We’re nearing a blissful period, everyone! The school holidays are right around the corner – and for some of us, our holidays have already started (I’m looking at all of you fresh graduates)! After five long months of hard work, you should be looking forward to pampering and spoiling yourself. If you’re looking for a place to kick your feet up and unwind, I have just the place for you! Welcome to Momentus Hotel Alexandra – your temporary getaway from the stress that plagues you in the outside world.
Get ready for a time of unparalleled leisure as your worries melt away! We had the ultimate pleasure of staying at the hotel and experiencing life as part of the Momentum Club – unlocking a world of additional perks we will delve into together. We indulged in the lesser-known beauties of the Alexandra and Queenstown area. It gave me a glimpse into the taitai lifestyle I wish so badly to have – and I promise, it’ll do the same for you, too!
You can expect complete candour from this review – no ifs, ands, or buts about it! Let me be your unofficial guide through a stay at Momentus Hotel Alexandra.
Location
Before we get into the details of the hotel itself, let me introduce you to the area! Momentus Alexandra Hotel is sandwiched between IKEA Alexandra and Alexandra Central. The hotel is located across the road from Anchorpoint and Queensway Shopping Centre. All you have to do is step out of the hotel lobby, and you will have three malls to choose from. That’s a lot of choices for your shopping needs!
And that’s not including all the pockets of hawker centres that are a five-minute walk away from the hotel! No matter what time of the day, whether you’re an early riser looking for breakfast or a late sleeper craving supper, something will be open for your enjoyment!
Malls aside, there are also a ton of public transport options in the vicinity. The closest bus stop to the hotel is a mere two-minute walk away from the hotel! At this bus stop alone, there are 10 bus services to choose from – talk about accessibility, am I right? With all these options, you could easily travel from Alexandra to town!
If there were a nitpick to be had with its location, it would be its proximity to the nearest MRT station. The closest is Queenstown on the East-West Line [Green], but it takes a little bit of a walk to get there (18 minutes, according to Google Maps), and even taking the bus does not shorten the time much.
Lobby
Let’s start from the beginning; no detail is too small not to include. As soon as we stepped into the lobby, we were greeted by the sleek interior of the cosy lobby. Despite the rather intimate size of the lobby, the interior added to the elegant and sophisticated vibe of the hotel, which set high expectations for the other parts we would later see.
After I had taken in the gorgeous interior of the lobby, my eyes made their way toward the end of the hall, where I saw the familiar name “Craftsmen Coffee”. The last place I expected to see another outlet for Craftsmen Coffee was in the lobby of Momentus Hotel Alexandra, but lo and behold, there it was! The cafe is open from morning to afternoon and was a great pick-me-up before our long day going around the Alexandra area – I couldn’t have asked for more!
Checking In and Out
To give you the full picture, we checked in on a Thursday afternoon, and the lobby was less crowded than you would expect, which undoubtedly quickened the check-in process.
Understandably, you should do everything you can to ensure that check-in is as quick as possible so you can officially kick-start your holiday. So, I suggest having your passport or your identification card (physical or Singpass, both will do) on your person. That way, all you have to do is hand it over to them and be on your merry way! Most importantly, you have to pay a small deposit fee over the counter, so remember to have your cash or card ready.
The end of our stay was a different story. We had checked out late on a Saturday at 3pm – late check-outs are just one of the many perks those in the Momentum Club can expect to experience. Unfortunately, Saturday afternoons in any hotel lobby are packed to the brim. The lines were long and slow-moving. Before you decide to check out on a weekend, I strongly suggest getting a drink at Craftsmen Coffee so that you can keep yourself occupied in the long lines!
We should have realised that another perk of the Momentum Club is the personalised check-outs at the club lounge, which will save you so much time! But our mistake is your lesson! So, make sure to remember this when it is your turn to check out of the hotel; you can thank us later!
Rooms
Now that you’ve finally passed check-in, let’s get to the fun part: the rooms – your home for the next few days! As part of the Momentum Club, we took a long elevator ride to the top floor and made our way to our executive suite. As we swung open the door, we were greeted with the sight of our snug abode for the next three days.
