Assessment of Raffles Sentosa Singapore

“I really feel like Elizabeth Taylor!” I theatrically sigh whereas posing in entrance of a Rolls-Royce Phantom—one in every of two home Rolls-Royces obtainable for excursions whereas staying on the new Raffles Sentosa Singapore. 

“No!” Ali, a concierge and my information for the afternoon, jokingly corrects as he snaps my photograph. “Say you’re Alexis Carrington from ‘Dynasty!’” 

Our references could be a tad dated, however the expertise is all a part of the wow-factor at Singapore’s buzziest new lodge that shares a reputation with one of many area’s most established luxurious manufacturers. 

138 years after Raffles Singapore first opened its doorways and put this Southeast Asian metropolis on the posh map, a second Raffles has debuted on the leisure-oriented island of Sentosa, a 15-minute drive from its flagship. Some lodge historians word that the brand new Raffles is a return to the unique property’s roots, as the primary property on Seaside Street started as a waterfront seaside home earlier than numerous land reclamation initiatives broke floor within the 1800s.  

Whereas the unique Raffles now greatest serves as a decadent bookend to a day of hustle-and-bustle metropolis exploration, its new sibling is ideal for holidays of languid bliss, the place floating in a single’s personal pool has the potential to be essentially the most strenuous cardio routine of the day—word that I mentioned “potential“ to be. (Don’t choose my five-star sloth methods, please.) 

Earlier than my Rolls-Royce gallivanting, the day started with blackout shades whirling open to disclose the Singapore solar glowing upon my villa’s personal pool. The lazy facet of me was tempted to have my butler ship an iced americano so I might get pleasure from it with a guide and birdsong on the canopied day mattress parked on one facet of the pool. However, the wellness-minded me as a substitute opted to make my method out to the primary pool deck for a little bit sound tub to drown out all of the stress I’d left behind in Boston. 

Seclusion and solitude—regardless of being in one in every of Southeast Asia’s busiest cities—are canon right here, and that is most evident within the property’s all-villa format. Following a turn-off at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it entrance, arriving company are swept up a winding driveway previous a fountain centered across the watchful eye of a leaping horse sculpture. In line with Singapore’s “Backyard Metropolis” status, it is a very lush resort. The birds and swaying ficus timber are one factor, however I additionally handed the occasional peacock wandering the shrub-lined pathways en path to afternoon tea. 

Regardless of fronting a serious transport lane, the luxurious, ample flora helps cinch Raffles Sentosa’s place because the model’s luxe resort iteration in its hometown. You would possibly catch the occasional glimpse of cargo ships within the Singapore Strait when the timber blow, however one can’t assist however really feel a number of extra months of development will totally cocoon Raffles Sentosa out of sight from the floating financial system surrounding the property—that is a leg-up over a few of its neighboring opponents perched upon the hills. 

I moved straight from sound bathing to stuffing my face throughout my first morning at Empire Grill, the resort’s Italian restaurant that additionally serves a very powerful meal of the day. Visitors face a troublesome selection deciding between towering plates of heritage Singaporean, Western, or wholesome choices, however the affable Raffles Sentosa workers is greater than keen to make substitutions (or additions—it’s trip, in spite of everything). 

Kaya toast—a gooey, glutenous native delicacy that entails butter and coconut jam smeared on toast and is often served with soft-boiled eggs—is elevated at Raffles Sentosa. The lodge’s model is extra of a fried peanut butter toast with eggs swimming in darkish soy sauce—it was a notable improve from the primary kaya toast I had throughout my first journey to Singapore 13 years in the past. My elation was clearly evident, and one other serving to of the griddled goodness appeared in my villa front room later that afternoon with out me even having to ask. 

Whereas it was straightforward to gear shift away from work life into resort time, I additionally wished to get out and discover the island that serves as a grasp class in picture overhauls. Certain, there have been ample photograph ops in entrance of the pièce de resistance on 4 wheels, however Sentosa is greater than the beachy day get together venue I frolicked in as an early twentysomething. 

Ali identified that the island was as soon as a less-than-useful navy base throughout World Conflict II, however has since lived as much as its namesake (“sentosa” is the Malay phrase for “peace and tranquility”). We noticed the seaside golf equipment I visited greater than a decade in the past throughout my first go to to the island, in addition to the string of high-end houses and luxurious accommodations that now dot it. Capella Singapore, the next-door neighbor of Raffles Sentosa, has hosted everybody from Taylor Swift throughout her “Eras Tour” to a 2017 assembly between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. 

