This upscale boutique opened in 2010 is one of the newest hotels on the Marina Bay waterfront. It's intimate by Singapore hotel standards (100 rooms), and with its top-notch service and wonderful amenities, the property feels exclusive and private. Spacious rooms have masculine decor, with dark colors and wood accents, and come equipped with high-end amenities, including Egyptian cotton linens, Molton Brown toiletries, Nespresso coffeemakers, and iPod docks. Double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning bay and skyline views. The vistas can also be enjoyed from the balconies and the deep soaking tubs (note that the glass walls between the tubs and the rooms do have privacy shades). The stylish rooftop bar, the huge pool, and the great dining options round out the experience.

The 608-room Ritz-Carlton Millenia is one of the premier luxury options in Singapore. Notable highlights include the grand lobby with glass roof, huge rooms with incredible views of the water, and an extensive art collection with works by Andy Warhol and Dale Chihuly. Upscale rooms are decorated in neutral colors and feature flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. Minibars are well-stocked and bathrooms have separate soaking tubs and showers. The hotel is packed with amenities, including a 24-hour business center, pool, fitness center, and spa. There are three restaurants on-site and the location is in the Marina Bay area, within walking distance to the heart of downtown.

The 37-room AMOY by Far East Hospitality is an upscale boutique hotel created from a temple and historic shop houses. Its location in the Central Business District and close to Chinatown is ideal for both leisure and business travelers, with numerous shops, restaurants, businesses, and attractions nearby. It's also just a five-minute walk to the MRT station. Historic rooms are charming and feature traditional Chinese furnishings alongside sharp contemporary accents, although they can be small. The list of freebies is long, including airport transportation, a welcome drink, breakfast, minibar items, Wi-Fi, and parking, though features are thin. Travelers looking for a nearby boutique hotel with more amenities could check out The Scarlet Hotel, which also has lower rates. 

The Raffles in Singapore is a sight many visit even if they are not staying at the hotel; the colonial-style building opened in 1887, and after extensive renovations, reopened in 1991. It has hosted everyone from Glenn Close to the Queen of England and it has a hall of fame to prove it. Numerous amenities contribute to its iconic feel, including a shopping arcade with high-end shops such as Louis Vuitton, antique-filled common areas, and beautiful gardens. The hotel also features fifteen restaurants and bars, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a luxurious spa. All rooms are spacious suites with classic decor, including oriental rugs and mahogany furniture -- but the old tube TVs could use an upgrade. This hotel is a solid luxury choice for business and leisure travelers, and anyone who appreciates history and old-fashioned charm.

The Pan Pacific Singapore is a luxury, business-oriented hotel that towers over its Marina Bay District in downtown Singapore. The soaring hotel atrium is reportedly the highest and the lobby bar the longest in Southeast Asia -- and the overall effect is visually staggering. Its 790 immaculately finished, wood-tone rooms come with 32-inch smart TVs, stocked minibars, large work spaces, and designer touches; some suites have separate living areas and kitchenettes. The round swimming pool comes with underwater acoustics, and the 24-hour fitness center is packed with a wide array of equipment, including exercise balls and free weights. The on-site St. Gregory spa offers traditional Chinese therapies. Travelers might also want to check out the Marina Mandarin next door, which has slightly lower rates. 

Naumi Hotel is a super-stylish, upscale boutique hotel located in Singapore's business district, surrounded by excellent restaurants and high-end shopping. While the hotel's highlight is the superb infinity pool with awesome city views, the 73 guest rooms are also impressive with outstanding technology -- though beware some are small and windowless. The Naumi is one of the most hip and happening hotels in the city, but if travelers want something a bit more traditional, the Conrad Centennial Singapore near the marina offers a good alternative.

Once home to the General Post Office, the Fullerton is one of Singapore’s grande dames. It has the extensive amenities you'd expect at a 5-pearl hotel, including four stately dining venues, a bar, a well-equipped fitness center (though machines lack individual TVs), a spa, and a pretty infinity pool with views of the Marina Bay and the skyline. There's even an art gallery and a room with a permanent exhibit of stamps, maps and old photographs. But it’s starting to show its age, and rooms, though luxurious, lack wow factor; they have neutral color palettes and hard mattresses. Its fairly central location and understated elegance make it a fine luxury pick, but it’s worth checking prices at its more impressive sister property, the Fullerton Bay Hotel.

