The Sultan

Rooms and decor

Picture a run of old shophouses lined up along a street in the heart of Kampong Glam, buildings with floor-to-ceiling wooden shutters and tall, stately columns from the early 1900s, then someone restoring them with care into a boutique hotel — that is the charm of The Sultan, a heritage hotel of 61 rooms spread across roughly 10 shophouse units, the former Al-Ahmadiah printing press among them. The people behind it set out to keep the feel of the days when Kampong Glam was a busy trading quarter — the arched openings, the high columns, and a lot of the original architectural detail. What sets it apart from a chain is that every room is decorated differently, with warm wooden furniture that carries a story, plus air-con, a flat-screen TV, a kettle, a safe and an ensuite bathroom. Some room types, like The Sultan Loft, are roomier and have a character all their own. Step into a room with old wooden shutters and a century of history overhead, then walk out into a living old quarter a few steps away — you simply cannot get that from a new build. Anyone who loves a stay with a story and a design unlike anywhere else will fall for it easily.

Food and amenities

Inside the building is a restaurant called White Label, a relaxed cafe-restaurant that serves French food crossed with local Malay flavours in an interesting way. Talked-about signatures include Masala Bone Marrow and a big cut of grilled meat — good for an easy sit-down meal without going far. Breakfast here is simpler than a big-hotel buffet, but plenty of reviews say it is good in its own way and served in a relaxed setting. The thing to understand is that The Sultan is a boutique in an old building, so it does not come with the full kit of a large hotel — there is no pool or serious gym. What you get instead is friendly service and the warm feel of a small place, with a tour desk to suggest sights and plan trips, laundry service and free Wi-Fi. The appeal is in the building and the location more than a long list of in-hotel toys, and the truth is that once you step out the door the quarter is already packed with food from every direction, so you barely need the in-building amenities at all.

Location and getting there

The location really is the trump card here. The Sultan sits in the heart of Kampong Glam, one of the most alive old Muslim quarters in Singapore, on Jalan Sultan near Arab Street. A few steps from the door is Sultan Mosque, the towering gold-domed landmark of the quarter. Next along is Arab Street, lined with shops selling fabric, carpets and home goods, and Haji Lane, a narrow lane packed with quirky boutiques, cafes, bars and bold street art that photographers should not miss. Around the quarter you will find original Malay, Arab and Middle Eastern food to try all day, and the Malay Heritage Centre is only about a 4-minute walk. For getting around, MRT Lavender (East-West line) is about a 7-minute walk, putting you on a direct ride to Marina Bay, Orchard Road or on to Changi Airport, and you can also wander over to nearby Bugis. In short, if you want to wake up and walk straight into the colourful culture of an old quarter, eat well from many kitchens around you, and still connect into the city easily, this location delivers.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the thing that comes up most is room size, because this is a boutique in old shophouses, so many standard rooms run fairly compact and some bathrooms are tight. Some reviews find them smaller than expected, while others say the room was roomier and more comfortable than they thought — it depends a good deal on the room type you book. If you want more space, upgrade to a higher category right at the booking stage. Next is amenities: there is no pool or full gym like a large hotel, and breakfast is simpler than a big buffet, with some rates not including it at all, so check clearly what your package covers. It is also an old building spread across several units, so some parts may have no lift or mean a flight of stairs — if you have a lot of luggage or stairs are hard for you, let the hotel know ahead. And since it sits in a lively quarter, weekends or nights can carry some noise from the shops and crowds around it, so if you are a light sleeper, ask for a room facing inward.

Our take

From reading through a lot of real reviews, The Sultan is a hotel that sells the character of a heritage building and a location in the heart of an old quarter with real distinction. A night inside century-old shophouses restored with care, every room designed differently, then a few steps out the door to Sultan Mosque, Arab Street and Haji Lane — that is a package that fits beautifully for anyone who wants to see Singapore through its culture and the charm of an old quarter. If the trip in your head is waking up in a room with old wooden shutters, wandering out to photograph quirky lanes and finding good food from many kitchens around you, this is a charming and well-priced choice. But if you are expecting roomy rooms, a pool, a gym and the full kit of a large hotel, the compact rooms and limited amenities here may not be the right fit. Overall we give it 8.3/10, best for couples and culture-minded travellers who value a building's story, a design unlike anywhere else and a walkable location more than room size and amenities.