Amidst 27 acres of tropical woodlands, elevated above the South China Sea, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa offers a luxurious haven of peace and tranquility on Asia's favorite resort island.
We spent two full days at the 5-star resort, mixing relaxing hours by the impressive black tiled pool with amazing food and service. Read our full review below.
After a few days in the middle of the Singapore buzz, arriving at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is pretty much like stepping into another world (even though it's only a 15 minutes taxi ride away). The towering skyscrapers are replaced with lush greenery, and instead of traffic noise you hear the breeze from the South China Sea.
Striking and impressive in both size and setting, the hotel blends French design with Singapore's colonial heritage, and the interior spaces are truly beautiful. From the majestic lobby to the modern and elegant rooms. But what really stands out at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa are all the outdoor spaces.
Reminiscent of a Balinese resort, the 'hallways' guiding you around the property are covered by a roof, but otherwise open to the enviroment, where you pass by soothing water features and tropical plants. The dining and drinking areas all also include alfresco seating.
The most airy part of the resort is the large pool area in the heart of the property, and this is also where you really notice that you are elevated on top of a cliff. Between the palm trees you can look out over the ocean and catch all the container ships. Or even better, an amazing sunset.
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa has a collection of 215 rooms and suites, and we stayed in one of the Junior Suites in the Tranquility Wing.
Overlooking the garden, the spacious and tropical room really brought a slice of the outside enviroment inside, mixing natural features with modern amenities and rich colours.
A floating wall (with LED TV's on both sides) seperated the very cosy bedroom with a living room area, equipped with a sofa and lounge section, large wardrobes, a working desk, and a chic coffee/tea making 'island'.
The lavish bathroom included both a marble tub and a rainfall shower surrounded with colorful mosaics, and was filled with all the articles you need to fresh up after a day exploring Sentosa.
Other small but very appreciated features was the free in room mineral water, and the slippers and bathrobes, perfect to get comfy in while walking from the room to the pool.
Impressive all around, the most impressive part of Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is the pool area, with the 33-metre long black pearlescent tiled pool as prime feature.
Surrounded by lush greenery and large palm trees, as well as plenty of luxurious poolside loungers and cabanas, this is a spot easy to spend hours, mixing relaxations with refreshing swims.
Thanks to the dark tiles, the pool looks both dramatic and extra inviting in the Singapore heat, and since both the pool and the pool area is very spacious, you always feel like there is plenty of room for you to do what you want to do. Swim, sleep, read a book, or sip something from the pool bar menu.
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa holds two restaurants and a bar, offering different gastronomic experiences, and during our two day stay we did not have the need to dine anywhere else.
Between the lobby and the pool area is Kwee Zeen, an all day restaurant with open kitchen counters, featuring a spacious indoor dining area as well as a stylish alfresco area, surrounded by lush greenery, pool views and vistas of the South China Sea.
This is where the tasty and filling breakfast is served every morning, including everything you can need for a great start to the day. From freshly made omelettes, cheese, charcuterie, musli, juices, fruits and plenty of coffe, to pancakes and belgian waffles.
In the evening, we enjoyed the buffet-style option at Kwee Zeen, which includes a wide range of both local delicacies and Indian cuisine. While buffets sometimes can feel a bit gloomy, this was absolutely not the case here, with all dishes feeling very fresh and presented in an appetizing way. Topped of with some local desserts, it made forgreat and filling dinner.
Kwee Zeen also offers something called 'FurKid', which means pet owners can bring their fury friends to dine in the alfresco area.
At the far end of the pool you find The Cliff, a stylish restaurant where you are transported to Southern Italy, and which derives its name from its location.
With a spacious and elegant interior, we would definitely argue that the prime spot here is the outdoor terrace, facing straight towards the South China Sea. We were lucky enough to have dinner here on a beautiful evening, starting with an amazing display of the sun setting in the horizon.
With great views you want great food, and The Cliff surely delivered. From the รก la carte menu filled with innovative Southern Italian fare we enjoyed antipasto (Burrata Caprese & Eggplant Parmigiana) and mains (Beef Cheek & Lamb Chop), complemented with a nice wine and finished off with some mouthwatering desserts.
The mix of tasty Italian flavours surrounded with a tropical setting sure makes a very special experience.
At the heart of the resort you also find LeBar, an elegant outdoor pavilion lounge that offers both a High Tea selection in the afternoon, as well as mixology cocktails and live music in the evenings.
Set on the Southern edge of Sentosa Island, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa is a bit of hidden gem, away from the most famous attractions and buzz of the island. But it's by no means far away, and also very close to a few golden spots.
Right next door you find an award-winning golf course, and the hotel also has direct access to the acclaimed Tanjong Beach. Walk the 132 steps down the lush stairway, and you find yourself on a beautiful beach, with beach club and lovely water.
If you want to experience the tropical side of Singapore, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is definitely a prime destination. Filled with peace and tranquility, and yet with so much to offer, our two days here was like balm to the soul and mind.
In fact, the resort has so much to offer we did not have the time to explore the largest Sofitel SPA in the world, or the glass-hut fitness center.
Just a short walk (or shuttle ride) away from all Sentosa has to offer, but still a private oasis, the resort is great for those looking for an elevated retreat filled with all you need.
The resort also house plenty of great event venues, and it is popular for everything from small board meetings and international corporate events, to dreamy fairytale-like weddings with endless sea views.
Last, but most certainly not least, what makes Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa a fabulous destination is the friendly and professional hospitality. From check-in through dining and room service, all the staff we encountered made us feel welcome and at home with a smile.
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
Browse all the cities & articles at The Rooftop Guide
Follow The Rooftop Guide