Admittedly, the room was relatively small. It was enough for two people to stay comfortably, but it wasn’t quite what we expected for an executive suite. If you’re a party of more than two, I would strongly recommend booking more than one room for the utmost relaxing experience. Still, it had enough space to accommodate a tiny sofa and table at the corner of the room, allowing for another place to sit and relax if your plus one is hogging the bed.
While the hotel rooms differ in terms of the types of beds that they have, the size of the rooms is pretty much standard. The only difference is the view. The room we stayed in had a view of Queensway Shopping Centre, while the others had a view of IKEA Alexandra. The view from our room was always comforting – seeing the people of Queenstown as they made their way down to work or going for late supper gatherings. As someone who loves to people-watch, peering out the window at night to see the cars zoom by was remarkable – even in the depths of the night, it was nice to know that there were people like us, having fun at night.
And I can’t gush enough about the beds. Every night I returned to the hotel, I couldn’t wait for my head to hit those pillows – because I was out like a light. The pillows were soft and my head would just sink into them like they were made out of quicksand. My roommate can attest to that! Both nights I was there, I fell asleep suddenly while watching television – and I blame the comfort of the bed for lulling me to sleep so quickly.
Speaking of television, we had many channel options to choose from! On our last night, we decided to stay in bed watching Junior Bake Off instead of a night out in the town like any typical 21-year-old would. That’s just a testament to the entertainment we could find all wrapped into one hotel room!
As for the amenities, you get the standard kettle and mini fridge for your teas and cold drinks. There is not much else to say about these two; they are pretty similar to what you get in other hotels, but you get a decent selection of tea to enjoy!
Bathroom
No one ever thinks about the bathrooms in hotels, but trust me, they might be one of the most important things in the whole room. I once stayed in a hotel in Bangkok that had a toilet with a faulty flushing system—believe me, discussing the bathroom situation is imperative. After that horrendous stay in Bangkok, Momentus Hotel Alexandra restored my faith—thank God! Everything was working as it should, which is all I could ask for.
Suppose it’s been a while since you’ve gone on a holiday. In that case, hotels in Singapore have started to normalise doing away with bottled water and have instead shifted to adding a “water fountain” in the toilet to reduce plastic waste. Eco-friendly efforts aside, upon reflection, this system works much better than two measly bottles of water you’ll finish in 30 minutes. It’s a system I never knew I needed until we were up talking into the depths of the night till our throats were dry.
Overall, the toilet was great! If I had to nitpick, I would mention that the toilet door was a tad bit difficult to unlock – I swear that’s not an exaggeration. It took a while to find that sweet spot to unlock the door, but other than that, everything was spectacular.
Seeing as we were there for a simple two nights, I didn’t see the need to pack any toiletries with us, and in a strange turn of events, I’m thankful for that decision. Otherwise, I would’ve never been introduced to APPELLES! As someone with naturally wavy, hotel soaps usually suck all the moisture out of my hair, but APPELLES took me for a loop!
After the first night of using their shampoo and conditioner, my hair was silky smooth – my rubber band was sliding right off my hair, which is definitely a happy problem to have. I only have Momentus Hotel Alexandra to thank for introducing me to this fantastic find, and now I feel it’s my civic duty to put you on it as well! A bottle of APPELLES is yours to own; all you have to do is check out their website and add to cart – your hair will thank you!
It speaks volumes that the hotel’s soaps are of such high quality. If this doesn’t tell you how dedicated the hotel is, I don’t know what will! One thing to note is that the hotel doesn’t provide face wash, so if you’re looking to lighten up your baggage, you can’t forget to bring this essential!
Club Lounge
As I mentioned, there isn’t much difference in the size of the rooms that Momentus Hotel Alexandra offers, which might prompt you to think, “What makes the Momentum Club all that?” Well, here’s your answer! Welcome to the club lounge. This was the highlight of our stay there.
