The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore

Enjoyable experience for Mother’s Day celebration, good service from Sam and Nages!

We had a wonderful stay at your hotel.
A special thank you to David C. in the lobby area for his kind and helpful advice, which truly made our stay easier and more enjoyable.

We would also like to thank Irene at breakfast for her warm smile and pleasant service each morning.

Thank you again for the lovely hospitality.

We stayed at the Capitol Kempinski recently for my husband’s birthday and there were definitely parts of the stay we really enjoyed.

The reception team were excellent throughout and genuinely helpful whenever we needed anything. The location is fantastic, the room itself was very spacious, the bathroom was lovely, (I had so much fun with the Japanese bidet style toilet) and the quality of the breakfast was very good.

Unfortunately though, the hotel itself feels like it’s starting to look a bit tired in places and there were quite a few annoyingly small issues during our stay that all add up and actually shouldn’t happen in this standard of hotel and at this price.

Both wardrobe doors stuck constantly and the wardrobe layout wasn’t especially practical for dresses anyway, unless you happen to be fortunate enough to get away with wearing mini dresses which I am not .

The safe kept flashing an error code and bleeping until somebody fixed it. The windows were noticeably dirty giving the room a bit of a dingy feel and the curtains didn’t properly close all the way across.

The toilet seat wouldn’t stay up, (not a problem for me but hubby struggled I think ). The lighting wasn’t great for doing makeup, and daft as it sounds, housekeeping only supplied four teabags, all different types. We both drink English Breakfast tea, so having one bag each of four random teas felt a bit odd. Even a small touch like a couple of biscuits in the room would have been nice.

I was also surprised the toiletries were still the tiny plastic bottles rather than refillable ones, which feels quite outdated now.

Turndown service was very inconsistent as well. We were told to remove the do not disturb sign if we wanted the room serviced in the evening, which we did, but some nights it happened and some nights it didn’t.

Breakfast was another mixed area. The food itself was good quality, but on two mornings the service and organisation felt quite chaotic.

The bar area especially could really do with refreshing. Some of the banquette seating had visible drink stains and generally looked worn. One barman also seemed thoroughly unimpressed that we arrived about 10 minutes before opening time, even though we were perfectly happy to wait.

What’s frustrating is that underneath all of this you can still see that this was once a really luxurious hotel, and probably still thinks of itself that way, but it now feels like it’s overdue for a proper refresh and a bit more attention to detail.

Without the warmth and professionalism of the staff this probably would have been a 2-star review rather than a 3. They really were the best part of the stay.

Overall we didn’t have a terrible experience, but for the price being charged now, I honestly don’t think I’d choose to stay there again.

所有的員工都非常親切且樂於助人！雖然booking的訂單出了點問題，但飯店的工作人員很積極的幫忙確認和處理，態度也很友善，我非常滿意。

Fab quite luxury hotel, super location near great restaurants and MRT so all of Singapore is accessible. Great suites and restaurant and bar!

Very dirty windows in this so-called “luxury” hotel. Staff pretends like everything is okay after complaining. Crazy work!

Awesome hotel with great architecture, design and most important service. The ladies in red such as Katie add a lovely service level that builds on service ethos throughout. And staff such as David at the front desk go over and beyond and make the stay restful and inspiring. There is a wonderful evening vibe. I don’t really want to leave the hotel.

Fantastic hotel in colonial style with large rooms and excellent breakfast.
David from the concierge service was a great help, gave us valuable tips and recommendations. Will definitely come back.

Located in the core of Singapore's City Hall district, the hotel is formed by the renovation and integration of two century-old historical landmarks: Stamford House and Capitol Building. Looking back at history, Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore in 1819, opening the way for it to become a global trade hub. In 1887, Raffles Hotel was completed, laying the model for luxury hotels in Southeast Asia. In 1904, Stamford House was put into use as a reception annex of Raffles Hotel. In 1930, Capitol Building was completed, standing side by side with Stamford House to form the commercial core of the time. Both share an inherent connection with Raffles Hotel in terms of Nanyang colonial aesthetics.

