast covers everything from English favorites to Chinese and local tastes. It is very good and close to the regular Shangri-la breakfast but not quite.

J65 is a very large space and voluminous in height. To one end lies the open kitchen, while at the other the original curved stairs of the property remain with a custom street art mural adorning the wall underneath. The stairs lead to the second floor bar named Rumpoles which is presented in an old school style. At the top of stairs looking down you will see the enormous light fittings that cover the entire ceiling area and is a big feature of this space.

The Club Rooms on the 17th Floor offer an enhanced stay and gives you access to the Club Lounge located on the same floor just to the side of the elevators. Filled with a mixture of wood paneling and floor boards, white brick walls and black framed, white marble side tables the rooms are an eclectic mix of tones and materials. The rooms also feature quirky touches from the original wall art and custom made brass light fittings to the denim encased mini bar and desk chair. The small sofa that runs along the bay window offers some nice views and that little bit of extra space. There is a contemporary styled writing desk that features an in house wifi phone that will allow you to make local calls, surf the web and find information on local attractions.

The king size beds are comfortable as always with Shangri-La, so too the pillows. There are lots of little details in the room that add a pounce of colour, from the bedside clock, desk ornaments and soft furnishings. There is reasonable amount of storage space at the room entry (with surprising little details) which is opposite the bathroom. This room comes with an exclusive key that provides 24-hour access to the Club Lounge, so you can grab yourself light snacks, coffee and comfortable lounge space any time. You'll get one piece of clothing pressed per stay and enjoy unlimited use of the business centre facilities. There's also a well positioned abundance of USB and power outlets to keep all your devices going strong.

The bathroom is definitely compact but well appointed with everything that you'll need including a rainfall shower. It features Jen branded toiletries which are quite nice. The stone flooring, white marble and black tiles all combine well to deliver a sense of sophistication which is contrasted nicely with the orange bin, tissue holder and illuminated wall detail. The Premier and Executive Suites are a step up again in space and and style and feature separate living areas and enhanced amenities.

There are some interesting and engaging elements across the property. In the main lobby there is an interactive map of Singapore where guests are encouraged to pin it with their favorite food hang outs. Elsewhere the signage is made of patinated metal and features an mixture of typography styles.

The stylish and comfortable Club Lounge comes across as a cafe and follows the same mix and match style of other areas and offers a delicious range of canapes for lunch and evening happy hour. There is a healthy selection of wine, spirits and beer where you will be able to make your own drinks and adjust the alcohol level to your liking. It features a deli style grab and go section of juices and soft drinks with several coffee machines for a quick pick me up. With complimentary magazines, newspapers, TV and wifi, many business travelers set up camp here and get down to work.

For an old building, Jen does well to revise the interiors in a multifaceted and layered way that creates interest and fresh new vibe. It is the exterior areas that quickly reveal that this is a renovated property and not a new build. The pool and surrounding areas with its concrete walls and terracotta tiles is leafy and green but fundamentally tired and in-congruent with the interior treatment. This is not an impediment to an enjoyable stay but there is noticeable difference between the inside and outside of the venue.

It is here that the fitness center and the hotel's other restaurant live. Ah Hoi's Kitchen is all about alfresco dining with authentic Singaporean flair. This local dining institution has anchored itself as a must-visit restaurant over the last few decades. Featuring live seafood, fiery Singapore Chili Crab, aromatic Black Pepper Crab, smoky Char Kway Teow and many other classics, the restaurant bases its approach to dining on the true flavours of Singapore Straits cuisine and offers a comfortable setting that reminds one of the street food stalls of an increasingly bygone era.

Bottom Line:

Ultimately, Jen Tanglin is a highly affordable and enjoyable destination that is perfect for a business stop over or stay-cation. It is also ideal for those looking to explore this part of the city without having to spend a whole lot on accommodation. The Club Suites offer excellent value for money given the ongoing refreshments and general attention to detail and facilitates that they offer and serve to greatly enhance the stay.

For locals, Jen Tanglin is positioning itself as a creative hub with a mixture of events and promotions from fashion to beauty to art. Regardless of your purpose for visiting Singapore, this is a hotel that you will definitely want to explore at some point.