The Sultan

Set into ten Grade A conservation shophouses at 101 Jalan Sultan, The Sultan Heritage Hotel occupies buildings dating from the early 1900s, including the former Al-Ahmadiah Press. Kampong Gelam itself is Singapore's oldest urban quarter, laid out as a port town in 1822 and declared a conservation area in 1989. The hotel took four years to restore. Tall columns, wide arches and full-length shuttered French windows survive from the original Late Shophouse and Second Transitional Shophouse styles, and the lobby building alone won a 2012 Urban Redevelopment Authority heritage award. It is a compact stay: 61 rooms spread across eight categories, no two laid out quite alike, ranging from Standard Singles to the Sultan Loft. Signature rooms get MALIN+GOETZ amenities and in-room yukatas; Standard rooms use SOAK Superfood toiletries. Ground level houses The White Label, a restaurant pairing French technique with Malayan flavours under chef Nelson Chua, plus a double-height events space called The Salon with a colonial-style balcony running its full length. Outside, Bussorah Street and Haji Lane sit within walking distance, along with Masjid Sultan and the perfumers and textile sellers scattered through the neighbourhood. Little India lies close by too. Check-in runs from 2pm, check-out by noon.