Haidi Z
January 11, 2026
This is an old-school hotel that opened in 1913, and its original design aimed to match the luxury of London. The hotel lobby is absolutely stunning.
The front desk staff were friendly and efficient with check-in.
The elevator hall has a simple, vintage charm.
The room itself isn't large, but as you explore, you find thoughtful amenities like slippers and toothbrushes, and other facilities cleverly hidden in well-designed cabinets. Everything looks quite nice when revealed.
The bed was very comfortable, and the duvet wasn't too thin.
My window faced an internal courtyard wall, so there wasn't really a view, even on the 8th or 9th floor. However, this also meant the hotel was very quiet.
The shower only had a half-screen, so water tended to splash near the toilet. You need to be a bit careful when showering. The sink was small but deep, likely custom-made to fit the compact room. Overall, the design and layout are quite reasonable, providing necessary facilities within limited space.
I purchased breakfast when I booked, and I remember it wasn't expensive, though it usually costs a bit more if you book it at the hotel. The breakfast spread wasn't very generous, and there were no live cooking stations. It was, at best, on par with a three-star town hotel's breakfast; I didn't even see boiled eggs. Surprisingly, though, they offered congee (rice porridge) with toppings like pork floss, seaweed, and dried anchovies, giving it a Southeast Asian twist. A little later, I saw Singapore Airlines flight attendants come down for breakfast, and it all made sense then – catering to a specific market need.
Even though there wasn't a huge variety, they did offer gluten-free bread and banana cake. My friend said the croissants were terrible, looking like reheated frozen items. The breakfast staff also seemed visibly tired and a bit impatient, which is understandable considering breakfast starts at 6:30 AM.
Despite the limited selection, I ate a lot that day, and the individual items were quite tasty.
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