Capella Singapore

This is not the place to stay during a first visit to Singapore. It's just too far out of the core of the city. But if you have stayed downtown previously, I would definitely recommend the Capella, and certainly would recommend vs the hotels on Orchard Road. The architecture is truly remarkable. OK, reading some of the other reviews, maybe not everyone loves it, but I think it's fantastic. A deft mix of more historical buildings and new architecture, just beautiful. I was worried that Sentosa island might be touristy or just kind of junky, since there are amusement parks and things like that. It's not. Really quite lovely. The back exit from the hotel down to the beach is handy. I could have spent a few more days on the island without getting bored. We took the cable car up to Mount Faber and, even on a really steamy day, it was very nice to walk up there, beautiful views of the city and some interesting architecture to see. Capella charges a significant premium even compared to other luxury hotel brands. I waited to stay here until I could find a relatively good rate (still expensive by any standard, only the Raffles is as consistently pricey), and felt like it was worth it, when you factor in things like the nice afternoon tea, free local transportation, etc. Of course, it helps that we got an upgrade due to GHADiscovery status, to a gorgeous suite with a view. Capella clearly views this flagship property as a keystone of their claim to being one of the great ultra-luxury hotel chains of the world, and it's a pretty strong argument. The only slight weakness was sometimes the service, which is always the foundation of a truly world-class hotel. Don't get me wrong, the service was generally very good, and frequently excellent. But in contrast to, say, the original Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok or other hotels that would make my personal "best in the world" list, the service just seemed a little unpolished at times. The staff are mostly young and eager to help, just not highly experienced. Simply due to the young age of the hotel, there aren't any staff that have been there for decades and know everything about it, the sort of staff who make excellent service look easy. But I think back frequently to my stay there, and the feeling of serenity and being in a truly beautiful place.

We are very fortunate to be able to stay in, and review, some of the best hotels in the world. When in Singapore we typically stay at Raffles or the Four Seasons, however this time we chose Capella. We had read the glowing PR articles, viewed the Instagram pics and heard the hype. So naturally, it was time to see if Capella does live up to hype. For context, we are talking about a $2000 a night stay, so more than the aforementioned properties. Therefore, our observations are based on this level of price and the expectations set by Capella. Let’s begin with arrival. You approach a beautiful colonial style building (similar to the look of Raffles), however it lacks the welcome, style and immediate wow factor of Raffles. Think of this as a 'lite' version. Once you leave the facade and enter the property you are met with a slightly jarring mix of architecture. The Villas are certainly tired and in much need of a refresh. The design is reminiscent of a military barracks. we looked out from our private pool across a lush jungle and over the domed, rusty and dirty roofs of other villas. Not a pleasant outlook. In keeping with the military theme (and if that’s your thing), you will no doubt be happy to sit by the pool and count at least 50 aircraft per day fly directly overhead. Nothing they can do about this, but worth noting that it is under the military flight path. If you think the pictures that Capella posts of a quiet romantic setting are reality, maybe lower that expectation a bit. The property is huge and this does provide the opportunity to walk through lush gardens and spot the peacocks and other wildlife. Due to its size, Capella is set up as a conference destination. It is not, I repeat not, a luxury or 5 star ‘luxury’ destination. This extends to the average service and offerings that you will find throughout the resort. A few examples - not deal breakers - but remember the claims that Capella make and the price point. On day 1 we decided to explore and find where the gym was located. After following the signs pointing in one direction we stopped a manager and asked "where is the gym". He pointed in the complete opposite direction to their signage. When I mentioned this he was shocked to discover that their signs do actually point the wrong way. Presumably these have been fixed to the walls for years. He was so shocked we left him taking photo's. This lack of awareness is a hallmark of Capella. Breakfast; a very passable average offering (for a 4 star Marriott or similar). It comprises a typical buffet and a selection of menu items. We were reminded bluntly that “you only get one shot at the menu items”. Not very classy or welcoming ..and by the way, if I want another egg…for $2000 a night you could probably provide one ! The selection of fruit was dismal. My wife asked if they had any papaya. The waiter retrieved some from the kitchen and then made a huge thing of stating that he had mentioned it to the chef and she will have papaya every morning of our stay. Predictably this didnt happen. No big deal...but remember the promises and claims that Capella make and the price point. Probably the most disturbing thing about breakfast each day was observing the manager dressed in brown, openly bully and berate his staff in front of guests. With his headset on he would strut around barking orders to the staff. This 1990's style of management was not only unacceptable but made paying guests like us feel...well, just uncomfortable. He seemed to enjoy doing this in plain view of all guests. It was cringeworthy to witness every day. Management tip 101 – “praise in public and criticize in private” and Hotel Tip 101 – “never berate staff in front of guests”. The staff are pleasant enough but clearly have no idea what luxury or intuitive service is. Add to this the daily ticking off they get and it’s no surprise that everyone seems to be on edge. When the staff are stressed and tense it transfers directly to your guests and makes for a thoroughly unpleasant atmosphere. Management take note. It is you who are creating this. Sitting around the main pool is pleasant but once again do not expect 5 star service (remember Capella's claims and the price point). It took 3 people to bring us a simple account to sign off. The first 2 had no idea how to do this and had to chase the 1 'manager' who can provide this. Why not just train your staff properly? It’s not their fault but it is another example of delivering well below expectations. We did go to local restaurants on a few occasions and when arranging taxi’s the doormen were clueless as to where the restaurants were. Unusual, given they were very well known. That lack of awareness again. One other behaviour we observed is the constant need to 'push back' or justify service faults. It’s just not a luxurious experience. Once again, these issues were not worth bringing to anyone's attention (we knew that would only result in a frustrating conversation or worse still some junior staff member getting berated again). Not how we wanted to spend the last few days of a relaxing holiday. If you do stay at Capella please visit the Colonial Building and in particular the Pineapple Room Bar and Cassia Restaurant. The bar is quiet, elegant and prepares wonderful cocktails. The bartender was highly engaging, and she certainly cares about her craft. The Cassia Restaurant is a beautiful place to enjoy a refined Cantonese dinner, and the service is professional and caring. This sums up Capella. It is almost like 2 disjointed establishments have been bolted together and nobody has worked out how to properly integrate the offerings. The Colonial building is pristine, calm and professional. The accommodation and breakfast area is a poorly run, often chaotic scene. The end result is a confused business that struggles to express a clear identity to the guest. The longer we stayed here, the more uncomfortable we felt. Each day the staff stalk you in an attempt to engage, but not in a good way. Its almost as if they are trying hard to prove they are doing a good job and in turn win the favour of the ever present ‘manager’. This needy behaviour just felt…. cringey! Capella certainly needs experienced managers to consider what type of property they intend to run. Integrate the offering and improve the consistency of delivery. Provide quality training and motivation for the staff and finally communicate this clearly to potential guests. This review is to offer an alternative view of the PR hype, based upon our experience of a recent stay. It is what Capella delivered to us and what Capella did not. Capella is designed to handle big groups. It is set up as a conference hotel. They no doubt do a good job with wedding parties. What it is not - and this is our biggest issue - it is not what it advertises and claims to be. It is not 5 star. It is not quiet luxury. This is the biggest disappointment as it under delivers on expectations. The price point of Capella is beyond belief for what it offers the luxury traveller. We decided to bring forward our departure from the hotel on the last day. However, the biggest issue that Capella has facing them is that Raffles has just opened a 'quiet luxury' resort only minutes away on Sentosa. Just don’t ask anyone at Capella where it is!

