Capella Singapore is One Of The Best Hotel Resorts In Singapore, this is a detailed review.
Capella Singapore is one of Singapore’s most lavish and luxurious hotel and resort stays.
It’s no wonder Madonna and Lady Gaga have stayed here amongst a whole host of other high profile names fro politicians to celebrities, movie stars and billionaires. You could be forgiven for thinking you are anywhere other than Singapore sitting in the expansive 30 acre Colonial Style Capella Residence with sweeping ocean views, located on Sentosa Island. So much of the style of this resort is the opposite of what a Singapore stay is usually all about.
Think huge rooms, spacious lawns, clean, fresh air, a white clean beach, a slower pace and birds flying overhead. The stunningly white colonial parts of the building have conservation status, as they are steeped in history and grandeur, and for guests they create a feeling of grace and old world hospitality and timeless elegance and style.
Capella resort recently completed a year-long refurbishment courtesy of André Fu Studio, one of Asia’s most sought after architects, who also designed Andaz Singapore, The St Regis Hong Kong and The Waldorf Astoria Bangkok.
It is a truly global hotel, featuring the work of esteemed architects from London, leading interior designers from Japan, Renowned Artworks from American artists, Top Chefs from China and Italy, and wellness specialists from Stockholm.
The luxury resort hotel is the ultimate pampering staycation for well heeled Singaporeans, but is fast growing in popularity amongst Australians and Europeans searching for a no-expense spared luxury South East Asian Resort holiday offering flawless accommodation, a beach, a relaxed rainforest setting, sensational food and a peaceful, upscale location you don’t need to leave.
Capella Singapore is all of this and more, and offers a true escape from every day life for families or couples.
Sitting opposite the South China Sea, peacocks and other birds wander the property, and a section of three stunning swimming pools await, all set within the lush, green rainforest setting that is Capella Singapore.
The three room villas are the ultimate in secluded luxury accommodation in this part of the world as they are huge, including a large balcony, private plunge pool and outdoor bath and shower as well as indoor shower.
Staycations and daycations are still hugely popular globally, and travel trend predictors say this will continue well into 2023, which means this hotel is pleasantly busy but also so large you really don’t see other people unless you make an effort to.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
The Location 9.5/10
Capella resort is one of Singapore’s only ocean facing properties and sits on Sentosa Island. In many ways the location within Singapore itself has little relevance, as you come To Capella to stay here and ideally not leave the property. The city is a 20 minute cab ride away, and there is Vivo City shopping centre close by with free shuttles from the hotel. I love Singapore shopping but couldn’t be incentivised enough to leave the palatial gardens and the spacious luxury of my stunning villa during a three day stay.
Food & Drink: 8/10
Fiamma is the hotel’s showstopper as it has just undergone a $5 million renovation. This beautifully relaxed and open plan restaurant has an open kitchen, and beautiful pastel interiors.
Michelin-starred Chef Mauro Colagreco’s has crafted a diverse menu with acute attention to detail that includes upscale offerings, such as some of the finest fish imported daily from the Tokyo fish markets to simple Pomadora pasta. Even the bread is made on site and speciality bread is made from potatoes.
The accompanying wines are mostly Italian, and even by the glass are excellent and the sommelier knows his stuff which can be rare even in high end restaurants in Asia,.
Breakfast is served here too and breakfast at Capella hotels is one of the joys of a stay. There are multiple creative choices from the menu that include waffles with home made chocolate sauce to roti mini with home made chicken curry – yes for breakfast as many Asian cultures like to enjoy.
There is a room service menu but you can’t yet order from Fiamma, so I would recommend eating at the restaurant. It’s an experience not to be missed.
Bob’s Bar is a relaxed bar with views of the South China Sea and great cocktails, nice before or after dinner.
But the Chinese restaurant Cassia is simply sensational. Multiple award winning Executive Chef Alan Chan is serving some incredible Cantonese food. Born in Hong Kong, he has over 20 years experience and makes some of Singapore’s best dim sum and roast duck, and all cooked and served his way in his own style.
Designer Andrew Fu created the dining space. It is super elegant and actually feels very much like Hong Kong in style with a lot of black and grey and slick, shiny surfaces and elegant upscale oriental features.
The Lounge is an all day spacious lounge facility for a cup of tea or coffee, as well as high tea every afternoon for all guests.
