Capella Singapore

Sentosa island is proof that Singapore is not just skyscrapers. A quiet retreat lies just twenty minutes by car from the city center, and in contrast to the bustling metropolis, the Capella Singapore hotel feels like from another world, where the tranquillity of gardens is occasionally pierced by cries of exotic birds.

Twelve acres of lush rainforest surrounds the hotel. Colorful peacocks, lazily wandering about, dot the immaculate lawns. It’s a peaceful setting for two historic buildings with classic white facades, remembering the late 1880s. Brought into the twenty-first century by the architect Norman Foster (together with leading designers Jaya Ibrahim, Andre Fu, and Yasuhiro Koichi), this heritage site is today both contrasted with, and completed by, the modern, bold design of the new wing.

Both fuse into a harmonious whole, complemented by the intense green of lawns and deep shades of ancient trees. Contemporary sculptures in the garden finish the successful Capella design.

Fine dining

Terraced infinity pools—edges meeting horizon of the Singapore Strait—are at the focal point of Capella. The best view of the pools and the sea stretches from the Bob’s Bar, which serves innovative tapas and cocktails—as well as ginger ale, made by the hotel.

For something more substantial hotel invites to Knolls, an elegant restaurant open all day. There is also Cassia, specializing in fine Chinese cuisine—the dim-sum is especially worth recommending. Finally, the tea bar, stocked with more than 30 varieties of tea, is the perfect place to relax after a meal.

Rooms and Auriga Spa

Among the several types of rooms are pool suites, detached garden villas, the great Colonial Manors, and Constellation, with a private hot tub on the roof. Regardless of category, all rooms are equipped with wireless internet, touch screens to control lighting and minibar. The bathrooms have double sinks and spacious showers.

At a hotel of this class, an excellent spa is almost a given, and Capella does not disappoint. Equipped with the herbal steam room, ice fountain and revitalizing pools, the spa provides massages matched with moon cycles, as well as hydrotherapy treatment.

Capella Singapore captivates with its tranquil atmosphere. The experience encapsulates the meaning of the word sentosa, which in Malay means “quiet and peaceful”.

in our opinion

Perhaps nowhere else the combination of colonial charm and modern elegance has been executed as well as in Capella Singapore. The world-renowned architects from Foster+Partners complemented the classic buildings with modern architecture, achieving a dramatic fusion of old and new.

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What we love

• Uncompromisingly high level of service, with personal assistants for each guest;
• Decadent Rolls-Royce Phantom with chauffeur;
• Fantastic art by contemporary artists displayed throughout—for example, glass works by Nikolas Weinstein or large-scale metal sculptures by Bernar Veneta;
• The Auriga Spa is perhaps the best-designed part of the hotel and has a mystical zen ambiance;
• Tea bar, which serves complimentary snacks and drinks in the afternoons;
• WiFi and minibar are included in the price;
• Free shuttle service to Singapore or Sentosa Island;
• Access to three nearby beaches.

What you should know

• The hotel is best suited for couples or the elderly: the choice of attractions for children is limited;
• Not the best choice for guests who would like to be within walking distance of the center of Singapore.