Habyt Cantonment (formerly Hmlet Cantonment)

The Habyt Cantonment worked really well for a short or medium stay in Singapore. The rooms are basic but have what you need. I tried both the small and medium rooms and the larger option with a kitchen. That one had kitchen tools for making breakfast or simple dinners. The shared kitchen, laundry, and common space with coworking areas were clean and never too crowded. The service is the real plus. Mr. Wong is a kind soul who welcomes me back each night and reminds me not to leave anything behind when I check out. The rest of the staff are helpful and eager to assist. The location is great too, about a 10-minute walk from Telok Ayer station and a first price supermarket.

Wong, the night guard at habyt, was the standout for me. He’s kind, helpful, and went out of his way several times to offer advice and assistance. The rooms are nice, though a bit basic, and the windows looking out onto jungly trees are amazing. There’s a shared kitchen on the upper floors, which is a great space, though a little small and often short of necessary amenities. Staff share it too, so breakfast in the morning feels less private.

The rooms were neat and clean, and the hotel is close to Sentosa and other major attractions. My only issue was that the windows were fixed, though the exhaust vents were a good alternative for ventilation. Some rooms have windows that open, so check with reception at check-in, and you might be lucky enough to get one. All in all, a pretty good stay.

The XL room we had was about the size of a small hotel room, and the price was good for the area. The front desk responded quickly, and free coffee, tea, and other basics were available. Just know what you’re booking: this is a short-term stay place, not a hotel, and housekeeping comes every three days. The rooms are tiny and damp, and our clothes never seemed to dry. The floor felt dirty, with little particles everywhere, because housekeeping doesn’t use a vacuum. There’s no full shower door, so water gets everywhere. Soundproofing isn’t great, though turning on the A/C at night helps drown out corridor and outside noise. The location is alright but not amazing. Cantonment is somewhat out of the way for public transport and takes more walking.