Capella Singapore

Review of Capella Singapore

BusinessClass.com review by Varun Sharma

Whilst set on 12 hectares (30 acres) of lush rainforest within Sentosa Island, the luxurious and privately-owned Capella Singapore remains easily accessible to Singapore’s financial and shopping districts. Its architecture a combination of colonial heritage complemented by two modernist, curving, almost sensual wings by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster. With 112 guest rooms including 15 suites and 38 villas alongside colonial and two contemporary Manors, this urban resort offers some of the most spacious hotel accommodation in Singapore.

There are three restaurants and bars – the authentic Italian masterpiece – Fiamma by the superb three-Michelin star holder Mauro Colagrego, Cantonese fine dining in Cassia and Bob’s Bar, a vibrant intimate hideaway with a spacious outdoor terrace for cocktails and more throughout the day. For mouth-watering moments, there is also the Chef’s Table with bespoke menus for up to 20 people. The Auriga Spa meanwhile offers over 1,114 square metres (11,991 square feet) of tranquil space with nine experience rooms with private outdoor gardens, vitality pools, herbal steam baths and experience showers. On the first floor overlooking the gardens, there is a fully equipped fitness centre with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, whilst others may prefer to laze by the three cascading swimming pools reminiscent of the rice paddy fields in Bali, set in the gardens. Guests may relax in The Living Room, a 24-hour space for guests to help themselves to a selection of books and light refreshments.

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Location

9/10

Located on Sentosa Island, with lush rainforest on one side and the South China Sea on the other, the property lies just a 10-minute drive from the heart of Singapore’s city centre and just a 25-minute drive (26 kilometres/16 miles) from Changi International Airport with airport transfers available via concierge.

Before it was known as Sentosa, the island just of Singapore’s southern coast, was a British military fortress. After the Japanese occupation in World War II, Singapore returned to British rule and the island was renamed “Sentosa” which means “peace and tranquility” in Malay. 

Over the years, Sentosa has morphed into an island resort best known for its tropical beaches and thrilling attractions. These include Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa Nature Discovery, Madame Tussauds Singapore, iFly Singapore, Maga Adventure Park – Sentosa, Sentosa Golf Club, One Degree 15 Marina as well as the Southeast Asia Aquarium, Asia’s largest oceanarium and one of the largest in the world. This attraction is home to more than 100,000 marine animals allowing for up-close encounters with fascinating creatures from the deep.

Accommodation

10/10

The urban resort of Capella Singapore opened in 2009 and recently the property completed a year-long refurbishment of its 112 guest rooms, suites, villas and Manors - which were originally designed by the late Jaya Ibrahim with his vision of balanced symmetry and pared down luxury. 

Today’s design by André Fu Studio, feels more residential in mood, offering a palette of earthy sand, sage and mineral grey with the suites infused with a blend of serene comfort, relaxed luxury and organic contemporary design. Green is prominent as its natural hue both reflects the thick natural botanicals surrounding Capella Singapore by bringing the outside in. The furnishings now reflect a softer silhouette, keeping in with André’s vision of a tropical, modern urban resort, blending tropicality with a light mid-century vibe. Ash furniture, stitched leather trays and decorative Indonesian hand carved bowls are balanced with soft grey rugs woven from jute and cotton. Outside, the terrace furniture is teak. 

The Premier Garden, Seaview and Constellation Rooms have expansive balconies, some with private Jacuzzis from which to enjoy the tranquil views. Each room is equipped with amenities and personal touches thoughtfully provided by the brand: Sealy Posturepedic mattresses with Rivolta Carmignani linens, bathrooms with bath and separate rainforest showers, double vanities and Aesop bathroom amenities; walk-in wardrobes; touch controls to control lighting, air conditioning and curtains or blinds;  46 inch (117 centimetres) flat screen LCD televisions and Bose sound systems; Complimentary in-room treats replenished daily, Nespresso coffee machines and spacious balconies with sunbeds. 

