Singapore hotel M Social is all about getting guests to mingle

What is this place? A hotel of 293 rooms and suites on the east bank of the Singapore River, in residential Robertson Quay, an area of tree-lined walkways and riverside alfresco dining that Hong Kong’s urban planners should take an amble through.

M Social? Is there any meaning to that name? There is, yes. The “M” stands for Millennium Hotels and Resorts, the owner of the property, and the concept behind the Philippe Starck-designed hotel is to get its guests to interact with one another, which means small bedrooms but a generously sized public area on the ground floor, one end of which faces out on to the river. Primarily a restaurant and bar (below), the ground floor also has a small pool table, a performance area and couches illuminated by dozens of lava lamps.

The walls are studded with artfully arranged tablets showing images curated by Starck and books (everything from new age self-help to classic literature, which guests are encouraged to take back to their rooms) are placed precisely on side tables throughout. Another nod to the socialising ethos comes courtesy of bench seat­ing along lengthy imitation-marble tables that are illuminated from the inside.

The “neigh­bour­hood map” that illustrates the paper wallet holding your room keys gives perhaps the best idea of the image the management is aiming to project. Having decided whether you’re “kinda bold”, “kinda easy” or “kinda peckish”, the diagram will take you to suggestions such as “OK, take our shuttle bus”, “take in the sights and its people at Clarke Quay” or “Ask our M’Bassadors for more recommendations”.