Throughout your stay with the hotel, members of the Momentum Club have unlimited access to the club lounge. Anything from hotel breakfast to check-out can be settled within the lounge – think of the floor as an exclusive private island that only you and other members have the privilege of visiting! Here’s everything you can expect to enjoy from the club lounge!
Hors D’oeuvres
Besides the buffet breakfast served at the club lounge between 7am and 10.30am, you can also expect to indulge in hors d’oeuvres, light refreshments and alcoholic beverages from 6pm to 8pm! You know we couldn’t help ourselves and had to sneak a little appetiser before dinner, and we knew just the place to go!
When I say I felt like a taitai, I wasn’t joking. Sitting in the club lounge with a cup of gin was what my soul craved. It was like peeking through a looking glass into my future. If you’re a big drinker, I promise you won’t be disappointed with the range of alcohol that the club lounge offers. Don’t worry; they also provide mixers like Sprite and Coke, which was my Hail Mary, because I had no plans of shooting straight gin that early.
Even if you don’t fancy yourself a drink, the hors d’oeuvres were out of this world. They were nothing short of sophisticated. If you consider yourself an alcohol connoisseur, they even had a cheeseboard to accompany the alcohol options – how elegant. Picture a smorgasbord of different sweet and savoury food options, and you’ve got the gist of the club lounge down.
The club lounge was incredibly intimate and quiet, which gave us much-needed peace and relaxation after a long day—just what the doctor ordered! The staff were also very attentive and willing to help in any way they could, which added to the lounge’s overall vibe.
View
The view from the club lounge is also unparalleled! We managed to make it just in time to catch the sunset, and I have no regrets at all. The sun’s rays seeped into the lounge and graced us with a gentle golden-hour glow.
Imagine this: You and your friends are munching on delicious hors d’oeuvres and sipping on the poison of your choice. You’re surrounded by a luminous yellow, orange hue that engulfs the entire room. What more could you possibly ask for? You’d be a fool not to check out the club lounge during your stay there.
Facilities
Once we conquered the room, we explored the rest of the hotel—and there was so much more to see. Just like every other hotel, Momentus Alexandra had a gym, a pool bar and grill, and a restaurant. Even though they may seem pretty basic, let me lift the veil for you and walk you through each facility.
Let’s start with the one pictured above! Located right outside the entrance to the Momentum Club, this little hidden oasis offered the prettiest view of the surrounding area. If it weren’t for the weather, we would’ve grabbed our breakfast out here! But once nightfall came and the city lights came on, it was the perfect area for a heart-to-heart talk.
Gym
Usually, I would never go to the gym on a holiday. I mean, the whole point of the holiday is to relax, not to lace up and hit the gym. But for all my gym junkies, I think you’ll find that Momentus Alexandra has pretty much everything you need for a productive gym session.
The gym was decent-sized, ensuring you weren’t rubbing your shoulders too closely with other gym-goers. Inside were treadmills, weights, and elliptical machines – you know, the basics. But the fun part of the gym was that they had mini televisions to keep you occupied as you burn those calories! For someone who usually avoids an elliptical machine like the plague, I couldn’t help but jump onto one and start exercising.
The motivation to keep working out came from the fact that I couldn’t stop; if I did, the machine would switch off. So, I exercised! The mini television had all the same channels I could find in our room, so I was not short on options. It took the sting out of the exercise that I was doing.
Infinity Pool
Next up is the infinity pool! Seeing the hotel from across the street, I would have never imagined that it boasted such a gorgeous pool. When we first went to the pool in the morning, I was already shocked by how beautiful the view was. But come night, when the streets were illuminated with lights, it seemed like everything just came alive.
The pool wrapped around almost half the level and spanned all the way to the edge of the building—thus, the term infinity pool. It is pretty small, though. It doesn’t take long to swim from one end to the other for its deepest and most open pool.
Do note that if you want to get some laps in without worrying about the number of people in the pool, go in the early mornings. We were down in the area until about 10pm. So many people were still enjoying the pool—but who could blame them? The view and the vibes at night were just mesmerising.
Restaurant and Bar
Even if you’re not planning a stay, dining at Momentus Alexandra Hotel is definitely something you should try at least once in your life. On top of the delicious food and incredible drinks, the vibes were through the roof.
