The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is a 5-star luxury hotel situated right in the middle of the city-state. Located just opposite Raffles City and City Hall MRT station, it is highly accessible and easy for travellers to reach here. The hotel is also situated in 2 historic buildings. Stamford House was built in 1904, while the Capitol Building was built in 1933. Hotel rooms are situated in both buildings, and there is a walkway linking both buildings together. This allows hotel guests to walk between both buildings seamlessly.
I previously stayed at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore in 2021, booking a night’s stay in one of their Grand Deluxe Rooms situated in the Capitol Wing. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay back then and have since wanted to book a stay in one of their Stamford Suites.
Finally, the time arrived when we could take advantage of a promotion to book another stay at The Capitol Kempinski Singapore. During the annual Black Friday promotion period, GHA Discovery held a Cyber Monday promotion that offered a 30% discount on room rates, including their suites. We jumped at the promotion and secured a Stamford Suite for a stay just two weeks away. We love spontaneity, and this was just one of those occasions. We were not expecting to book a stay at this lovely hotel, but we always enjoy a spontaneous vacation!
TL:DR
Great recognition of the GHA Discovery loyalty programme benefits
Great service
Nice room layout
Decent breakfast spread at 15 Stamford; Limited food options in the Executive Lounge during evening service
Service:
Service at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore has remained consistently fantastic since I last stayed here in 2021. When we first arrived, a staff member immediately came over and helped us take our luggage. Everything went smoothly, and we were then brought to the check-in counter. The staff member was friendly and welcomed us back when he checked our records in the system.
When he saw that I was a Discovery Platinum member and that we booked a night’s stay in the Stamford Suite, he apologised that he could not upgrade us to a better room as the Stamford Suite was the highest category that the hotel could upgrade guests. He mentioned that the next time we book a stay, we could consider booking one category lower, and they will upgrade us to a Stamford Suite at check-in if there is any availability. We were aware that we had an opportunity to upgrade our room category during check-in but as we wanted to stay in a Stamford Suite, we did not want to take any chance. However, we were grateful that our loyalty to GHA Discovery was recognised.
After confirming that we were staying for one night, he asked if we needed any late check out the next day, to which we replied positively. He immediately told us he would give us a 3 pm late checkout. This was made possible by our membership with GHA Discovery. As a Platinum member, we were entitled to a 3 pm late check, subject to availability. This is also highly dependent on the hotel. We previously stayed at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, and even though we were Platinum members by then, we were not informed about this benefit, nor did they proactively arrange a late checkout for us. We love it when hotels can provide a guaranteed late checkout upon check-in. We are always so grateful to the hotel whenever they provide such a service! This is a significant benefit of staying at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore.
During our time in the Executive Lounge, the manager made his rounds, walked around, and spent time talking to hotel guests and ensuring everything was fine. Probably realising that we preferred to be on our own, he asked us if everything was fine and if he could get us anything. After that, he continued on his rounds. We appreciate that managers can sense if hotel guests enjoy small talk or are more private and introverted. The manager understood the situation and made every guest feel welcome without being too intruding.
During check-out the next day, the process was similarly smooth, and everything was completed quickly. He asked if our stay was satisfactory and hoped that we enjoyed our stay. After checkout, we stayed for a little while to snap pictures of the lovely Christmas decorations. The staff member noticed and immediately walked over, asking if he could help us take a photo with the decorations. The staff at the lobby were excellent, and we enjoyed our interactions with them.
Executive Lounge:
Hotel guests staying in The Capitol Kempinski Singapore's suites can enjoy lounge access. The lounge is situated within the lobby lounge, where guests can enjoy evening drinks and light snacks between 6 pm and 8 pm daily. Guests with lounge access can head to a corner of the lounge, where light snacks and drinks are waiting for them.
