6 of Singapore’s hospitality establishments receive 5-Star ranking on Forbes Travel Guide 2026

Now in its 68th year, the Forbes Travel Guide 2026 has just released its most expansive edition, covering more than 100 countries, including first-time destinations such as Bhutan, Croatia, Poland, Tanzania, and Uzbekistan. Each property, spa, or restaurant is assessed against up to 900 objective criteria. This year, six properties in Singapore secured a 5-star rating, marking them as outstanding travel experiences with consistent exemplary personal service.

To create these rankings, Forbes’ team of inspectors check in as every day guests for a minimum two-night stay, assessing everything from dining and spa treatments, to housekeeping and concierge responsiveness. These inspectors are anonymous and pay for all services to ensure credibility is maintained.

Overall, while facilities are evaluated, 70% of a property, experience, or restaurant’s final score is determined by service. The inspectors have also included some qualitative elements, such as whether a hotel’s design evokes a strong sense of place, or whether it supports a health-conscious lifestyle, though ultimately hospitality, especially service delivered consistently and intuitively matters most.

In total, Singapore received 31 rankings. 12 services are Recommended, recognised by Forbes as excellent with reliable service and good amenities; 13 are 4-Stars, recognised as exceptional destinations with high service standards and amenities; and six 5-Star properties, which are properties with unparalleled experience with consistently highly customised level of services. 

On this list of 5-Star properties is Capella Singapore, which was recognised for both its hotel and the spa inside its walls, the Auriga Spa. 

The Auriga Spa was particularly commended for its uniquely wellness treatments and cohesive natural philosophy. All products used are natural and organic, from The Organic Pharmacy. Furthermore, their services are primarily structured around lunar phases, offering the New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon, and Waning Moon treatments, indicating a cohesive branding and service intention. Of course, non-lunar services exist as well, such as their Thai massage or jet-lag remedy treatments. 

Even the appointment process reflects Forbes’ service emphasis: guests submit requests via an online form, with staff personally calling to confirm arrangements and securely collect payment details.

Capella Singapore itself was recognised for its old-world architecture. The Forbes 2026 travel list explicitly mentions the restored black and white colonial bungalows housing the lobby and the hotel’s guest exclusive areas, seeming to find this traditional colonial architecture charming, especially as the main body of the hotel is glamorously modern. The hotel itself is near the Palawan beach and each room comes with a balcony, allowing guests to step out and enjoy staying on Sentosa island.

Another hotel recognised on this list is Marina Bay Sands — specifically its Paiza Collection. The Paiza Collection at Marina Bay Sands is a special set of suites, located on the top of Tower 2. This exclusive collection of suites received a 5-star rating in its own right, even as the main hotel was granted a 4-Star status. 

After all, guests of the Paiza suites enjoy exclusive perks, such as breakfast, afternoon tea, and cocktails served at the Paiza Sky Residence, and dining credits for restaurants in the Marina Bay shoppes area. This gives guests the option to dine from over 80 restaurants, including Mott 32 and estiatorio Milos. 

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, four restaurants associated with Marina Bay Sands made the Forbes 2026 travel list: Mott 32 was Recommended, Spago and CUT Singapore earned a 4-Star ranking, while Waku Ghin achieved a 5-Star one. Forbes described Waku Ghin as potentially “the best of the best” in Singapore, referring to the experience as “dinner theater at its finest, with the chefs explaining each dish as it’s prepared and cheerfully answering questions with aplomb throughout the meal.”

The only other restaurant with a 5-star recommendation is Les Amis, recognised for its haute cuisine and polished service. Inspectors praised its refined interiors, how every course was presented with a brief explanation, and its ingredients, air-flown from France. With degustation menus described as “a seven-course culinary extravaganza” and Forbes inspectors praising both executive chef Sebastien Lepinoy and pastry chef Cheryl Koh by name, it seems Les Amis successfully charmed the anonymous inspector. 

Rounding off Singapore’s 5-Star roster is, of course, Raffles Hotel. Rarely, if ever, is Raffles Hotel ever left off a travel ranking and Forbes 2026 Travel Guide is no different. Referred to as “the epitome of singaporean luxury,” Forbes highlights the hotel’s enduring colonial elegance, and recommends that guests try its storied afternoon tea tradition dating back to the 1890s, the Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, and restaurants such as Yi and the Tiffin Room. Another of the hotel’s restaurants, Butcher’s Block, was also recognised separately as a 4-Star experience. 

Overall, the Forbes 2026 Travel list comprises 2,421 hotels, restaurants, and services across 100 countries. The accolades achieved by Singapore’s properties place them within a global context of luxury travel, recognising and reaffirm the country’s position as a global travel hub.