With travel opening up again as we learn to live with Covid19, many of you might be planning your first holiday since 2020. While that is truly something to celebrate, the safest, most fuss-free, non-PCR testing holiday you can ever enjoy at a short moment’s notice, is still a staycation!
Playing tourist in your own backyard is a great way to unwind and destress. Plus, it’s a convenient, quick fix if you don’t have the luxury of taking several weeks off work to travel when you need a getaway.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, my American husband and I have not travelled outside of Singapore. Instead, we indulge in staycations and explore parts of Singapore we have taken for granted.
And so for our fourth staycation, we headed east, to the charming and historic Katong.
About Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy
Opened in 2000, Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy, on East Coast Road is a 576-room hotel by Accor Property. It is located opposite Parkway Parade shopping centre and is a stone’s throw away from East Coast Park beach.
It’s also super close to the airport, making it a popular choice for business travelers. For holiday makers popping in for a short stopover on our lovely shores, this part of town really gives you the full Singapore experience.
If you are a die-hard foodie looking to rediscover Singapore, Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy is the perfect hotel for a staycation with many delightful bars and eateries at its doorstep.
The Nostalgia of East Coast
Both old and new collide in this part of Singapore that holds many memories for both of us. Growing up I had a best friend who lived in Katong and my first fitness job was at a ladies’ wellness centre at Roxy Square itself.
The Katong area has long been an enclave for Eurasians, a minority race in Singapore, but also the Peranakans (Straits Chinese). For a taste of Eurasian culture and history, please make a trip down to the Eurasian Association where you can also enjoy some authentic Eurasian food.
While my Eurasian family never lived in this area as far as I can recall, my American husband did before we got married and so was very excited to revisit some of his old haunts.
Disclaimer: While this 3D2N staycation was sponsored by Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy, the thoughts and opinions below are all my own.
Our 3D2N Getaway at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy
We checked-in for our 3D2N weekend staycation in the business suite at the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy on a balmy Friday afternoon at the end of February 2022.
After a busy work week, we were too tired to pack our bags the night before and so took our time to arrive at around 2.30pm. If you are more organised than us, early check-in can be arranged for 12noon upon request (subject to availability) to maximise your day. Otherwise, the usual check-in time is 2pm.
As always, I overpack. But when you don’t have to worry about charges for overweight suitcases at the airport, you bring all your creature comforts! Concierge handled our bags while we made our way up to the suite on the 9th floor.
Having seen this room before, I let Matthew walk in first to see his reaction. He was pleasantly surprised as we entered the Business Suite, the biggest suite in the hotel at 54sqm, which also boasts a standalone bathtub that can fit two comfortably.
We were greeted with a complimentary bottle of wine and a sweet card from the head of sales and marketing, Jennifer Narcis, on behalf of the team. The card also included 2 fridge magnets in the style of Peranakan tiles.
Don’t Forget to Book Your Pool Time
It was a relatively sunny day and we could see the pool from our room inviting us in for a quick dip. So we quickly unpacked and jumped into our swimmers and made our way down to the pool on the 4th floor.
Unfortunately due to the pandemic, the poolside bar and restaurant has closed down, along with the executive lounge which you would normally have access to with the suite.
If you need a poolside beverage, bring some water from your room or pop down to Wave Cafe in the hotel lobby to get some refreshments.
On the upside, fitness freaks will be happy to know that the 24 hour fitness centre remains open. Located on the same floor as the swimming pool, it is brightly lit and fully equipped with free weights, machines, bikes and treadmills.
You will have to book your 1 hour slots in advance for both the pool and the fitness centre and if it’s during off peak hours, you may even get to book an extra hour.
The Swimming Pool is Gorgeous!
At about 4pm, the pool was empty and a little chilly as it was mostly in the shade. Nothing a few laps can’t fix. I love how big the pool is and if you like swimming laps like me, bring your goggles and a swim cap to protect your hair.