However, guests will need to manage their expectations when heading to the lounge in the evenings. It is meant as a pre-dinner instead of having a full meal in the lounge. Guests who enjoy complimentary drinks can take advantage of the free-flow complimentary alcoholic drinks between 6 pm and 8 pm. You can enjoy soft drinks, fruit juices, and sparkling water for those who do not drink.
The food on offer included both hot and cold options. Guests can start with the Cobb salad, turkey salad, and cold cuts. Breadsticks are also available for those who prefer some carbs in their meals. The hot options included macaroni and sausage, crab cake sliders, and fried spicy chicken wings. There was also sweet corn soup for those who enjoy a hot bowl of soup during cold weather.
To be honest, the food in the lounge was quite average. While they help to fill your tummy up, we did not think that they were fantastic. Although we do not really take spicy food, we could not taste the spiciness in those chicken wings. They tasted a little cold as well. The sweet corn soup tasted quite bland, while the macaroni & sausage and the salad were quite ordinary. The executive lounge will not be the reason why hotel guests book a suite at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. We feel that while it is an additional benefit for suite guests, these hotel guests will not miss out on much if they were to give it a miss during their stay at the hotel.
Hotel Facilities:
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore has a rooftop swimming pool, gym, and spa. When I last stayed at this hotel in 2021, they were doing renovations to the swimming pool and hence did not get a chance to see it. This time, the swimming pool is all ready to welcome guests. Located on the 4th floor, this hotel features a Saltwater Relaxation Pool. As its name suggests, it is more for guests to soak and relax in, as opposed to fit guests looking for a workout. While some guests may be disappointed, we think some guests may look at this favourably. When we went there on a Sunday morning around 11 am, there was no one using the pool. It was a great time to catch some fresh air and natural sunlight and soak in the pool. The location is also great as you will not feel too warm with the surrounding building acting as a shield against direct sunlight.
Just beside the swimming pool is a small functional gym with essential equipment for hotel guests to work out. It has the standard treadmills, exercise bikes, and free weights. Guests can also enjoy complimentary fresh fruits and water after a workout. The gym overlooks the relaxation pool and provides a great view, with the greenery providing comfort to the eyes.
The hotel's spa is located just across the pool and gym. While we did not head there during our stay, we were informed via pamphlets in our room that prices for a full-body massage start from S$180 for 60 minutes. Get ready to be pampered if you decide to get a massage at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore!
Breakfast:
The buffet breakfast is located at 15 Stamford, the hotel’s main restaurant. I remember feeling impressed the last time I had breakfast at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore and was looking forward to another breakfast buffet during our stay here.
While the hotel previously operated an ala carte buffet, things were more conventional this time around. There are now rows of food displayed around the restaurant for guests to take on their own. Conventional buffet items like bacon, hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms, and sausages are available. There is also an egg station where you can order your preference, and the chefs would whip them up in no time. One unique thing we noticed was that besides hard-boiled eggs, guests can also take some soft-boiled eggs. While most Singaporeans will know what those are, travellers should be aware that these are semi-cooked eggs. When you crack them, they will be runny. Add some soy sauce and pepper, stir them up, and slurp them down in one go. Delicious!
Asian food lovers will be happy to know as well that there are quite a few types of food on offer. There are prawn noodles made to order, nasi lemak, and congee with quite a few condiments. We took the prawn noodles and congee, and we thought they tasted great. I enjoyed the congee, and it was made all the more delicious after adding in some salted egg, century egg, braised peanuts, and pickled lettuce. After which, I added a dough fritter (you tiao) to go with my congee. This hit home as this is what many Singaporeans enjoy for breakfast daily. I remember this being my lunch whenever I came home from school when I was still a child.
On guests’ tables is also a separate menu that has various egg dishes. Besides the usual sunny side-ups and omelettes, guests can also enjoy made-to-order Eggs Benedict or an Eggs Benedict Florentine. I love Eggs Benedict Florentine and headed to the eggs station to request one from the chef. Immediately, he toasted an English muffin and fried up some spinach. Soon, the Eggs Benedict Florentine was ready and served up.
