Di Tanjong Katong, airnya biru~ HELLO, WE ARE AT KATONG! To be exact, we went for a staycation at the new Village Hotel Katong – the flagship Village hotel, reflects the strong Peranakan heritage of the surrounding Joo Chiat and Katong district in Singapore!

To be frank, I was really excited about this staycation because there are just so many interesting places in Katong yet to be discovered. And having a staycation here allows me to explore the area a little. Plus the hotel is new so I expected it to be super nice!

Big thanks to Far East Hospitality, we stayed in Deluxe Katong room which is specially designed with a warm fuschia Peranakan colour on a backdrop of grey motifs. It didn’t disappoint. We looked out of the balcony (yes we have a balcony in the room!) and it has an excellent view of Marine Parade, East Coast and culturally rich Katong district.

The room has an accessible balcony and the bathroom is equipped with a standing rain shower. The room also comes equipped with a full range of amenities tailored to suit the savvy business traveller, complete with complimentary wired Internet and Wi-Fi access and 46-inch LED TVs with in-built port access to portable electronic devices.

We took a walk around the hotel and reached the outdoor swimming pool which is an ideal spot to unwind. Oh just beside the swimming pool, there is a small gym which has some basic equipment. However the sun was too strong for a swim so we decided to take a afternoon nap in the room.

Usually when the boy and I go for staycation, we would probably spend our afternoons walking around nearby shopping malls or catch a movie. But Village Hotel being such a new and pretty hotel, it is really difficult to leave the hotel room. Especially with the comfortable bed and the air con…

So we really took an afternoon nap. Slept for a good 2 hours before waking up for dinner at Katong Kitchen. Located on level 4 within the hotel, Katong Kitchen is a new international concept restaurant featuring Nonya, Macanese, Asian, Local Chinese to Western fare.

The boy is a very hands-on person so when he saw a DIY section, he would offer to make a plate of rojak for me. I guess this is the only time he can imagine himself as a chef HAHA! So he started the ball rolling with a huge plate of rojak. And he always boosts about his rojak and says it tastes good because of the proportion of black prawn sauce and sugar he mixes.

For me, I started slow and steady with a bowl of prawn mee which has a decent broth.

The grill section, unfortunately, didn’t leave an impression. The selection was limited and the lamb we had was too chewy for our liking.

But I particularly love their hot dishes with a good variety of dishes such as beef stew, confit of potatoes, crayfish, chicken rendang, teriyaki fish, kapitan mutton nonya, broccoli with king abalone mushrooms etc.

The best dish is the peranakan crayfish which is also the first dish that goes the fastest. Since it is buffet, we get unlimited servings of fresh crayfish of a good size. All yield tender meat, just cooked. It is easy to overcook shellfish, and the chef here has done a great job with crayfish. What’s even better is the aromatic chilli sauce, with a trace of sweetness. Another of my favourite is the beef stew with perfectly browned beef cubes. A dish that warms the belly.

Although there wasn’t a very extensive selection of desserts, the asian delights really caught my eyes. Probably because we are living in Katong, so I was very tempted to pick up some nonya kueh and kueh lapis. Whenever I see nine layers kueh (九层糕), it makes me an happy lady because this is my favourite since a kid. I love peeling layers and layers from the kueh and place it carefully in my mouth. I have been wanting to do this recipe for the longest time. Will try to do it after CNY, maybe?

Katong Kitchen Buffet Pricing:

Daily International Buffet Lunch
Adult $38++
Child (6 to 12 years old) $19++

Weekday – International Buffet Dinner
Adult $48++
Child (6 to 12 years old) $24++

Weekends & Public Holidays – International Buffet Dinner
Adult $58++
Child (6 to 12 years old) $29++

Special Promotion – Dine 3 Pay 2 Weekday Buffet* from now till 31 March 2014. For Seniors (60 years old and above), 50% OFF Buffet Price for Lunch and Dinner Buffet till 15 April 2014. Minimum 2 paying Adults to enjoy the promotion. Please call 6551 2141 for reservations.

Village Hotel Katong Opening Promotion

Village Hotel Katong is also one of the few hotels located in the eastern region of Singapore. The best thing about having a staycation here? We get to explore the beautiful Katong at night with many supper choices. Plus there are two shopping malls nearby – I12 Katong and Parkway Parade Shopping Mall. They are having a opening promotion at $208++ (weekday) and $178++ (weekend). Package includes: complimentary buffet breakfast for 2, complimentary Wi-Fi access and one round of mini bar refreshments.

Village Hotel Katong

Address: 25 Marine Parade
Tel: +65 6496 7699
Email: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

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