Again at Raffles Sentosa, I used to be reminded of how the general model expertise is as a lot about ultra-luxury as it’s the storied ambiance that drew in everybody from Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad to Charlie Chaplin and, sure, Elizabeth Taylor through the years on the authentic Raffles Singapore. Does this new property reside as much as the storied model’s status?

Hold studying to search out out what it is like to remain on the Raffles Sentosa Singapore.

The Rooms

This Yabu Pushelberg-designed resort veers modern over colonial, hanging a distinction to the unique Raffles Singapore. Impartial tones, coffered ceilings, and enormous personal swimming swimming pools abound throughout every of the resort’s 62 villas, which begin at greater than 2,000 sq. ft in entry-level one-bedroom pool villas and may boast as a lot as almost 7,000 sq. ft within the four-bedroom Royal Villa. 

Pops of colour arrive within the type of floral murals (look carefully for cameos of monitor lizards and the Asian koels that present a lot of the background hen soundtrack) on the lounge partitions.

My one-bedroom pool villa had greater than sufficient house for me to stretch out over a three-night keep, and my butler greeted me with a bergamot hand spray and fast ring of a singing bowl to assist my metropolis senses ease into the resort environment. He additionally pulled a calming Sentosa Sling—a watermelon-forward spin on the Raffles-born Singapore Sling cocktail—from the minibar, which shortly ushered me into “you’re on trip” mode. 

Functionally, I appreciated the you-sleep-here and you-entertain-here two-building format across the pool. Although there definitely had been some mornings when my slothy self grumbled about having to stroll all of 4 steps from the sleeping quarters to the residing space constructing to make a pour-over espresso. (I took a U-turn in angle upon discovering I had 4 sorts of Moroccan Bacha Espresso to select from.) 

The sleeping quarters included a king-sized mattress stocked with six pillows of varied sizes (a pillow menu is out there for these significantly picky with the place they lay their head at night time). Off the bed room, there was a walk-in closet stocked with straw hats and umbrellas to fight the tropical climate in addition to a toilet with a marble double-vanity sink, soaking tub, and walk-in bathe (full with Ortigia Sicilia tub merchandise). 

Like my espresso commute quibbling, if I had to nitpick, it will have been good to have a half-bathroom located in the lounge quarters to actually make {that a} standalone lair relative to the sleeping quarters. These seeking to really entertain a gaggle of journey companions would possibly take into account bigger or connecting villa choices. 

However it’s laborious to complain when one has a chosen butler keen to unpack and pack your baggage (extremely advocate for the space-saving packing ideas alone!) and draw a shower alongside turndown service. 

The already expansive lodging appeared even bigger because of floor-to-ceiling home windows (which may very well be coated because of electronically managed sheer and blackout curtains) fronting the complete pool deck, the place there was additionally a small eating space and seating space. The resort is open sufficient to get pleasure from a sea breeze, however fencing and shrubbery present ample privateness for sunbathing and swimming in peace.

Meals and Drink

I began my meals tour shortly after arriving at Royal China, a Cantonese restaurant with a modern table-clothed eating room of high-backed chairs, accented with dangling crystal chandeliers and a window wall overlooking the encompassing greenery. 

Whereas I basked within the lush panorama after my lengthy flight, I indulged with a glass of champagne and a lunch tasting menu of sudden delights. A few of my favorites included bean curd pores and skin and deep-fried mushroom yam dumplings served alongside basic Cantonese choices like steamed shrimp dumplings and wok-fried rice from chef Ling Heng Yao. 

Breakfast started every day on the Empire Grill, an Italian restaurant that led not with purple checkered tablecloths however as a substitute with a design of midcentury fashionable furnishings, onyx inlay flooring, and sliding partitions of greenery that might break the expansive, high-ceilinged eating room into extra intimate enclaves. The heritage breakfast was my favourite of the trinity of breakfast choices—it arrived on a tiered platter of smoked salmon, charcuterie, fruit, pastries, together with that delicious kaya toast and poached egg. 

Service in any respect meals at Raffles Sentosa was doting with out being overly hovering, however Empire Grill—helmed by chef Bjoern Alexander—turned a enjoyable standout throughout sunsets. A roving saxophonist wanders the property on choose nights of the week to encourage company to unwind poolside with a cocktail or mocktail. I went with the pure development to step inside and luxuriate in a meal amid the crooning of jazz classics—a melodic pairing with a Chianti whereas perusing the menu that emphasizes wood-fired grill choices. 

Grilled Alaskan king crab and anchovies drizzled with egg yolk and accented with basil had been a powerful starter. I used to be stunned by the complicated style profile of the housemade pasta that had been frivolously charred on the grill for a smoky style—mixed with almond milk and chili, it gave off a tacky style regardless of containing no dairy. (And it jogged my memory to start out considering exterior the field extra on the subject of my very own at-home smoker makes an attempt within the yard.)

