Our Pan Pacific Orchard hotel review gives you a sneak peek into Singapore’s multi award-winning ‘hotel in nature’, to see what all the hype is about.
There’s been a lot of hype about the Pan Pacific Orchard and its ‘hotel in nature’ concept since it opened its doors in June 2023.
It was named Asia’s Leading New Hotel at the 2023 World Travel Awards, The 7th most Instagrammable Hotel at the 2024 Trip.Com Awards and Singapore’s 3rd Best Hotel Pool at the 2024 Travel & Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific.
(As well as a whole host of awards for its landscaping and sustainability measures).
It has even recently been awarded the best tall building in the world in the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Development (CTBUD) Annual Awards for 2024. Now, that’s some accolade!
But what is it actually like to stay there? I checked in for two nights to experience it for myself and give you my honest review below.
Read our article for more Singapore family-friendly hotels.
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I was a guest of Pan Pacific Orchard for the purpose of writing this review. All opinions, as always, are honest and my own.
Table of Contents
Reasons to love Pan Pacific Orchard
- It has a fantastic swimming pool. The pool is enormous with lots of shallow areas, perfect for family fun.
- It has a great location. The hotel is right on Orchard Road, less than a 10-minute walk to the MRT station.
- It has a relaxing vibe. From its terraced sky gardens to the cascading waterfall in the open-air lobby, it’s an oasis of calm in the heart of a busy city.
- It is world-leading in sustainability. From solar panels on the roof to filtered water dispensers in the guest rooms, Pan Pacific Orchard is leading the way in sustainable hospitality.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Pan Pacific Orchard.
Location
The Pan Pacific Orchard is located right off Orchard Road, presiding over the shopping thoroughfare like a giant tropical Jenga tower. It is just a 5-10 minute walk to the Orchard MRT station at the famous ION shopping centre.
The shopping mall Palais Renaissance is right next door to the hotel, where you’ll find several cafes and restaurants. Popular shopping malls Paragon and Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya) are also just a 10-minute walk.
A taxi from the airport should take around 25 minutes, depending on traffic.
Rooms at Pan Pacific Orchard
There are 343 guestrooms and suites at the hotel divided among three zones -Beach, Garden and Cloud.
Interconnecting rooms with a King and a Twin configuration are available in both the Premier and Deluxe categories, and are an ideal choice for families.
The most coveted rooms are undoubtedly the Beach Club Pool Access Lofts, with their over-pool seating pods offering direct access to the pool. However, these aren’t available as connecting rooms and are more suited to couples than families.
My room is a Beach Terrace Balcony King on the 10th floor, which perches above the swimming pool and gives me views out over the city.
The first thing I notice when I enter is the soaring double-height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow the light to flood in. This is further enhanced by the glittering mirrored ceiling above the pool that reflects more light into the space.
The king-sized bed is super comfy with soft, fluffy, cloud-like pillows and duvet.
There’s also a small lounging area with a sofa and coffee table (which I also use as a desk with my laptop), a 55-inch TV, a Nespresso coffee machine and a minibar. Plus a wardrobe/bag storage area.
Unfortunately the wardrobe area is too small to store my suitcase, meaning I end up placing it on the sofa. This is fine as I am on my own, but if you have two people in a room with two suitcases, things might start to get a little messy.
The filtered water dispenser is another nice touch, not just for the environment but for guest convenience, too. FYI – tap water in Singapore is completely safe to drink, but I do think having a filter tap encourages guests to fill up a water bottle rather than contribute to the plastic problem, so I applaud hotels that have this.
My only disappointment is that the tap dispenses boiling water for hot drinks, or ‘ambient’ water for drinking. I would love to have had a chilled option to fill up my insulated water bottle to combat the Singapore heat while sightseeing.
I spend some time playing with the electric blinds and curtains, which give guests full control over the sheers, blackout curtains and balcony blinds.
I figure out that the balcony blinds automatically lower as you open the sliding balcony doors, allowing you to sit on the balcony with the bedroom door open and still enjoy the air-con. This is a clever energy-saving feature, but a balcony ceiling fan would also be appreciated to be able to enjoy the view with the blinds up and without working up a sweat.
The bathroom is compact and cleverly divided by sliding doors, allowing you to open it up to create space or cordon it off for privacy. I’m particularly excited by the Diptyque amenities and I love the rain shower.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Pan Pacific Orchard.
Facilities
First, let’s talk about the swimming pool. Because this is bound to be the highlight of the hotel for most families.