There’s plenty of lounge chairs to bask in the sun or take an afternoon nap as sea breezes lull you into a state of relaxation. After working up an appetite in the pool, we made our way back to our room for a quick shower before heading down to Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant on level 2.
DAY 1: Dinner at Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant
The food at Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant is outstanding. Chef Victor, Jojo the restaurant manager and his team impressed us so much with our meal of roasted duck, opeh leaf seafood bee hoon and other goodies that I signed up for their Jia Wei Select Loyalty Program without hesitation.
With the $80 annual sign-up fee, you get a $80 voucher to use on your next visit and a discount for every visit. 25% off total food bill between Tuesday and Friday and 15% off for weekends. Great deal right?
And that’s not all! It also includes 20% off on dine-in at Feast Roxy, another gem of a restaurant. To top it off, for your birthday month, you will enjoy a whopping 30% off. After our delicious meal there is no doubt we’ll be back even before our birthdays.
Lots of nearby grocers and trendy cafes
Not wanting to overdo it, as we had planned a major pig-out sesh planned for the next day, we restrained ourselves at dinner. We took a nice evening stroll on East Coast Road to plan where we could go to eat the next day and also to get bottles of water for our room.
While the hotel provides bottles of water, I always need those big 1 litre water bottles to stay hydrated. We found a supermarket at 112 Katong mall and brought back our haul to the room.
The bed is super comfy and we were glad to find an extra pillow in the cupboard. After watching some Netflix on my laptop in bed, we drifted off to sleep. We woke up to a slightly overcast day and got ready to embark on our foodie trail of East Coast Road.
DAY 2: Foodie Trail
I had been craving Ampang Niang Tou Fu for the longest time. This legendary coffeeshop has been at the same spot for the last 40 years but will be closing operations at the end of May 2022. If you have never tried their famous fresh tofu in a light, soybean broth, make plans to go soon before this old school eatery closes for good.
On our leisurely walk there we saw lots of trendy cafes, restaurants and bars. Also lots of fitness clubs and yoga studios, giving us mild guilt trips on our quest to stuff our faces.
There’s just so many enticing places to check out. Rumah Bebe, A Peranakan Heritage Home, not only serves Nonya food for lunch, it is also a heritage centre. And for alcoholic beverages and grub there’s AlibaBar The Hawker Bar, and Platypus Cantina. We definitely have to come back to check them all out.
Our foodie trail took us down the stretch to Ampang Niang Tou Fu and Beach Road Prawn Mee then back up to Tap Out Craft Bar, Rabbit Carrot Gun (a beautiful bed and breakfast which has unfortunately since shuttered) and ended at 328 Katong Laksa.
After eating and drinking our way through East Coast Road from 12.30pm to 6.30pm, we rolled ourselves back to the hotel and soaked in the tub!
DAY 3: Weekend Brunch at Feast Roxy
With our little getaway coming to an end, we packed up what we could and hit the sack. As penance for our gluttony we got up early the next morning and swam 20 laps in the pool and caught some sun, before eating again!
This time we enjoyed the weekend brunch at Feast Roxy on level 3. We were offered a late check out (at 2pm instead of the usual 12 noon) which gave us some extra time.
Covid19 has changed how buffets are enjoyed. Rather than long buffet lines of food you help yourself to, you order what you want off the menu. I actually prefer it this way as the food is freshly cooked, you can eat mindfully and nothing gets wasted.
The selection of dishes range from Western to Asian (including Peranakan). To whet your appetite, it starts off with a generous serving of fresh seafood. For $58++ you get a chilli crab, black pepper lobster, fresh prawns and oysters then all-you-can-eat of everything else. Such a good deal! I topped up an extra $30 for the free flow wine and beer option.
