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SINGAPORE
Capella Singapore is well and truly the best hotel in the lion city.
Set within a colonial heritage building from the 1800s, the luxury hotel and flagship for the Singaporean hospitality group boasts lush verdant surroundings and is located just footsteps away from the beach and the lure of its crashing waves.
Few would contest that Capella Singapore is the most luxurious hotel in the Lion City, despite its ever-growing list of competitors. Quiet, secluded in nature and home to a wealth of world-class facilities and amenities catering to the most deep-pocketed travellers, we take a look at what makes Capella Singapore so brilliant:
All images courtesy of Adam Thompson | CSP Times.
IN A NUTSHELL: A grand, colonial-built hotel injected with modern fare and design
THE BASICS: Opened: 2009 Location: The Knolls, Sentosa Island Founders: The Kwee Brothers Vibe: Modern, Historical, Retreat Best time to visit: Anytime How to get there: Bus, taxi, MRT
REVIEW:
Location
Capella Singapore calls Sentosa Island’s The Knolls neighbourhood home. The family-friendly location designed by Fosters + Partners is known for its abundance of outdoor activities and theme parks, putting Capella within a short distance of such places. Its elevated position up a hill however leaves behind any noise or commotion from the outside world. You won’t notice a peep and it truly feels like you’re on your own island at this retreat.
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The Suite
There are 112 rooms, suites and villas at Capella Singapore. Designed by Jay Ibrahim, accommodation at Capella is a contemporary ode to its colonial character and its dark wood furnishings and intimate mood lighting brings a welcoming ambiance that is echoed throughout the property. Every accommodation is equipped with Aesop amenities, and comes with a spacious balcony with views of the South China Sea or verdant gardens.
Whilst the lead-in premier rooms are generously sized with the same consistent level of service and style across all accommodations, as with the levelled-up suites for that “home from home” comfort, Capella’s pride and joy are the luxurious villas and the residents’ crème de la crème must be the enormous manors.
Let’s start with the villas. There are 38 villas at the property, spread across 30 acres of leafy jungle grounds and come in one-bedroom or two-bedroom options — the latter recommended especially for families.
Each villa comes with a living room, bedroom(s), bathroom with his and her sinks, an indoor shower and bath as well as a separate outdoor rainforest shower, a walk-in wardrobe — and a private plunge pool to take a dip in privacy, whenever you please. The outdoor terrace also comes with two sun beds. A bed with a plush Sealy mattress occupies the bedroom and it’s the little details put in by Capella that ensure an optimum night's sleep — the customisable pillows, the essential oils, the turn-down service, which brings aromatic sachets to help sleep and a colouring mindfulness book, with the staff even preparing bath salts should you decide to take an evening soak.
There’s no better place to retreat to after a day out than at these gorgeous accommodations.
For the ultimate indulgence, Capella’s Manors will do the trick. With just two of its kind on site — the Contemporary Manor and Capella Manor — these luxe private escapes are located on the edge of the estate each sprawling across 391 sq m.
Dining
Although Capella Singapore’s F&B selection is somewhat limited, each establishment has perfected its craft.
You’ll likely spend the most time at Fiamma, the restaurant closest to the swimming pool. Chef Mauro Colagreco takes inspiration from his grandmother’s cooking to provide food “from the flame”, referring to some wood-fire specialties including its pizza which we thoroughly enjoyed by the pool.
Fiamma also hosts daily breakfast which serves an exquisite selection of semi-buffet delights incorporating a mix of both western and Asian dishes.
A trip is not complete without dining at Cassia, a refined Cantonese restaurant inspired by the spice routes of southern and western China. Chinese executive chef Alan Chan takes regional recipes to new heights with menus incorporating modern ingredients from South African abalone to Japanese Wagyu beef (A5, no less) and aromatic truffle oil.
For cocktails, head to Bob’s Bar which towers over from the second floor and looks across the hotel pools and into the lush foliage beyond.
There’s also a chef’s kitchen and private dining options available upon request.
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Spa
Wellness is integrated into every aspect of the hotel, from its five-star spa to the overall serene and pared-back ambiance that’s abundant in the property and rare to come across especially for a family-friendly hotel.
Auriga Spa is an intimate space tucked away amid the hotel’s immaculate grounds. Achieving five-star status from Forbes for 12 consecutive years, Auriga, often claiming the throne for being the best spa on the island, is home to nine treatment rooms, with male and female spa areas equipped with a Vitality Pool, Herbal Steam Room and Ice Fountain.
The spa menu incorporates organic, natural ingredients to holistically invigorate the senses. We recommend asking your therapist for a customised experience based on your needs, or you can browse the endless selection of western and Asian-infused therapies. If you have the time, be sure to try one of the longer, more immersive “journeys” that include multiple treatments and spa cuisine.
The fitness centre, just footsteps away from the spa, features state-of-the-art equipment from Technogym®.
Service & Facilities
Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to sunbathing spots — there are three swimming pools on site, each serving its own function. One is for adults only, one is for families and one is for doing laps in.
Service is personable and hospitable, as you’d expect in this level of luxury. But there’s an added charm to the staff in that nothing feels pretentious here. Expect a slower pace of living from the moment you enter — something that guests we saw seem to hold dearly in their expectations of the trip.
Culture
There’s a strong sense of history and culture at Capella Singapore. The Living Room, where guests check in, is set within an 1880s colonial bungalow that used to accommodate British officers of the Royal Artillery.
One of the most exciting elements of a guest’s stay at this hotel is its Capella Curates experiences. These in-house experts and self-proclaimed “chief storytellers” of the neighbourhood’s history are ready to plan custom itineraries for guests looking for a bit of whim during their stay.
We embarked on the sidecar experience, which zips passengers across the city in a historical tour centred around the feng shui decisions behind the Singapore skyline and its most iconic monuments. Guests can also sign up to cook Peranakan feast or join a mahjong game.
The Verdict
From the moment you enter Capella Singapore, it's clear that you're in for a special stay. A far cry from the hustle of downtown Singapore, Capella Singapore spares every effort to ensure a comfortable and personable experience. Its serene environment makes it feel like an island within an island, while all conveniences are located just a short drive away. Much like our experience at its Bangkok outpost, this hotel group was made to impress and its continual expansion globally (into Sydney in March; the Maldives, Kyoto, and South Korea in 2025, and more) is just proof of its growing fan base of returning guests keen to travel the globe with Capella.
--- Website: capellahotels.com Phone: +65 6377 8888 | Facebook: @capellasingapore.sentosa | Instagram: @capellasingapore
Location: 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297