Raffles Sentosa Singapore review. Singapore’s Most Extraordinary Resort Stay.
Raffles Sentosa Singapore is a lush, ultra‑private villa resort that feels more like an exclusive Balinese hillside hideaway than an urban Singapore address, yet it sits just minutes from the city’s energy and attractions, as well as the beach.
This is Raffles reimagined for a new generation; all‑villa accommodation, extraordinary butler service, Rolls‑Royce buggies, destination dining, the sound of cicadas and distant peacocks, and a wellness program housed in a beautifully restored heritage building.
Raffles Sentosa Singapore is the latest, and perhaps most personal, chapter in the Raffles story, guided by the vision of its General Manager, Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale. A veteran of luxury hospitality in Asia, Giovanni brings decades of experience across some of the region’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, shaping a property that feels both impeccably orchestrated and warmly human.
His leadership style is rooted in a deep understanding of Asian service culture—gracious, intuitive, and quietly exacting—which underpins every detail of this all‑villa sanctuary on Sentosa.
I stayed with my 18 year old daughter after a whirlwind trip in Europe, and it was such a welcome and luxurious relief to relax in the striking resort property, where we could truly forget about the rest of the world and be pampered at every turn.
There are 62 villas, each with its own private pool and butler. There are four pools, three restaurants, an additional private Chairman’s Lounge and private in-villa dining is common.
Breakfast is served until 12, giving guests time to edit each day their way.
Raffles Sentosa Singapore Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Location: 9/10
Raffles Sentosa Singapore is tucked into Sentosa’s tropical hills, trading skyline views for a serene canopy of frangipani, ficus, crepe ginger and towering trees that create a natural, jungle‑like cocoon.
Elevated above the island, the resort feels wonderfully secluded yet still offers quick access to Tanjong Beach, a few minutes walk away perfect for a morning run as I did, but also filled with clubs, bars and fun, as well as Sentosa Golf Club, and central Singapore, making it ideal for travellers who want true escapism without sacrificing convenience.
From the moment you ascend the winding driveway, there’s a deliberate slowing of pace including low speed limits, curving roads, and dense greenery ease you out of city and travel mode and into retreat mode.
It’s a setting that feels almost Bali‑like in mood—humid air, forest soundscapes, the beach close by, and a sense of privacy—while remaining unmistakably polished and Singaporean in its infrastructure and precision.
The villas at Raffles Sentosa are conceived as private tropical sanctuaries, each one a self‑contained resort with its own pool, garden and indoor–outdoor living spaces.
With just 62 villas cascading down a lush hillside, the resort feels more like an exclusive residential enclave than a conventional hotel, amplifying the Bali‑like sense of seclusion, greenery and calm.
Click here to read about Raffles Singapore, the first ever Raffles property.
Villas 10/10
The villas are absolutely beautiful. The heart of our villa was the private pool terrace, framed by lush planting, cabanas and comfortable outdoor furniture. Our butler brought a unicorn pool toy for my 18 year old daughter, and it became her daily activity to chill on the unicorn and completely unwind.
The shaded daybed was my favourite place to chill, where I could read, sleep and unwind.
Because the villas are set into the hillside and screened with dense greenery, the sense of privacy is exceptional: you hear birds and rustling leaves more than other guests, reinforcing the feeling of being in a standalone tropical retreat rather than part of a large hotel.
There are no standard rooms, only expansive one and two‑bedroom layouts that start at well over 200 square meters and climb to the palatial Presidential and Royal Villas, which span more than 500–650 square meters. Huge for any location let along Singapore.
Garden One‑Bedroom, Signature One‑Bedroom and Sunset One‑Bedroom Pool Villas all offer generous living rooms, separate king‑bed bedrooms, large bathrooms with separate bathtubs and indoor and outdoor showers, and wide furnished terraces wrapped around private pools.
Each light filled villa is designed around a split‑pavilion concept: one structure for day living and entertaining, the other for restful nights and spa‑like bathing, all connected through a private courtyard and pool deck.
