Sha Villa

One might expect that this heritage building, an old-fashioned survivor amid the makeover mania of Orchard Road, would have been converted into a plantation-era boutique hotel replete with limousine airport transfer and complimentary cocktails. But alas, the facelift fanatics will be disappointed: Sha Villa shows its age with decrepit air-conditioners and other undeniably run-down characteristics. On the other hand, the rooms have gleaming hardwood floors and hints of bygone grandeur. The hotel is the training centre for students of Singapore's hospitality college, meaning that service can be inept but enthusiastic. For those who prefer less than perfect, Sha Villa is lovable because of its wrinkles and foibles.