The Grand Mercure Roxy: A Great Hotel Tucked Away in Katong

Over the weekend of the 2011 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, I was billeted in the Grand Mercure Roxy, a four star hotel managed by globally-recognized Accor. Our friends from YourSingapore could not have picked a better hotel partner! Read more…

The Grand Mercure Roxy is ideally located in a heritage neighborhood called Katong, which is known for its Peranakan culture that  is embodied by the buildings at the back of the hotel. A wide array of food choices are also available within the hotel’s vicinity—there’s a food court in front of the hotel open in until the wee hours in the morning and a selection of different food outlets at the back of the hotel such as the famous 328 Katong Laksa. Shopping is not a problem either, as there is a mall called  Parkway Parade in front of the hotel.

The hotel is tucked away from the busy Orchard Road and Marina Bay, but it still maintains very good accessibility. As a matter of fact, there are two bus stops within the vicinity—one right in front of the hotel and one at the back of the hotel. MRT access is not a problem too, as the Paya Lebar and Dakota MRT stations are a short bus ride away. The hotel also provides free scheduled shuttle services to Paya Lebar MRT in the morning.

Speaking of shuttle service, perhaps one of the best perks of staying at the Grand Mercure Roxy is their complimentary airport transfer service that runs an extensive schedule. This makes the hotel ideal for those long layovers in Singapore besides the fact that it is quite close from Changi International Airport.

I was given a well-designed deluxe room for my stay during the F1 weekend, and the first thing that I thought was the room was spacious not only by Singapore standards but also by Manila standards. I had a comfortable king bed, a big LCD TV, a spacious bath with tub, lots of closet space with an electronic safe and ironing board, and a mini bar with coffee-making facilities. In other words, my room did not fall short in terms of features and amenities.

The hotel boasts of two bars and two restaurants, and I took my daily buffet breakfast at their Feast@East Restaurant. The wide selection of breakfast items was great to fuel me up for my action-packed days. 

Service was just top notch. Check-in and checkout were a breeze, and the front desk staff were all smiles, helpful, and efficient. Likewise, the concierge staff were very helpful every time I needed to ask directions for commutes around Singapore.

When I went, the hotel is undergoing some refurbishment work. I’ve been told that it would soon boast a new function room, a poolside restaurant and bar, and a fitness center at the hotel’s fourth floor.

As I’ve mentioned, the Grand Mercure Roxy is managed by Accor, which isn’t only a global name in property management but also an eco-friendly and socially-responsible firm. I read that the money they save in laundry costs from guests who opt not to have a change of sheets and towels goes to tree planting efforts in Indonesia. This is of course among the many social and environmental initiatives of Accor.

I had a great stay at the Grand Mercure Roxy. Its location away from the hustle and bustle of urban Singapore while still maintaining accessibility makes it a good place to end the day at. I could well remember the nights when I just wanted to retire in my big white bed after a day of touring around Singapore and covering the F1, and I could not be any happier. Great service, superb rooms, features, amenities, dining choices, and eco-friendliness are also reasons to book at this four-star hotel soon.