The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
Remaking a grande dame like The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is never an easy task. Located in Singapore’s Civic District, the 157-room Capitol Kempinski is part of a larger lifestyle destination — including a theatre, shopping mall and luxury apartment complex — and occupies two historical buildings: the neoclassical style Capitol Building (built in 1933) and Stamford House (built in 1904), one of the city-state’s first shopping centers.
Designed by Pritzker Prize Architecture laureate Richard Meier, the elegant, four-story hotel’s all-white art deco and renaissance façade is a sight to behold. Once inside, the hallowed halls have been beautifully restored with many original details still intact, while jazzed up with stylish chandeliers, Italian marble flooring and Travertine limestone columns, all bathed in an abundance of natural light.
- The grand yet understated interiors are the hallmark of late Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim — this was one of his last projects— whose impeccable contemporary style can be seen in many of Asia’s top hotels.
- The property’s relaxation amenities include a three-room spa (advanced bookings are recommended), a 24-hour gym and Singapore’s only outdoor saltwater pool.
- Think of the signature Kempinski’s Lady in Red as a specialized concierge staff who’ll be your point person for securing hard-to-make restaurant reservations, or organizing the logistics for a special occasion.
- The hotel’s proximity to the National Gallery Singapore offers another opportunity to admire a beautifully restored colonial-era building. The former premises of the Supreme Court and City Hall, with its central rotunda and dome, Corinthian columns, are a joy to stroll through.
- Restaurant 15 Stamford from notable chef Alvin Leung is worth a visit alone for the laksa, an iconic Singaporean dish that gets a new spin here.
- Blink and you might miss the main entrance that’s located in a discreet alley off the junction of North Bridge Road and Stamford Road.
- During the Singapore Grand Prix, Capitol Kempinski is right in the heart of the action and within walking distance to the race’s gates 3 and 7.
- Next to Capitol Kempinski is the977-seat Capitol Theater, with its vaulted ceiling centerpiece that details out the zodiac in intricate gold.
- There are more than 150 guest rooms and suites with more than 50 different configurations, thanks to the original structure of the two heritage buildings.
- The room’s elegant décor features a calming neutral palette with lots of beige and wood accents. Expect high-corniced ceilings with original chengal wood flooring and Italian marble coffee tables.
- Generously sized units come with thoughtful conveniences like a laptop-size safe, an iPhone charging base and deep, a free-standing bathtub with designer bath amenities from Tuscan Soul by Salvatore Ferragamo. An added plus are the his-and-hers sinks.
- Fans of Leung (of Hong Kong’s famed Bo Innovation) will know and love his creative twists on gourmet standards. At 15 Stamford, Leung’s pan-Asian menu is served in a slick dining room setting by award-winning studio AvroKO. His interpretation of laksa with char-grilled tiger prawns and jasmine tea-smoked onsen quail eggs is one of Singapore’s best dishes. Also, the selections from the hot coal grill are charred to perfection.
- Breakfast is only included for suites, but the extra cost for other guests is justified by 15 Stamford’s generous East-meets-West buffet spread and excellent breakfast standards.
- To unwind after a long day, The Bar at 15 Stamford holds Singapore’s largest collection of rum (more than 160 labels stocked). The signature drink is the Plantation 1840 rum cocktail, which uses sugar cane juice for a touch of local flavor.
- For a more casual meal, the adjacent arcade’s Capitol Milk Bar turns out refined American diner standards (burgers, milkshakes and sundaes) in a neon sign-lit, Formica-table-filled space.
