Maxwell Reserve Singapore, Autograph Collection in Singapore

The hotel itself is a historic building, dating back to 1929, and it's part of the Marriott portfolio. Setting aside the Marriott brand for a moment, the overall experience is quite good. For an average price of 1500 RMB per night, including breakfast, and considering its location and the fact that it was during Chinese New Year, this is an excellent value.

It's conveniently located next to Maxwell Food Centre and a subway station, with many bars and restaurants downstairs. Most importantly, it's very close to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, where you can venerate genuine sariras. Another MRT station, Tanjong Pagar, is also nearby, making the location very accessible. If you don't mind a bit of a walk, you can even reach Chinatown to catch the Downtown Line.

Now, let's evaluate it based on Marriott's standards. As a Marriott Gold member, booking through Ctrip meant I didn't receive any Marriott Gold benefits, which is something to be aware of beforehand.

However, the overall service was still very good. Firstly, I arrived at 6 AM on the first day. When I went to check in, a friendly staff member named Danner (I believe that was his name, hope I'm not mistaken), who spoke Chinese, noticed our predicament – we clearly needed a shower and a change of clothes urgently. After checking us in, he proactively asked if we needed to shower, which was a lifesaver for me (I'm the type who won't leave the house without showering and changing). He also had a great sense of humor. After settling in, we stored our luggage, and he thoughtfully provided umbrellas (it was already raining moderately when we arrived).

We were given two rooms, which were larger than I expected. I even felt like my room might have been the office of the chamber of commerce's owner back in the day (hahaha)! However, this also led to some less-than-ideal experiences.

Let's talk about the room:
First, regarding the daily housekeeping: the small hand towels disappeared after the first day and were never replaced. Every day, I had to bend down to find a towel to dry my hands.
Second, when the bar soap ran out, it wasn't replaced automatically, forcing me to use shower gel for handwashing in the following days.
Third, the tissues ran out and weren't replenished, which was very inconvenient.
The slippers too: my shoes got wet in the rain, and the replacement slippers also got wet and were discarded. The next day, no new slippers were provided.
Finally, during room cleaning, some trash wasn't removed. For instance, a disposable bath towel that had been left on the sink (I usually hang them on a rack when I don't need them to be thrown away) and the slippers that were at the foot of the bed, one facing up and one down, were in the exact same position when we returned, with only the bed simply made.

Now for breakfast:
The menu was entirely in English. While fine for younger guests, it might be challenging for older relatives. Considering the large number of Chinese tourists, offering a Chinese menu could be a good idea, though this is just a suggestion.
The overall taste was quite good, leaning towards British and Indian flavors, which makes sense given the hotel's Indian history. So an Indian-themed breakfast is perfectly fine.
However, on our first order, we weren't served the small bread rolls; it seemed to have been overlooked (we didn't notice it at the time either).
Secondly, every time we ordered, they appeared to remember our requests, but this wasn't always the case. Food was often served haphazardly, with dishes frequently misplaced or incorrect! This is a very poor experience for a luxury hotel!
Lastly, a female server, in her rush, repeatedly swung her ponytail into my face and the back of my head when turning around. I was quite upset at the time.

Fortunately, after I provided feedback to the manager the next day, all subsequent meals were served by the restaurant manager, which significantly improved the experience. He was also very humorous and, although he didn't speak Chinese, he always managed to make us laugh with his witty remarks. This greatly improved my impression and felt much more aligned with the quality expected from a Marriott property.

Finally, the lobby manager was an elderly Chinese gentleman who got along well with my father and shared some historical insights.

Overall, I recommend this hotel. Its location is excellent, and the service is attentive, though you might need to make specific requests for certain things. The hotel also displays many historical military uniforms, deeds, and other artifacts, truly making it a hotel rich in history and culture.

This is probably the cheapest Marriott 5-star hotel. It's great for travelers who prioritize sightseeing. The room is a bit small, with only a small desk and a chair, and no sofa. The bathroom doesn't have a bathtub, but the layout is well-designed and spacious, and the shower pressure is strong and comfortable. The minibar is very nice, though I didn't use it, haha. The public areas are also small; the gym and pool are just 'there.' The pool is only one lane wide, so it's not suitable for those looking to spend a lot of time at the hotel. Oh, and as everyone mentions, there's the construction issue. There's a building site next door, so construction will likely continue for quite a while. However, you can't hear it in the room, so it didn't bother me much.

The hotel's location is excellent. Chinatown is within walking distance, with plenty of Chinese restaurants. Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, Kuan Chee, and Ya Kun Kaya Toast are all nearby. It's even closer to Maxwell Food Centre, where you'll find Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice and Lao Ban Soya Beancurd. There are also a ton of Korean restaurants and many bars nearby. Guoco Tower, an office building with several larger restaurants, is also close. Plus, there are three subway stations nearby.

The hotel's breakfast is à la carte: you choose one appetizer, one main course, one side dish, and one juice, coffee, or tea. Among the main courses, the three types of Indian paratha (flatbread) are available; the potato-filled (aloo) one is quite tasty, and there are also cheese and plain options.

There aren't many Chinese-speaking staff, but the young Indian/Malay staff members are all very friendly and patient.

Beware of the ongoing construction now right beside the hotel. You may get a room with window but totally no view at all. We were fine with it.

Room was pretty small, not 24m sq, you will have difficultly getting across the other side of the bed. There’s a musky smell in the room too.

Service was just average for a 5star hotel tbh.

Good location to Maxwell food centre and train stations.

The hotel is great,with the charm of classic old world elegance, rooms are maintained and clean. Staff was friendly.

Everything was great. It's a shame the elevator doesn't go to the top floor. I had to carry my luggage down.

+ The hotel is perfectly located in Chinatown, within walking distance of two metro stations and many Michelin-starred cafes and restaurants. It's quiet, despite being next to a construction site, and feels cozy, welcoming, and friendly.
+ Staff
+ Breakfast is à la carte, with 4 sections, served from 7 AM to 11 AM. It's fast, tasty, and sufficient.
+ The room has everything necessary: an ironing board, TV, minibar (200 SGD deposit), and toiletries.
- The room is very small; there's no space to move around or work, making you constantly want to leave.
- There's a window, but no view, as it looks out onto the green protective wall of the construction site.
- There's a very stuffy smell, quite similar to what you might find in hotels in India.

The service was very warm and they proactively helped with luggage. However, the bathroom lighting was a bit dim.

Quite interesting hotel.
I booked the small room this time because I rarely travel alone, and don't get to stay in this type of rooms. The room was very small, but not shabby. The bed was very comfortable. Bathroom was not small, and water pressure was good. It was perfect for a girl's night alone - comfortable, safe, in style.
When I went down for breakfast, I didn't realize the room door was left open a bit. You need to really pull it hard to get it locked. I panicked for a moment when I came back, but nothing was missing.
Overall the hotel's ambiance is quite unique, luxurious and charming. I liked it!

Beyond of expectation.
This place is not only a hotel but a little museum!
Very unique and worth for the money!

Good location
Excellent service
The room type I booked was a bit too small but clean and have good amenities
Would love to stay again