Aqueen Hotel Jalan Besar

Aqueen Hotel makes a memorable first impression, with its bold, black-and-white facade dominating a street corner in Jalan Besar. Glass doors open onto the polished lobby, which features chic, monochrome decor and a few vintage photos. There's also a restaurant that offers a handy spot to grab breakfast or lunch, but apart from these areas, there's little else in the way of features or public spaces. Guest rooms, while clean and spiffy, are also tiny in size, giving little incentive to linger. Their minimal square footage means the property as a whole is better suited to couples and solo travelers than families. Still, this hotel is an attractive and affordable mid-range option, ideal for travelers planning to spend most of their time out exploring the city who can do without a lot of on-site bells and whistles.

Aqueen Hotel is set in the up-and-coming Jalan Besar neighborhood, which is home to trendy cafes and a solid late-night scene. The colorful restaurants and shops of Little India are about a 10-minute walk away, while the cool boutiques of Haji Lane can be reached in 15 minutes by foot. Mustafa Centre, a huge 24-hour shopping mall, is less than a 10-minute walk away. The Farrer Park MRT line is about a six-minute walk. Major sights like Marina Bay, Clarke Quay, and Gardens by the Bay can all be reached in 20 or less via public transportation. Changi International Airport can be reached in about 20 minutes by car, or in a little under an hour by MRT. 

Guest rooms at Aqueen Hotel are minimalist and contemporary, featuring white-and-gray color palettes and cool-toned woods. Standard room categories are teensy with barely enough room to move around the twin or double beds -- you’ll need to upgrade to a Premier Room for a queen or king bed and more space. Flat-screen TVs are set into the modular furniture, and all rooms have compact work desks. Wall-mounted air-conditioning units are standard, as is free Wi-Fi. Mini-fridges are provided, along with kettles, bottled water, instant coffee, and tea. Closets hold a few hangers and sets of soft slippers -- a nice luxe touch. 

Bathrooms have modern fixtures and above-counter sinks. Most rooms have floor-level showers, with some Premier Rooms featuring shower/tub combos (these also have peek-a-boo windows between the bathroom and bedroom). All rooms have hairdryers, as well as tubes of hotel-branded shampoo and shower gel. Note that some guests complain that sound-proofing is poor, and they hear noise from the hallways, adjacent rooms and outside. 

Aqueen Hotel’s lineup of features is fairly short, with no pool, gym, or business center -- but there is a bit of dining on offer. The hotel’s restaurant, Petit Menu, provides a buffet breakfast (expect to pay extra for this) and a small a la carte lunch menu of mainly meat entrees. The restaurant includes a covered outdoor patio with wooden tables and a clean-lined interior dining area that continues the minimalist look found throughout the hotel. The front desk is open 24/7, and free Wi-Fi is offered throughout.