Located on level 5, the rooftop pool is enormous, with separate lagoon pool and lap pool areas and an expansive shallow area perfect for kids to play. It’s surrounded by lush greenery, and there are also loungers and bean bags to chill out, as well as a poolside bar and swim-up bar.
The pool gets even better after dark when it glows blue and purple from the surrounding lights, creating a magical atmosphere that kids are guaranteed to find exciting. You can see my Instagram reel here to check it out.
If you like to work out while on holiday, you’ll love the indoor/outdoor gym that overlooks the swimming pool and has all the fitness equipment you could need.
Unfortunately, there’s no time to indulge in a spa treatment, but if there was, the St Gregory spa has a full range of massages and beauty therapies, including some intriguing-sounding traditional Chinese and Indonesian therapies.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Pan Pacific Orchard.
Food & Drink
There’s a choice of three dining experiences at Pan Pacific Orchard: Pacific Breeze, Mosella and Florette (plus room service, if you wish). Guests staying in the Pacific Club rooms also have access to the Pacific Club Lounge.
Pacific Breeze
My first stop after I check in is Pacific Breeze to grab a quick lunch. Located within the open-air lobby and ‘Forest Terrace’, this bar/restaurant is surrounded by water and benefits from the tranquil sounds of the nearby waterfall.
It’s the perfect spot for a quick lunch or a leisurely afternoon drink.
The menu is a selection of local dishes such as Hainanese Chicken Rice and Penang Char Kway Teow, as well as the usual burgers and club sandwiches. I opt for a Nasi Goreng and a Virgin Mojito, which are delivered promptly and with a smile.
Florette
In the evening, I venture upstairs to the chic and stylish Florette bar, located on the 11th floor at the Garden Terrace.
Twinkling flower petal chandeliers (Florette is the Roman goddess of flowers), plush leather sofas, and softly glowing pink ambient lighting give this a feel of a place to see and be seen.
As it’s only early evening, there are only a handful of other guests here, most of whom are taking advantage of the balmy alfresco seating with views over the garden. This would be a good option if you are enjoying evening drinks with the kids, who can play on the expansive terrace lawn while parents chill out.
As I pull up a lone stool at the bar, the staff assure me Florette gets busy after 9.30 pm, especially at weekends when the resident DJ spins the decks.
I am well looked after by the friendly bar team, who recommend a ‘Garden’, one of the signature cocktails that take their inspiration from the four themed terraces of the hotel – Cloud, Garden, Beach and Forest.
The bar is also known for its caviar bumps, oyster platters and fresh seafood platters, but I have another restaurant to check out for dinner…
Mosella
Mosella is the signature restaurant at Pan Pacific Orchard and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a free-flow champagne brunch on a Sunday.
As a rule, I don’t like to have dinner in the same hotel restaurant where I have breakfast, and Mosella with its cavernous surroundings does have the feel of a hotel restaurant.
However, it is beautifully designed and the mood lighting in the evening helps set it apart from the breakfast vibe. I imagine it is a fantastic setting for Sunday brunch.
The menu features modern Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on charcoal grill dishes. I kick off with the Hamachi Tiradito from the Crudo section, raw Japanese Yellowtail with an Asian twist thanks to its Mandarin & Truffle Ponzu.
Then I follow up with a delicate and delicious Black Cod from the grill served alongside asparagus, green peas, celeriac and salsa verde, which pairs perfectly with a chilled glass of Chablis.
I’m back at Mosella in the morning for an impressive breakfast spread that features everything from fruit and pastries to dumplings, laksa and cold cuts.
There are also live stations for freshly cooked eggs, noodles and more. There’s definitely something for everyone in the family.
Pacific Club Lounge
Guests staying in the Pacific Club room categories have access to the Pacific Club lounge, located on the 11th floor, next door to Florette.
The lounge itself is a spacious, comfortable and calm oasis with a choice of indoor air-conditioned seating or outdoor seating at the Garden Terrace.
The breakfast selection is smaller than at Mosella, but still a good choice and you also have the option to order a la carte, with choices including eggs, avocado toast, noodle soup and nasi lemak, so something for everyone. There’s even champagne on offer if you want to start your day with a bang.
The Pacific Club Lounge also offers afternoon tea from 3pm-5pm and a very generous cocktail hour from 6pm-8pm, where champagne and cocktails are on offer alongside a small buffet selection of cheese and cold cuts, dumplings, spring rolls, salads and more.
Note that children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the Club Lounge after 5pm.
If you prefer to eat outside of the hotel but don’t want to venture too far, then shopping mall Palais Renaissance is right next door and has a selection of cafes and restaurants. Favourites here include Merci Marcel and PS Cafe.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Pan Pacific Orchard.