The Vagabond Club, Singapore, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

It gives me no pleasure to leave this hotel a neutral review, and I deliberately waited until the end of my trip to see whether my overall impression would improve. Unfortunately, it did not. I was travelling to Singapore for business during the F1 weekend, when hotel prices were exceptionally high, and ultimately chose this property rather than staying in the city centre. In retrospect, I would not recommend it to business travellers. The hotel is situated in Little India, a neighbourhood with plenty of inexpensive dining options but relatively little in the way of upscale restaurants or sophisticated surroundings. The immediate area is not particularly appealing for those seeking a more polished business-travel experience, and some of the pavements are in poor condition. The hotel itself is small, rather dark, and beginning to show its age. The interior lacks natural light and character, while the overall atmosphere is remarkably flat. There is very little happening within the property, beyond the occasional guest passing through the reception area. Although most of the staff were friendly and several clearly made a genuine effort, the hotel lacks the ambience and facilities one would reasonably expect from a property advertised on our corporate travel platform as five-star accommodation. There is no gym or meaningful recreational facility on-site. While there is a gym nearby, registering to use it took me approximately an hour, which was hardly a convenient solution for someone travelling on business. The bedrooms are also small, and the overall experience feels considerably more basic than the hotel’s advertised classification would suggest. In my view, the property falls well short of five-star standards and is closer to a three-star hotel, if not below that level in certain respects. The food was acceptable, but nothing particularly memorable. More importantly, the hotel’s location and lack of atmosphere make it a poor choice for business travellers who value convenience, comfort, and access to good restaurants after a long working day. Ultimately, the experience amounts to little more than having a bedroom and a small reception area, without the facilities, surroundings, or ambience that would make the stay worthwhile. One additional consideration is air quality. During my visit, Singapore was experiencing exceptionally poor air conditions due to smoke and haze associated with forest fires in Indonesia. This is not a criticism of the hotel itself, but I would strongly recommend checking the air-quality forecast before travelling if conditions are a concern, as severe haze can significantly affect the overall experience. A separate practical observation concerns GRAB, the region’s equivalent of Uber. I encountered repeated glitches with the application, particularly when entering a destination. On several occasions, submitting a new address caused the app to revert unexpectedly to an address used on a previous journey. This resulted in considerable confusion and is worth bearing in mind when arranging transport. Finally, my arrival at Singapore’s airport was surprisingly impersonal. From disembarking the aircraft to reaching my taxi, I did not encounter a single airport staff member available to assist with questions. Passport control was automated, and the absence of readily accessible human assistance made the arrival experience feel unnecessarily bewildering. Overall, this was a disappointing and rather peculiar stay. The hotel may serve as a basic option when prices elsewhere are prohibitive, but I would not recommend it to business travellers seeking comfort, convenience, or an atmosphere conducive to a professional trip. The friendly staff deserve credit for their efforts, but they cannot compensate for the property’s shortcomings in location, facilities, ambience, and overall standard. Singapore itself also struck me as an unexpectedly unusual destination, with several aspects of the experience differing considerably from what I had anticipated. Having now visited 56 countries, I can safely say that this was one of the more unconventional travel experiences I have encountered.

When I travel to Singapore I prefer to stay in Little India, Kampong Glam, or Chinatown rather than the sterile areas of Orchard Road or Marina Bay. This was my second visit to this property, and the last time was in 2017. This hotel is part of the SPG portfolio of hotels and offers good value for the price. As an SPG Platinum member I was given an upgraded room and had free access to what they called their "executive lounge", which is basically the lobby lounge. My rate included a full gourmet breakfast and a great happy hour including food, cold beer, wines, and top shelf liquors. The staff was very helpful in almost every way. They greeted me by name and always made me feel like an important friend. The room was nice and big with a great bathroom and nice entry space with a desk to do work. The WiFi was fast, the food was delicious, and the location allowed you to visit Little India, Kampong Glam and the Arab Street all within 5 minutes' walk. The hotel has a bizarre movie-type feeling to it, but I really liked it a lot. While there are a lot of hotels to choose from in Singapore, I can highly recommend this property and will definitely visit again.

I have had amazing experience at Vagabond Club Singapore and all the staffs was best in service. I really felt home away from home feeling. Especially thank you to Amik, Nasyah and Nazrul on their commitment to serve us as a guest like friends, family and really warm. Thanks and I will definitely recommend my friends and business partners to stay and visit Vagabond Club hotel. Thanks a lot 🙏

Unique hotel with friendly staff. The lobby and bar area get a 5+ star rating. The rooms get a solid 4 stars. Rooms are basic, rather small and somewhat dark. The location is good for getting to Little India and Chinatown, and just a 5 minute walk to the MRT station.

I stayed at The Vagabond Club Singapore and came away pleasantly surprised. The hotel is located right at the border of Little India. While it’s close to two MRT lines, it’s not directly connected, which makes it slightly less convenient than more central locations. This is a very small boutique property, and what really stands out is the design. It’s bold, eclectic, and quite different from what you typically see in Singapore. Whether you like it is a matter of taste, but I personally found it fun and refreshing. Despite its size, the hotel never felt crowded. My room had an unusual layout: the bed is right by the entrance, followed by a narrow corridor with a desk, leading to the bathroom at the back. At first surprising, but it worked well in practice. Room size is decent, though not particularly spacious. Service was a real highlight—staff were consistently friendly and made an effort to engage. Breakfast is fully à la carte. It’s well done and offers some choice, but after a few days it could start to feel repetitive. There is also a lounge-style offering (included in my rate), where you can select a few items from a menu—more like light bites than a full club lounge experience. I didn’t attend the jazz club, but it seems there are events almost every evening, which adds to the atmosphere. One downside: while my courtyard-facing room was quiet overall, the walls are quite thin, so noise from neighbors could be an issue depending on who you get. Also, there are no real facilities—no gym, no pool—so if that’s important, this may not be the right choice. Overall, a stylish and characterful boutique hotel with excellent service, best suited for short stays or travelers who prioritize design over amenities.