Venue Hotel The Lily

The hotel is located along a row of charming heritage shophouses -- typical of the Joo Chiat area -- and sticks to a straightforward black-and-white color scheme with hints of gold throughout. The place is clean and well-maintained, and the elegant, sleek lobby with minimalist furnishings sets the tone for the rest of the property. There are no common areas beyond the lobby -- a drawback for those who want to spend time outside of their rooms without having to leave the hotel. Though the rooms are small, the hotel attracts all sorts of leisure travelers, including families, couples, and solo travelers, most of whom are taking advantage of the affordable rates and don't mind walking and taking cabs to get around.

Venue Hotel The Lily is situated in the Joo Chiat district, in eastern Singapore. The neighborhood has a laid-back vibe compared to other popular parts of town like Orchard Road and Clarke Quay, and it's filled with indie stores, heritage museums, and famous local eateries. Visitors who want to reach the city center and other main attractions in central Singapore will have to find their way there by taxi, or walk to either Dakota or Paya Lebar -- the nearest MRT train stations. Both are 20 minutes away on foot. It's a 13-minute drive to Bugis for shopping, or to the Little India cultural precinct, and for places like Marina Bay and Chinatown, it takes 20 minutes. Via taxi, Sentosa can be reached in less than 30 minutes, and it's about 15 minutes to Changi Airport.

The hotel's 83 rooms are clean and modern, though they are on the small side, measuring between 151 to 215 square feet (14 to 20 square meters), and appear even tinier in rooms with no windows. Like the rest of the property, the interiors follow a pleasantly straightforward monochrome color scheme with touches of gold. There's a good range of room configurations, including the Family Room, which has two queen beds and additions like a bathtub. 

Standard amenities include air-conditioning, mini-fridges, 40-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels, safes, hairdryers, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and in-room Wi-Fi. There are no dressers or proper closets in any of the rooms, only wall hooks and bars with hangers, so the general lack of storage space might be a deal-breaker for those with large suitcases in tow. The taupe-and-black tiled bathrooms are small and simple, with basic toiletries like shampoo, soap, and shower caps provided. Do note that the toilets and shower areas are not separated in some rooms, and the floors tend to get wet after use. Also, there have been complaints about the room's thin walls and noise from the hallway can sometimes be heard, so request for a room far from the elevators if this concerns you.

The features are slim here, but this isn't too uncommon for budget hotels in Singapore as many offer only the basics. There is no on-site restaurant and the hotel doesn't serve breakfast, but it has free Wi-Fi throughout and internet-ready computers in the lobby for guests to use. Also, the reception desk is staffed 24 hours and provides concierge services and luggage storage.