The Warehouse Hotel, Singapore - Secret Societies, Opium Dens, and Cocktails That Map the Past

In the 1890s, this building on Robertson Quay was ground zero for Singapore's red-light district, a hub for opium dens, gambling houses, and Chinese secret societies who demanded 36 sacred oaths from new recruits. The street was known in Hokkien as "Chiu Long Lo" – Spirits Shed Street – after the hundreds of varieties of homemade arrack, tuak, and toddy being distilled in back alleys.

Today, that same warehouse is a 37-room boutique hotel where you can sip a reverse Martini made with house-distilled gin, sleep in a loft with original 19th-century beams, and learn about Singapore's forgotten underbelly through cocktails that map the city's hidden history.

The hotel opened in January 2017 after meticulous restoration and has since racked up awards including four wins at AHEAD Asia 2018 (including Asia Hotel of the Year), placement on Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List two years running, and most recently a spot in the top ten hotels in Singapore in the publication's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. But what makes The Warehouse Hotel worth writing about isn't the accolades – it's how seriously the team takes Singapore's less-than-respectable past.

Location

The hotel sits along the Singapore River in Robertson Quay, central Singapore, steps from local markets, museums, shops, restaurants, and theaters. The neighborhood has cleaned up considerably since its days as the city's notorious vice district, but the location still pulses with energy. You're close enough to everything that matters without being stuck in the thick of tourist crowds.

From Spice Trader To Vice Hub

The building went up in 1895, commissioned by businessman Lim Ho Puah, who'd inherited the shipping company Wee Bin & Co. and was well on his way to becoming one of Southeast Asia's most successful entrepreneurs. This was boom time for trade along the Straits of Malacca, and Lim built a particularly handsome godown – the local term for warehouse – with peaked roofs and shuttered windows right on the riverbanks.

But the surrounding Havelock Road neighborhood was less respectable. Chinese and Fujianese secret societies ran the area. Gambling, prostitution, and opium were everywhere, and the warehouse stood at the heart of it all. The heritage has been preserved – the building is protected by Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority – but reimagined as a modern hotel that doesn't shy away from its colorful past.

Lobby Bar

Director of Food and Beverage Joseph Haywood and his team spent months researching Singapore's past to create a cocktail menu that maps eight decades of the city's hidden stories. Each decade gets two drinks: a classic from that era and a signature reimagining with local ingredients.

The standouts tell the best stories. The 36 Oaths – a smoky twist on the Rusty Nail – honors those secret societies with a house-made amaro containing 36 ingredients including buah keluak, a nut more commonly used in Peranakan cuisine that adds deep, nutty, umami-rich flavor. It's mezcal-based, smoky and bitter, with layers of earthy complexity.

The Tongkang Drift captures the 1910s, named after the boats that once ferried spices, silk, and secrets along the Singapore River. This drink combines Manzanilla sherry, Lillet Rosé, and Sauvignon Blanc with Thai basil, jambu (a tropical flower with citrus notes), and hints of orange blossom. It's bright with red berry notes of strawberry and raspberry, delicate floral touches, and a crisp, dry finish – like drifting downriver in spring.

Beyond the narrative cocktails, there's sake ranging from the fresh Chiyo Shuzo Shinomine Cho Karakuchi to the celebrated Dassai 23, plus terroir-driven wines from Burgundy, Napa Valley, and the Loire Valley. The bar is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to midnight, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Den

The back hall of the lobby, The Den is a mood-lit lounge with low-slung furniture and an eclectic collection of art and artifacts. This was once the heart of all illicit activity in the neighborhood. Now it's an immersive space for storytelling.

Local photographer Robert Zhao's work lights up the exposed brick walls. His Ulu Tiram series captures Singapore from above – the city's tallest buildings, public housing blocks, and wildlife – documenting the ongoing dialogue between man-made infrastructure and natural spaces. It's surveillance photography that makes you rethink how you see the island.

There's also a curated collection of Singapore literature – limited print artists' books and English-language works related to Singaporean history, art, and culture, available for browsing. The hotel's private collection rounds things out with eccentric sculptures and objects sourced locally, blending mid-century, Asian, and European influences.

Po

Po – named after the Mandarin word for grandmother – is The Warehouse Hotel's flagship restaurant, serving Nanyang heritage cuisine that draws from Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan culinary traditions.

The menu reads like a loving revival of flavors from yesteryear, with every component made from scratch using traditional techniques. The standout is the popiah, faithfully recreated from family recipes. The filling – hand-cut pork, shrimp, and bamboo shoots balanced with jicama, carrots, and Holland peas – takes over four hours of constant care, stewed and caramelized until perfect. Platters come with fresh handmade wheat skins, the filling, lettuce, beansprouts, crispy flatfish, and all the toppings and sauces you need to build your own.

Other signatures include Puyuh Panggang – chargrilled quail marinated until smoky and tender – and Sotong Masak Hitam, succulent squid with roe cooked in rich black ink until tender, topped with crispy fried tentacles. It's an explosion of texture and deep flavor.

The dining room is fitted out with marble tables and '70s-style globe pendant lamps. Cocktails from the Lobby Bar join in, carrying hints of the spice trade days that echo the heritage menu.

River View Room

At 34 square meters, the River View Rooms sit on the ground floor and look directly out over the Singapore River, evoking its past as a hub of shipping activity and the spice trade. They have ample space and light, fitted with a king-sized bed and ensuite bathroom.

Standard amenities include complimentary high-speed wifi, Ashley & Co bath amenities, Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speakers, a minibar with local treats, artisanal tea and coffee, an electronic safe, and a rain shower.

River View Suite

At 57 square meters, the River View Suite is the hotel's largest room. It's an open-plan loft on the top floor with a view over the Singapore River. Original beams and a soaring peaked ceiling give it historic character, while the super king-sized bed, standalone bathtub in the ensuite bathroom, and spacious living area deliver on comfort. You get all the standard amenities plus the bathtub and living area.

River View Mezzanine

One of the largest rooms in the building at 45 square meters, the River View Mezzanine is a unique two-level space on the top floor. A set of stairs leads up to a reading library on the mezzanine, and the whole room looks out over the Singapore River.

You get the original beams, windows, and peaked ceiling – plenty of historic industrial character – along with a super king-sized bed, ensuite bathroom with a standalone bathtub, and all the standard amenities plus the library.

Warehouse Loft

Located on the top floor, the Warehouse Lofts at 27 square meters have soaring double-height ceilings with original building beams and historic conservation details. Each loft features skylights; some have glass block windows that let natural light flood in. They look out on the neighborhood and surroundings. You get a king-sized bed, ensuite bathroom, and all standard amenities.

Pool

The rooftop infinity pool sits on the second floor overlooking Robertson Quay. It's 1.2 meters deep throughout and open daily from 7am to 10pm. Not the largest pool you'll find in Singapore, but the view and setting make it worthwhile.