Location, Location, Location. It may be the mantra of real estate agents, but I think also applies to hotels. Indeed, it applies to the relatively new lyf Bugis, Singapore where I had a recent two-night stay.
Nestled in the heart of the city, it is definitely in a convenient location. There’s a lot happening within a short walking distance of the hotel. It’s also just a short 3-minute walk to Bencoolen MRT Station. A bit of a longer walk gets you to Bugis MRT station.
What is lyf?
lyf (pronounced life) stands for Live Your Freedom. Designed as an experience led social living concept, it is an accommodation concept originally created by The Ascott squarely aimed at ‘millennials’.
This is a generation that has grown up plugged into technology. A typical guest may be a technopreneur (technology entrepreneur), a start-up, or someone from a creative industry such as music and fashion.
The design of the rooms, social spaces, and other programs at lyf properties revolve around guests connecting and developing a sense of community.
That’s all good, but what does that mean?
Basically, lyf allows you to have your independent travel, while at the same time allowing you to immerse yourself in the local community. It combines elements of serviced apartments along with communal aspects. As such, it gives you privacy when you want it but allows you to be social at other times.
In practice that means that you can just be yourself. You can take a relaxed approach and create new opportunities to connect. And in the world of the digital nomad, isn’t that what we want?
lyf Bugis Singapore
The lyf Bugis Singapore is a relative newcomer to the scene having opened in August 2024. While the building previously operated as Hotel G, it has gone through some remodelling since that time.
Arrival and Check-in
If you arrive by vehicle, such as a taxi, you will be dropped off at level 2. From there, you need to make your way down to the ‘Say Hi’ counter on Level 1. Say Hi is basically the brands moniker for the check-in desk, and this is where you complete the check-in formalities.
lyf Guards
If ‘Say Hi’ was the first lyf Lingo I learned, the second was the term ‘lyf Guard’ – the term for what you might call customer service representatives. However, their role goes beyond just check-in. It’s a big role and unique to lyf. On top of doing check-in, they also have a concierge role, they are the front-line problem solvers and are involved in organising events.
Rooms
Overall, the hotel has 308 rooms having double beds, a queen bed or a king bed. The rooms themselves are probably best described as compact yet functional.
While the rooms may be small, they are clean and comfortable and have all the things you need. There is a bed, private facilities, a desk, and a chair. While the hotel may promote collaborative work, you can still do work in the room if you need some privacy.
The size of the room may be a problem if you travel with a lot of luggage. I was travelling rather light, so this wasn’t an issue. That said, there is a luggage storage available if needed.
The floor is made of a laminated material, I guess to allow for efficient cleaning. The bed had a good degree of firmness. There was a small desk with a chair if you needed to do some work in the room.
Looking in the opposite direction, the bathroom is on the left (or on the right as you enter the room). There is also an exposed clothing rack allowing for easy hanging and access to clothes. A safe-deposit box is also located in the room.
There are a few things that you won’t find in the room. For example, you won’t find an ironing board or a fridge. You will find these outside the room, as you share an ironing board and fridge with others on the same floor.
Hotel Amenities / Common Areas
lyf Bugis Singapore offers a variety of common areas and social spaces designed to foster community and interaction among guests.
These spaces are part of the lyf brand’s idea of creating a community-focused environment where guests engage in meaningful interactions and enjoy a unique social living experience.
In particular, the areas are designed to encourage networking between the guests. Some of the highlights are as follows:
BOND
BOND is a fully equipped social kitchen where guests can cook and share meals. The idea is to provide a place to meet fellow travellers, exchange recipes, and enjoy communal dining experiences.
CONNECT
This is the hotel’s coworking lounge, located adjacent to BOND. It provides an area for those who need a space to work or collaborate. It’s designed to be both functional and inspiring, encouraging productivity and networking
BURN
Keeping fit is a big part of travel these days, and lyf provides a social gym. Here, you can find a workout partner and stay fit during your stay. It’s equipped with modern fitness equipment and offers a lively atmosphere for exercise.
WASH & HANG
Having convenient washing facilities is a boon when travelling and the lyf Bugis provides a guest laundry enabling you to wash your clothes. In keeping with the social theme, it is designed as a social launderette, allowing you to do your laundry while socializing with others.
Food and Beverage options
While the hotel has a social kitchen, if you want someone else to cook, or want a drink, there are two food and beverage outlets at the hotel – Middle Child and Wild Honey.
Being a middle child, I have to say I liked the name ‘Middle Child’ for a wine bar. It had a decent selection of wine and craft beers. On the food side of things, it served sandwiches and interestingly has an ice cream bar.
Wild Honey is a restaurant and bar located on the hotel’s first level. It’s a delightful spot bringing the flavours of Southern California to Singapore.
All that said, there is no early breakfast service at the hotel. While Wild Honey describes an all-day breakfast, it opens at 9 am. This is not that big an issue – given the hotel’s location there are a variety of options within a short distance of the hotel. Or you could cook up something yourself in BOND.
Loyalty Program
lyf hotels participate in the Ascott Star Rewards, the loyalty program if The Ascott. As a result, you can earn points on your stay and take advantage of other membership privileges.
Final Words
lyf Bugis Singapore is a good choice whether you are a business or leisure traveler. It is a centrally located, clean, and friendly place to stay.
It’s not for everyone – it aims to be practical rather than luxurious – but if you are looking for somewhere casual with the opportunity to make connections, it’s a good option. The hotel has plenty of opportunities to connect and collaborate with others.
And that bit about it being targetted at millenials? That may be where it drew inspiration but in my experience thet are welcoming of everyone. If you are young at heart, and looking to make connections you’ll probably fit right in.
Useful Information
- Location: 100 Middle Road (which puts it on the corner of Middle Road and Bencoolen Road)
- Website: lyf Bugis Singapore | Official Site (discoverasr.com)
| Disclosure: I stayed at lyf Bugis Singapore as a guest of Ascott Star Rewards |
