This elegant and airy hotel is just far enough off the main drag of Orchard Road (a 10-minute walk) to have its own sense of remote peacefulness. Spread out and framed in lots of cooling green foliage and colorful splashes of bougainvillea, the hotel is a favorite for heads of states (President Obama has stayed here) and anyone who appreciates its gorgeous high-ceilinged lobby, old-world grace, many good restaurants, and extensive amenities. A cup of tea or a cocktail in the Lobby Court is a great way to soak up the grandeur of the soaring space and do some good old fashioned people watching; live music starts at 7:30pm on all but Sunday nights. The hotel's restaurants include The Line, popular for their weekend brunch buffets of pan Asian favorites. Nadaman, the hotel's Japanese restaurant, is an elegant and somewhat formal affair.