PARKROYAL on Pickering is the most luxurious of the PARKROYALs in Singapore, offering 367 spacious, stylish rooms housed in an impressive high-rise inspired by terraced rice fields and teeming with lush sky gardens and green walls. A dedicated wellness floor includes an outdoor infinity pool with scenic city views, poolside bar, cabanas, spa, fitness center, and an elevated garden walkway. There's also a trendy restaurant, a patisserie, and a bar on the ground floor. Guests staying in the upper-category Orchid Club rooms and suites have access to free breakfast and drinks in the rooftop Club Lounge. With views over Hong Lim Park, the hotel is a short walk to Chinatown, Clarke Quay, and Marina Bay. Travelers might also want to check out the Conrad Centennial Singapore, which has similar amenities and offers lower rates, though the ambience is decidedly less extravagant.

Grand Park City Hall is an elegant four-pearl hotel in a top location for shopping and nightlife -- Raffles City shopping district and Clarke Quay are within a five-minute walk away. The ongoing renovations are undoubtedly a nuisance, with the pool and leisure facilities out of action, but should be completed by the of end 2018 and much of the hotel and two restaurants are operating as normal. There's a good variety of food and places to kick-back, and the 333-rooms are all spacious and equipped with smart technology. The top-floor Suites feature outdoor whirlpools and views over the city. Travelers who require a pool should look at the Carlton Hotel two blocks away, which has a similar modern style with a spa, a large gym, and an outdoor pool. 

The 134-room Sofitel So Singapore is a luxury hotel situated in Singapore's financial district, near dining and major transportation hubs. Standard rooms are a bit small, but they have high-tech amenities and a striking design, and the suites in its Heritage Wing are some of the largest and most flamboyant accommodations in the city. Due to many offices within walking distance, it's an ideal base for business travelers, though tourists also benefit from nightlife, dining, and attractions in nearby Chinatown. There's no spa here, but the small rooftop sports a lovely pool and a bar with live DJs, while a stylish restaurant serves international fare. The Westin Singapore offers a spa, but its rooms aren't as stylish as those here. 

Located near the lively Chinatown area, the 80-room Scarlet Hotel is an upscale property that is a good fit for couples. The interior has a swanky, romantic vibe and there are intimate places to relax while taking in the city views, including a secluded hot tub and a rooftop bar. The rooms are chic and cozy, though some are small; the suites are more spacious and stylish. The hotel offers a competitive rate given the convenient location, and guests will be hard-pressed to find a better upscale hotel for the price nearby -- though those willing to spend a bit more may also want to consider the Sofitel So. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

The upper-middle-range Dorsett Singapore was built from the ground up as a contemporary business and leisure hotel, eschewing the shophouse renovation approach taken by other hotels in the area. It's in a great spot for exploring Chinatown and all those historic shophouses on foot, but it's far from the downtown core's shopping. The subway is accessible by an entrance just outside the hotel, so guests can get to other parts of the city with relative ease. There are a pair of eateries here as well as an outdoor lap pool and fitness center. The hotel's 285 stylish rooms are on the small side, but some add lofted rooms or private balconies overlooking a koi pond. Those interested in a hotel with more local historic character should compare with the New Majestic Hotel around the corner.

Naumi Liora is a three-pearl heritage hotel in Singapore’s buzzing Chinatown. This boutique property occupies a row of burnt-orange 1920s shophouses and brims with traditional details like Chinese double-leaf doors and preserved original timber floors. The 79 rooms are chic and comfy, with amenities like air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi -- but they are tiny and some lack windows. Features are limited to a free cafe breakfast and a help-yourself sweet-treats station, which is a cute touch. The small rooms and at times claustrophobic feel won’t suit everyone, but with the right expectations, this is a good-value stay in a charming heritage property. For a more upscale vibe and additional swanky features, it’s worth checking out The Scarlet Hotel instead. 

The New Majestic Hotel is a small, historic boutique just outside Chinatown. This stylish hotel has 30 individually decorated rooms with great amenities including Nespresso machines, Kiehl's toiletries, and plush bedding. While rooms are modern and comfortable, most are small and have glass-enclosed bathrooms that don't offer too much privacy. Hotel highlights include a nice pool, a modern Cantonese restaurant by acclaimed Chef Yong Bing Ngen, and a small fitness center. The location is also walking distance to nightlife and the night markets.