5footway.inn Project Chinatown 1
by the TopOfHotel team
5footway.inn is the cheapest hostel in the Chinatown group — the colourful bunk beds and shared kitchen are what set it apart.
5footway.inn is the cheapest hostel in the Chinatown group — the colourful bunk beds and shared kitchen are what set it apart.
In-Depth Review
5footway.inn Project Chinatown 1 is one of several 5footway.inn Projects scattered across Singapore's older districts, and Project Chinatown 1 sits right in the heart of Chinatown. Rates start at just $17 a night, and it scores 7.4/10 on Agoda and 7.3/10 on Booking.com.
Rooms and decor
The bunk-bed dorms are decorated in bright, cheerful colours, and each bed comes with a locker, a power outlet and a reading light. The shared bathrooms are clean enough, though they can get a queue at peak times. There are private rooms too if you want one — though like the dorms, they're small by hostel standards.
Food and amenities
The standout feature is the shared kitchen, where you can cook your own meals — a real money-saver if you're travelling long-term. Beyond that you get free Wi-Fi, lockers and air-con. And you're surrounded by food: dim sum shops, souvenir stalls, Maxwell Food Centre and the Chinatown Street Market night market are all close by.
Location and getting there
You're dead central in Chinatown, a 5-minute walk from Chinatown MRT, which makes getting around the rest of the city straightforward.
Things to know before booking
The dorms fill up in high season, so book ahead if you're coming at a busy time. The shared bathrooms get a queue at the morning peak. And rooms here are small — this is somewhere to sleep and shower, not to spread out and relax in private.
Our take
This one's for budget backpackers and long-term travellers who want to cook their own meals and save. It's not for anyone after total quiet or proper private space — but for the price and the location, it's hard to argue with.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Rates start at $17 a night, the lowest of the ten hostels we compared — hard to beat if your budget is tight.
- There's a shared kitchen, so you can cook your own meals and keep food costs down. That makes a real difference on a longer stay.
- The location is dead central in Chinatown, with Chinatown MRT just a 5-minute walk away.
- The bright, colourful decor gives the place a relaxed, easygoing feel rather than a clinical one.
- You're surrounded by hawker food and markets — Maxwell Food Centre and the Chinatown Street Market are right on the doorstep.
- The dorms get crowded in high season, so book ahead if you're travelling at a busy time.
- Expect a queue for the shared bathrooms during the morning peak.
- Rooms are small by hostel standards, and the private rooms are no exception — this is a place to sleep and shower, not to spread out.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Walk five minutes to Maxwell Food Centre for cheap hawker meals — or use the shared kitchen and cook your own to save even more.
- Book ahead in high season; the dorms fill up and this is the cheapest bed in the area.
- Use the bathrooms before the morning rush to avoid the peak-hour queue.