Duxton Reserve, Singapore
Anouska Hempel’s Theatrical Reinvention of Singapore’s Historic Shophouses
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A collection of beautifully restored 19th-century heritage shophouses transformed into one of Singapore’s most distinctive boutique hotels.
● Legendary designer Anouska Hempel’s unmistakable interiors, where East and West meet in an atmosphere of cinematic glamour.
● A richly layered experience that celebrates heritage architecture while embracing contemporary luxury in the heart of Tanjong Pagar.
Heritage with Character
Duxton Reserve proves that preservation can be wonderfully bold. Occupying a row of meticulously restored 19th-century Chinese shophouses, the hotel sits where Chinatown meets Singapore’s Central Business District. The historic façades have been carefully conserved, while the interiors reveal an entirely different personality—one that is theatrical, intimate, and unapologetically original. History remains visible. The experience feels entirely contemporary.
The World According to Anouska Hempel
Few designers create spaces as instantly recognisable as Anouska Hempel. Throughout the hotel, lacquered black finishes, rich gold accents, bamboo screens, oversized fans, calligraphy wallpaper, and dramatic lighting establish an atmosphere somewhere between old Shanghai, Art Deco glamour, and a grand private residence. Every corridor unfolds like a film set, yet the spaces never feel theatrical for theatre’s sake. Nothing feels predictable. Every room tells its own story.
Rooms Wrapped in Atmosphere
With just 49 individually designed rooms and suites, no two stays are quite the same. Some embrace monochrome elegance, while others introduce vivid shades of mustard yellow or deep crimson balanced against glossy black furnishings and four-poster beds. Original architectural quirks shape each room differently, while Naturalmat mattresses, Beaumont & Brown linens, Diptyque amenities, and carefully selected furnishings ensure contemporary comfort never compromises the building’s historic character. Luxury feels seductive. Individuality defines every space.
Dining Behind the Screens
The hotel’s culinary spaces continue Hempel’s richly layered aesthetic. Yellow Pot serves refined contemporary Chinese cuisine in intimate dining rooms divided by lacquered and bamboo screens, while Anouska’s Bar channels the glamour of the 1970s and 1980s through elegant cocktails, warm lighting, and a lively social atmosphere. Every setting feels carefully choreographed without becoming overly formal. Hospitality becomes theatre. The mood lingers long after dinner.
At the Heart of Tanjong Pagar
Duxton Reserve places guests within one of Singapore’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Keong Saik Road, Maxwell Food Centre, Club Street, Ann Siang Hill, and Chinatown’s markets, temples, galleries, and cocktail bars are all within walking distance. The surrounding streets mirror the hotel’s own identity—historic, cosmopolitan, and constantly evolving. The neighbourhood completes the experience. The city feels wonderfully authentic.
Why It Works
Duxton Reserve succeeds because it refuses to dilute its personality. Through Anouska Hempel’s fearless interiors, beautifully restored heritage architecture, exceptional craftsmanship, and a setting at the crossroads of old and new Singapore, it offers an experience that is both deeply atmospheric and unmistakably memorable. It is one of the city’s boldest expressions of boutique hospitality.