Lamb with Szechuan mala spices and grilled Spanish octopus had been price discovering the final remaining obtainable corners of my abdomen, whereas a wagyu beef tenderloin was the tender, carnivorous pièce de résistance for my final supper in Singapore. 

Elsewhere, the Raffles Room off the arrivals corridor is a brilliant, ethereal lounge for afternoon tea and like small bites kueh pie tee, a crispy pastry shell stuffed with wagyu beef—it was simply the correct amount of gas earlier than my two-hour Rolls-Royce tour. On the opposite facet of the arrivals corridor is the Chairman’s Room, a dimly lit getaway designed as a nod to speakeasies. Whereas the venue was nonetheless growing a full cocktail program throughout my keep, it was the right spot for a martini nightcap amid comfortable home music. 

Raffles is awaiting the arrival of Iyasaka by Hashida, an omakase restaurant by chef Kenjiro Hashda slated to open later this spring, however company may prepare a non-public eating expertise of their villa (and even at neighboring Tanjong Seaside). Whereas I most well-liked consuming on the precise eating places, this was a welcome choice when jet lag started to rear its head on the second night time of my keep.

Additional, the hospitality didn’t cease at check-out: Unasked, the Raffles group packed a to-go basket of fruit and granola for me to get pleasure from on my early-morning departure that occurred earlier than any of the eating places’ openings. 

Actions and Experiences

The Rolls-Royce Phantom tour of Sentosa is out there to all company and features a two-hour tour of the island, with stops at sights like Fort Siloso and the Sentosa Sensoryscape gardens. Those that flip to their Zillow app as a lot as they do Instagram ought to ask for a drive-by of a number of the glitzier neighborhoods on Sentosa, because the island has became a Beverly Hills of the South China Sea in recent times. 

Moreover, company can take an extended Rolls-Royce tour onto Singapore’s fundamental island for neighborhood hopping and native eating or actually have a guided birdwatching tour. Morning poolside wellness experiences fluctuate by day and embrace choices just like the sound tub, breath work, yoga circulate, mat Pilates, and qigong. 

Extra experiences are anticipated to be obtainable within the coming months because the resort totally opens. 

The Spa

The Raffles Sentosa Spa is anticipated to open later this spring inside a former navy barracks constructing that’s clearly veering extra couture than fight nowadays. The spa facility could have three swimming pools in addition to 13 therapy rooms. 

The health heart inside the spa constructing is already open and options a mixture of cardio and strength-training gear, together with free weights, in addition to an outside deck for yoga observe. 

Household-friendly Choices

Whereas the resort doesn’t have a children membership or different focused family-friendly choices, a number of the experiential choices, like birdwatching and the guided tour of Sentosa, are choices for company of all ages. Raffles Sentosa Singapore additionally has direct entry to neighboring Tanjong Seaside. 

Accessibility and Sustainability

Raffles Sentosa Singapore is wheelchair accessible all through the property’s public areas, and there’s a wheelchair-accessible villa sited near the arrivals corridor. 

The resort has a fleet of electric-powered buggies for company to simply transfer inside the property, and solar-powered out of doors lamps are featured all through the property and villas. In line with a broader Raffles motion, the Singapore Sling goes native and sustainable—the Sentosa Sling makes use of lemon leaf grown within the resort’s edible backyard, whereas a rose-colored tincture discovered within the cocktail is constituted of upcycled watermelon rind from the kitchen. 

Location

Raffles Sentosa Singapore is nestled on a quieter stretch (aside from a short nightly fireworks show close by) of the island of Sentosa, positioned about quarter-hour away from the unique Raffles Singapore and a 25-minute drive from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). 

Automotive service, both organized by way of the lodge or via ride-hailing companies like Uber and Seize (a Southeast Asian app), is one of the simplest ways to get to and from the lodge. The closest metro station is the HarbourFront MRT station, from which Raffles Sentosa Singapore provides a limousine switch.

Learn how to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Raffles Sentosa Singapore participates in Accor’s Accor Stay Limitless loyalty program, which means Accor members can redeem ALL factors for a keep. On the time of publication, the resort had not but joined a bank card rewards program, however is slated to hitch American Specific Superb Resorts + Resorts later this yr. 

Nightly charges at Raffles Sentosa Singapore begin from 1,398 Singaporean {Dollars} (about $1,066 USD).

Each T+L lodge evaluate is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every lodge chosen aligns with our core values.