Ark Hostel @ Kallang
by the TopOfHotel team
Ark Hostel is one of the few hostels with real family rooms — a 5-minute walk to Lavender MRT on a budget.
Ark Hostel is one of the few hostels with real family rooms — a 5-minute walk to Lavender MRT on a budget.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Ark Hostel runs 4-8 bed dorms plus family rooms that fit 3-4 people. The bunks come with a locker, a power outlet and a reading light, the shared bathrooms are clean, and the air-con works well. Dorm beds start from around $19 a night and family rooms from roughly $43. The look is plain and no-frills — nothing styled, just functional.
Food and amenities
There is free Wi-Fi, lockers and working air-con. Around the hostel you will find cheap local restaurants and hawker food courts, so eating well on a budget is easy without going far.
Location and getting there
It is a 5-minute walk to Lavender MRT on the East-West line, and central Bugis is about 5 minutes away by train. Kallang is quieter than Chinatown, which makes it a calmer place to sleep at night while still keeping the rest of the city within easy reach.
Things to know before booking
The common area is limited, so there is not much room to hang out or work outside your bed. The design is plain with no special touches. And dorms run 4-8 beds, so light sleepers should pack earplugs.
Our take
This is a good pick for a small family of 3-4 who want to keep their Singapore budget down, and for solo travellers who would rather stay somewhere quieter than Chinatown. With genuine family rooms from around $43 and an 8.0/10 score, it does the basics well.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- It has genuine family rooms that sleep 3-4 — hard to find in Singapore hostels, where most only offer dorms and private doubles.
- It is a 5-minute walk to Lavender MRT on the East-West line, and from there central Bugis is about 5 minutes by train.
- Kallang is quieter than Chinatown, so it is a good base if you want to actually rest at night.
- Dorm beds start from around $19, which is cheap for a family-friendly hostel in Singapore.
- The bunks come with a locker, a power outlet and a reading light, the shared bathrooms are clean, and the air-con works well.
- The common area is limited, so there is not much space to hang out or work outside your room.
- The design is plain and no-frills, with none of the special touches you get at a boutique hostel.
- Dorm rooms run 4-8 beds, so light sleepers should expect the usual shared-room noise and bring earplugs.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Book the family room if you are travelling 3-4 together — it is one of the few in the city, so it goes early.
- Walk 5 minutes to Lavender MRT and hop one stop toward Bugis when you want shops and bigger food courts.
- Eat at the local restaurants and hawker food courts around Kallang to keep costs down rather than heading into the tourist centre.