Riverview Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Riverview is a riverside 4-star parked right on the seam between BSB and Gadong, with an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and kitchen suites that make week-long stays easy.
Riverview is a riverside 4-star parked right on the seam between BSB and Gadong, with an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and kitchen suites that make week-long stays easy.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a hotel standing quietly on the banks of the Kedayan River — the small, winding waterway that runs between downtown Bandar Seri Begawan and the Gadong mall district — with a little bridge crossing to the far side. That's the appeal of Riverview Hotel: a mid-sized, low-rise block right on the riverbank, surrounded by the Brunei that locals actually live in rather than a packed tourist strip. Rooms range from a standard Deluxe for couples and solo travelers up to apartment-style Executive Suites with a small kitchen, a fridge, and a washing machine. The decor is bright and simple — standard 4-star, not flashy but fully equipped — with soft beds and properly cold air-con, which matters in Brunei's hot, humid weather almost year-round. The detail guests rave about most is the river-facing rooms: open the curtains in the morning to flowing water and green trees instead of a tower or a car park.
Food and amenities
What sets Riverview apart from same-tier hotels in BSB is the long outdoor pool set in a small garden, with clear water and lounge seating around it for easy sun. Beside it sit a warm jacuzzi and a sauna to soak away a long day — a facility package you rarely find at the low-thousands Brunei price. The fitness room has basic equipment for anyone who won't break their routine. Breakfast is a buffet mixing Eastern and Western plates — congee, fried rice, eggs made to order, toast, fruit — enough to start a day of sightseeing. The main restaurant runs all day with relaxed Brunei-Malay dishes. For families or long-stay guests, the kitchen-and-washing-machine suite is the trump card: cook your own meals, do your own laundry, and skip the hotel's marked-up laundry service.
Location and getting there
Riverview's location is clever because it sits between the city's two centres. Downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital, is a 5-minute drive; the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the gold-domed icon rising from its own reflecting pool, is 7 minutes away. On the other side is Gadong, the city's eating-and-shopping hub, where The Mall Gadong — Brunei's largest mall — is a 5-minute drive with restaurants, a supermarket, and everything you'd need. What makes this work for business travelers and frequent flyers is Brunei International Airport (BWN), only a 10-minute drive: land late and you're in your room shortly after, leave early without an absurd wake-up. The Kampong Ayer water village and its canals are a short drive too. Brunei has no metro and limited public transport, so you'll lean on a rental car, taxis, or the Dart ride-hail app; with several stops planned, renting is easiest.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. The point reviews echo most often is that the building and some room interiors show their age — a few rooms feel older than the 4-star standard you may know from other cities, and the renovation hasn't reached every room. When you book, ask for an updated room, and if you're handed a tired one, request a move at check-in. Second is transport: Brunei has no metro and very limited buses, so without your own car or a rental, taxi and Dart fares add a real line to your trip budget. Third, dining and street life right around the hotel are limited, and the area is quiet after dark — for dinner out you'll drive to Gadong or BSB, and anyone who loves an evening stroll through a buzzing centre may find the mid-point location a drawback. One small note: the outdoor pool catches harsh midday sun, so swim in the morning or evening instead.
Our take
After reading through real guest reviews and comparing it against other hotels in Brunei, Riverview Hotel is one of the best answers to the question of a value-for-money 4-star in BSB. It fits especially well if your picture of the trip is a quiet riverside base — wake up, swim, soak in the jacuzzi after a long day, drive 5 minutes to eat at Gadong, then come back and make coffee in your own kitchen. It covers all that at a reachable price, and it's best for families, business travelers, and long-stay guests who want full facilities plus a kitchen suite; couples after an easy resort feel fit too. If you expect a brand-new luxury build, or you want a buzzing food district the moment you step out of the lobby, this isn't the answer. Overall we give it 7.9/10 — a well-judged value pick for people coming to Brunei to actually live for a stretch, rather than for a quick, surface-level visit.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Sits right on the seam between downtown BSB and the Gadong mall district: 5 minutes to The Mall Gadong, 7 minutes to Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, and 10 minutes to Brunei International Airport (BWN).
- A long outdoor pool with a jacuzzi and sauna — that full facility set is uncommon at the low-thousands Brunei price tier, roughly US$83 to start.
- Apartment-style suites come with a small kitchen, a fridge, and an in-room washing machine, which is a real advantage for week-long stays, families, or longer work trips.
- Some rooms look out over the Kedayan River and the small bridge that crosses it, a calmer wake-up than the typical downtown tower facing a car park.
- Rates from about US$83 a night (around B$110) are strong value for a 4-star with a pool, gym, and breakfast included; many reviews say you get more than you pay for.
- The building and some room interiors show their age, and a few rooms feel older than you'd expect from a 4-star — renovation hasn't reached every room, so ask for an updated one when you book.
- Brunei has no metro and limited public transport, so you depend on taxis, the Dart app, or a rental car the whole trip; if you don't drive, the transport line item adds up.
- Dining and street life around the hotel are thin, and the area goes quiet after dark — you'll drive to Gadong or BSB to find evening options.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Bandar Seri Begawan
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Bandar Seri Begawan — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Request a room facing the Kedayan River when you book, ideally on a higher floor, so you get the bridge-and-water outlook instead of the car park.
- Staying more than 3 nights? Choose an Executive Suite with the kitchen — the ground-floor convenience store and a small market near the hotel sell fresh ingredients, so you can cook and save a lot on meals.
- For dinner, drive 5 minutes to The Mall Gadong to eat and shop, since options near the hotel are few and close early; without a car, the Dart ride-hail app is cheaper than a regular taxi.