Forget Bali and have a villa retreat closer to home at Raffles Sentosa Singapore

Imagine being cocooned in a cabana with sea breeze wafting in from the South China Sea as you gaze at the rectangular pool that spans the length of your one-room holiday villa framed by lush canopies of plants.

Put those Bali getaway plans on hold and re-consider bumming on the ‘backyard’ island of Sentosa, where Raffles Sentosa Singapore officially opens today (March 1).

The resort’s opening marks the second Raffles Hotel property in Singapore -138 years after the iconic hotel opened on Beach Road in 1887. Raffles Sentosa is located next to Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, both owned by property investment company, Royal Group. 

Raffles Hotel is also muscling in on the competitive luxury tourism market on Sentosa, which also houses Capella Singapore, which has 38 villas and two colonial manors, each with an outdoor terrace and private pool. 

Raffles Sentosa, which sits on hilly terrain spanning 100,000 square metres, comprises 62 villas, from the entry-level one-room villas (from $1,689++) to the highest-tier Royal Villa that has four bedrooms spaning 650 square metres. Each villa comes with its pool and outdoor terrace and is staffed by two or three butlers who take care of whims and fancies of guests, including arranging for limousine rides to the mainland (or around Sentosa) and getting takeaway food from hawker centres. The resort hopes to target well-heeled travellers from the UK and US, Australia, China, India and Europe.

Like in the Grande Dame, guests at Raffles Sentosa will be greeted by Sikh doormen that don white turbans.

There is also the signature cocktail, the Sentosa Sling. While it is not original Singapore Sling by Long Bar bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, the not-so-potent rendition boasts brandy, amaro, eau-de-vie and passionfruit, coupled with a touch of zest from lemon leaves from the resort’s garden and calamansi. Giving the drink its rosy pink hue is the upcycled watermelon rind. Guests can enjoy this cocktail upon arrival or at some of the dining establishments such as speakeasy bar, The Chairman’s Room. 

Two of the six dining establishments in the resort are named after erstwhile restaurants in Raffles Hotel. They are Cantonese restaurant, Royal China and modern Italian restaurant, Empire Grill, which is helmed by chef Bjoern Alexander, who steps up as the hotel’s Cluster Director of Culinary after running one-Michelin-starred contemporary restaurant Matera, which shuttered last year.

The resort is also located within walking distance to Sentosa Golf Club and Tanjong Beach.

The Villas

The resort, which is designed by renowned studio Yabu Pushelberg, sports a grey Brutalist look peppered with greenery. The villas are designed to bring as much of the outdoors in so the living and bedrooms are framed by extensive floor-to-ceiling windows that doubles up as sliding doors. Bathrooms also have direct access to the pool, complete with an outdoor shower.

The nature theme flows into the living room, which is anchored by a feature wall depicting a lush tropical forest by Singaporean artist, Andre Wee, complemented by floral prints on artwork and upholstery, and vases fashioned out of chempedak shells. The tall ceiling of the villa also adds to a sense of serenity in the villa, which is decked out in a pastel palette of grey, green, cream and brown. 

Upping the luxury factor, guests can expect highly personalised service, such as customised menus from an outdoor barbecue on the outdoor terrace to a sit-down dinner. Spa treatments can also be done in-room. 

If lounging by the private pool doesn’t cut it, people-watch at the resort’s main swimming pool which is lined up with lounge chairs and cabanas. The pool is a stone’s throw away from the ballroom, which has an Instagram-worthy spiral staircase wrapped around a stunning Orchid-inspired crystal chandelier and seats up to 400 people. 

A hotel spokesperson says: “We believe that true luxury goes beyond opulence and material extravagance. In today’s world, luxury is about how you feel, the experiences you have, and the meaningful moments you create with your loved ones.

One of the core elements of our all-villa concept is the luxury of space. As Singapore’s only all-villa resort, we provide guests with a sanctuary and a sense of privacy, allowing them to escape the outside world and immerse themselves in tranquility with their loved ones.”

What’s Next

Four of the six resort’s F&B concepts have opened: They include Raffles Room at the lobby, where afternoon tea and cocktails are served and cocktail bar, the Chairman’s Room, which is decked out in Chinese calligraphy. Upcoming restaurants include Iyasaka by Hashida, a new omakase concept by chef Kenjiro ‘Hatch’ Hashida, who runs his eponymous restaurant on Amoy Street and Le Jardin, a restaurant located in the hotel’s spa complex that occupies a former colonial military barrack.

Book a stay at Raffles Sentosa on Trip.com or Booking.com.

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.