Plant parents who just can’t bear to ‘leaf’ their babies behind when they travel will love Dao by Dorsett, a new ‘aparthotel’ concept in the heart of Singapore that lets guests adopt and look after their own house plant during their stay.
They include Amelia the Syngonium Pink Spot, Felix the Schefflera and Queenie the Fittonia, who’s described as “quite the drama queen by playing dead when thirsty,” according to the hotel’s plant library.
A partnership between Dao by Dorsett and local plant collective, The Botanist & Her Thieves, this is just one expression of the hotel’s philosophy of ‘Dao’, which means ‘the way’ in Chinese and is designed to offer guests a “harmonious, custom-fit and social” stay.
LUXE checked in recently to find our own ‘Dao’…
Location
Dao by Dorsett is located at OUE Downtown in the heart of Singapore’s central business district (CBD) just a five-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT station.
The building, which is also home to offices, restaurants, bars and fitness centres, is abuzz with 9-to-5ers during the work week but is relatively quiet after office hours and on weekends.
Rooms
With 268 keys in total, the hotel offers a mix of studio apartments and one- and two-bedroom deluxe, executive and premier suites. All of them are furnished in a contemporary style with their own fully stocked kitchenette, washer/dryer, living room and dining area.
Our one-bedroom suite featured a spacious bedroom with a king-sized bed, second TV and working desk, plus an ensuite bathroom with rain shower, vegan-friendly bathroom amenities by Abyssian and views of the harbour. Pets are also welcome at Dao by Dorsett, making it not just homey for travellers but a great choice for long-stay guests and staycationers as well.
Guests can also opt into the Dao+ package upon check-in, which includes exclusive benefits such as seasonal fruits from Avo & Co, vegan snacks by Green Common, Bacha Coffee and TWG tea – plus complimentary cocktails and canapes from 5-8PM at the 7/F Living Room, in-room breakfast with prosecco, turndown service and a complimentary upgrade to the next room category (subject to availability).
Dining
Buffet breakfast and all-day dining is served at the hotel’s one-and-only restaurant, The Collective, which features a well-rounded menu of Western and Asian dishes. We loved seeing vegan options on the menu courtesy of Green Common using OMNI meat alternatives, such as the OMNI tacos, OMNI luncheon fries and our absolutely fave, the OMNI Burger Black. Other must-order dishes included the Truffle Wagyu Beef Horfun, Mala Xiang Guo and of course, the truffle fries with parmesan (an absolute must!).
Facilities
Most facilities are concentrated on the seventh floor at Dao by Dorsett, including an outdoor (city-facing) infinity pool, gym, boardroom and barbecue pit. This is also where you’ll find the plant library, reception, luggage storage and 24-hour concierge. Besides airport transfers, the hotel also offers complimentary shuttle services to whisk guests off to Vivocity and Marina Bay Sands.
For active types, Dao by Dorsett can also arrange complimentary trial classes at Absolute Cycle, Haus Athletics and Boulder Movement, or provide dumbbells, yoga mats and spin bikes for guests in their rooms. The hotel has also partnered up with The Bloom Box for flower-making workshops and Brass Lion Distillery for cocktail-making tours, so you definitely won’t be short of things to do here.
Verdict
As the first Dao by Dorsett concept hotel by Dorsett Hospitality International, we loved all the extra efforts made to create a ‘custom-fit’ stay and true sense of place in Singapore. The hotel’s central CBD location was a huge plus, while the fully-furnished suites made us feel right at home. Did we mention the chocolate truffles, warm soy milk or your choice of cake during the evening turndown service if you get the Dao+ upgrade? Now this is one hotel we wouldn’t mind planting ourselves into.
Book your stay at daobydorsett.com
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