The buffet also extends to The Bar at 15 Stamford, where more food awaits guests. Here, there are all the fresh fruit juices, fruits, pastries, and cold cuts. We enjoyed the honeycomb honey and mixed it with the fresh fruits. What can be better than mixing sweet fruits with another sweet item?
We also loved the smoked salmon and smoked haddock, both of which tasted fresh and delicious. Along with the smoked fish, we enjoyed some slices of brie and cold cuts. Since it was a Sunday morning, we went for another sweet treat by getting a Strawberry Danish. We enjoy strawberries, and this Danish tasted yummy. Those who prefer other spreads can toast some slices of bread or baguette and get some spreads. Those include butter, kaya, chocolate, strawberry jam, and, of course, honey.
When I last stayed at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, I remember being served a portion of bircher muesli. While it looked ordinary, I remember how delicious it tasted. Thankfully, this dish has remained available. Now almost hidden in one part of the buffet table, guests can grab a portion on their own from the fridge and add in any items they wish to enhance the taste. I chose to eat it without adding anything extra, and it was delicious. It tasted exactly like how it was when I first tried it in 2021. I wish more guests would try this delicious bircher muesli!
Besides the standard machine-made coffee, hotel guests can also enjoy Bacha Coffee. With four options available, guests can choose their favourite flavour and make a cup of coffee themselves. Alternatively, seek help from a staff member to help you with your caffeine needs.
After enjoying all the main courses, you should always have something sweet to end your meal. The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore offers quite a variety of fresh fruits. We liked that it served lychees, longans, and even starfruits. The watermelon and pineapple were pretty sweet, and we enjoyed them. Besides that, the hotel has also stayed true to its European heritage by offering Kaiserschmaarn. A light-sweetened pancake with its origins in Austria, it is something unique that hotel guests should try.
Finally, guests can also enjoy complimentary prosecco, which is not often seen at hotel breakfast buffets. Located at the bar near the fresh fruits, guests can choose to help themselves with glasses of prosecco. As we do not really drink, we were contented with our black coffee and iced tea!
Overall, it was a good breakfast. In terms of the variety, we have to say that it is not a lot and we have seen other hotels with a lot more variety. Perhaps limited by the space around the restaurant, the hotel does try its best to provide unique offerings to hotel guests. Guests will surely be satisfied with the food options available at the breakfast table. However, guests looking for a large variety of food might be slightly disappointed.
Food:
After checking in and dropping our bags in our room, we immediately headed out for lunch. We had a light breakfast and wanted to try some restaurants at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. We were informed that we were entitled to a 20% discount at all of the hotel’s restaurants, and we thought this was a great opportunity to try out what they had to offer!
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore has quite a few restaurants and bars in and around the hotel. While guests can easily locate 15 Stamford Restaurant and the Lobby Lounge, there are also 3 other restaurants and a cafe in the Capitol Wing. Frieda Beer Garden & German Restaurant, La Scala Ristorante, Broadway American Diner, and Berthold Delikatessen are all located on the first floor of the Capitol Wing. Being in a German hotel, we thought having lunch at the German restaurant made sense!
Frieda Beer Garden & German Restaurant
We were initially deciding where to have lunch after checking in and ultimately decided to head to Frieda Beer Garden & German Restaurant. Staying in a hotel with German origins, it made sense to have a meal at a German restaurant run by the hotel.
After settling down, we decided to order some popular German favourites. We first ordered the German weisswurst with sweet mustard and baked pretzels to start. It is essentially two sausages that come with a sweet mustard sauce. You also get a baked pretzel to go with the sausages. As far as sausages go, we thought that it tasted delicious. The baked pretzel was all right, and we liked the sweet mustard sauce.
Next, we ordered two mains to share. We had the Veal escalope with potato cucumber salad and cranberry sauce and the crispy Haddock fish fingers with potato cucumber salad and tartar sauce. Both were good, and we enjoyed the mains. We also enjoyed the salads and thought they were refreshing.
