There’s a new Raffles in Singapore and it’s not like the old one

The place

Raffles Sentosa Singapore

Check-in

Opened in March last year, Raffles Sentosa came with great expectations, as the country’s second Raffles property after the iconic original – the best-known and most historic hotel in Singapore. Located on Singapore’s leisure island, Sentosa, the resort is a sprawling hillside property, though only 15 minutes’ drive from the CBD. A curving driveway leads up to the main entrance, where finely dressed bellmen await. Electric buggies, including two dressed up in Rolls-Royce designs (with permission from the company itself) shuttle guests to their villas and around the resort, though depending on the location of your villa, it’s largely walkable. Guests are taken straight to their villa, where the butler (yes, butler) will complete the check-in process using a tablet computer. There’s a short welcome ceremony and a welcome drink – a Singapore Sling of course, invented at the original Raffles. Though here it has been reimagined as the Sentosa Sling, the main difference being its base is brandy, not gin.

The look

As a new build, the exterior similarities with the city-based Raffles, as far as the aesthetics are concerned, end with the Raffles logo above the entrance to the lobby. In fact, there isn’t really a lobby at all – guests enter between the lounge-like Raffles Room, serving light meals and drinks, and the Chairman’s Lounge cocktail bar. That’s not to say the site is entirely devoid of history. The spa building, shared with the neighbouring Sofitel, is a former barracks built for the British military in the late 1800s. And throughout the resort there are several impressive, towering heritage trees, ficus and banyans, more than 100 years old. Elements such as the Raffles Room and the accommodation offer something of the historic feel one finds at the original Raffles. Every room on the property is a villa (the only place in Singapore with this claim) with its own pool. There are 62 villas in total, plus a large 30-metre main pool and three smaller pools at the spa. Designed by Canadian firm Yabu Pushelberg, the walled-off villas and winding paths feel a world away from the bustling city.

The villa

I’m in a one bedroom villa, spread across 235 square metres, which is split into two separate buildings, both with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors. The first is a stylish living room, with a couch, two armchairs and a glass coffee table with a large draughts board. There’s a well-stocked drinks cabinet and a large artwork depicting the flora of Singapore and reflecting the real thing outside. It’s a nice mix of modern and traditional and avoids the cookie-cutter feel of many modern resorts. The second building consists of the bedroom and bathroom, plus a walk-through wardrobe joining the two (hence it’s walk-through, not walk-in). The king-sized bed, with another couch at its foot, looks out onto the pool, as does the deep bath in the bathroom. Automated curtains can block out the harsh Singapore sun, though the airconditioning does a more than adequate job of keeping both spaces cool. Outside, there’s one of the largest pools I’ve ever experienced in a villa, complete with cabana and daybed sitting in the shallows.

Food + drink

Aside from the aforementioned Raffles Room, there are three other dining options on site. The Japanese degustation experience at IYASAKA by Hashida, the Italian Empire Grill, which also serves breakfast, and the traditional Chinese at Royal China. I try the latter two during my stay and am a little underwhelmed by the Empire Grill. Royal China, however, delivers a terrific and imaginative series of dishes such as honey-glazed pork char siew and wagyu beef in spicy vinegar sauce. Even the “tossed jellyfish flower” in sesame sauce is delicious.

Stepping out

While Sentosa has become a pleasure island, its history is much more serious, as the base for military units, of both Singaporean and Commonwealth forces dating back to the 1880s and through to the 1970s. The Fort Siloso Skywalk is an 11-storey, 181-metre elevated walkway that leads to the remnants of the British fort with information about the role of the location during the Japanese invasion in World War II. It’s free, but if you want to explore the island in style, Raffles offers a tour hosted by its own concierge and wellbeing manager that takes in the fort along with several other sites over two hours. It’s $S550 ($615) but for that price you get chauffeured around in the resort’s own Rolls-Royce (the price is for the car, not each person).

The verdict

As a newly built resort, Raffles Sentosa doesn’t have the historic feel of the original Raffles, but what it does have in common with the original is the luxurious feel and the outstanding service. For the well-heeled looking for a place to relax on a stopover or after a few days in the bustling city, it’s an indulgent escape.

Essentials

Villas at Raffles Sentosa start from $S1473 ($1645) a night. See raffles.com/sentosa/

Our score out of five

★★★★½

Highlight

Raffles stakes its reputation on service and this is no exception. Requests are met extremely quickly, despite the size of the resort.

Lowlight

There are a lot of bland and bare concrete walls around the villas, but I suspect these will become less obvious once the plant life grows and matures.

The writer stayed as a guest of Raffles Sentosa Singapore.