Good things come to those who wait. After a much-delayed opening, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore finally unlocked its doors to its first guests on October 1, 2018.
Located in the heart of Singapore’s civic and cultural district, the island city’s famed shopping street, Orchard Road, and the CBD are just short walking distances away. It’s clear from the minute you step into the hotel that this is the place to be for well-heeled business and leisure travelers.
Helmed by luxury hotel group Kempinski, the heritage property offers 157 rooms and suites featuring Victorian and Art Deco designs and architectural accents. It’s also the first Kempinski landmark in the city. The establishment itself is housed in what was once known as Capitol Building and Stamford House. Both properties have been combined to form Capitol Singapore and today, it encompasses The Capitol Kempinski Hotel, a residential tower, a shopping mall, and the legendary Capitol Theatre — once the grande dame of Singapore’s cinema scene.
The buildings’ stately past is underscored everywhere you look, thanks to travertine limestone columns, dramatic archways, and Chengal wood flooring perfectly preserved from the original floors. But as with all truly modern, luxurious destinations, contemporary details abound in the space, including Italian marble, energy crystal-laden chandeliers, champagne-colored wallpaper and grand windows that welcome an abundance of natural light.
“Helmed by luxury hotel group Kempinski, the heritage property offers 157 rooms and suites featuring Victorian and Art Deco designs and architectural accents. It’s also the first Kempinski landmark in the city.”
Light fixtures and cornices in each guestroom also bear a patterned design, customised to represent the scales of Singapore’s mascot, the Merlion, in a subtle homage to the home nation.
Simply decorated but with everything you need in easy reach, the rooms span almost 50 unique room configurations that work in sync within the conservation structure walls. Enjoying a wall of windows in every space across all eight of the room categories (five of which are dedicated to suites), the views vary from one room to the next.
The luxurious accommodations also feature neutral colour palettes, decadent bedding, custom rugs, lofty living spaces, Sonos audio systems and a super generous bathroom area; complete with Salvatore Ferragamo amenities, lavishly textured towels and deep-soaking bathtubs. All of it making for a modern, edgy sense of style folded into a fresh, sumptuous vibe.
For an elevated guest experience, non-alcoholic beverages from the minibar are complimentary — an inclusion that is slowly becoming a mainstay in five-star properties. For guests that book in to any one of the suites, a promise of a 24-hour stay awaits, no matter the time you first arrive. That means if you check-in at 8pm for one night, you’d only have to check-out at 8pm the following day.
“The guestrooms span almost 50 unique room configurations that work in sync within the conservation structure walls.”
As of the time of this review, the in-house F&B establishments are only open to guests for now. And as far as the service goes, the attentiveness and efficiency of the staff are a steady reminder that this is a five-star luxury hotel.
For drinks and light snacks, there’s the Lobby Lounge and The Bar, an old world-style watering hole that showcases dark wood furnishings, rattan-backed bar stools and tufted leather couches for guests to sip on cocktails and custom creations. Likewise, the hotel’s signature restaurant, 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung is another defining element. Featuring similar wooden details, the décor is finished with intricate metalwork and burnished mirrors. Conceptualised by Leung, a three-starred Michelin chef, the menu celebrates Asian cuisine.
“For guests that book in to any one of the suites, a promise of a 24-hour stay awaits, no matter the time you first arrive.”
Elsewhere, there’s a 24-hour gym, spa and a saltwater relaxation pool enclosed within a wall of greenery that extends up to an intricate casing of striking glass panels. Lastly, there’s an open show kitchen and dining space for more intimate events, elegant boardrooms and a massive ballroom.
With its own spin on the luxury experience, The Capitol Kempinski is filled with promise. In the heart of Singapore, the hotel looks to be beating strong and steadily.
Where: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
15 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178906
Phone: +65 6368 8888
Note: The critic was invited by the hotel but all the opinions expressed herewith are her own
