The three locations differ in three ways that actually affect a practice: the catchment each one draws from, the formats available there, and how short the walk from the MRT is. Orchard suits a spread-out client base and calm one-to-one work; Raffles Place suits clients who work in the city and practitioners who mix therapy, movement and workshops; Somerset offers the shortest walk and a central address without the Orchard Road premium. Start from your clients, not from the map.
Key takeaways
- Format availability differs by location and should be checked before anything else.
- Orchard is calm and private; Raffles Place is multi-purpose; Somerset has the shortest walk.
- Choose from where your clients travel, not from which address sounds strongest.
- Test a location with ad-hoc bookings before committing to a recurring slot.
Check format availability first
This decides more than location preference does, and it is easy to miss. Duet and self-practice Pilates run at Somerset and Raffles Place. The small-group Pilates room is at Raffles Place only. The workshop space is at Raffles Place. Private one-to-one Pilates and therapy-room use are the unrestricted formats. If your practice depends on one of the restricted formats, that narrows the choice before any other consideration applies.
The three locations side by side
| Orchard | Raffles Place | Somerset | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road | Grand Building, 17 Phillip Street | 111 Somerset, 111 Somerset Road |
| Nearest MRT | Orchard MRT — check the route before visiting | Raffles Place MRT, a five-minute walk | Somerset MRT, about a 2-minute, 200m walk |
| Serves clients from | Orchard, Newton, Novena, Bukit Timah, Holland | Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Shenton Way, Tanjong Pagar, City Hall | Somerset, Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut, River Valley, Killiney |
| Character | Calm and private from the moment you step in | Dynamic and multi-purpose | Central and easy to reach on foot |
| Typical use | One-to-one therapy, small-group Pilates | Therapy, movement classes and workshops | Therapy and studio use |
| Tends to suit | A client base spread across several areas | Practitioners whose clients work in the city | Practitioners wanting a central address without the Orchard Road premium |
| Parking nearby | Palais Renaissance, Orchard Tower, Forum, Delphi | CapitaSpring, One Raffles Place, OCBC Centre | 111 Somerset, TripleOne Somerset, Orchard Central, Somerset 313 |
| Weekend potential | Mixed weekday and weekend | Weighted to the working week | Mixed weekday and weekend |
Parking arrangements and rates should be confirmed in advance at any of the three, and building access may vary by time — confirm the latest access details before a client's first appointment.
A four-question way to choose
1. Where do your clients come from?
- List where your last twenty clients travelled from
- Match that against the areas each location serves
- If they are office-based in the city, that points one way; if spread across the island, another
2. When can they attend?
- Before work, lunchtime and after work favour the CBD
- Weekend and daytime demand favours a mixed catchment
- Check the slots you need are available on a recurring basis
3. What format do you run?
- Restricted formats decide the location for you
- Workshops point to Raffles Place
- One-to-one work is possible at all three
4. What does your own week look like?
- Your travel counts, including the return trip and any equipment
- If you work across two locations, check the connection is realistic on the same day
- Be honest about whether you will still be happy with the journey in six months
How much should the walk from the MRT weigh?
More for weekly clients than for occasional ones. A movement client coming every week for six months experiences the last-mile walk around twenty-five times; a client attending twice experiences it twice. Somerset's short walk is a genuine advantage for recurring formats. MRT accessibility can reduce one source of friction, but attendance also depends on scheduling, price, communication and how relevant the service is — it should be tested against actual client behaviour rather than assumed.
Does a central location justify the cost?
Only if it converts clients who would otherwise not book, or lets you charge in line with the value they get. Work it out per session, not per month: what the booking length you need costs, how many sessions you realistically run, and whether the fee still works at that frequency. Rates can vary by location, time slot and how often you book — the published rates show the current pricing, and membership plans with discounted hourly rates are available with six-month validity.
Testing before committing
Book ad-hoc at your shortlisted location before taking a recurring slot. A viewing tells you about the room; a month of real bookings tells you about the location. Watch which hours fill, how clients describe the journey, and whether anyone cancels for reasons connected to getting there. Our guide to recurring room bookings covers when to make the switch.
You do not have to choose only one
Per-session rental makes a two-location practice practical in a way a lease does not: weekdays where your clients work, weekends where they live, with no fixed cost in either place. Check the travel between them is realistic before committing, and start with one until the pattern is clear.
Where responsibility sits
A rented space provides a professional environment; it does not certify or supervise your practice. Your qualifications, insurance, records, consent process and standards of service remain your own. Practitioners should verify any licensing, insurance, professional-body or premises requirements that apply to their specific services.
Singapore context
All three locations are central and MRT-linked, so the meaningful differences are catchment, format and the last-mile walk rather than raw distance. Peak-hour travel affects punctuality more than kilometres. Rain makes sheltered arrival worth asking about. Driving involves ERP and parking costs that should be confirmed rather than estimated. And storage is limited across shared central spaces, so a portable kit is the practical default wherever you land.
This article provides general information about choosing a practice location and is not legal, accounting, tax, medical or regulatory advice.
Compare them against your own client list — see all three locations, review the current rates, and arrange a viewing at the one your clients can reach most easily.