This layout keeps bedrooms calm and cocooned while allowing the living pavilion to host movies, cocktails or in‑villa dining late into the evening without disturbing anyone resting in the sleeping pavilion.
In‑villa amenities are designed so that guests can comfortably spend entire days without leaving their private domain. Standard features include fast Wi‑Fi, climate control, generous wardrobes, minibars and custom beverage setups, along with thoughtful touches like high‑quality hairdryers, steam irons and safes for longer stays.
Many guests opt for in‑villa dining, breakfasts of fresh, clean dishes, tropical fruit and just‑baked pastries served on the pool terrace, as well as tailored lunches or dinners catering to guest’s dietary needs, that turn the villa into a private restaurant.
I would love to bring my son next time, and for families or small groups, Signature Two‑Bedroom Pool Villas add twin‑bed second bedrooms and extra bathrooms, while the Presidential and Royal Villas function as ultra‑luxury compounds with multiple pavilions, dining areas and expansive terraces.
In‑villa amenities are designed so that guests can comfortably spend long days without leaving their private domain. Standard features include fast Wi‑Fi, climate control, generous wardrobes, minibars and custom beverage setups, along with thoughtful touches like high‑quality hairdryers, irons and safes for longer stays.
Many guests opt for in‑villa dining: breakfasts of fresh, clean dishes, tropical fruit and just‑baked pastries served on the pool terrace, as well as tailored lunches or dinners that turn the villa into a private restaurant, which we absolutely loved.
The butler service elevates the villa experience further. From arranging turndown rituals and scented evening baths to coordinating spa appointments, kids’ needs or special celebrations, butlers effectively curate each villa stay to the guest’s preferences.
With discreet messaging and on‑call assistance, every villa feels like a fully serviced residence—luxuriously private, yet seamlessly connected to everything the resort offers.
Design – 9.5/10
The design, led by lauded Canadian design firm Yabu Pushelberg, positions Raffles Sentosa as the relaxed, contemporary “granddaughter” of the original Beach Road grande dame.
Interiors weave together pale‑green linen sofas, dark floral prints, tall mirrored wardrobes, and oak‑panelled ceilings to create villas that feel both fashion‑forward and timeless.
Travertine flooring flows seamlessly from terrace to living room, blurring indoors and outdoors, while rattan, linen, and sculptural copper details (from pitchers to plant pots) add warmth and tactility.
Each villa is a self‑contained sanctuary with its own private pool, garden cabana, and a split layout that separates tranquil sleeping quarters from generous living spaces.
The Presidential Villa, at around 515 square meters, unfolds across three pavilions around a central pool, offering a “resort within a resort” atmosphere, while the expansive Royal Villa delivers four bedrooms and a vast living room designed for glamorous gatherings. The overall effect is a modern tropical estate: polished yet relaxed, luxurious yet unpretentious.
Service and Butler Experience – 9.5/10
Service at Raffles Sentosa is defined by its butlers. Every villa has a dedicated personal butler. Even check in is done within the villas by the butler.
Our butler Ronnie was extraordinary. Hyper‑attentive, discreet, and ever‑present via WhatsApp. Each villa has a dedicated butler who anticipates needs, from unpacking luggage and pressing evening outfits to arranging island tours, sunset baths scented with lavender and vanilla, or midnight snack trays.
Rolls‑Royce buggies glide guests quietly around the hillside, turning every transfer into a small, almost cinematic moment.
Arrival sets the tone: instead of queueing at a desk, guests are greeted with a refreshing bergamot mist, sound‑healing notes, and a welcome Sentosa Sling, then escorted to a plush seat where check‑in happens almost invisibly in the background.
It feels personal, theatrical, and deeply calming, as though the resort is gently insisting that you let go of the outside world the second you step out of the car.
Food and Drinks – 9/10
Raffles Sentosa is a serious culinary destination, designed so that guests have little reason to dine anywhere else on the island.
Breakfast is fresh, clean, and quietly indulgent—think nourish carts, champagne by the glass, precise plates built around seasonal produce, house‑baked pastries, and beautifully presented tropical fruits, served with the kind of lightness that suits the climate yet still feels luxurious.
