This five-star hotel feels more like an upscale local resort. Upon check-in, they told us they'd double-upgraded us to the main building, which was great as the pool was just downstairs.
The lobby layout isn't grand, and the overall feel is a bit dated, but I was pleasantly surprised by how new the room facilities were and how impeccably clean everything was. The minibar had 8 different drinks, two of each, all complimentary.
There are three outdoor pools and one indoor pool. None of the pools are particularly large, and the staff service was quite poor; they wouldn't help lay out towels, nor would they let us take extra towels ourselves. The pool bar service was decent, but the coffee was terrible.
Breakfast was okay. We went to the Western restaurant on the 6th floor for dinner, and the service there was excellent, with reasonable prices.
Overall, I found the stay experience to be very good, but the service in the public areas was just average, and the buggy staff's attitude wasn't great either. There's no valet parking at the entrance. Compared to the 'seven-star' hotel everyone talks about, I'd say this is more like a high-end resort, suitable for locals looking for a staycation. Tourists don't need to make a special trip here.
- BingBai
Our stay at The Empire Hotel was truly exceptional! The room was very spacious and comfortable, and the service was top-notch. A special mention to Lynn (or Ann—I may have gotten the name wrong) (she was the one driving the buggy in the pic) who was always smiling, friendly, and very accommodating with all our questions. As first-time visitors to Brunei, this experience exceeded our expectations. We were also impressed by the warmth and respectfulness of the people. We enjoyed the in-house cinema and had an amazing meal at Pantai, the food was perfect! they will also say where to have your best sunset/ sunrise view. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay so memorable. Highly recommended to friends and family!
- Anmexido
