Hotels

Capitalizing on its location in the Telok Ayer / Amoy Street area, The Clan Hotel is a carefully branded new property by Far East Hospitality that pays homage to the numerous clan associations in the vicinity. Enshrouded in an air of mystique, The Clan Hotel is peppered with dark moody colors, staff uniforms that seem to take inspiration from exclusive clubs of yore as well as a strong tea culture unlike any other hotel in Singapore. 

The Chinese word “自己人“ meaning “our own people” is firmly embedded into The Clan Hotel’s logo, showcasing their emphasis for community and a sense of belonging. Unlike the other Far East Hospitality property Amoy Hotel a few steps away, The Clan Hotel is no boutique property so the execution of this proposition does not seem as clear cut as first. With 324 rooms, the staff here looks after a relatively large “community of guests” they call their own and there’s extra effort placed in order to make folks feel treasured during a stay. For instance, the clanging of a gong marked my – as well as any other guests’ – arrival into the hotel. I thought it was a bit theatrical but it piqued my interest as I walked into the beguiling halls of the hotel.

Another rather theatrical element – the tea ceremony – has received rather positive responses from guests since the hotel opened. However, with recent measures, the tea ceremony has become a DIY affair that guests do in-room. The hardware is still there. Guests receive a rather picture-worthy tea set with tray. The tea – an oolong brew from Pryce which they call “Nanyang Ritual” – came with some Tau Sar Piah. This differs from another Pryce tea that one can find in the free minibar called “The Ritual” which is a Tie Guan Yin with osmanthus blend. A couple of mainstream media that reviewed the hotel previously incorrectly described the Nanyang Ritual as the Tie Guan Yin tea instead. 

The hotel has just 3 room categories. The base level room is the Deluxe while the other two are the Premier and Grand Premier. The latter two are classified under the hotel’s Master Series of rooms which have the following extra amenities:

• Customized in-room refreshments – guests can choose among 5 items – imported snacks and beverages plus the hotel’s own craft beer.
• Handmade soap selection
• The Clan Keeper service which includes a local precinct tour, pressing, etc
• The Clan Daily Special – an exclusive menu of local food available for in-room dining (chargeable). This perk was originally conceived for international guests.

The clan keeper can be thought of as a butler or personal assistant of sorts. One of their value-add is they hold these local precinct tours in the afternoons for guests staying in the Premier and Grand Premier rooms. I will cover more of that tour later. They can also be asked to perform pressing services (2 complimentary pieces per day), shoe shine services and to draw baths for the Grand Premier room guests.

Before my stay, I was handed a questionnaire with my choices of enhanced welcome amenities. This is a feature of the Master Series and I was able to select up to 5 from items like Pipers Crisp Co. potato chips, Luscombe sparkling juice and Simpkins candy. 

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Opened in late 2018, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is the first foray of the Kempinski brand in the Lion City. The luxury property sits literally in the middle of town, connected to City Hall MRT via the adjoining Capitol Theatre and walking distance to some of the city’s most popular meeting points such as Raffles City, Chijmes and St. Andrew’s Cathedral. This low-rise hotel (4th floor is the highest) has a mere 155 rooms which gives it a bit of a boutique vibe despite being a chain hotel. Physically, the hotel is the melding of two heritage buildings – the Capitol Singapore which dates back from 1930 and Stamford House which dates back from 1904.

That being said, the hotel has two facades – the neoclassical facade of the Capitol Singapore faces Raffles City and the grounds of St. Andrews while the Venetian Renaissance facade of the Stamford House faces the quieter Victoria Street. Neither of these original entrances are used as the main doorway to the hotel however, entry is via a small alley separating these two buildings.

Architecturally, I do prefer the Stamford House side. The plaster work is quite elaborate and there are very few other similar-styled buildings in Singapore. It reminds me of those grand buildings in Europe.

My check-in formalities were done by one of Kempinski’s iconic “lady in red.” The original booking for my stay was for the Grand Deluxe Room but I was informed upon check-in that I was upgraded to the Terrace Room.

Since the hotel occupies two heritage buildings, the layout even within the same room category aren’t always very clear-cut. The Terrace Room is the highest non-suite category room in the house, even though it is not necessarily the largest in terms of size. The largest sized room category is actually the Grand Deluxe which is one tier lower than the Terrace Room.

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Situated right at the heart of Little Italy and with no less than 7 subway stations within walking distance, NobleDen makes for a less frenetic but highly convenient place to stay in New York City. The 54-room property is new in the Big Apple’s hospitality scene but has quickly gone up the ranks in the span of a year by offering more affordable accommodations with little touches such as enhanced toiletries and free pastries and coffee to guests.

During a late summer visit to New York City, I stayed at NobleDen for a couple of nights. The hotel is positioned as no-frills with no bells and whistles such as a gym or pool and this is reflected in the more affordable price point considering where it’s located.

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It seemed like not so long ago when Wanderlust Hotel first opened in 2010 as a whimsical boutique hotel in Little India with rooms characterized by bright colors and neon lights. It was one of the most recognizable properties of Unlisted Collection’s hospitality arm – the group that arguably started the trend of housing boutique hotels in shophouses in Singapore.

In the last two years or so, Wanderlust Hotel quietly revamped itself with a new look emphasizing co-living and even long stays – a concept propagated by its new owners, 8M Collective. Officially, it is now known as Wanderlust, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood. Gone are the loud colors – the interior has now been replaced with warm and earthy tones while the boutique property also now markets itself to those staying for weeks or even months. Given this emphasis, it is perhaps no surprise that the owners have teamed up with Oakwood to manage the property. After all; in-room cooking utensils, communal laundry areas and even a staggered housekeeping schedule are more in keeping with a serviced apartment proposition than a cookie cutter boutique hotel.

The lobby is perhaps the only part of the hotel where a semblance of color remains. To blend in with the inhouse Sri Lankan restaurant – Kotuwa – the lobby sees a splash of colors, albeit not in the same bright style as during the hotel’s Unlisted Collection days. The furnishings are characterized by long couches, lounge chairs and even a small bar counter to emphasize that idea of co-living. 

The property has just 4 floors and 29 rooms. There are 3 room categories in Wanderlust. I stayed at their Studio Loft which is their highest category room.

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