Restored by architect Richard Meier, the two buildings have been infused with modern artistic elements while retaining the textures of Victorian style, such as limestone columns and bas-reliefs. They have become a comprehensive project integrating retail, theaters, hotels and residences, and finally opened to the public under the Kempinski brand in 2018. The hotel's entrance is low-key and secluded, surrounded by greenery, with various luxury vehicles parked for guests to explore the city. As the only Kempinski in Asia-Pacific selected into Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), it fully displays the German-style hospitality and colonial-style atmosphere.

The hotel has a total of 155 guest rooms and suites, divided into the neoclassical Capitol Wing and the Venetian Renaissance-style Stamford Wing. The room types range from 32 square meters to 137 square meters, with significant advantages in space and texture among hotels of the same price range. All guest rooms were designed by the late Jaya Ibrahim, a royal designer for Aman, who took colonial decorative art as the background and integrated modern aesthetics, with exquisite details.

The highly recommended Stamford Suite offers excellent privacy. Its transparent layout allows natural light to penetrate the entire room, and the three-room symmetrical design, combined with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, fully reflects the historical temperament. The bathroom is equipped with double vanities, a bathtub and a rare bidet, and insists on using small bottles of Ferragamo toiletries. The minibar in the living area provides free non-alcoholic drinks, and the tableware is exquisitely customized. The bedroom has excellent lighting, and the desk also serves as a dressing mirror, with various details highlighting the quality.

The Capitol Wing houses a fully functional fitness center and an outdoor saltwater pool. 15 Stamford, the all-day dining restaurant on the first floor of the Stamford Wing, offers a semi-buffet breakfast covering diverse flavors, with authentic local classic dishes.

The Capitol Kempinski Singapore has found a perfect balance between the old and the new, retaining the marks of Nanyang history while taking into account modern comfort, showing German-style taste. It is not only Kempinski's Asia-Pacific flagship, carrying the brand's highest standards, but also a window to understand Singapore's urban texture. At a time when Kempinski's global development is uneven, it has become a accommodation worth visiting specially.

Honest Review – Stamford Suite Stay at The Capitol Kempinski Singapore

I recently stayed at the The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore in the Stamford Suite and wanted to share an honest review. This is not a paid review, just my genuine experience.

Firstly, I want to recognise a few incredible members of staff who truly made our stay special:

Savnee – what an absolute credit to the hotel. Always greeting us with a warm smile, she consistently went above and beyond with recommendations and advice. Despite being an intern, her professionalism, kindness, and genuine care stood out every single day. She really made a difference to our experience. Management, please ensure she is recognised—she is a true asset to your team.

David – a true gentleman. He always made time for us, offering helpful advice on places to visit and the best routes to take. He was especially kind and gentle with my autistic son, which meant so much to us as a family. Thank you for your care and kindness throughout our stay.

The concierge (tall, slim Indian gentleman – I’m so sorry I didn’t catch his name) – every time we needed assistance, he was there. From helping with taxis and luggage to greeting us so warmly each day, his service was exceptional. He even gave my child a thoughtful gift when we left, which we truly appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am genuinely grateful to have met such wonderful people—they are what made this stay memorable.

Pros:
- The location is fantastic—very central and convenient
- Breakfast was excellent with great service

Cons:
- Room service was quite slow
- The room itself felt dated and not well maintained (dusty areas, scratched flooring, lack of towel rails)
- No convenient charging points in the bathroom (e.g. for toothbrushes)
- The open-plan layout may not suit everyone—personally, I prefer more separation between spaces
- Management came across as quite cold and not very welcoming, which was disappointing for a hotel of this standard

For a hotel of this reputation, I expected cleaner, more modern, and better-maintained rooms, so this was surprising.

A side note for travellers: the weather in Singapore is extremely humid. Even with air-conditioned transport, you can feel very uncomfortable getting around. We ended up relying on taxis and ride apps like Grab to get around more comfortably.

Overall, while the hotel has a great location and some truly outstanding staff, there are areas, particularly management approach and room quality that could be significantly improved.