The 11 Sentosa and Capella Suites are spaciously laid out with separate living and sleeping areas and large balconies overlooking a breathtaking seascape. Each of the 38 Villas meanwhile, located around the grounds, features an outdoor terrace with three metre x three metre private plunge pools. The space features a separate living area and either one or two bedrooms, thoughtfully designed to complement the tropical surroundings. They also feature outdoor rain showers. 

The two Colonial Manors are located at the entrance to the main building whilst the Capella Manor and the Contemporary Manor can be found on the fringes of the estate, set among the luscious grounds and designed to contrast past and present in their architecture and interiors. 

The Colonial Manors – two restored Tanah Merah colonial bungalows – date back to the 1880s and are ideal for family holidays, providing three en-suite bedrooms; separate dining, living and study areas; a private lap pool; daily chef service; a dedicated Villa Host offering 24/7 personalised service; arrival and departure transfers in a private limousine; a private car with dedicated driver for up to eight hours during the stay; a fully stocked refreshment centre with snacks and fruits and babysitting services.  The Contemporary Manors are slightly smaller but offer a similar amount of accommodation and living space whilst the Capella Manor is the largest with 523 square metres of living space – stunningly designed with a contemporary style. 

For extended Singaporean stays, the property also offers Capella “The Club Residences Singapore”. 

Four legged furry canines and felines (under 15 kilograms / 33 pounds) are welcomed at the property with special Pet Spa-Cation packages which include an Ayurveda Pet Spa session.

Service & Facilities

9/10

The Living Room is the perfect space to relax and contemplate the world. Situated in a classic colonial bungalow built in the 1880s, Capella Singapore’s Living Room once accommodated British officers of the Royal Artillery and held extravagant officers’ balls. Today it has been sensitively restored and reborn as a retreat for guests during their stay. There are often workshops, talks or activities by the resort’s Capella Culturists whilst Afternoon Tea is served every day. 

Capella Culturists are master storytellers and hotel historians, taking pride in the location and history of the property. They offer a full itinerary of activities and events hosted in the Living Room and are in place to show you the very best of the area. Activities might include Floral Styling Workshops; Bettr Barista coffee and cocktail making workshops or yoga and meditation classes. There are also special Capella experiences for little ones under the Little Stars programme from scavenger hunts to culinary workshops. 

The Auriga Spa offers over 1,114 square metres of tranquil and nurturing space with nine experience rooms with private outdoor gardens, vitality pools, herbal steam baths and experience showers. The bespoke specially curated menu of treatments is exclusive to Capella Singapore, using Biologique Recherche products combined with 100% natural and organic products from The Organic Pharmacy. 

On the first floor overlooking the gardens, there is a fully equipped fitness centre with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, whilst others may prefer to laze by the three cascading swimming pools reminiscent of the rice paddy fields in Bali, set in the gardens. For golfers, enjoy priority access to Sentosa Golf Club a short drive away whilst Palawan Beach is just a few steps from the property.

Style

10/10

The Capella Singapore is a very interesting resort – part dating back to a colonial past, part looking at radical and innovative design as interpreted by master architect Lord Foster. Very much an urban resort, offering a relaxing stay in spacious and gracious guest rooms whilst being just a short step away from the beat of the city, Capella Singapore has really thought about its offering for its guests.

Apart from offering superlative service and beautifully appointed facilities, Capella’s brand DNA delves into the culture of each destination, getting under its skin and allowing guests to explore each locale through the lens of a curated experience created by local experts – Capella Culturists: see how the Singapore skyline has been shaped by feng shui, join a mahjong game or immerse yourself into the life of a Singaporean and enter a local’s home to cook a Peranakan feast. This empathy and respect for the destination and how it is shared with guests is a mark of a superlative hotel group that offers far, far more than just a place to lay your head.

Restaurants & Bars

9/10

There are three restaurants and bars – an authentic Italian menu served at Fammia, Cantonese fine dining in Cassia and Bob’s Bar, a vibrant intimate hideaway with a spacious outdoor terrace for cocktails and more throughout the day.

