Need a getaway with your furry companion? More hotels are offering pet-friendly staycation options in Singapore 

Pawrent guilt is real. Just like parents of (human) kids, those of us with fur babies feel bad when the daily responsibilities of life make it difficult to spend quality time with our precious pets. The solution to assuage some of that guilt – pamper our four-legged companions with a posh staycation.

While some stalwarts such as Capella Singapore and InterContinental Singapore have long offered pet-friendly packages, it is always nice to check out something different, several new hotels in Singapore including Artyzen Singapore, Conrad Singapore Orchard and Fraser Residence River Promenade have started to offer pet-friendly stays.

This gave me the perfect excuse – I mean reason – to rope in my good natured but very discerning shiba inu dog Ralph as my co-reviewer of a couple of these new getaways.

First, we hotfoot it over to Artyzen Singapore on Cuscaden Road, which left a great first impression on Ralph, thanks to its verdant vertical garden at its entrance. I enjoyed how the greenery immediately made me feel transported away from the concrete jungle of Orchard Road while the dog busied himself sniffing around the plants.

The hotel’s pet-friendly package allows up to two dogs at its indulgent Terrace Suite and one dog in its Premier Balcony Room. Furry companions are provided with a thoughtful amenity package that includes a comfortable dog bed, pet bowls, toys and treats.

While the Terrace Suite is a splurge, it comes with an essential piece of real estate that a furkid will adore – a large private terrace garden.

As I had correctly predicted, Ralph was so delighted with his good fortune he immediately set out to bask in the garden, which is sizable enough to be furnished with a human-sized double daybed and still have floor space to unfurl a yoga mat or two. Other safety features include double doors at the veranda to ensure inquisitive pets are unable to slip out to the garden unnoticed.

With its airy double-storey ceilings, the suite – clad in warm herringbone timber, polished concrete, stone and brass – is a sight to behold as well. Designed by architecture firm Ong & Ong in collaboration with interior design studio Nic Graham & Associates, the richly appointed space draws inspiration from its former incarnation as the tropical garden mansion of the great-grandson of Singapore pioneer Tan Tock Seng. We loved the bright splashes of colour, especially in the custom designed carpeting that brings a sense of personality to the room.

One of the things that sets Artyzen apart is that dogs are also welcome in the outdoor area of Cafe Quenino, the hotel’s all-day dining concept. Located right next to a landscaped garden, great for four-legged companions when they get bored, the cafe’s wholesome breakfasts include local delights like nasi lemak and chilli crab omelette and the servers are always happy to offer a pet a bowl of cool water.

By evening, the space morphs into a cocktail bar and casual dining spot serving up elevated comfort fare including a hearty chicken kapitan curry pot pie and pasta featuring an entire Boston lobster. (I may or may not have accidentally-on-purpose dropped a morsel or two for my curious doggo to sample and am happy to report he approved of the eatery’s culinary offerings.)

One thing owners may want to know is that pets cannot be left unattended even in one’s own room, which can make it a little challenging if the humans need to pop out to Orchard Road or even to dine at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Quenino by Victor Liong. This policy is a tad more restrictive than most other pet-friendly hotels, which typically request only for owners to not leave their pets unaccompanied during housekeeping, but Artyzen says it is for safety reasons.

That said, the point of all of this was to smother my dog with love and attention so the lucky pooch got to enjoy many long meandering walks in the area in my company. Tip: Botanic Gardens and Dempsey are a stone’s throw away. His favourite part – returning to the blissful air-conditioned comfort of the suite for a much-deserved nap.

We continued our furkid adventure at the recently opened Fraser Residence River Promenade, which is ideally situated in one of the most animal-friendly neighbourhoods in Singapore – Jiak Kim Street along the Singapore River.

In fact, the three warehouses that have been thoughtfully reimagined as The Living Room, a lobby lounge, beverage and snack bar and co-working space will be very familiar to those of millennial vintage and beyond. After all, this used to be home to Zouk, one of the most established clubs in Singapore.

As I strolled with Ralph along the riverbank, I found myself pointing out various landmarks like the “rainbow” bridge where Zouk clubbers would escape to for some fresh air. The dog however was more interested in sniffing as many of the other dogs out for their daily walks along this stretch.

Best of all there are plenty of alfresco eateries along the nearby Robertson Quay area that welcome both humans and their pets. The Fraser Residence team recommended Botany for mindful Asian fusion and Bella Pasta for Italian and during our sojourns, I discovered that Tanamera Coffee Robertson Quay not only serves up a mean cuppa, it also has a small but authentic Indonesian food menu.

While Fraser Residence is mostly a service apartment, it offers stays of as short as six nights (think of it as a school holiday-length getaway) and can accommodate one pet per apartment in their one-bedroom categories and above.

The development, which is designed by Farm and SCDA Architects, features contemporary wood and grey hues. The furry VIP was also gifted his own swag pack which included a freshwater bowl, squeaky toy and more treats, which of course he happily accepted.

The brand new fully furnished apartments are equipped with kitchenettes – great for pampered pooches who may require specially prepared warm meals – that are fitted out with top-of-the-line appliances including a premium water filter tap, air filter and Dyson hairdryer.

Most of all, we discovered that the property’s complimentary daily sundowners, complete with evening cocktails and tasty snacks at The Living Room was the perfect way to unwind. Settled into comfortable seating by the poolside, the dog observed the comings and goings of fellow guests, some of whom stopped to give him a head scratch. Another successful pet staycay accomplished, I told myself, as I sipped a much-deserved ice cold beverage.