As a Westie, I’m often drawn to the East because everything seems much cooler there. After a 2D1N Staycation at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, I think I might be on to something.
While a normal staycation might have been a great weekend activity, me and a friend went for one of Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong’s more unique room packages – a Peranakan Dress Up Experience.
Unique Staycation in Singapore
The ‘Peranakan Dress Up Experience’ at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong comes with:
- A 1-hour Peranakan costume rental and access to Rumah Kim Choo for two
- Breakfast for two at Baba Chews, the Hotel’s all-day modern Asian restaurant
- $50 nett dining credits for use at Baba Chews and Rooftop 88
- One complimentary carpark coupon per stay
Rather than just telling you what the stay comes with, let us show you our staycation experience!
Standard Heritage View with Bath
It all begins with a seamless check-in over at the counter, and even here you can already see the Peranakan touches scattered throughout the reception and lobby.
Right beside the reception is The Pavilion, an area perfect for enjoying high tea, lounging or shopping for items related to the Katong/Joo Chiat neighborhood.
We got the Standard Heritage View Room with Bathtub. It’s 30 sqm in size with a gorgeous view of the Joo Chiat neighborhood. The room has a modern Peranakan theme, with details in every corner – from Peranakan tiles to a mural design on the wall.
The bath might be one of my favourite corners of the room, with a cute bathtub and city view.
We also loved how there was a carrom board in the room. It was pouring for a while during our stay, so the carrom board added a fun touch to the overall experience!
There was a fully stocked minibar but you do have to pay for what you consume. However, complimentary items included TWG teabags, Bacha Coffee drip bags, Nespresso coffee capsules, and a collection of nostalgic sweet treats such as White Rabbit candy.
The bathroom was stocked with amenities like dental kits, shampoo, body wash, and even bath salts.
And yes, the TV in the room has a Chromecast function, so you can easily watch your Netflix videos on the big screen, or play some songs via Spotify!
Peranakan Dress-Up At Rumah Kim Choo
One of the perks of this package is the Peranakan Dress-Up experience at Rumah Kim Choo. It’s conveniently located right opposite Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong in one of the shophouses.
All you need to do is present this card to the people at Rumah Kim Choo, anytime during your stay for this experience – no prior booking is required.
For 1 hour, you can take as many photos as you want in this amazing space, while admiring all the Peranakan details in every corner. However, do note that the dress-up experience does not include make-up, hairdo, or a photographer, so come prepared.
Ladies are advised to bring innerwear for the Kebaya and to only wear the beaded shoes for photo-taking purposes – not for walking around! For men, only batik shirts are provided, so my tip is to come in a pair of dark-colored pants for the best photos.
Drinks at Rooftop 88
After exploring the area, head to Rooftop 88 for drinks. Here, we got a gorgeous view of the Joo Chiat neighborhood. They have a menu inspired by the Katong neighborhood, with cocktails such as Abang Old Fashioned ($18), Nyonya Margarita ($18) and Merlion Brando ($18).
Among the drinks we tried, we preferred the Sapphire Rendevous ($18) made using a butterfly pea flower-infused gin, jasmine syrup, and lemon juice.
Dinner at Baba Chews
Located on the ground floor of Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, Baba Chews is an all-day dining restaurant that serves Modern Asian, Local Signatures, and Western Classics. We tried a variety of items such as the Kueh Pie Tee, Kong Bak Bao, Grilled Assam Halibut Risotto, and more.
The dish that stood out was the Dry Bak Kut Teh, which featured Binchotan & Orange Wood Grilled Pork Ribs in a herbal broth marination served with cordyceps mushrooms, confit garlic and you tiao. It was almost like an Asian take on the classic Western ribs, along with a nice spin on Bak Kuh Teh.
We also enjoyed the Beef Cheek Rendang, served with gorgeous blue pea jasmine rice. The spices and rich coconut cream gravy came together really well!
Breakfast at Baba Chews
After a good sleep, we headed to Baba Chews for breakfast. It’s semi-buffet style, where you can order freely from a menu featuring items like Egg Benedict, Cinnamon French Toast, Buttermilk Berry Pancakes, and eggs in any style you’d like.
There’s also a corner with bread, salad, and fruits. During our visit, there was even a Fish Soup Noodle station and hot piping porridge.
Staycation in Singapore
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For bookings from now to 31 December 2024, enjoy an exclusive 20% off ‘Peranakan Dress Up Experience’ for stays from now to 30 June 2025 with promo code <MCDRESSUP20>.
You can reserve your experience by writing in to resvn.sinki@ihg.com with the promo code above.
*This article is brought to you in collaboration with Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong
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