Beer is a must in a German restaurant. As we do not really enjoy drinking, we thought it was great that they served non-alcoholic beers. We tried the Veltins Pilsner, and it was delicious. It went well with the deep-fried mains that we had. It also acted as a great palate cleanser!
Overall, it was a good and filling start to our staycation!
Berthold Delikatessen
After having lunch at Frieda Beer Garden & German Restaurant, we took a short stroll to Berthold Delikatessen, located within the same building. Although it is considered the hotel’s cafe, one might be mistaken for thinking that it is just a cafe in the shopping mall. However, it is very much part of the hotel, and we were able to enjoy a 20% discount on our purchases. Do take note, though, that it operates in a Starbucks-style setting. This means that after ordering, you can wait at the side to collect your food and drinks. There is, of course, no issue with this setup, and we are used to this as Starbucks lovers. However, the funny thing is that many hotel cafes will usually serve guests their food and drinks. The fact that Berthold Delikatessen appears to be in a shopping mall rather than the hotel further increases the confusion.
We eyed the black forest cake when we were doing a reconnaissance walk around the shopping mall after lunch. After settling down, we ordered a slice of the black forest cake and had a cup of Americano and iced tea. Both drinks went well with the star dessert, and it was great. The coffee was strong, and I loved drinking it between bites of the black forest cake. The cake was yummy, and we enjoyed every single bite of it. There were generous amounts of cherries stuffed in the cake, and we could taste the distinctive liquor in the cake. Before long, we finished the slice and briefly contemplated getting a second slice. Sanity prevailed, and we continued relaxing while sipping our coffee and iced tea.
The cafe also sells German pastries and other small bites. Hence, it is a good place to relax and chill if you want to get out of your room but still want to be near the hotel. Except for a small part, the entire walk from the hotel to the cafe is air-conditioned. For those who want to bring home a piece of The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, they sell jams as well. This could be a good opportunity to stock up on some Housemade Strawberry Jam or Truffle Honey.
Room:
Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore’s Stamford Suite is beautifully segregated into 3 parts. When you first enter the suite, you are met with a beautiful bathroom on both sides. On one side, you have the bathtub and standing shower, while the restroom and double vanity sinks are located on the other. There are plenty of towels stocked up, so couples need not request new ones if they shower frequently. Toiletries are provided by Salvatore Ferragamo so these should keep guests happy and smell good. The restroom has a built-in bidet with a remote control mounted to the wall. Hotel guests can make use of the bidet’s various functions for different needs. If you require any help, there is also a wall-mounted phone next to the toilet.
On the opposite side of the bathroom is the bathing and showering area. It has an open-concept bathtub, although a sliding door provides some privacy as well. Couples, though, are unlikely to need to use any privacy screens or doors. The bathtub comes with a small television and a remote control, so if you ever need some alone time while soaking in the bathtub, you can relax knowing you can catch a show with music from the built-in speakers surrounding the room. There is a standing shower with multiple knobs and handles for three types of water output. The most important rainforest shower is one of the options.
After you are done with the bathroom, you walk through the bathroom to arrive at the living room. In the living room, you are presented with a nice sofa that can fit two people very comfortably. There is a small dining table in the middle that, during our visit, came with a bowl of welcome fruits and a tin of tasty chocolates. There were also light snacks, including pineapple tarts, nuts and dried fruits, for our enjoyment. After trying all the different types of food provided, we have to say that Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore knows how to pamper its guests!
At the end of the living room is a cabinet and wall-mounted television. The way the living room is designed, we feel it is great to maximise space. Because of the room’s unique layout, the designers have to make sure guests feel comfortable and the room has to feel spacious, especially since this is a suite. The living room felt just like that as we enjoyed the cosiness of the living room. The cabinet comes equipped with a minibar that has all the essential beverages, while coffee and tea are provided in a beautiful box.
