TRAVEL

Experience Sentosa Anew with Raffles

Special feature by Raffles Sentosa Singapore
18 Jul 2025

The all-villa property, the country’s first, is a testament to Raffles Sentosa Singapore’s personalised service and exclusivity.

Otherworldly isn’t a word one typically associates with Singapore, a city-state of soaring skyscrapers and Michelin stars. But as soon as one crosses the gateway to Sentosa and winds their way through tree-lined drives, a different Singapore emerges. One that hums to the rhythm of cicadas instead of motorists, where the air is light with a salty sea breeze, and every picture framed by tropical green. Nestled on a hilltop of this island is Raffles Sentosa Singapore – an all-villa sanctuary that feels a world apart.

While Raffles Singapore, a storied property on Beach Road, is steeped in old-world grandeur and urban gravitas, its resort counterpart revels in a lush, hilly landscape that overlooks the South China Sea. Yet both properties are undoubtedly cut from the same cloth of Raffles’ quiet yet impeccable hospitality. Here, driveways lead to 62 standalone villas, which are modernly furnished and each equipped with its own pools, gardens, and in true Raffles fashion, round-theclock butler service.

From the moment of arrival, there’s a shift in tempo. Start your first morning with qigong or yoga at the main pool, then indulge in a private dining experience with butler service in the comforts of your villa, or explore a birdwatching nature walk curated by a biodiversity expert. This will take you through some of Sentosa’s unique nature trails to spot white-collared kingfishers, cuckoos, and migratory birds – an adventure for children and adults alike. Travelers with a taste for the city, may opt for the resort’s personalised City Explorer tour that whisks guests into the heart of Singapore’s vibrant past – all while traveling in the comfort of a Rolls-Royce and accompanied by your own private guide.

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Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about Raffles Sentosa Singapore is how seamlessly the island breathes into every part of the experience. The interior design, by multidisciplinary firm Yabu Pushelberg, is an homage to Sentosa’s native textures and hues: Raw stone, aged timber, hand-woven rattan. Every villa seamlessly opens into nature with sliding panels and quiet nooks that lead guests onto their private courtyard and pools. As your stay goes on, you’ll start to notice that the menus are also rooted in the island’s offerings – sustainably caught seafood, herbs harvested fresh from the estate garden, and tropical fruit that still carries the warmth of the sun.

Cocktails here deserve their own chapter and its signature drink, the Sentosa Sling, is the star. It is not concocted as a mere nostalgic nod to its namesake but stands as a bold reinvention. Calamansi, rose nectar, and lemon leaf picked from the resort’s edible garden are combined with brandy, amaro, and eau de vie to create a potion quite delicious. This is best enjoyed at the resort’s speakeasy, Chairman’s Room, which is the perfect spot for aperitifs or a nightcap.

Sentosa has often been dismissed as a destination for day-trippers, but thanks to Raffles Sentosa Singapore, it gets the reverence it deserves. For travelers that believe they have seen all Singapore has to offer, they’re sure to uncover new experiences at the luxury resort. From this vantage point, the property feels less like an escape and more like a rediscovery. Raffles Sentosa Singapore is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and among the sea breeze and rustling trees, uncover a balm for the soul and senses.

For more information, visit raffles.com/sentosa.