I had the privilege of being hosted at Heritage@25 last month. It was a staycation that blew me away! And frankly, I was really reluctant to leave. 2D1N was just too short a stay. I could live in this bungalow with such rich heritage forever, really. Guess what, you can even book a stay here too, via airbnb! :D
I was truly being a nag when I told my fiancé, as we strolled around the sprawling compound, that he should (please) make more money so we can buy a huge house like this one. In short, I love it.
[ And yes, there are too many perks to being a blogger. If you don’t have an interest in writing though, just date a blogger. LOL. ]
* A black-and-white picture seems fit for a house that’s over 100 years old *
And this is what it’s like in the morning, when you prepare to slide into the lap pool:
Heritage@25, located at 25 Chapel Road, is in a quiet neighborhood. And outside its gates, you’ll never guess that it’s so BIG within. One portion is designated as the venue for events, while the other portion is the residential side.
During our stay, we were the only ones in the huge bungalow, and we relished the experience of walking around the place and pretending we owned it. Hehe!
In fact, it’s quite a walk to get from the Presidential Suite upstairs, to the kitchen downstairs. An intercom system would be necessary if you’d like to tell someone in the bedroom to please bring something down to you. Hollering without the intercom does not help. And it’s good exercise just going upstairs and coming back down. I got quite a workout!
History buffs and those who are interested in places with rich heritage and cultural influences will most certainly love Heritage@25. If you’ve noticed the staircase in the picture above, it actually has Peranakan-design staircase tiles, which are not newly affixed, by the way.
I’ve also been told that in the past, this bungalow was actually near the beach but now the surrounding area has all been ‘built-up’ for land for more properties to be built. Despite the rapid changes, this bungalow is beautifully preserved and while it’s all about preserving heritage, the furniture within is new and stylish!
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The Rucksack Group was indeed very kind to me. They let me have their Presidential Suite! The bed was SO comfortable. But I didn’t allow myself to sleep in the next morning, cos it was a must for us to check out the pool! :)
* the bed *
And here’s the walk-in wardrobe with everything else you could possibly need: iron, safe, etc…
And the best part of the room has to be the bathroom: toilet on the right, bathtub in the middle and a standing shower on the left:
* well-stocked with toiletries *
And I am convinced this is the BEST rainshower experience I’ve ever had. Yes, even better than the ones at 5* hotels. I’ve never stood under a waterfall before, but it must feel something like that. It simply helps wash away the weariness of the day, and prepare you for a good night’s rest! I need to buy this shower head for my new home! And hope the water bill won’t be too steep!
And, of course, who can resist the bathtub? My fiancé LOVES bathtubs. I like a good soak in the tub if I have one of those bath bombs or bubble baths. Otherwise, it’s a quick shower and I’m off. Thus, I get to shower first! :D And oh, these are the Original Source goodies that I received at the Shopee launch:
After you’re done with your shower, there are in-room refreshments to enjoy. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, maybe? And check out the aircon remote controller in that very retro-looking cup – I simply love all of these little vintage items around the house:
And in the morning, this view greets you at the living / dining area:
I love wooden tables that are devoid of clutter (makes them so inviting), and the lush greenery outside and the colorful beanbags at the porch just add such a burst of color to the view you enjoy while eating your breakfast. I really could get used to living here.
For breakfast, there’s bread you can toast, and cereal. There’s no need for a huge spread because Heritage@25 is located in an area which is full of awesome foodie spots – like Katong Laksa, and chicken rice at Katong Shopping Centre.
Inside the fridge you’ll find jams for your bread, milk for your cereal, yoghurt, etc. It really feels just like home.
And when your belly is full, it’s a good time to go out and get some sun. :) The lap pool is just outside and I must say that I’ve never had a swim in such serene surroundings! Truth be told, I’m rather intraverted and I can definitely see myself staying here, swimming everyday, reading out on the porch while seated on cushy beanbags, and not even bothering with heading out to the city. Quite the hermit’s life, in fact.
And like I said, 2D1N is simply too short a stay. ‘Forever’ sounds more like it. I’d definitely love to be back here again. :)
~ Rates ~
Depending on whether it’s the peak period or not, the rate for the Presidential Suite is between S$380 and S$500. The family suite downstairs – that’s adjoining rooms – will cost S$200 + S$200.
As a rough guide, the rates for the colonial suite, junior suite and presidential suite are from S$200 to S$500.
If you’d like to book the event venue, it’s S$1200 (Mon -Thurs) S$2200 (Fri-Sun) for whole day rental. Alternatively, pay S$120 per hour on weekdays and S$220 per hour on weekends (minimum of 3 hours).
The driveway can accommodate 3 cars but when there are events, there will be a designated valet.
The usual events held here are tea ceremonies, afternoon lunches, afternoon party cocktails, evening parties, etc. There is one restriction: that guests must vacate the premises at 10pm, so as not to disturb the neighbors.
Interested? Contact Elina at elina@thhg.sg and tell her you read my blogpost, and get the best rate possible :)
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*Three pictures in this blogpost are courtesy of StarHub. The rest are my own.*