The hotel boasts both the Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie and the Verandah Pool Bar & Grill. Both were in a league of their own, and we had the honour of checking them out. Let me walk you through both places and tell you how our night went.
Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie
As part of our stay, we had the delight of trying Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie’s semi-buffet. This meant we had the option of picking a main dish from the menu in addition to the buffet. We were impossibly stuffed by the end of the meal.
Let’s start with the buffet, which has a vast range to choose from. We started picking at the cured meats and salad bar, which paired perfectly! We decorated our salad with cured meat and olives, and drizzled a dash of guacamole on the top. Don’t hate till you’ve tried it – because I swear it all blended perfectly together.
We moved on to the range of fresh seafood they offered. The mark of fresh prawns is how easily the shells come off. To blend in with the sophistication of the restaurant, we had no choice but to pick the shells off with our utensils—no hands were going to get dirty at our table. Thankfully for us, the shells came sliding off, passing the freshness test with flying colours!
Of course, we have to talk about the main courses – and to save you time, they were otherworldly. I chose to get the Angel Hair Pasta with Grilled Tiger Prawns and Sakura Ebi. I’m not ashamed to admit that I am an angel hair pasta hater. They usually stick to each other quickly upon plating, and the texture just doesn’t feel right. But after this dish, it is safe to say the only angel hair pasta I’ll be eating is at Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie.
The oil from the aglio olio coated each pasta strand perfectly and ensured it wouldn’t clump up too fast. As you can see, they did not scrimp on the prawns and ebi. Just two pieces of them were enough to satiate my hunger. I also loved that they gave big pieces of chilli and garlic so that I could throw them into my salad for that something extra.
Next up is the Madeira Braised Duroc Pork Belly! Just look at the size of that portion – they’re really the epitome of “go big or go home”. I can’t even imagine how long it took them to marinate and braise that significant portion, but they did it perfectly! The pork belly was deeply marinated, and every layer dripped in flavour! It was also incredibly tender – the knife glided through the pork belly and melted in our mouths.
Even though we were suffering from a food coma, we still had space for dessert! The desserts ranged from mini cakes to crème brûlée to a chocolate fountain! If you like to end your meal with something light, the cakes are definitely the thing for you. They were all bite-sized and could easily be popped into your mouth. But don’t let the size of them fool you. Even though they were small, each piece burst with bold flavours.
On the topic of bold flavours, the Cempedak Crème Brûlée was really in its own league! Cempedak has always tasted very similar to durian, so if you love durian, this is right up your alley. The creme brulee was heavy and thick with the taste of cempedak and wasn’t too sweet or overpowering.
In addition to those desserts, there was also a pink chocolate fountain with marshmallows and other sweet treats! We found a hack that upped the ante – I exhausted all my genius thinking of this! We impaled our marshmallows on the sticks and headed to the bread warmer, which we used as a makeshift campfire to make smores! Brilliant, I know!
There was something so comforting about heating my marshmallow that I opted to just have the s’mores plain. But I couldn’t resist dipping the rest of them into the fountain for the fun of it, and they didn’t disappoint.
Overall, our experience at Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie was brilliant. The food was terrific, the service was super helpful, and the atmosphere dripped with elegance. We ate to our heart’s content and till our clothes were tight.
Verandah Pool Bar & Grill
When we finally managed to get out of our chairs after that coma-inducing experience at Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie, we headed across the level to the Verandah Pool Bar & Grill! At this point, the sun had set, and the level was illuminated with the lights from the pool. The lights contrasted against the dark night sky naturally put us in the mood for a drink, and of course, we knew just where to look!
We were greeted with the view of the liquor shelf. There were so many options to choose from; no matter your mood, they’ll have something to cook up for you! The menu was filled with drinks ranging from draft beer to heavy liquor. If you’re like me and would rather avoid alcohol, they had the most refreshing mocktails! What did I say about range?
