# Hotels in Novena

Any premises renting four or more rooms to guests for stays under seven days needs a licence from the Hotels Licensing Board (HLB) – check the hotel listing on GoBusiness. Private homes cannot legally be rented for under three consecutive months, so short-stay apartment listings are a risk. Hotel room and dining prices are usually quoted "++".

## Key facts
- Listings: 44
- Matched to a government licence/register: 20
- Median years in business: 22

## Licences
- **Certificate of Registration and Hotel-keeper's Licence** (Hotels Licensing Board (HLB), required): Required for any premises offering four or more rooms to guests staying less than seven days, including hostels. Renewed annually. Check: https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/licences

## How to choose
- Confirm the hotel is licensed: search the HLB 'Hotel Listing' under Licensed Entities on the GoBusiness Licensing portal.
- Compare the final price: hotels that levy a service charge may quote rates before 10% service charge and 9% GST.
- For staycations, check what is included – breakfast, late check-out, pool access and parking are often separate.
- Be wary of short stays in condos or HDB flats: the Planning Act bars private homes from being rented for less than three consecutive months, and HDB flats for less than six months.
- Serviced apartments need URA approval and must rent for at least seven days.

## Red flags
- A 'hotel' or 'hostel' not on the HLB listing.
- Nightly rentals of private condo units or HDB flats.
- Quoted rates that only show the full taxes and charges at payment.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Hotel 81 Fuji](https://lookup.sg/biz/hotel-81-fuji), Novena · 269 Balestier Rd, #01-02/03 Hotel 81 · 12 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2004
- [Hotel 81 Balestier](https://lookup.sg/biz/hotel-81-balestier), Novena · 226 Balestier Road · 11 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2002
- [Value Hotel Balestier](https://lookup.sg/biz/value-hotel-balestier), Novena · 218 Balestier Rd · 11 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2008
- [Value Hotel Nice](https://lookup.sg/biz/value-hotel-nice), Novena · 302 Balestier Rd · 12 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2008
- [Value Hotel Thomson](https://lookup.sg/biz/value-hotel-thomson), Novena · 592 Balestier Rd · 8 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel
- [Lotus Desaru Beach Resort](https://lookup.sg/biz/lotus-desaru-beach-resort), Novena · 7 min walk from Stevens MRT · registered 2011
- [Fragrance Hotel - Rose](https://lookup.sg/biz/fragrance-hotel-rose), Novena · 263 Balestier Rd · 12 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2004
- [Fragrance Hotel Classic](https://lookup.sg/biz/fragrance-hotel-classic), Novena · 418 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2003
- [Hotel Royal Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/hotel-royal-singapore), Novena · 36 Newton Rd · 5 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 1975
- [New Orchid Hotel](https://lookup.sg/biz/new-orchid-hotel), Novena · 347 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2002
- [Fragrance Hotel - Balestier](https://lookup.sg/biz/fragrance-hotel-balestier), Novena · 12 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2003
- [Hoover Hotel](https://lookup.sg/biz/hoover-hotel), Novena · 246 Balestier Rd, Ground Floor · 12 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 1999
- [Fragrance Hotel - Oasis](https://lookup.sg/biz/fragrance-hotel-oasis), Novena · 435 Balestier Rd · 9 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2007
- [Oasia Hotel Novena, Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/oasia-hotel-novena-singapore), Novena · 2 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2010
- [ibis Singapore Novena](https://lookup.sg/biz/ibis-singapore-novena), Novena · 6 Irrawaddy Rd · 7 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2011
- [Holiday Inn Express and Suites Singapore Novena](https://lookup.sg/biz/holiday-inn-express-and-suites-singapore-novena), Novena · 201 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · Licensed hotel · registered 2022
- [Balestier Students' Hostel Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/balestier-students-hostel-singapore), Novena · Shaw Corner, 12 Boon Teck Rd · 9 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Milchel International Students' Hostel, Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/milchel-international-students-hostel-singapore), Novena · 529 Balestier Rd · 8 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Novena Hall International Students' Hostel Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/novena-hall-international-students-hostel-singapore), Novena · Newton Green, 78 Gilstead Rd · 3 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2000
- [Pan Pacific Hotels Group](https://lookup.sg/biz/pan-pacific-hotels-group), Novena · 238A Thomson Rd · 1 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 1968
- [Copthorne Orchid Hotel](https://lookup.sg/biz/copthorne-orchid-hotel), Novena · 214 Dunearn Rd · 3 min walk from Stevens MRT · registered 1969
- [Aloft](https://lookup.sg/biz/aloft), Novena · 16 Ah Hood Road · 7 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · Licensed hotel
- [Courtyard By Marriott](https://lookup.sg/biz/courtyard-by-marriott), Novena · 99 Irrawaddy Road, Novena · 1 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel
- [Habyt Novena](https://lookup.sg/biz/habyt-novena), Novena · 8 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · Licensed hotel
- [Hollandse Club](https://lookup.sg/biz/hollandse-club), Novena · 10 min walk from Botanic Gardens MRT · Licensed hotel
- [Philip Hotel @ Balestier](https://lookup.sg/biz/philip-hotel-balestier), Novena · 10 min walk from Novena MRT · Licensed hotel
- [The Forest by Wangz](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-forest-by-wangz), Novena · 145 A Moulmein Road · 6 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2011
- [Oasia Hotels and Residences](https://lookup.sg/biz/oasia-hotels-and-residences), Novena · 8 Sinaran Dr, #01-02/04 · 1 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park](https://lookup.sg/biz/ramada-singapore-at-zhongshan-park), Novena · 16 Ah Hood Rd · 7 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [The Initial Residence](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-initial-residence), Novena · Goodwill Mansion, 355 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Novena MRT

## FAQs
### How do I check if a hotel is licensed in Singapore?
Go to the GoBusiness Licensing portal, choose 'Licensed Entities', expand 'Hotels Licensing Board' and open 'Hotel Listing'. You can search or export the list. HLB licenses hotels under the Hotels Act 1954, issuing a Certificate of Registration for the premises and a Hotel-keeper's Licence.

### Is Airbnb legal in Singapore?
Short-term rentals of private homes for less than three consecutive months to the same person are prohibited under the Planning Act, and URA enforces against them. HDB flats have a six-month minimum. Licensed hotels and hostels can list on such platforms with their HLB licence number.

### Do hotels in Singapore charge GST and service charge?
Yes, most do: 10% service charge plus 9% GST on top, about 19.9% over the base rate. IRAS allows hotels that levy a service charge to display prices before GST, provided they state prominently that prices are subject to GST and service charge.

## Sources
- GoBusiness – Hotels Licensing Board: Certificate of Registration and Hotel-keeper's Licence: https://gobusiness.gov.sg/browse-all-licences/Hotels-Licensing-Board-(HLB)/Certificate-of-Registration-and-Hotel-keeper's-Licence
- STB – Licensing overview: https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/assistance-and-licensing/licensing-overview.html
- HLB – List of registered hotels (navigation guide): https://www.hlb.gov.sg/files/resources/guides/list-of-registered-hotels.pdf
- IRAS – Displaying and quoting prices (GST): https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/basics-of-gst/invoicing-price-display-and-record-keeping/displaying-and-quoting-prices

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.