This is my third time staying at Capella in four years. A stay here is pricey but the experience is amazing. From booking onwards, there is effort to reach out and support with reservations at the spa and restaurants and curated experiences. Always responsive, I discovered that I’d booked a wrong room type a week before the stay and was able to get it changed via WhatsApp with the Digital Concierge, a new service that continued to support throughout my stay. Now bath salts and extra towels are just a text away! The room is large and very comfortable. The entire property expansive with three pools. My favorite is the lap pool which is quieter. There’s always tea at the living room which is nice break after the amazing buffet breakfast. Remember to get the roti prata! Besides the buffet breakfast, the Chinese restaurant Cassia and Bob’s Bar are good too. Cassia’s fine dining experience is further accentuated by its great wait staff. Bob’s Bar seemed casual but drinks were nice and strong and the fried food amazing. Made for a great casual dinner with a gentle breeze. The staff too were attentive and cheery. We also enjoyed our time at the Auriga Spa and for the first time, managed to come an hour earlier to use the water treatments! Such fun! Over my stays, I’ve done yoga classes, rum tasting and some craft. My fav has got to be the tile painting I did this time. So therapeutic. Overall, the property is in great shape and the service of everyone, from the reception, to the pool and dining establishments make the Capella Sentosa my go-to for a relaxing staycation.

Very impressive service rendered by staff Azziyah thru phone chat. She is so polite and friendly. Very knowledgeable and able to answered to all my enquiries. Thumbs up for her good service and an asset to the company. Keeps up the good work 👏

Hello, We stayed at this beautiful property in Sentosa, Singapore for just 2 nights in Jun'2025. We stayed at a 1-bedroom villa for a pre-birthday celebration for our Nephew. First of all, many thanks to the staff who were always proactive in their service. They were quick, knew what we needed. We checked in our room at 1200 noon, the room was indeed a spacious one with a big king-size bed and living room with an outside plunge-pool. While doing the check/in, I told them about the birthday celebration. The team was so quick that they brought a bunch of balloons, a birthday cake, and candies with a special birthday note within 30 minutes of our check/in, the celebration kicked off very nicely. They even made a small Tent-house for my infant kid. The resort is very big (on a 30 acrs land) with 3 pools, it is also very close to the beach (if you go from the door, which is near the tennis court & kids play area). Breakfast was good (not great I say, coz there were limited items). The hotel runs a shuttle service to RWS, like many other hotels in Sentosa (please check the shuttle bus timings) The only negative point, I would say, about the hotel, that the Toilet & Bathroom doors were transparent; I mean, there is no privacy. I did not understand the reason behind it, though the hotel staff gave us big towels to cover, but it was a waste of effort. Overall, the hotel is in a good location, provides impeccable service, is very clean, a must-visit for people of all ages. A 4.6/5 from our end.