Morning here is about clarity: crisp juices, perfect coffee, and a sense of an unrushed ritual by the water.
By night, the resort offers at least seven food and beverage experiences. Empire Grill leans Tuscan, best enjoyed at twilight when the pool glows and the atmosphere slides into a cinematic, Somerset‑Maugham‑meets‑Mediterranean fantasy.
Royal China presents refined Cantonese cuisine—dim sum and signature plates that balance classic flavors with lighter, contemporary touches—while Iyasaka by Hashida offers an intimate, 12‑seat omakase journey that feels like dining in a private chef’s studio.
Drinks are just as considered. Villas come stocked with intriguing, locally inspired spirits: dark rum scented with Malaysian molasses and French oak, a Rojak gin infused with ginger flower and citrus peel, and Straits Vodka kissed with wildflower honey, nutmeg, and cinnamon, each bottle tasting distinctly of the region.
The hidden Chairman’s Room, tucked behind reception like a discreet speakeasy, pairs rare whiskies (including a showpiece 30‑year‑old Macallan) with the eco‑conscious Sentosa Sling, crafted from upcycled watermelon skin and herbs grown on property. I enjoyed a London Fog which was flawless.
Overall, the food and beverage vision is sophisticated, sense‑driven, and delightfully guest specific.The chefs are all visible and greet guests whenever possible.
Wellness – 9/10
Wellness at Raffles Sentosa feels thoughtfully rooted in both history and modern ritual. The spa occupies a restored 1930s military barracks, an inspired adaptive‑reuse project that layers colonial architecture with contemporary calm.
Inside, 13 treatment rooms are spread across a bungalow‑style layout, opening onto gardens, a 22‑meter lap pool, steam rooms, indoor hot and cold plunge pools, and an outdoor whirlpool framed by a decorative rock waterfall and mud pool.
The atmosphere is unhurried and holistic, making it easy to drift from a targeted treatment into languid pool time or quiet contemplation in the gardens.
Paired with the resort’s sound‑healing welcome, gentle pathways, and villa‑based rituals (from in‑room bathing ceremonies to tailored movement or meditation), wellness here feels like an integrated narrative rather than a bolt‑on facility.
Sustainability – 8.5/10
Raffles Sentosa approaches sustainability through thoughtful design choices and clever F&B storytelling.
The adaptive reuse of the former Sofitel spa barracks preserves built heritage while avoiding the footprint of a new structure, aligning history with modern wellness culture.
In the bar program, the Sentosa Sling stands out as a symbol of conscious creativity, using upcycled watermelon skin and resort‑grown botanicals to reimagine a classic cocktail with a lower‑waste mindset.
The resort’s heavily vegetated hillside setting functions as a natural cooling and privacy system, reducing the visual impact of built structures and creating green corridors for local wildlife. Combined with villa‑based stays that minimise internal corridors and lifts, the property feels like a contemporary interpretation of low‑rise, landscape‑led luxury.
Raffles Sentosa Review, What Renae says:
Who Is Behind It: Raffles opened its first hotel in Singapore in 1887, and the group is now run by French hoteliers Accor.
Insider Knowledge: The outdoor showers in the private villas are magical.
Renae says: I absolutely loved this resort stay with my 18 year old daughter as the villas are so well designed and incredibly spacious, and there was so much to do.
Who should Stay at Raffles Sentosa: Families, couples and groups. This would be ideal for a girl’s stay, and the best for romance and to connect with those closest to you.
Who shouldn’t stay here: I would not recommend this hotel for small children as there is too much adulting to be enjoyed.
Location: About 35 minutes from Changi Airport.
Best culinary delight: The food is outstanding at every venue, and the cocktail making classes are a lot of fun.
The Highlight: Our butler Ronnie was utterly amazing.
The lowlight: Leaving, I feel like 3 nights is the perfect stay, as after 2 neither of us were ready to go.
Most Instagrammable location at Raffles Sentosa: The villas have so many locations for amazing imaged (see above) as do the pools and even the spa.
Click here to watch an interview with Raffles Sentosa Singapore General Manager Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale:
