Assessment of Raffles Sentosa Singapore

“I really feel like Elizabeth Taylor!” I theatrically sigh whereas posing in entrance of a Rolls-Royce Phantom—considered one of two home Rolls-Royces out there 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 resort 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 luxurious map, a second Raffles has debuted on the leisure-oriented island of Sentosa, a 15-minute drive from its flagship. Some resort historians be aware that the brand new Raffles is a return to the unique property’s roots, as the primary property on Seaside Highway started as a waterfront seashore home earlier than varied land reclamation tasks broke floor within the 1800s.  

Whereas the unique Raffles now finest 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 non-public pool has the potential to be essentially the most strenuous cardio routine of the day—be aware that I mentioned “potential“ to be. (Don’t decide 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 non-public pool. The lazy aspect of me was tempted to have my butler ship an iced americano so I may take pleasure in it with a e-book and birdsong on the canopied day mattress parked on one aspect of the pool. However, the wellness-minded me as a substitute opted to make my method out to the primary pool deck for just a little sound bathtub to drown out all of the stress I’d left behind in Boston. 

Seclusion and solitude—regardless of being in considered one 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 visitors are swept up a winding driveway previous a fountain centered across the watchful eye of a leaping horse sculpture. Consistent with Singapore’s “Backyard Metropolis” status, this can be a very lush resort. The birds and swaying ficus bushes 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 bushes blow, however one can’t assist however really feel a couple 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 crucial 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 prepared 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 usually served with soft-boiled eggs—is elevated at Raffles Sentosa. The resort’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 simple 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 Battle II, however has since lived as much as its namesake (“sentosa” is the Malay phrase for “peace and tranquility”). We noticed the seashore 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 inns 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 over time on the authentic Raffles Singapore. Does this new property stay as much as the storied model’s status?

Maintain studying to seek out out what it is like to remain on the Raffles Sentosa Singapore.

The Rooms

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

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

My one-bedroom pool villa had greater than sufficient area 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 ambiance. He additionally pulled a relaxing Sentosa Sling—a watermelon-forward spin on the Raffles-born Singapore Sling cocktail—from the minibar, which rapidly 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 actually have been some mornings when my slothy self grumbled about having to stroll all of 4 steps from the sleeping quarters to the dwelling space constructing to make a pour-over espresso. (I took a U-turn in angle upon discovering I had 4 kinds of Moroccan Bacha Espresso to select from.) 

The sleeping quarters included a king-sized mattress stocked with six pillows of assorted sizes (a pillow menu is obtainable 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 rest room with a marble double-vanity sink, soaking tub, and walk-in bathe (full with Ortigia Sicilia bathtub 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 trying to actually entertain a gaggle of journey companions would possibly think about bigger or connecting villa choices. 

But it surely’s onerous to complain when one has a delegated butler prepared to unpack and pack your baggage (extremely advocate for the space-saving packing suggestions alone!) and draw a shower alongside turndown service. 

The already expansive lodging appeared even bigger due to floor-to-ceiling home windows (which could possibly be lined due to electronically managed sheer and blackout curtains) fronting your complete pool deck, the place there was additionally a small eating space and seating space. The resort is open sufficient to take pleasure in 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 encircling 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 surprising 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 trendy 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—grew to become a enjoyable standout throughout sunsets. A roving saxophonist wanders the property on choose nights of the week to encourage visitors to unwind poolside with a cocktail or mocktail. I went with the pure development to step inside and revel 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 have been a robust starter. I used to be stunned by the advanced style profile of the housemade pasta that had been calmly 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 in the case of my very own at-home smoker makes an attempt within the yard.)

Lamb with Szechuan mala spices and grilled Spanish octopus have been price discovering the final remaining out there 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 shiny, 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 gasoline earlier than my two-hour Rolls-Royce tour. On the opposite aspect 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 proper 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 visitors may organize 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 possibility 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 staff packed a to-go basket of fruit and granola for me to take pleasure in on my early-morning departure that happened earlier than any of the eating places’ openings. 

Actions and Experiences

The Rolls-Royce Phantom tour of Sentosa is obtainable to all visitors and features a two-hour tour of the island, with stops at points of interest 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 few of the glitzier neighborhoods on Sentosa, because the island has was a Beverly Hills of the South China Sea lately. 

Moreover, visitors can take an extended Rolls-Royce tour onto Singapore’s essential 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 bathtub, breath work, yoga move, mat Pilates, and qigong. 

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

The Spa

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

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

Household-friendly Choices

Whereas the resort doesn’t have a youngsters membership or different focused family-friendly choices, a few of the experiential choices, like birdwatching and the guided tour of Sentosa, are choices for visitors 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 visitors to simply transfer inside the property, and solar-powered out of doors lamps are featured all through the property and villas. Consistent 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 (apart from a quick 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 resort or by means of ride-hailing providers like Uber and Seize (a Southeast Asian app), is one of the simplest ways to get to and from the resort. The closest metro station is the HarbourFront MRT station, from which Raffles Sentosa Singapore presents a limousine switch.

Find out how to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Raffles Sentosa Singapore participates in Accor’s Accor Live Limitless loyalty program, that 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 affix American Categorical Advantageous Lodges + Resorts later this 12 months. 

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

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