On the leisurely playground of Sentosa Island, the Capella Singapore has taken over two stately 19th-century British colonial buildings and melded them with a contemporary wing designed by British architectural firm Norman Foster + Partners for an imposing but not overwhelming effect.Though it’s just a 10-minute drive from the city center, Sentosa feels like its own private tropical getaway thanks to the tree-lined avenues, open spaces, South China Sea vistas and amusement parks tucked into pockets around the island.
The Capella has just 112 rooms, suites and villas, and is set apart on its own 30-acre compound of lush, rainforest landscaping with verdant lawns and towering old-growth trees…not to mention the odd peacock roaming here or there.
Its three cascading pools are among the most popular spots in town for fun in the sun among visitors and locals alike, who flock to the hotel’s restaurant, The Knolls, for its champagne Sunday Brunch set to live music. For fine-dining, opt for a meal at Cassia, the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant. The hotel’s Bob’s Bar is small, but very chic with an aesthetic that pays homage to classic Cuban bars from the 1950s where Hemingway wouldn’t have felt out of place, though with a menu of Singaporean-style cocktails including tea-infused libations prepared with Icelandic Reyka Vodka.
Rooms here are in a contemporary style that pays homage to classic Southeast Asian sensibilities with dark wooden furniture and fixtures, white and taupe linens, open-floor-plan bathrooms with oversize walk-in rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs, and floor-to ceiling panoramic windows. They also include all-modern touches like flat-panel televisions, iPod docks, touchscreen room controls, complementary minibars and free WiFi throughout the property. Rooms start at a spacious 830 square feet and range up to 1,431 square feet for one-bedroom villas.
Though relaxation is the watchword here, the hotel has a staff of “personal assistants” on hand to curate your stay, including help with things like spa and restaurant reservations, as well as activities for your leisure time and any other needs that might arise.
Tucked away into a quiet corner of the property next to the small fitness center, the tranquil Auriga Spa is reached along a path lined by trickling fountains and pools. The treatments here are inspired by the phases of the moon and include signature sessions using The Organic Pharmacy products such as The Full Moon ritual that begins with a rose-oil foot exfoliation and massage, a body wrap, a lymphatic acupressure facial performed with rose crystals to help rebalance you, and a cup of rose tea for a relaxing finish. Just what you’ll need before leaving the hotel to brave the busy streets of Singapore.
