Review The Vagabond Club, beautiful boutique hotel in the historic heart of Singapore
This hotel is located in one of the "oldest" neighborhoods in Singapore, when you say ancient around here it means [...]
Singapore
Marriott
This hotel is located in one of the "oldest" neighborhoods in Singapore, when you say ancient around here it means early 1900s.
In this article:
The Vagabond Club belongs to Tribute Portfolio, one of the insignia of the Marriott Group, the one dedicated to facilities that are small but can offer a stylish experience to their guests.
The building that houses it has changed its soul several times: from an Art Deco workshop in 1950 that served as a bicycle store, to a dormitory for illegal workers and for a long time even a brothel. Today, however, it is a beautiful boutique hotel.
Location
The hotel is between Little India and Kampong Glam, the city's Muslim quarter where one of the most popular places on Instagram in Singapore is located, namely the Sultan's Mosque with its golden domes.
The hotel, with only 3 floors, is set within a mid-20th-century building and is surrounded by late 19th/early 20th-century buildings that house stores, restaurants, and other activities.
The area is well known, within walking distance of this hotel are also some of the city's best 5-star hotels such as the Intercontinental, the Andaz and many others. Marina Bay and Orchard Rd are about 15 minutes away by cab, the airport and Sentosa Island a little more.
Reservation
Hotels in Singapore are not cheap, even in this slow period return to normalcy thanks to the VTL protocol and with few tourists in town, the rates are similar to those in the pre Covid world.
Being a hotel in the group Marriott, you can use Bonvoy points to stay.. In my case, however, I preferred to pay for the room 340 SGD, about 210 euros, per night since the cost of 40k Bonvoy points per night was not affordable at all.
By booking through official channels I could, of course, Accumulate points, bonuses and qualifying nights for my Gold status, level that is included in the annual fee of the American Express Platinum.
The facility and check-in
Upon my arrival I was made to sit under a golden tree that stands in the center of the small but distinctive lobby.
The receptionist came out from behind a huge golden hippo., while from the opposite corner was a giant elephant waving to me.
The hotel is small, having only 41 rooms, but it has a very strong soul both in terms of furnishings and decorations and colors.
The ground floor houses the bar/restaurant area and the real gem of the facility, which is a whiskey cellar to make the most jealous collector envious. There are over 1,000 labels to choose from and a veritable bible on each table to tell about all the bottles there. For each label there is of course a price per glass or bottle with costs ranging from a few euros to over 3,000€ each.
I had already checked in online, via APP, and so after two signatures and a document check I was already headed to my room where I was "reclined" waiting to receive the result of my PCR swab done upon arrival at the airport.
The room
The colors and wallpaper on the doors were beautiful, immediately giving the feeling of being in the "East Indies," as did the huge windows overlooking the historic Little India neighborhood.
King size bed, comfortable mattress but not the most comfortable in the Marriott world. As for the topper, however, not up to par with other group offerings.
Hidden in the closet, as usual was the iron and ironing board, as well as the kettle and nespresso machine, The minibar, as by now in the 90% of hotels, was empty.
Mega TV and wi-fi, although the line was not the fastest in the world.
Bathroom too small, only one sink dividing the two areas occupied by shower and toilet.
Food & Beverage
No buffet, but an a la carte menu from which to choose from the classic egg breakfast to a crab toast to some "local" offerings, like the one I jumped on.
I chose a Nasi Lemak, which is a spicy chicken and vegetable dish, served with rice cooked in coconut milk and spiced fried egg. A different way to start the day in Singapore.
During the rest of the day, the breakfast room turns into the hall of the renowned Chinese restaurant The YellowPot.
Impeccable service, excellent presentation and exquisite dishes.
The king of this hotel is, as mentioned, whiskey. There are hundreds of bottles and as many cocktails that can be ordered from the waiters in the small dining room.
Design dominates here as well; there are more golden trees and a huge one in the bar. Throughout the hotel, including rooms and bathrooms, there are artworks hanging everywhere
In conclusion
If you prefer a small hotel to one of the mega establishments that are present in the city state, but you do not want to give up a stylish hotel with a strong bohemian soul in a neighborhood full of charm where you can go out and stroll through the heart of old Singapore, this is absolutely a choice to consider.
It does not feel, at all, like being in a Marriott group hotel, but at the same time you have the guarantee that this chain gives to all its guests in the world.
Pro
- The design and soul of the structure
- The bed
- The colors of the room
Against
- The bathroom is really small
- Staff does not interact with the guest