Capri by Fraser China Square, Singapore

Rooms and decor

Picture a modern hotel tucked into the office towers of Singapore's business district, in an old quarter called China Square where Sino-Portuguese shophouses stand next to tall glass office blocks — that is the appeal of Capri by Fraser China Square, Singapore, a Frasers Hospitality property built around a smart-living idea aimed squarely at digital-age travelers. What sets it apart is that nearly every room comes with a kitchenette — microwave, fridge, and basic gear — and some rooms have an in-room washing machine, so it feels more like a private apartment in the middle of the city than an ordinary hotel room. Rooms lean clean and modern, fully functional, with charging points around the bed and the desk and easy Wi-Fi. A lot of reviews agree the rooms are clean and modern and good value in an area where rates usually run high. Anyone who likes a place where they can manage their life mid-trip — cook, do laundry, and work in the room — should warm to it from the first night.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is how livable it is. Start on the roof with the rooftop pool looking out over the CBD skyline and the towers around it — slipping in for a late-afternoon cool-down with the city view is one of the better moments here. Nearby is a gym open 24 hours for anyone who works out, whether that is before an early meeting or late after a night out. On food, the hotel leans on its smart-living idea of cooking in your room, but the location helps a lot, because it is ringed by CBD restaurants, coffee shops, and — the best part — Chinatown, just a few minutes' walk away, with Chinese restaurants, street food, and hawker centres at friendly prices. There are also serviced-residence touches like washing machines and free Wi-Fi throughout, which make a multi-day stay feel like having a small home in the middle of the city.

Location and getting there

Location is the real trump card of Capri by Fraser China Square. The hotel sits in the heart of the CBD in the China Square zone, right next to Boat Quay and Chinatown. The point many people rate highest is that it is within reach of 4 MRT lines: the closest station is Telok Ayer (Downtown line), about a 4-minute walk, and Chinatown, Raffles Place, and Clarke Quay are all close enough to walk to. That makes it easy to jump the train out to the Orchard shopping belt, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, or Changi Airport. The other charm is the walk along the Singapore River toward Boat Quay and on to Clarke Quay, the well-known riverside restaurant and bar strip, where the lights look great at night for a dinner stroll or a drink. In short, if you want a base that makes getting out easy — work in the business district, see Chinatown, and walk the river all in one spot — this location delivers.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First is the character of the CBD, which is mostly an office-tower zone: weekday lunchtimes buzz with office workers, but come the weekend or evening some areas around the hotel go fairly quiet and some shops close, so you will need to walk out toward Chinatown or the river to find somewhere livelier to eat. Anyone who wants a constant buzz should adjust expectations a little. Second is room size: standard studio and entry rooms run fairly compact, as land-expensive city-centre hotels tend to, and some reviewers found storage or usable space limited with more than one or two people — if you are coming as a family or want more room, pick a larger room type and check the floor plan when you book. Last, even though it is near several MRT lines, the building is tucked among the towers of China Square and can be slightly confusing to find the first time, so leave a little extra time or keep a map open; and during high season, with conferences or events in the CBD, the rate climbs noticeably, so compare a few dates before you book.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, Capri by Fraser China Square, Singapore is a smart-living hotel that sells genuine livability — kitchenette rooms, a clean modern look, a rooftop pool with a city view, a 24-hour gym, and a heart-of-the-CBD location within reach of 4 MRT lines, with walks to Boat Quay, Chinatown, and the river, all at a price you can stomach more easily than the luxury hotels nearby. If the trip in your head is a room where you can cook and do laundry, wake up and hop the MRT to work or to the city's highlights, then walk the river to dinner at Clarke Quay in the evening, this is a tidy, good-value choice. But if you are after a full-on luxury hotel, big rooms for a large family, or an area that buzzes all night, the serviced-residence character in a business district may not fully fit. Overall we give it 8.6/10 — best for couples, solo travelers, business trips, and anyone who wants a fully functional kitchenette room on a comfortable budget in the middle of Singapore.