MET A Space PodLong before capsule hotels became a familiar sight in Singapore, the idea barely existed here. That changed in 2014, when MET A Space Pod opened its first pods — introducing a style of stay that travellers in Japan and Hong Kong already knew well, but reimagined for a different kind of guest.
An idea borrowed from Japan, built for Singapore
Capsule hotels first appeared in Japan in the late 1970s, designed as compact, efficient sleeping quarters for salarymen who’d missed the last train home. Our founders — a couple with backgrounds in hospitality — had stayed in capsule hotels while travelling through Japan and Hong Kong, and saw an opportunity to bring the concept to land-scarce Singapore, with a few important changes of their own.
As reported in a feature by Vulcan Post, the pair wanted pods that felt less like a stopgap and more like an actual place to stay: “We wanted to do something different,” is how the idea was described — resulting in pods built noticeably roomier than the traditional Japanese capsule, with upgraded soundproofing so a stay actually felt private.
From one property to a growing chain
The first MET A Space Pod location opened its doors, built out in just a few months, followed shortly after by a second property. Each new pod came with small but thoughtful touches — including touch-screen control panels for lighting and ventilation, individually designed for the brand.
MET A Space Pod @ Arab Street, our flagship at 56 Arab Street, carries the same principles: real privacy behind a solid, card-access door, comfortable air-conditioned pods, and a communal lounge for the travellers who want to socialise when they choose to — not because there’s nowhere else to go.
“We wanted to do something different” — on why MET A Space Pod’s capsules are built roomier than the traditional Japanese design.
Who stays with us
Our guests range from backpackers in their twenties to solo travellers well into their seventies, alongside couples and small groups who want their own private space without hotel prices. Whether you’re passing through Singapore for a night or basing yourself in the Arab Street & Bugis area for a longer stay, the idea hasn’t changed since 2014: give you a real door, a place to rest properly, and a location that puts the city within walking distance.
Curious what a night in a space pod actually looks like?