Review: Fraser Residence River Promenade – Luxurious Serviced Apartment & Modern Gadgets

Fraser Residence River Promenade is a new serviced apartment opened by Frasers Hospitality. It occupies the 3 warehouses that used to be Zouk’s location before the nightclub moved to Clarke Quay. Situated in Jiak Kim Street, the 72-rooms at the property are available for stays of a minimum of 6 nights. 

The structure that makes up the Fraser Residence River Promenade is made up of two parts. The first is the series of 3 heritage warehouses where the expansive lobby and events space are located. The second is a newer structure where the actual rooms are found. The latter is similarly low-rise, with only 5 floors. 

One Bedroom Premier

Rooms here range from 24 square meter studios to the one-bedroom premier which is 48 square meters. For this particular stay, I was invited to check out the one-bedroom premier.

Layout-wise, the one-bedroom premier takes up the size of 2 studios. The floor plan is relatively straightforward, with half the apartment comprising the living/dining areas while the other half is the bedroom/bath. 

Guests checking in at the Fraser Residence River Promenade get a welcome amenity consisting of a bottle of wine and some macarons which I think sets a good tone, especially for a long stay. 

The apartment is essentially in move-in condition, with cutlery sets, plates and cooking utensils already stored in the kitchen cabinets. Stylish vintage kettle and toaster from Delonghi are available in-room for guests to use. 

I was also intrigued to find a different kind of coffee machine here. They use the ones from The Morning Machine, a Singapore brand. The coffee maker here comes with different settings and portions, from standard espresso to long black and even those in between. It was also interesting to see the machine brewing as it displayed messages such as “blooming” and “enjoy” once the coffee is ready. 

The Electrolux-branded washing machine came with laundry detergent as well as plenty of cabinet space to store additional clothes and other personal items. 

The living area features a 55-inch smart TV, portable Bang & Olufsen speakers, Sterra air purifier and sofa. The day and night curtains can be drawn remotely through a switch. If guests so wish, they can open one of the window panels to derive some natural ventilation. 

Although the building is low-rise, I found the direct riverside view quite relaxing as one would often find people out for a jog or a walk. This is a quieter side of Robertson Quay with the chic restaurants at the other side seemingly a world away. 

The bedroom area is a relatively spacious affair with an open concept cabinet, another 55-inch smart TV as well as king-sized bed with fluffy and long pillows. The day and night curtains here can also be drawn remotely through the switch, which is situated by the bedside. 

The bathroom carries a darker, more masculine tone with black wall panels for the showers/toilet enclosure and there is also a his and hers sink. Dyson hairdryers are provided as well as toiletries from 19-69. 

The Living Room – Executive Lounge

Fraser Residence River Promenade might just be the only serviced apartment in Singapore that has an executive lounge serving evening cocktails. The Living Room, a space that’s also good for co-working, is the property’s version of the executive lounge and both breakfast and evening cocktails are served here. More importantly for long-staying guests, there’s also a fridge here filled with soft drinks and iced tea 24-hours a day, effectively becoming a complimentary drinks pantry for guests.

From 6 to 8PM, the evening presentation includes wines from Oxford Landing, various liquor for self-service cocktail making (there are recipes presented for Moscow Mule and other cocktails), soft drinks and juices.

Food-wise, the selection changes daily and features items like open-faced sandwiches, sliders, satay, salads as well as fruit and cheese. I thought it was quite a decent selection and may compare with what some full-service hotels offer for their club lounge offerings. Given that their guests are likely to be working professionals, the evening cocktail timing suits those coming back after work, i.e. 6:30PM (or later). 

Similarly, breakfast is served in The Living Room. The morning meals features an assortment of pastries, from croissants stuffed with meat and mushrooms to tuna puff, muffins as well as different types of bread. Overall, the breakfast here leans towards the continental side of things. 

Facilities

Fraser Residence River Promenade has a small lap pool by the walkway leading to the rooms from the lobby. It’s a rather open space and faces the windows adjacent to The Living Room. The indoor gym is also located in this area, near the pool, and features a number of treadmills, various weights and a multi-purpose exercise machine. Given that there’s only 72 rooms at the property, there’s quite a high chance that one can enjoy a workout session here without other guests, as was my experience.

Verdict

After staying for 2 nights, I can admit I feel a sense of envy for the long-staying guests here. Indeed, the concept of a serviced apartment has been blurred quite a bit with Fraser Residence River Promenade incorporating several elements of a hotel into its own value proposition. Inclusions that are practically unheard of elsewhere – such as evening cocktails, in-room creature comforts and stylish furnishings make this more than just a functional serviced apartment. I also appreciated the quiet and rather laidback location of the property. It’s a bit hard to imagine this was once a nightclub.  

Fraser Residence River Promenade
5 Jiak Kim Street
Singapore 169425

+65 6370 8088