At the Stamford Suite, the hotel doubles up on its niceties. Besides providing Nespresso coffee capsules, guests can also enjoy Bacha coffee. The Stamford Suite provides a Bacha coffee pot that is attached to an induction plate. You can choose from 4 types of Bacha coffee sachets and attach the filter to Bacha coffee mugs that are provided. Once the water in the coffee pot has been heated, slowly pour the water into the filter and wait for the coffee to drip before enjoying a tasty cup of coffee. For those who are used to Nespresso and instant coffee (including myself), there is a helpful instruction manual for guests to follow. Tea sachets are by Mist Valley tea, which appears to be from conglomerate Wilmar International Limited. Bottled water is provided by Lovearth, which is an eco-friendly water company headquartered in Singapore.
For those who enjoy streaming television shows, you will be thrilled to know that Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore televisions come equipped with Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, Android mirroring, and HDMI connections. This is a major benefit as some hotels either have Apple AirPlay or Andriod mirroring only, in addition to the HDMI connections. This is one great reason why guests should consider staying at this beautiful hotel. During our time in the living room, we appreciated the cinema feeling when we switched off the lights to catch a movie. As the living room is the middle segment of the suite, between the bedroom and the bathroom, you can slide the doors to the other rooms to create a cocooned feeling. It was nice as it felt cosy, and couples would appreciate snuggling each other in the darkness and watching a movie together.
The final part of the Stamford Suite is, of course, the bedroom. Immediately, you can sense how spacious the bedroom is. It has a King-sized bed in the room with a nice bench at the front. It was great to use it to catch a television show, or, to place some clothes. At the front is a wall-mounted television with decor on either side of the television which makes one feel as though this is a home living room. It creates that home away from home feeling and definitely does not feel like a foreign hotel room far away from home.
At the end of the room, facing the windows, is a nice workstation. It is fully functional and has electrical outlets and a hidden compartment for the hairdryer. It also has a watch magazine for your reading pleasure, in case you are interested in purchasing a really expensive and branded watch during your time in the city. The wardrobe is rightly sized for couples, with bathrobes, a Kempinski-branded paper bag, and a safe all located in the wardrobe. For those in need of a Kempinski tote bag, there are two wrapped-up unused tote bags in it, so you can simply purchase it and use it for your travels.
As the hotel was renovated some time ago, it has not yet caught up with the USB plugs in the room. What you have, however, is a universal outlet, so you can use it to charge your iPhones, no matter where you purchased it from. The suite also comes with switches for the room’s curtains so you can enjoy some privacy during the day. It has both day curtains and night blinds for your privacy needs. Turndown service is offered by Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, and when we came back to our suite after a night out, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there were two bookmarks, one on either side of the bed, waiting for us. As an avid reader, I was only too pleased to take those home for my books!
During our stay, there happened to be a Manchester United match, and I was keen to test both the room’s wifi strength and the Apple AirPlay function of the television. I decided to stream the match from my laptop and connect to the television via Apple AirPlay. I am very happy to say that both passed with flying colours. The same cannot be said about the result of Manchester United’s match, though (we lost 0-3). Nevertheless, I enjoyed catching the football match while enjoying a staycation in the city.
As we had a late check-out at 3 pm the next day, we were able to enjoy a nice breakfast at 15 Stamford before heading to Raffles City to purchase some bath bombs from Lush. Of course, we had to head to the nearby Narrative Coffee Stand for a proper cup of coffee before heading back to soak in the bathtub. After taking a nap, we were finally ready to check out!
Overall, we had an extremely enjoyable staycation at Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. We have always wanted to try the Stamford Suite, and we were glad we finally made it. It was a beautifully designed suite that stood out, and we loved the layout of the suite! We know that if our budget allows, we will definitely be back at Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore soon for another stay in its Stamford Suite!
Click here to find out more about Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore and book a stay today!
Cost of Stamford Suite: S$773.39 a night - stayed over a weekend in December 2023
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