Chinatown on my left, the Japanese and Korean restaurants of Tanjong Pagar on my right, and many more reasons to hang around the area within a short walk either way.
Located right outside Tanjong Pagar MRT is Amara Singapore, a hotel that’s convenient enough to be a base for tourists, but local enough that I felt like I was doing what Singaporeans would actually do on a weekend, not just the touristy stuff.
This year, the hotel is marking its 40th anniversary and Singapore’s National Day with a nostalgic staycation package built around a partnership with MILO®, running from 7 August to 13 September 2026. I stayed a night on the Recharge & Rewind package to see if it lives up to the hype, and here’s how we feel about it.
A convenient location that doesn’t feel touristy
The first thing I noticed about Amara was just how much is within walking distance. Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar, Telok Ayer, and the galleries around the Tanjong Pagar Distripark were all a short stroll away. Aside from the obvious convenience of being right beside the MRT station, it was apparent why this hotel is usually fully booked — the lobby was packed when we were checking in.
But how was my stay at Amara?
What I didn’t expect was that this isn’t just a hotel for its location — it’s one made me want to stay in despite all the fun things that were within walking distance. The room was super spacious, the breakfast spread was nice, and I was genuinely impressed by how well equipped the pool and gym were.
A few things stood out to me during my stay:
- The gym is honestly one of the best-equipped hotel gyms I’ve come across — Smith machines, proper free weights, and a wide layout overlooking the pool
- The pool is deep enough that I could actually swim laps in it, not just float around, which I really appreciate in a hotel pool
The Recharge & Rewind package
This is where the stay went from “convenient hotel” to “worth booking for the package alone” for me. On top of a room that was already comfortable, their ongoing Recharge & Rewind package gets you 20% off Best Available Rates across every room category — and I have to say, that’s a genuinely good discount considering Amara Singapore runs close to full house most of the time. I was honestly a little surprised they were offering it at all.
MILO-inspired high tea set
The package includes the Bites of Nostalgia High Tea for two, a limited-time menu built around MILO. I started with a choice of Hor Ka Sai (coffee blended with MILO) or Sai Ka Hor (tea blended with MILO), moved on to savoury bites like Hae Bee Hiam Kueh Pie Tee and Chilli Crab with Mantou, and ended on a sweet note with Sesame Peanut Rice Ball and a Pancake with Condensed Milk and MILO Sauce.
It’s great if you’re a tourist who’s looking to tick all your “local food” boxes. But
The gift box in my room
When I got up to the room, there was a gift box waiting for me: MILO sachets and biscuits, Iced Gem Biscuits, two MILO plushies, and a curated set of retro games and toys like Snakes and Ladders, and Pick-up Sticks.
None of these are groundbreaking on their own, but together with the high tea and the discount, it made the whole stay feel a lot more thoughtful to me than the usual anniversary promo.
Location: Amara Singapore, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539
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