Stylish Staycation: Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan Review

PUBLISHED October 2nd, 2014 10:00 pm | UPDATED January 19th, 2016 03:33 pm

The pros and cons of doing a staycation has been the subject of many a debate at City Nomads. But love it or not, when the HR department refuses to approve your leave and a weekend getaway is more trouble than it’s worth, a staycation is probably the best (and fuss-free alternative) to get away from it all. Recently, we put Hotel Clover’s newest property at 33 Jalan Sultan to the test.

Located on the fringe of the Kampong Glam, thus making it an excellent base camp to explore this colourful heritage district and other parts of town, you’ll find all 88 rooms and suites spanning 6 different room categories housed in a row of 17 two-story conserved shop houses. All properties in the Hotel Clover chain have different themes like the arts and vintage; the one at Jalan Sultan draws inspiration from its neighbourhood, welcoming guests with a rustic, Southeast Asian urban sanctuary vibe.

The interiors – both the lobby and the various rooms we managed sneak a peek of – feature rich, dark brown palettes, warm lighting, and tasteful accents like elaborately carved wood inlaid dressing table mirrors and quirky light fixtures.

We were offered the King Loft Suite (30-38sqm). Boasting a private living area on the ground level separate from the cozy nook of a bedroom in the loft, it’s the room you’d want for a romantic escapade. Complete with complimentary mini bar (couch potato snacks and soda) as well as coffee and tea making facilities, it was a very stylish home away from home. The bathrooms are tiny, with the shower and toilet in the same space, so those of you who like big tubs to soak in while on holiday should check into the Garden King Suite (28-36sqm) instead.

With a similar elegantly appointed bedroom and private garden, one of the three Garden King Suites available comes with a built-in hydro tub. If you like the idea of a garden at a more pocket-friendly price, the Premier Garden Rooms (28-36 sqm) feature small airy patios with vertical gardens where you can do yoga – the folks at Hotel Clover supply yoga mats. Hotel Clover also caters to families with their Loft Family Suite and Plush Family rooms, which come with a double bed and a single bed.

One thing we were impressed with was the strength of the wifi in-room, so getting some last minute work done (before the weekend officially began) was a breeze.

As much as we loved the room, we wish they’d at least double-pane their windows. The King Loft Suites face the main road and it gets noisy with traffic in the morning, so there goes your sleeping in if you’re a light sleeper – a pity too, ’cause the bed and bedroom are made for lounging in.

It was really thoughtful of the hotel to offer breakfast till 11am at Clover Garden, since most places cut the food supply off by 10.30am. While the buffet selection had all bases covered (cereal, fruit, yogurt, bakes, and toast), we were rather disappointed by the cooked mains. Asian breakfast staples like fried beehoon and congee was offered but we went with American – think cheap ham, sausages, fries, a strip of bacon, and baked beans – which didn’t go so well.

In a nutshell, there’s definitely room for improvement but Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan is worth your staycation splurge, especially if you’re looking for some place in the middle of the hipster action.

Hotel Clover is located at 33 Jalan Sultan, Singapore 198965. Rack rates, inclusive of breakfast, start at $320 per night. For more information, see website or call 6830 7888.

On this occasion, our stay was compliments of Hotel Clover.