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Hotel guide · Hotel · St Lucia Avenue, New Kingston

S Hotel Kingston: what to know before you book

Researched by Michael RainfordFacts checked Sources
On this page
  1. My local take
  2. At a glance
  3. Pros and cons
  4. Rooms
  5. Food & drink
  6. Pool & beach
  7. Location
  8. FAQ
  9. Sources

My local take

This is the old Spanish Court Hotel, built inside a former New Kingston shopping center and renamed S Hotel Kingston in 2024 to match its Montego Bay sister. It has 125 modern rooms, a pool with cabanas, a rooftop deck, and buffet breakfast in the rate. My take: it’s the one I’d point most visitors to in New Kingston when they want a city hotel with some style rather than a plain business box.

It suits business travelers and anyone in Kingston for the culture: the Bob Marley Museum and Devon House are a short drive away, and the hotel can arrange Port Royal, Blue Mountain coffee and downtown art walk outings. It doesn’t suit beach trips, and families should note the cap of two adults and one child under 12 per room.

If it’s not quite right, the Courtleigh Hotel & Suites has more suites and kitchenette options for longer stays, and Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel is the heritage pick in a 1920s mansion. Also look at AC Hotel Kingston and Courtyard by Marriott Kingston, or see where to stay in Kingston.

At a glance

Name
S Hotel Kingston (formerly Spanish Court Hotel; renamed in 2024 to match S Hotel Montego Bay)
Area
1 St Lucia Avenue, New Kingston (Kingston 5)
Hotel type
Boutique-style city hotel; daily buffet breakfast included in the rate
Status
Open, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board
Size
125 rooms and suites
Room types
Standard and deluxe king or double rooms (255 sq ft, sleep up to 3), Junior Suite King (376 sq ft), One-Bedroom Suite King (511 sq ft, two bathrooms, pull-out sofa bed)
In every room
50-inch smart TV, minibar with water, coffee maker, in-room safe, blackout blinds, oval soaking tub with shower, yoga mat, free Wi-Fi
Restaurants and bars
Four outlets, including Rocksteady (breakfast, lunch and dinner), the Cabana Pool bar and Strings Cafe and Bar
Pool and deck
Cabana Pool with sundeck and cabanas (6:00 am to 10:00 pm); Sky Deck with rooftop views
Spa and gym
24-hour fitness center; spa treatments for guests 18 and over
Business
Free 24-hour business center, boardroom and event spaces
Parking
Free overnight self-parking
Check-in / check-out
3:00 pm / 12:00 noon
Age and occupancy
Main guest must be 18+; maximum two adults and one child under 12 per room; children 11 and under stay free sharing with a paying adult
Airport
About 45 minutes from Norman Manley International (KIN), depending on traffic; transfers can be arranged by email

Checked October 2026 against the sources below. See sources. Something changed? Tell me.

What stands out

  • Buffet breakfast is included in the rate, with Jamaican dishes like ackee and saltfish on the spread.
  • 125 modern rooms, each with a 50-inch smart TV, coffee maker, minibar with water and an oval soaking tub.
  • A pool with cabanas open until 10 pm, plus a rooftop deck with city views.
  • Free 24-hour gym and business center, and free overnight parking.
  • Four places to eat and drink on site, with Rocksteady serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Central New Kingston address, close to the Bob Marley Museum and Devon House.

What to know before booking

  • Rooms take a maximum of two adults and one child under 12, and no extra bedding is offered, so a family of four needs two rooms.
  • A 50% deposit is charged at booking, with the balance taken 7 to 30 days before arrival, depending on the rate.
  • Spa treatments are for guests 18 and over, and under-16s must be with an adult at the pool and gym.
  • The hotel puts the airport drive at about 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
  • It's a city hotel: there is no beach.

Rooms

S Hotel lists 125 rooms and suites. Standard and deluxe rooms are 255 sq ft, with a king bed or two beds, and sleep up to three. The Junior Suite King (376 sq ft) adds a living space, and the One-Bedroom Suite King (511 sq ft) has a separate living area, two bathrooms and a pull-out sofa bed, so it sleeps up to four. Every room has a 50-inch smart TV, air conditioning and a ceiling fan, a minibar with water, a coffee maker, a safe, blackout blinds, an oval soaking tub with shower and free Wi-Fi. The whole hotel is non-smoking, and accessible rooms should be booked in advance.

Food & drink

Buffet breakfast is included in the rate. The hotel lists four dining outlets. Rocksteady is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (dinner from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm). The Cabana Pool bar does cocktails and light bites from 6 am to 10 pm, and Strings Cafe and Bar serves tapas, sandwiches and Blue Mountain coffee from 10 am to 6 pm. My take: eat at least one dinner out. New Kingston and nearby Devon House have some of the best food in the city.

Pool & beach

There’s no beach in New Kingston. What S Hotel has instead is the Cabana Pool, a palm-lined pool with a sundeck, loungers and shaded cabanas, open from 6 am to 10 pm, and the Sky Deck with rooftop views over the city. Under-16s need a parent or guardian with them at the pool. Kingston’s usual beach trips, the boat to Lime Cay from Port Royal and the fish spots at Hellshire, haven’t had an official update since the hurricane, so ask at the front desk before you go.

Location

The hotel is at 1 St Lucia Avenue in New Kingston, the city’s business district, a short walk from Emancipation Park. The hotel puts the drive from Norman Manley International Airport at about 45 minutes, depending on traffic, and arranges transfers by email. The UK Foreign Office advises visitors who don’t know Kingston not to drive in the city, and notes that most people use the South Camp Road (Humming Bird) route to and from the airport, so a hotel transfer or a registered taxi is the simple answer. From here you’re a short ride from the Bob Marley Museum, Devon House, Hope Gardens and Trench Town Culture Yard, and downtown for the National Gallery of Jamaica. Kingston is also the base for a Blue Mountain coffee tour. See where to stay in Kingston for the wider city.

Questions people ask

Is S Hotel Kingston the same as the Spanish Court Hotel?

Yes. The Spanish Court Hotel on St Lucia Avenue in New Kingston was renamed S Hotel Kingston in 2024, to match its sister hotel, S Hotel Montego Bay. It’s the same hotel and owner.

Is breakfast included at S Hotel Kingston?

Yes. The hotel says a daily buffet breakfast is included in the rate, with Jamaican dishes such as ackee and saltfish.

How far is S Hotel Kingston from the airport?

The hotel puts it at about 45 minutes from Norman Manley International Airport, depending on traffic. Transfers can be arranged by emailing the hotel before you arrive.

Does S Hotel Kingston have a pool?

Yes. The Cabana Pool has a sundeck and cabanas and is open from 6 am to 10 pm. There’s also a rooftop Sky Deck.

Is S Hotel Kingston open after Hurricane Melissa?

Yes. The Jamaica Tourist Board lists S Hotel Kingston as open as of October 2026.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — New researched guide; facts checked against official sources.
  • — Moved source citations out of the text

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.

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