Singapore

From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

A futuristic, fun-loving vibe emanates from this 17-room find edging the central business district. Pink-neon recessed lighting, funky molded plastic chairs, and orange Perspex accent tables add a playful touch to the double-height lobby. Free perks include minibar items and a generous breakfast of croissants, toast, and eggs at Lucas, the chic adjacent eatery. The guest rooms vary in decor (one room is all-white, another features a cylindrical shower in the center of the room), but all have ultramodern yet comfortable furniture by boldfaced designers–as in the curvilinear Moraine divan by Zaha Hadid and the polycarbonate Stone Stools by Marcel Wanders. There are more practical touches, too: Spacious closets are scented with satchels of dried flowers, and all rooms offer carpeting that beckons bare feet as well as lighting that you can manipulate from low and sexy to serious and businesslike. Suites add an outdoor hot tub edged with bamboo stalks and high wooden fences. Rooms could do with fewer superfluous details like the ornate etchings on bathroom mirrors, but overall the aesthetics, edibles, and service outshine those at Singapore's slew of other small hotels.—2010 Hot List

Which room to book: Reserve an Executive room and ask for an upgrade—if one's available, the friendly staff will likely oblige.

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