Moni Gallery Hostel

My family and I stayed here in July 2017. The room was ordinary. One staff member was good, but I had a bad experience with another who argued with me, pushed me, acted arrogantly, and used bad words. I didn’t know breakfast didn’t include milk, so I asked for some for my two-year-old. Instead of politely explaining that it wasn’t part of the package, he started arguing. The bathroom and kitchen weren’t clean either, and there weren’t staff available to help properly. I’d suggest looking for a better option if you can. Still, I’m thankful for whatever assistance they gave us when they were happy to help, though I feel guests should be happy too.

The staff were helpful and spoke English, and the place was clean. It’s coed and cheap, but there were several cats running around chasing rats, so it’s not a good choice if you’re allergic to cats. The bedding wasn’t very good: one thin blanket and usually a pretty poor pillow. There was a bottom sheet, though I can’t remember whether there was a top sheet. You can walk to a food court, several temples that offer free food at certain times, Little India, and a few pricey but delicious vegetarian Indian restaurants. They call themselves an art gallery, but given the selection, I suspect it may be some kind of tax dodge. Check the street numbers with your taxi driver, since many drivers seem to have other hostels in mind. Breakfast is white bread with jam, which you can toast, and I believe they also serve coffee and tea. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it.

The price was the one thing I liked. It’s much cheaper than other hostels. They offer free hot and cold drinking water, which is really good since water in Singapore is very expensive. The bathrooms were small, a few weren’t clean, and there was an unpleasant smell. Breakfast was bread with butter, bad-tasting jam, and coffee. The train station is a bit far, so I’d suggest taking a Grab car.

We were two women travelling alone, and both of us felt safe and well looked after. One of us ended up staying longer, and I’d come back to Singapore just to stay here again. The staff were incredibly kind and helpful, nothing seemed like too much trouble. If they were eating, they’d even share their food. There are four lovely cats, and it’s close to the train, a shopping mall, food markets, and the post office. There’s also a beautiful walk along the river where you can see otters. Thanks for having me, love Polly x