The old and the new blend together seamlessly at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, a restoration masterpiece.
Opened on 1 October 2018, the five-star hotel is the first Singapore outpost for Kempinski Hotels, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group.
The 155-room luxury hotel occupies the former neoclassical-style Capitol Building (1930) and the Venetian Renaissance-style Stamford House (1904), two architectural icons built in the 1900s that have been meticulously restored by acclaimed American architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Richard Meier, with interiors bearing the creative touches of late renowned Indonesian interior designer Jaya Ibrahim.
The two buildings are connected by a glass linkway on every floor.
We highlight 4 reasons why the hotel should be your next staycation spot.
Luxuriate In Elegant, Homey Interiors
We love how design maestro Ibrahim had captured the elegance and grandeur of the two buildings’ colonial art deco and Victorian aesthetics, and infused these elements into the hotel’s interiors and furnishings.
At the hotel lobby, designed like a warm and inviting living room, you’ll be greeted by two custom-made rock stone crystal chandeliers.
Drawing from Capitol Building’s art deco style, precise lines and geometric shapes show up as a recurring design theme throughout the hotel.
Public spaces feature travertine limestone columns, high-gloss piano rosewood lacquered finishes and Italian marble floors in a nod to Stamford House’s rich and opulent Victorian design, beautifully juxtaposed against muted warm tones, lightly embossed champagne-coloured wallpaper and the integration of Chengal wood flooring from the original building.
Though the polished interiors of the hotel’s signature restaurant, 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung are the handiwork of award-winning American design studio AvroKO, we marvel how the restaurant’s leather- and dark wood-rich furnishings with Peranakan accents, are so in synch with Ibrahim’s design aesthetics for the hotel.
Rest & Rejuvenate In Stylish, Spacious Rooms
Our high ceiling Grand Deluxe Room (there are eight room categories) in the Stamford Wing, overlooking Stamford Road, was super spacious. Elegant wooden sliding doors open to reveal a free-standing Kaldewei bathtub and shower area on one side, and his-and-hers sinks plus a smart toilet by Duravit on the other side.
We adore the sand-like wave patterns on the beige wall above the bathtub as well as the eye-catching designs on the lamps above the sinks which we later discovered were inspired by the scales of Singapore’s national icon, the half-fish and half-lion Merlion.
More local touches come in the form of a Peranakan coffee table book, decorative vases and artefacts, and TWG teas.
We found ourselves taking showers pretty often as the bathroom has not two, but three showers – Grohe rain and wall showers plus a Lefroy Brooks hand shower. What’s more, with a shower bench positioned just below the showers, we were stoked that we could shower sitting down.
If you’re looking for the hair dryer, check the compartment on the rosewood lacquered work desk, which also houses – surprise, surprise – a vanity mirror!
All rooms come with Nespresso machines, smart LED TVs and Salvatore Ferragamo’s Tuscan Soul toiletries.
Some rooms and suites have high corniced ceilings (with Merlion-inspired patterns) and dramatic archways, while others boast details such as ergonomic door handles and intricate silver nickel wardrobe handles designed by Ibrahim.
As rooms and suites come in almost 50 unique configurations, returning guests will almost always get to stay in a different room or suite, unless, of course, they have booked the one and only Heritage Suite or the smaller Bidwell Suite, named after the architect of Stamford House.
Indulge In A 5-Course Afternoon Tea
What’s a staycation without a pampering tea session? So of course we had to treat ourselves to a relaxing five-course afternoon tea at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung (The Lobby Lounge is temporarily closed), where we nibbled on a selection of sweet and savoury treats paired with five delicate TWG teas.
Savoury bites include Chicken Rice ‘Arancini’, Chilli Crab Quiche and Smoked Duck and Cantaloupe Cornet paired with Purple Buds Tea; and Smoked Salmon, Prawn Salad with Mango Salsa and Tuna Mayonnaise Croissant paired with No. 10 Tea; while sweet treats include Chocolate, Matcha and Pistachio, and Almond Financiers paired with Pink Flamingo Tea; and Raspberry Yuzu Meringue Tart, Salty Dulcey Orange Hazelnut Tart and Sicilian Pistachio Profiterole paired with Crème Caramel Tea.
Experience Kempinski’s Extraordinary Hospitality Touches
Where other hotels merely have concierges, Kempinski Hotels go one step further with their Lady in Red, dressed in elegant red-coloured attire, who not only greeted and escorted us to our room but also took care of our needs and helped craft memorable experiences for us during our stay.
The Lady in Red also takes care of welcome amenities in guestrooms like the personal Plantation 1840 cocktail kit, which allowed us to try our hand at concocting the signature rum-based cocktail of The Bar at 15 Stamford in the comfort of our room.
Photo: C.L.
Although we couldn’t fully experience Kempinski’s signature seven touches during breakfast as buffet spreads are not allowed during this period, we didn’t miss out on anything as service was top-notch and there was more than enough food to keep our bellies and palate satisfied.
STAYCATION PACKAGE
Rates start from $490++ for a Stay In Style package which includes:
• One-night stay in a Grand Deluxe Room
• Late check-out at 2pm (subject to availability)
• Breakfast for two persons
• $38 dining credits at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung or Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski
• Complimentary upgrade to the next room category (subject to availability)
• Complimentary parking
Photos courtesy of The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
