Funky boutique hotel with it's own share of good and bad.

100   Recommended
So Heritage
November 30, 2015 by

 Map | 4 Reviews | 100% Recommended
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Sofitel So Singapore
 Map | 4 Reviews | 100% Recommended

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So Heritage

Liked:
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Service
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Amenities
Room
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So Heritage

Stayed about a month and half ago here and had a generally positive experience.

Pre-arrival, I had contacted the hotel management team to get a feel as to what was offered as an Accor Platinum and got a quick response with all the usual suspects on offer.

Check In

At arrival check-in was smooth and quick. The hotel has several things going for it, location being one of the most important ones. It's literally in the center of CBD and across from the wonderful LauPa Sat Hawker center. This has advantages and disadvantages. Getting cabs is sometimes difficult and in addition, since the street between hotel and the hawker center is shut down nightly, main access to the hotel from the back could be challenging if arriving with taxi or car.

Room

The rooms are clean, funky and bright. Loved the lightbox on the ceiling. Unfortunately, they are also extremely narrow, cramped and dark since the single window was atall sliver of glasswith little light shining through it. It's really really unfortunate that the greedy owner decided to maximise room count where as by sacrificing 3-4 rooms on a floor, it could have made a huge difference in the comfort of other rooms. Honestly it felt like they had done a mock-up, then put the tape measure in every possible way and shaved every single centimeter possible!!! The bathroom (although with a seaparete toilet enclosed right at the entrace) was probably the only place that didn't feel as cramped. I wish they had sacrificed the bathtub for some extra room in the living quarter.Alas, the rooms are bearable for a few days as single or couple traveller with 2suitcases,specially if you are used to living in a small apartment but after a few days it's just frustrating navigating the cramped space.

Service

During our stay hotel had a lively feel, staff were almost always good to great with thenotable exception of an abrupt and rude restaurant supervisor. The door staff would literally leap to the entrance whenever they saw us arriving and needing any help. It's not quite 5 star level service, rather a more boutiqe, personal, friendly and warm interaction as is the theme of the entire hotel.

The management of the hotel is extremely hands on and we found the hotel GM or some other director at the lobby or the restaurant regularly. They are very approachable and responsive. I found this to be actually one of the biggest assets of this property as they ensured everything was running as smooth as possible. Really, I personally saw the GM on more than two occasions during the morning walking over to several public areas of the lobby and check for dust! (which explained why the entire hotel is impeccably clean I guess!) On more than one occasion when the staff were busy, the GM or one of his Directors would happily take over their responsiblities be it taking a drinks order or help us with lifting the baby stroller over a couple of stairs.

Dining

The main restaurant where breakfast is also served at was quite good. Quality of the meals and the breakfast were extremely good, although variety of buffet breakfast is on the lesser side.

Overall

Looked at the pool quickly one day and decided it wasn't for me as it's very cramped and littered with lounging chairs all around it. It's there more for ornamental purposes I suppose so don't go here if you're a pool junky, much better options out there in Singapore.

It's tough to say if I'll go back again or not. I guess it depends on the situation. If I am traveling alone for a few days, I'd definitely go back but otherwise I think I'd pass this property up for a more mainstream property with bigger, better proportioned rooms. After all even with impeccable service, comfort is still the most important factor in a hotel stay and Sofitel So Singapore's hard product is unfortunately more shifted towards maximum profitablity for the local owner rather than taking a more balanced approach.

I'd give the hotel a solid 4.5 out of 5, mostly on the service experience and the great management team.

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