The Italian-Argentinian masterchef Mauro Colagrego – who holds three-Michelin stars at Mirazur in Menton, France – has designed the menu at Fammia. It offers superb homestyle Italian cuisine. Delightful! The wine list matches the dishes ... 

With an interior designed by André Fu and inspired by the historic spice routes of Southern and Western China, Cassia is a contemporary Chinese restaurant serving unexpected twists on traditional Cantonese dishes. Based on the best regional recipes and using the finest seasonal ingredients, the menu celebrates the contrast and combination of flavour. 

Bob’s Bar is open from 3 p.m. each day and combines the rich heritage and old-world charm of the hotel and its location with a dash of glamour. Offering panoramic views from a wide terrace, Bob’s Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a classic cocktail or a contemporary twist on a classic, often made with Navegante, a rum by Master Distiller Richard Seale made exclusively for Capella Singapore.

The Chef’s Table offering custom tailored menus and is located in a bespoke home-style kitchen, accommodating up to 20 people for private suppers and special occasions.  A similar custom menu can be served in the comfort of a guest room, suite, villa, or Manor, as required.

Sustainability

Capella Singapore has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability with several programmes in place to ensure environmental protection.

With a wide variety of native plants and over 5,000 trees in their 12 hectares (30 acres) of lush rainforest, Capella Singapore has put in place a comprehensive programme for irrigation works to ensure that the vegetation receives adequate amounts of water daily whilst being mindful of water preservation.

Capella Singapore is also making conscious efforts to preserve energy, reduce electricity, water and gas usage by using an Energy Management System. They are members of EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.

Alongside EarthCheck, Capella Singapore has a dedicated team in place, committed to adopting an Environmental and Social sustainability Policy and conducting regular audits to track progress. Each Capella property also focusses on the importance of culture and the destination itself, offering Capella curated guest experiences both on and off-site to showcase the best of each locale.

Capella Youth is another brand stratagem designed to build a strong sense of community for a sustainable future. As custodians of the community, they enrich their surroundings and the lives of their community, acting as mentors to local youth and participating in school initiatives to empower them to create a better tomorrow. To amplify their approach, they have partnered with SolarBuddy to improve the educational outcomes for youth facing energy poverty through the gift of solar powered lights. Youth will benefit from a productive study environment after dusk, lighting the way to better opportunities in their lives.

What We Love

  • History: When you pull up to the resort, your eyes feast on the pristine colonial buildings which were once used as barracks and common areas for members of the British Officers of the Royal Artillery, Coastal Defense Command and their families back in the early 20th century. Latch on to a Capella Culturist for a history lesson that is fascinating and quite memorable.
  • Fun: So, so much. 10 minutes from the centre of Singapore city – and on an island with stunning beaches … Also a short shuttle to Universal Studios Singapore, Madame Tussauds Singapore and the Southeast Asia Aquarium. BUT you can stay in the resort and relax, eat, and take advantage of the superb spa.
  • Food & Drink: Fammia – Italian lunch, Bob’s Bar – cocktails, Cassia – Cantonese supper! Lovely!

    Varun Sharma
    Editor-In-Chief
    BusinessClass.com 

What They Love

  • Resort: At the heart of beautiful Sentosa Island rests two restored Tanah Merah colonial bungalows dating back to the 1880s, from which Capella Singapore extends into 30 acres of sprawling gardens and grounds framed by the sea. The walls are steep with history, each with its own story to tell.
  • Architecture: Inspired by Tanah Merah’s Malay translation meaning “red earth”, architects Foster + Partners have since given new life to the heritage buildings and designed the hotel’s facade to resonate harmoniously with its architectural heritage and the lush surrounding environment.
  • Memories: Tailoring the perfect stay and creating unforgettable memories for our guests have always been our North Star. It is in our philosophy that each one of us are masters in the craft of hospitality, honing our skills to perfection.

    Yngvar Stray
    General Manager
    Capella Singapore 

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