Service & Facilities: 8.5/10
Capella Curates is a really clever initiative and one of the many traits that pushes Capella as a hotel group into a new era of luxury modern travel.
Each guest is given a personal culturist who contacts them before the stay to offer activities, and at different times of the year, different local experiences are offered. They communicate via what’s app and organise just about anything you wish for.
The Capella Culturists personally go out and find these tours or experiences and then offer them to guests. It is awesome.
I chose the Feng Shui Singapore tour, where I was driven into town and then hopped into the side car of a motor bike and was taken around Singapore to be educated about the architecture .
Wellness: 8.5/10
The award winning Arguia Spa is a highlight of a stay at the hotel.
It has lunar inspired treatments and an incredible wellness area with a steam room, ice bucket, hot and cold shower and a hot pool with spa jets and a strong spa jet for back pain.
This is a gorgeous place to truly unwind even if you don’t want a full treatment – but it is also lauded as one of Singapore’s top spas, and after a 90 minute massage I can also understand why.
There is a small but sufficient fitness centre with super modern equipment and both the fitness centre and spa look out into the gorgeous gardens, which can be explored after a treatment and provide relaxing hues to unwind with.
The style: 9.5/10
The overall style is a combination of Colonial Elegance and modern, spacious buildings set in huge rolling green manicured tropical gardens. The majority of the interiors have a faint neutral palette and facades are also in natural stone tones with white colonial highlights.
The overall feel of the whole resort is one of relaxed, upscale tropical glamour. Guests are well dressed, but still feel muted and chilled..
There is a unique blend of architectural features including two huge colonial buildings – former military bungalows- from the 1880s where reception is located as well as The Lounge, an all day facility for tea and high tea every afternoon for all guetss.
Other parts of the resort have elegant, modern curves and bright red tiling, which creates a feeling of spaciousness.
Dotted around the hotel are various artistic features such as a fish wall – with striking hand made stainless steel fish all over it.
There are three stunning swimming pools. One sits on the edge of the restaurant, so is central to the property. There is another for adults only, and there is a gorgeous walkway through the property to the edge of The South China sea where a modern Beach Club awaits guests ( that is no part of the hotel) and a beach where I saw locals swimming daily.
The Rooms: 9/10
There are 112 rooms, premiere sea view rooms, suites and 38 spacious villas and I stayed in a villa, which I cannot stop talking about. These are some of the most spacious and well designed resort rooms in South East Asia, and are the types of rooms you just never want to leave, even for a meal.
The villas are larger than just about anyone’s apartment in Asia. They are 133 sqm inside and made up of three indoor rooms – a spacious lounge, a large bedroom with a huge king bed, and extensive bathroom area with his and her mirrors, a rain forest shower, separate toilet and extensive walk in wardrobe area. There is a large outdoor area with separate outdoor bath and outdoor rain shower.
Bathroom products are by Australia’s Aesop.
There is a massive balcony running right along the front of the villa, a calming place to sit, and each villa has its own private 3m x 3m plunge pool which is extraordinary.
Each villa has a Mini Bar with very well thought out contents, which include ready made Negronis from Singapore’s famed Manhatten Bar, as well as a Coffee machine. Up to five items per room are pressed complimentary per day.
Book a stay at Capella Singapore here, with my favourite travel agent.
Capella Singapore in Brief:
Who Is Behind It: This was the first Capella Hotel in the group which was founded by hotelier Horst Schulze in 2002 of Ritz Carlton heritage. The company has since been sold to Singapore’s Kwee family.
Insider Knowledge: The largest Presidential Suite in Singapore is within this hotel, called The Colonial Manor.
Renae says: This is a fantastic hotel in every respect. I loved it and could have easily stayed a week and not left.
Who should Stay at Capella Singapore: Couples and families.
Who shouldn’t stay here: I wouldn’t stay solo as it needs to be shared.
Location: 25 minutes from Changi airport.
Best culinary delight: Dim Sum at Cassia Chinese Restaurant – extraordinary level of detail as well as innovation. Insiders know they have one of the best teas in Asia, the White Lotus, but it is not on the menu, you have to ask for it.
The Highlight: Staying in a villa room which is one of the most well designed hotel rooms I have ever stayed in. Every last detail has been thought of.
The lowlight: No alcohol available in The Lounge. A lot of guests would enjoy a champagne or gin and tonic with high tea.
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