Civic District, City Hall

lyf Funan Singapore

★★★★★

lyf Funan is a new kind of stay that works especially well in an expensive city: a coliving property run by Ascott, the serviced-residence group, designed for travellers who want a smart private room and lively shared spaces rather than a traditional hotel. Billed as the largest coliving property in Southeast Asia, it occupies part of Funan, the tech-and-lifestyle mall on Hill Street that was rebuilt and reopened in 2019, so you live above shops, restaurants, a supermarket and food options, and step out into the Civic District. The room choice is the key. Studios, called One of a Kind, are compact private rooms with their own bathroom for one or two people, ideal for solo travellers or couples on a budget; at the other end, multi-bedroom apartments such as the six-bedroom All Together duplex let groups of friends or families each have a bedroom while sharing a living space. Everyone shares the social areas, which are the heart of lyf: lounges and co-working spaces, a communal kitchen where you can cook, laundry facilities, and a programme of social events run by the staff, who act more like community hosts than receptionists. It is a lively, young-at-heart place, popular with digital nomads, solo travellers and friend groups. The location is superb: City Hall MRT is a short walk, the National Gallery, Fort Canning Park, the Asian Civilisations Museum and Clarke Quay are within easy reach on foot, and Marina Bay is a pleasant walk away. If you want room service, a spa and quiet corridors, look elsewhere; if you want value, a central base and the chance to meet people, it is a clever choice.

How it feels: more like a well-designed hostel for grown-ups than a hotel. The shared spaces are busy in the evenings with guests working, cooking and chatting, and the events (from food nights to city walks) make it easy for solo travellers to meet others. Rooms are clean and modern, with smart storage, but they are compact, so pack light.

Choosing a room: solo travellers and couples should book a studio with a private bathroom; groups should compare the multi-bedroom apartments, which can be much cheaper per person than several hotel rooms. Cooking in the shared kitchen saves money, though with the hawker centres of Chinatown and the food courts nearby you may not need to. Check the property's house rules before booking, as coliving brands sometimes have their own policies on guests and stays.

Practicals: 67 Hill Street, in Funan; a short walk to City Hall MRT; part of the CapitaLand Ascott group. Fit: sociable solo travellers, friend groups, digital nomads and budget-minded first-timers who want a central base in the Civic District.