Staycation Review: Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview

Located not far from the source of the Singapore River, this 476-room hotel in Robertson Quay provides easy access to the city centre while affording a retreat from its busyness. Heading downstream along the river, one can reach Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, and finally Marina Bay. This four-star hotel is among the most affordable of Marriott's properties here, which makes it a worthy candidate for spending some SingapoRediscover Vouchers — more on that later.

Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview along the Singapore River

The hotel viewed from across the Robertson Bridge

Now flagging the Four Points by Sheraton brand, the hotel opened in 2016 after a refurbishment of the Riverview Hotel, from which it retains part of its name. Its roots can be seen from the retro-style elevator that serves the lower floors. Also, an exhibit of a jade ship was preserved and is on display in front of the main lift lobby.

The hotel lobby

An exhibit of a jade ship is seen centre-right

The reception area is on the ground floor. The hotel's all-day restaurant and bar are also located on the same floor. Tenant outlets (Imperial restaurant and Irodori Japanese restaurant) as well as meeting venues are housed on the floors above the lobby.

Lift lobby comprising six elevators

Protective sheet over the lift buttons

Rooms

The Four Points brand is present across Southeast Asia — I previously reviewed the ones in Kuala Lumpur and Surabaya. While not luxurious, the brand offers sufficient comfort for the average business or leisure traveller, particularly in newer or refurbished properties.

Entry-level rooms at this hotel are termed Deluxe Rooms and offer 22 square metres of space. A small proportion of the rooms are suites — just 9 of them out of 476. This means that it can be challenging to score an upgrade, even for the most loyalty Marriott Bonvoy members (an alternative is utilising a Suite Night Award, which can be received as part of the program's annual choice benefit if you clock at least 50 nights a year). Premium Rooms and Family Rooms are also available.

Premium Twin

Working area and TV

The room entrance on left

The bathroom comes with a regular-sized bathtub and bath amenities supplied by Activ.

Bathroom

Bathtub

Rooms on the higher floors grant good views of the surrounding precinct. The windows are angled at the sides, thus offering a larger viewing scope than a flat window panel does (assuming you do not get one of the innermost rooms obstructed by adjacent ones). Rooms are either river-view or city-view. These are shots from the former side, which faces roughly north:

M Social Singapore on bottom-right

View of the downstream Singapore River

And these are views from the latter side, which faces roughly south:

Copthorne King's (left) and Furama RiverFront (centre)

City view with Miramar hotel on bottom-right

Dining

Room service was offered in takeout containers, with wineglasses being the exception. Paper menus have been converted into digital menus that are accessible using QR codes. It is worth noting that the range of the menu have also been reduced; even so, several items were unfortunately unavailable at my time of visit.

The classic Old Time Bak Kut Teh, served in-room

Alternatively, one could head down to Four Points Eatery, the hotel's all-day dining restaurant. In-restaurant dining across Marriot Bonvoy participating properties entitles members to discounts between 10% to 30% (limited to à la carte menu only; cannot be stacked with $88 F&B credit — mentioned later). Both indoor and outdoor seating are offered.

Entrance to Four Points Eatery

Four Points Eatery is also where breakfast takes place. As with many other hotels, the breakfast buffet spread has now been removed in favour of a set breakfast menu. Presently, a choice three breakfast sets are offered, and includes a drink, yoghurt, and fruits.

• American: eggs, bacon, sausages, hashbrowns, beans
• Continental: assorted danishes, cereal, milk
• Oriental: porridge or fried noodles, assorted dim sum

American breakfast set

The hotel's The Best Brew bar was unfortunately closed at the time of my visit. It serves its exclusive craft beer named Tall Tale Pale Ale. Nonetheless, other bars are widely accessible around Robertson Quay and downstream of the Singapore River.

The Best Brew bar

Recreation

An outdoor swimming pool is available on the fifth floor, while a spacious indoor fitness centre (named Syn-En3rgy) is housed on the third floor. For both, prior reservations are currently required for safe distancing purposes.

Fitness centre

"Don't wish for it, work for it"

Deals

From now till end February 2021, the hotel is offering a "Stay. Eat. Drink." package from $198 nett, comprising breakfast for two and $88 worth of food and beverage credit on in-room dining and Four Points Eatery. This is a particularly good deal for loyalty members with Platinum-tier or higher, who can be rewarded with complimentary evening drinks (at the restaurant because there is no executive lounge).

On top of that, guests should consider stacking the offer with:

• The next Marriott Bonvoy Global Promotion, expected to be announced by end-Dec 2020. The previous one was 2,500 points per stay, which ended on 10 November.
• ShopBack, which offers 3% cashback (new users can get your referral bonus here)
• An appropriate credit card and spending offer, if applicable.

Alternatively, Singaporeans may redeem their $100 SingapoRediscover Vouchers by booking through one of the five authorised booking partners from 1 December 2020 till 30 June 2021. The vouchers are aimed to support Singapore’s tourism sector through stimulating domestic consumption. The amount should cover approximately half price of a regular night's staycation (depending on the daily date, room type, and terms of booking); vouchers from different people cannot be pooled together and combined.

Hotel façade 

Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview is located at 382 Havelock Road, Singapore 169629.