The real reason we were there was to try Alexandra’s Allure – a must-try mixology cocktail that is not for the faint-hearted. This is purely for those of you who enjoy drinking heavy liquor because, boy, was it intense. Just a whiff of the drink was enough to knock out an amateur drinker like myself.
The drink blends rosemary-infused orange liqueur, homemade grapefruit star anise syrup, and butter fat-washed bourbon. Yes, your eyes don’t deceive you. I was surprised to learn that they soak a stick of butter in a bottle of Jim Beam for a week, which helps the drink slide down your throat much smoother and reduces the burn.
The rosemary-infused orange liqueur and grapefruit star anise syrup added a sweet and sour note to the whole drink, giving it a cleaner finish. Even though this is a drink I don’t ever see myself drinking, I can see the appeal to those of you who enjoy drinking more than me! If you ever find yourself here, you can’t leave without trying this drink.
But if you like to enjoy yourself with a pint (or four), here’s something for you! On our first day staying at Momentus Alexandra, the manager was eager to inform us about their recent addition of new craft beers, which they began serving only a few days earlier. From now till 31 July 2024, Verandah Pool Bar & Grill is introducing a pairing menu with The 1925 Brewing Co (S$25 ++ per set)! With a selection of four different craft beers, there’s something for everyone.
- 1925 Lager was the house marque beer! It was incredibly light and refreshing—the perfect choice for a cooldown after a long day out under the hot sun!
- Small Monster IPA is an IPA brewed with a concoction of Amarillo, Cascade, and Sentinel hops, leaving us with a strong and smooth ale. The aftertaste of this was much stronger than the others – so if you enjoy a deep taste for beer, this one’s for you!
- Yellow Van Pale Ale is brewed with hops and Citra, giving it that balance between hops and malt. It was pretty similar to the Small Monster, but not as strong.
- Yuzu Lager is made using the peels and juice from yuzu fruits to create a lager that pairs perfectly with all sorts of cuisine. It has a citrusy, dry, yet refreshing finish. This one easily took the cake for all of us!
Booking Momentus Alexandra Hotel
And just like that, our stay at Momentus Alexandra Hotel came to an end. It was time to pack up and face reality, waiting outside the hotel lobby. We experienced an extravagant lifestyle throughout our stay and explored a side of Singapore we never knew existed! The best part? All this is yours to try, as well! Just head over to the official Momentus Alexandra Hotel website to find out more or to book your stay – you’ll come out a whole new person!
| Rooms and Suites: | Details: |
| Executive Suite | Located on levels 18 and 19, this 48-square-meter room houses 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed |
| Momentum Club Room | Situated on levels 18 and 19, this 24-square-meter room includes 1 double bed |
| Premier Room | Found on levels 8 to 16, this 26-square-meter room offers a 1 large double bed |
| Deluxe Room | |
| Deluxe Twin Room | Located on levels 11 to 16, this 24 square-meter room has 2 single beds |
| Deluxe Queen Room | Situated on levels 11 to 16, this 24-square-meter room boasts 1 large double bed |
| Superior Room | |
| Superior Twin Room | This room is a 24-square-meter room with 2 single beds suitable for two adults |
| Superior Queen Room | This 24-square-meter room has 1 large double bed and is suitable for two adults |
For all those of you who are looking to bring your little ones to Momentus Alexandra Hotel, you’re in luck! In conjunction with the upcoming school holiday period, the hotel is introducing their newest package: Family Moments! The package includes:
- Two connecting rooms
- Kids welcome gift (game pack and sweet trio)
- Buffet breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children (below 12 years old)
- Early check-in at 1pm
- 20% off dining at Hotel food and beverage outlets
- Kids’ meal* for up to 2 children with a minimum spend of S$100 nett on a la carte menu at Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie
- Pottery Wheel Throwing or Needle Punch Coaster Workshop (45 mins) for 2 children at Dream Art
🗓️Date: 1 June to 31 August 2024
📍Location: Momentous Alexandra Hotel, 323 Alexandra Rd, Singapore 159972
💲Price: From S$520+ per night in a Family Room (two connecting rooms)
Photos by Leo Chia and Eshani NJ of the DANAMIC Team.
