Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre caught my interest because it’s relatively new, having opened just 1.5 years ago. My husband kept nagging about wanting to stay near Chinatown for late-night adventures, so here we are.
I checked Expedia while writing this. A Classic Queen Room for December 2025 costs S$210 including taxes. That’s the room category we booked.
Getting There and Check-In Experience
After lunch at Chinatown Point, we walked over to Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre. It’s literally a short stroll away.
We arrived around 1:30pm. The lobby was packed with people. Front desk staff were busy checking guests in.
The wait wasn’t too long. Check-in was smooth. The lady who handled us was friendly and chatty. She knew we’re locals here for a staycation. She recommended places to eat and told us the hotel connects to the new ICON Link underground mall, which links to Telok Ayer MRT.
I asked if Mercure ICON is still the world’s largest Mercure Hotel. She had no clue. Neither did her colleague. Quite amusing, honestly. I’d read so many articles claiming this, yet the hotel staff themselves didn’t know.
Important Things to Remember
- Bring your physical IC if you’re a local coming for a staycation
- All guests staying in the room need their ICs
- No durians allowed in your room (obviously)
Location and Nearby Amenities
The location is brilliant. Right in the city centre.
For tourists visiting Singapore, Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre is worth considering. It’s near MRT stations, walking distance to several hawker centres, and surrounded by restaurants and cafes. There’s even a Cheers convenience store right at the entrance driveway.
The hotel offers complimentary walking tours for guests who want to explore Chinatown and the city centre. Nice touch.
The Lift System (Yes, It’s Worth Mentioning)
The lift lobby has no buttons. You tap your card. A lift gets assigned to you (they’re labelled A to J, ten lifts total). It automatically takes you to your floor. No buttons inside either, except for opening or closing doors.
Unless other guests are going to the same floor, you’ll have the entire lift to yourself.
For level one lobby and level two (where the gym, swimming pool and breakfast restaurant are), you don’t need to tap your card. Just press the level on the digital screen.
Room 1728: First Impressions
I requested a higher floor when booking. We got the 17th floor. Happy about that.
The moment we entered, my husband said, “Wah, so small.” I laughed because I’d already researched and seen photos online. I knew what to expect.
On the left is the bathroom. On the right, there’s a sink and full-length mirror.
Despite the small room size, we liked the overall vibes at Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre. It feels new, nicely maintained, modern and cosy.
The View and Windows
Ceiling to floor windows with manual day and blackout roller blinds. You get a city view and a view of the swimming pool on level two.
The Bed and Sleep Quality
Queen size bed. For two giants like us, it feels somewhat small. We’re too pampered, admittedly. But the comfort level is there. Perfect firmness. Ample pillows. Crisp linen. We had a good night’s sleep.
The website claims the rooms have soundproofing. I could still hear people talking and doors opening and closing outside. Also heard scratching noise from the unit above, like someone dragging a table. Not frequent, so no big deal. But if you’re a light sleeper, take note.
Room Amenities and Features
There’s a writing desk and chair. Able to do work on my laptop.
More than enough space for luggage and bags. I actually sat on the luggage bench to put on my shoes as there’s no separate bench for that.
The safe in the drawer next to the window is very shallow. It could only fit our two laptops (a ThinkPad and a MacBook Pro). No more space for my iPad.
The drawer next to it holds the hair dryer. Empty mini fridge on the floor. Kettle, Boncafe instant coffee sachets, Dilmah tea bags. Slippers.
Water Situation
No bottled water provided. There’s a drinking water tap instead. More eco-friendly.
If you need ice, there’s a dispenser on the second floor just outside the gym. Water dispenser there too for hot or cold water. If you have a reusable bottle, you can get iced water anytime.
Bathroom Toiletries
By the sink: toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand wash.
In the bathroom: shower cap and sanitary bag.
Shower area has body wash, shampoo and conditioner.
If you need anything extra, scan the QR code in the room to access e-concierge and request items.
The Shower Experience
Only handheld shower, no rain shower. Pressure is good. Temperature setting is good too. Hot water comes on quick.
No wardrobe, just a hanging rack with hangers.
The TV Problem
Nice size TV for the room size, but it wasn’t working. We couldn’t watch TV at all.
We requested assistance. A technician came promptly and replaced the TV box. Couldn’t fix the problem. Tried another TV box. Still couldn’t. He mentioned it could be a network problem and left.
We thought he’d come back. He never did. We contacted the hotel a second time via e-concierge. No one responded or gave us an update about whether the problem would be rectified.
Welcome Gift
The staff who checked us in came up to our room while the technician was there. She gave us two packs of biscuits – Merlion biscuits and Ice Gem biscuits. She said it’s a welcome gift from the hotel. So sweet. Wasn’t expecting that.
Air Conditioning
The aircon temperature can be set to 20 degrees Celsius at the lowest. Worked perfectly well. Kept the room cold and comfortable for us.
Level Two Facilities
The swimming pool at Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre is a good size. But it was just too hot and humid for us. We’d rather stay in air-conditioned comfort.
The gym is very, very small. Feels quite claustrophobic. We brought gym wear but didn’t end up using it.
Final Verdict on Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre
Our stay at the hotel was okay. Not the perfect staycation spot for locals, honestly. But for this price for a centrally-located hotel, it’s a really good option for those visiting Singapore on holiday.
I still find it hard to believe this is the world’s largest Mercure Hotel. It doesn’t feel big at all. I presume it’s the largest because it has 989 rooms. To fit 989 rooms into this building, every room size just had to shrink. That’s why the room size is small.
Would I recommend Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre? For tourists, yes. For locals looking for a luxurious staycation, probably not. But for the price and location, it does its job well.