Weekend Brunch at Feast Roxy is available 11.30am to 3.30pm:
(Adult) $88++
Includes Free Flow of Beer and Red/White Wine
(Adult) $58++
Includes Free Flow Fresh Juices and Soya Bean Milk
(Child) $29++
Includes Free Flow Fresh Juices and Soya Bean Milk
Our bellies full and our hearts happy, we proceeded to check-out and head home. Unlike our other staycations which left us disappointed in some way, we left feeling relaxed and pampered.
Leave feeling pampered
If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, come down to Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy for your next staycation. Foodies will rejoice over the wide array of delicatessens, gourmet grocers and bistros to choose from. Meanwhile, the more adventurous can rediscover Singapore’s history and heritage.
From start to finish we felt truly welcomed into the heart of Katong, a part of Singapore where the people seem friendlier, the air fresher and the food heartier! Thank you Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy!
cheryl’s staycation essentials
Here’s what I cannot leave home without when checking in to a staycation.
- yoga mat – for stretching out in room! Quite honestly we were too lazy to do our stretches while on this staycation at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy, but there is such a beautiful spot facing the window where you could do some sun salutations and work out the kinks in your joints. Such is life in your 40s hahah!
- scented candles – they create a relaxing and romantic mood and make the room smell nice.
- extension cord – ok maybe this is my personal quirk but as i’m super attached to my macbook and as I am constantly typing something for this blog or posting on instagram, I need my macbook to be accessible wherever i am in the room. While this is a business suite the power strip located in the desk behind the bed is too small for the clunky Macbook charger. If you like watching Netflix in bed like we do, bring along an extension cord. I forgot mine but thankfully the hotel was able to provide one for me (thanks Jojo!)
- bath bombs and bubble bath soap – I really wish we had a bathtub at home or maybe not because I’d be in there all the time. Which is why whenever we go on staycation, I make sure there is a bathtub to soak my stresses away. I recommend Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Bubble Bath in Relaxing Lavender and Smith & Vandiver, Calming Bath Bombs with Lavender Essential Oil.
- face masks, hair masks, pillow spray and anything else to pamper yourself with – A staycation is the perfect time to indulge in a skincare and haircare regimen. Unclog your pores with Sukin, Pink Clay Facial Masque, while rejuvenating dry hair with Advanced Clinicals Coconut Deep Hydration Hair Mask. To treat and moisturise eye bags, one of my personal faves is the Petitfee, Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch. I always keep this in the refrigerator at home and use this regularly to soothe tired eyes.
Check Out These Great Deals
jia wei select loyalty programme
The Jia Wei Select Loyalty Programme not only offers discounts on every visit for an $80 annual fee, but also an $80 voucher which you can redeem on your next meal. You basically get your money back and then some! It also gives you 20% off dine-in at Feast Roxy, and lots of other perks.
win a $100 dining voucher!
Win a $100 dining voucher to enjoy at Feast Roxy or Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant in my “Every Day is Valentine’s Day” Smitten Cooking Contest.
The top prize of a 3D2N staycation in the same suite is worth more than $1,200 and includes a dining voucher too. Deadline for entries has been extended to 3rd April 2022. Read more about this INSTAGRAM contest here!
enjoy 10% off staycation packages
To enjoy 10% off staycation packages (Go Local, Ladies and Family) book directly at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy by emailing H3610@accor.com.
As an added bonus, quote promotional code SMITTENWITHROXY to receive a FREE $30 dining voucher which you can use at either Feast Roxy or Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant. You can also show them this blog to redeem the dining voucher upon check-in.
This special offer is subject to availability and must be redeemed by 30th April 2022. Terms and conditions apply.
enjoy free $30 dining vouchers
Mention SMITTENWITHROXY when booking a room at regular rates to receive a FREE $30 dining voucher which you can use at either Feast Roxy or Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant. You can also show them this blog to redeem the dining voucher upon check-in.
This special offer is subject to availability and must be redeemed by 30th April 2022. Terms and conditions apply. Click on the poster below to book now!!
