I Stayed At Raffles Sentosa Singapore And It’s A Stay Everyone Should Have On Their Bucket List

Some hotel stays are nice. Others feel genuinely once-in-a-lifetime. My recent stay at Raffles Sentosa Singapore (the ultra-luxury resort that opened in March 2025) firmly falls into the latter category. The property is the island sister to the iconic Raffles Singapore, but instead of colonial grandeur in the city centre, this version is all lush greenery, quiet luxury and private villas tucked into the hills of Sentosa.

The resort is made up entirely of private pool villas (62 of them to be exact) all set among tropical gardens overlooking the South China Sea. We stayed in a two-bedroom villa with our own private pool, and it was honestly perfect for our family of four. The space felt more like a dream holiday home than a hotel room with generous bedrooms, a spacious living area, and seamless indoor-outdoor living that meant the kids could jump between the pool and the villa all day long.

Of course, this is a Raffles property, which means the legendary 24-hour butler service is part of the experience. From the moment we arrived, it felt like someone had quietly anticipated every need before we even had to ask. Whether it’s organising buggy rides around the resort, arranging in-villa dining, or helping plan experiences on Sentosa, the service is seamless in that effortless way luxury hotels strive for but rarely perfect.

Image credit: Raffles Sentosa Singapore | Supplied

Speaking of buggy rides, they quickly became one of our kids’ favourite parts of the stay. The resort is spread across beautifully landscaped grounds, and hopping into a Rolls-Royce buggy to get from the villa to breakfast or dinner somehow makes everything feel a little more fun. Another unexpected highlight? The resident peacocks that roam the gardens. Spotting them wandering through the property added a slightly magical, almost storybook feel to the whole place. Although word of warning, they are incredibly noisy, so if you're a light sleeper, you might want to bring ear plugs.

One other thing to note, while the resort absolutely welcomes families, it’s probably best suited to those with older kids (think five+). There is no kids’ club or structured children’s programming here and the vibe leans more serene luxury than family resort chaos.

Image credit: Raffles Sentosa Singapore | Supplied

One of the most memorable experiences of our stay was actually dining in the villa. The hotel offers bespoke in-villa dining where you can work with the chef to create a personalised menu, all set up beautifully on your terrace or inside the villa while your butler handles every detail. Think everything from relaxed family breakfasts to elaborate dinners with candlelight and flowers.

Beyond the villas, the resort has a handful of standout dining options. Empire Grill, the signature restaurant, serves modern Italian dishes inspired by Tuscan cuisine, while Royal China focuses on refined Cantonese cooking. Breakfast here deserves a special mention too as it was honestly one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve had in Singapore. Expect beautifully presented, healthy dishes, fresh tropical fruit, vibrant juices (or champagne if you prefer) and eggs cooked exactly how you like them. The pancakes were also a big hit with the little ones.

And of course, you can’t stay at a Raffles property without ordering a Sling. While the original hotel is famous for the Singapore Sling, the move here is to try the Sentosa Sling—a tropical twist that tastes especially good when you’re sipping it beside your private pool surrounded by palm trees.

Image credit: Raffles Sentosa Singapore | Supplied

If relaxation is the goal, the Raffles Sentosa Spa is a destination in itself. The wellness sanctuary features 12 treatment rooms, vitality pools, whirlpools, steam rooms, a sauna and even outdoor mud pools, alongside a 22-metre lap pool and fitness centre. The philosophy here focuses on holistic wellbeing combining ancient wellness practices with modern treatments designed to restore balance and longevity.

Location-wise, the resort is ideally positioned on Sentosa, offering the perfect balance of privacy and accessibility. The beach is a short walk away, meaning you can easily mix lazy villa days with seaside strolls or sunset swims.

Luxury hotels come and go, but every so often you experience one that feels genuinely special. Raffles Sentosa Singapore is exactly that: a serene island escape that somehow feels worlds away from the city despite being just minutes from it. It may not be an everyday stay, but as a once-in-a-lifetime Singapore bucket-list experience, it’s absolutely worth ticking off.

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Main image credit: Raffles Sentosa Singapore | Supplied