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In a choice location right in the marina, this hotel is the younger, hip sister to the historic Fullerton (the two are connected via under-ground passage). Opened in 2010, the hotel boasts striking public spaces designed by André Fu. As with the Hong Kong–based interior designer’s other projects (the Upper House and the Opposite House), the bright public spaces strike a genius balance between understated and lavish, with massive floor-to-ceiling windows, sparkling, ultra-contemporary chandeliers, tile floors and splashes of pinks and purples.

The modern but inviting aesthetic continues in the 98 guest rooms, any of which have fabulous views of the harbor and South China Sea. Tech nerds will be in heaven here, with touch-screen controls that manage everything from blinds to television (massive flatscreens). Winning, in-room details include a universal plug, iPod docking station, a laptop tray (for working in bed) and a yoga mat. The spacious bathroom opens to the bedroom via a sleek sliding door, and a Nespresso maker is on-hand for that first jolt of caffeine.

The Fullerton Bay’s rooftop, with a glass-sided, 25-meter swimming pool, holds groovy Lantern, a restaurant-cum-lounge that’s one of the city’s favorite hang-outs for lunch or nighttime cocktails (the pool can only be used by guests of the hotel). A fancier vibe prevails at Clifford, the marina-side French brasserie whose 28-meter ceiling is the only giveaway that you’re, in fact, not in Paris. Fullerton Bay guests have access to the Fullerton’s facilities, including a small spa, but design-conscious travelers will be hard-pressed to abandon the Fullerton Bay’s gorgeous setting for its more historic counterpart.