Why Capella Singapore is the gold standard in Southeast Asia

Named after the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere, Capella Singapore sets the bar high for upscale urban resorts in Southeast Asia.

It’s early morning at Capella Singapore, and I spot a peacock. I have to do a double-take – I’ve seen these flamboyant birds on the grounds of palace hotels in India. But I wasn’t expecting to see them here in Singapore, one of Asia’s great metropolises. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised – after all, a remarkable 47 per cent of the city-state is dedicated green space, which makes it a lush cocoon for creatures like Paul the peacock; his mate Pauline is also a resident here, alongside all manner of other wildlife. It’s a rather special way to start yet another dreamy day on Sentosa Island.

Capella Singapore’s heritage

Capella Singapore celebrated 15 years in 2024, but thanks to the visionary design of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster, it remains as stylish and serene as it did when it opened in 2009. The property sits over 12 hectares on Sentosa, an island off Singapore’s southern coast, connected to the city by road, walkways and cable cars. It was formerly a British military base and has a number of historic buildings dotted across its expanse – including those that Capella now calls home.

A blend of history and modernity

Foster reimagined two 1880s Tanah Merah (‘red earth’) structures and extended them into a figure-of-eight, an undulating infinity symbol with rooms and pools terraced like rice fields. His vision and the property’s history are revealed on a stroll around the grounds with a ‘Capella culturalist’.

Meanwhile, renowned Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim was called in to oversee interiors, which were given a makeover by Andre Fu in 2021. The result: Capella’s suites and villas are pared-back and neutral, all calming, earthy hues with pops of greens nodding to the expansive gardens beyond. Furnishings, too, are inspired by the tropical surrounds, but also come with mid-century influences – think curvy silhouettes and organic textures. My villa brings the outdoors in thanks to an alfresco shower and emerald-tiled plunge pool. Cooling off here after a day of sightseeing is pure bliss.

Experience Singapore’s multi-cultural way of life

Indeed, helping guests see Singapore in a new light is one of the things Capella does best. I sign up for the hotel’s ‘Peranakan Way of Life’ experience, offering fascinating insights into the city’s Chinese-Malay history. Between the Peranakan Museum with its glorious Neoclassical façade and Koon Seng Peranakan House, I’m enveloped in this colourful culture through sepia photographs and artwork, heirlooms and ornaments.

We’re in the Katong district, known for its neat rows of shophouses painted in a rainbow of candy hues. One unassuming building has a line out the door – lunch awaits. This hole-in-the-wall eatery is said to serve the best Straits Chinese noodle soup in town. I can confirm that the Katong laksa is indeed the tastiest thing I’ve eaten in a long time, which is saying something in this food-obsessed city.

Indulge in the offerings of Capella Singapore

It’s hard not to overindulge – the laksa is that good. But I have to pace myself because more dining awaits back at Capella. The dining room at Cassia is like stepping into a period film with its dark wood panelling, textured wallpaper and subtle Asian motifs. Even prettier are the contemporary Chinese bites on the menu: rock lobster dumplings, pan-fried wagyu buns, honey-glazed Ibérico pork and wok-fried scallops in XO sauce.

Fiamma restaurant, meanwhile, is a salute to the heritage and traditions of Italian family cuisine. Chef Mauro Colagreco’s (he also oversees a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in France) dishes range from perfectly grilled sardines to linguine vongole, truffled pizza to saltimbocca ala Romana. You can also order light bites (more laksa, perhaps) at Bob’s Bar, with its outdoor terrace overlooking the gardens, as well as the glamorous Pineapple Room within the heritage building, where creative cocktails are served in a suitably atmospheric space

Spa & wellness at Capella Singapore

This trip to Singapore was all about discovering a new side of the city’s heritage. I began my stay at Capella that way meeting Paul and Pauline, and end it in the same fashion at Auriga Spa. The ‘Balot Ng Aruga Healing Experience’ is as indulgent as it is insightful, starting with a tropical lulur scrub and banana body wrap and concluding, two hours later, with a tanaka powder body mask and tailored massage. There’s no denying the indulgences throughout this beautiful hotel, but it’s these clever cultural touches that truly make the property so memorable.