We’ve stayed at the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay twice now: once a little over a year ago when I was IHG Diamond, and again this year as IHG Platinum. On both stays we were also InterContinental Ambassadors.

It’s a hotel I quite like in theory: stylish, calm, and tucked away from the usual Singapore hotel locations. But it’s also a property where the trade-offs (especially the location and room size) are hard to ignore.

Location

The InterContinental sits right along Robertson Quay, one of the quieter riverside pockets in central Singapore. If you want to be away from Orchard Road or Marina Bay, it’s genuinely pleasant — the river is good for an evening stroll, and there are enough restaurants and bars nearby that you won’t feel stranded.

The catch is transport. There’s no MRT station at your doorstep, so you’ll either be taking buses or defaulting to Grab/taxis. We used the bus on both stays and it worked fine once you know where you’re going, but if you’re the sort of traveller who wants to hop on the MRT without thinking, this will feel inconvenient.

Check-in

Check-in was smooth. There was only one group ahead of us, and the process was quick. There’s also a priority queue for InterContinental Ambassadors and IHG Platinum/Diamond members, which would be useful when the lobby gets busy, though we didn’t need it on either stay.

We were offered welcome drinks, which was a very nice touch and set the tone.

We booked a King Classic Room both times.

On our first stay, we were upgraded to a King Classic Riverview room and, unexpectedly, given Club InterContinental access. As an IHG Diamond member, I could choose a welcome amenity (points, drinks/snacks, or breakfast), and we went with breakfast of course! The “Riverview” room itself didn’t feel meaningfully different from the base category in layout, but lounge access was a real upgrade — and one I appreciated precisely because it isn’t a published entitlement.

On our second stay, the app initially showed a Club Room-type upgrade again, so we assumed the experience would be similar. At check-in, though, the receptionist clarified that lounge access wasn’t included this time. That may simply be the difference between holding Diamond previously versus Platinum now, and to be fair, the first stay felt like a genuine perk rather than something to expect every time.

The room

The King Classic room category is compact, at roughly 24 sqm, which is genuinely small by InterContinental standards. It’s well-designed, but you do feel the size quickly, especially if you’re unpacking proper luggage or trying to get ready with two people moving around at the same time.

The river views helped more than we expected. Not because the view is breathtaking, but because it opens up the room psychologically. Without it, you’re often staring straight at neighbouring condominium blocks directly across the hotel, and that can make the room feel more hemmed in.

The basics were all there: a comfortable bed, a lounging sofa, a booth-style seat, and filtered tap water in-room. The bathroom is nicely finished, though not especially spacious. The toilet is separate from the shower area, accessed via a sliding door opposite the vanity.

Shower amenities were Byredo Bal d’Afrique, which fits the hotel’s premium positioning, though I’d expect nothing less of 5-star hotels.

There is also a sliding divider, if you would like to shower with some privacy. Though when it’s closed, the room does feel even smaller.

The facilities

The pool is on Level 4. It’s not huge, but it’s well maintained, with a calm setting that suits the Robertson Quay vibe. There’s also a gym, though I didn’t use it during either stay. So here are some photos from the hotel.

The gym is a bit unintuitive to locate as it’s actually on the first floor, outside the main hotel building, facing Saiboo Street.

The hotel also has Tokyo Bikes available for guests. I didn’t rent one, but it’s a thoughtful amenity that fits the neighbourhood. It definitely feels more intentional than the usual “we have a gym and a pool” checklist — the sort of thing that nudges you to explore the river and surrounding streets rather than just stay indoors.

On our first visit, guests could head up to the rooftop. That’s since changed — on our most recent stay, rooftop access was blocked off.

Club InterContinental

Club InterContinental is on Level 4, split between an indoor space and an outdoor terrace. Because it’s on a lower floor, the views aren’t the “wow, skyline” kind. It’s more a pleasant riverside outlook than anything panoramic, and you do feel a bit closer to the surrounding buildings. Still, it’s a comfortable place to sit, especially if you want a quieter start to the morning or a wind-down in the evening.

If there’s one reason to try and get Club access at this hotel, it’s that the lounge meaningfully improves the stay. The service windows are also generous: afternoon tea runs from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, evening canapés are served from 6pm to 8pm, and breakfast runs from 6.30am to 10.30am.

One thing I appreciated is that the lounge includes afternoon tea — not every hotel club lounge does these days.

That said, lounge breakfast is fairly limited. If you have breakfast included, I’d lean towards eating at Publico instead, which offers a much fuller spread.

The real value comes from how lounge access pairs with InterContinental Ambassador late check-out. If you’re leaving later in the day, you can still pop back in for afternoon tea on departure day.

Membership benefits

On our most recent stay, I was both IHG Platinum and an InterContinental Ambassador.

As an IHG Platinum member, I chose the drinks vouchers as my welcome amenity. Separately, the InterContinental Ambassador comes with a USD 20 dining credit for every stay, which we used at Publico Ristorante — and it conveniently covered most of a pizza charged back to the room.

We went to the hotel restaurant to redeem our benefits. The Publico Ristorante is a real standout though. The space is gorgeous, with a bright, greenhouse-like feel and plenty of greenery — it doesn’t read like a generic hotel restaurant at all.

Here’s the menu for the welcome drinks voucher. It’s pretty extensive, we could choose from any of the classic cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks below.

We got some cocktails of course! They came in a plastic cup as we didn’t want to drink at the restaurant.

Breakfast

Back when I was IHG Diamond, one of the welcome amenity choices at check-in was breakfast (alongside points or drinks vouchers). If your rate doesn’t already include breakfast, it’s the obvious pick.

If you’re deciding where to eat, Publico wins hands down over the lounge. The spread is far more substantial, the space is genuinely lovely in the morning, and it feels like a proper restaurant breakfast rather than a pared-back club offering. There’s a made-to-order eggs station, plenty of hot and cold options, and even a cute honeycomb set-up where you can portion your own honey.

Coffee is also made to order — just flag any of the staff and they’ll help you with it.

Concluding thoughts

InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay is a hotel I want to like even more than I actually do. The design is stylish and calm, Robertson Quay is one of the nicer parts of town, and service across both stays felt polished without being stiff.

The trade-offs are real, though. The location is pleasant but not especially convenient if you rely on the MRT, and the entry-level King Classic rooms are very compact for a 5-star hotel. If you’re paying cash and expecting generous space, this isn’t the InterContinental that will win you over.

Where the property shines is when you can stack the right perks. If you get Club InterContinental access, and you’re also an InterContinental Ambassador with late check-out, the lounge becomes a genuine value add — especially being able to swing by again for afternoon tea on departure day. Add in breakfast at Publico (which is excellent), and the stay feels far more complete.

I’d return when the pricing is sensible or when I can secure a better room category or club access. If you want MRT convenience or lots of space, there are better options in Singapore — but if you want a quieter base with a strong F&B offering, this one still makes a compelling case.