Peacocks roaming on the grounds, open-air receptions, direct pathway to the beach. That doesn’t sound like a typical scene in Singapore! Rather this is across the “causeway” if you would call it that! Located on the southern tip of Singapore, just 5 mins over the bridge, you arrive in Sentosa. An island off the island in Singapore. While I definitely could not afford to own a residence here, I decided to call it home for a night! This time around, I will be staying at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, a gem perched on a little cliff top among the lush greeneries and facing the South China Sea. This upscale hotel is a stone throw away from the beach and the many attractions on the Island.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
This is my first ever stay under Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, a chain owned by Accor. I am certainly keen to experience some French flair during my stay. Let me see if their pastries are as good as it is. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. My media stay booked me into one of their Junior Suite, the entry-level suite. Prices are depressed these days given the current climate. The most interesting package now would be their Infinite Family Experiences deal. It is technically a full board stay where breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your rate. Rates start from 388++ for the base level Luxury Room.
If you will like to do a long stay, you can book the Luxury Voyage package from Klook. I do see rates of 1021 SGD Nett in June for 3 nights that comes with welcome drinks, daily breakfast and either daily lunch or dinner. You could make a real vacation out of this.
My early check-in was guaranteed at noon. While the downside of doing a staycation at Sentosa lies in its accessibility, it doesn’t get easier enough here at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa resort. You get the tranquillity and “out of Singapore” vibes and the connectivity as well. The hotel provides two-way complimentary shuttle service from Vivocity with the pickup and drop off point located at Harbourfront MRT Exit D. The shuttle runs from 7.30am to 8pm. There are one every 30 mins without any lunch or dinner break in between. You can refer to the current schedule below.
This makes it perfect for both tourists and staycations guests. You can head to Vivo City for more dining options and other attractions on the mainland. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa have a total of 215 rooms and suites spread across 8 categories. With 28 of the connecting Luxury rooms able to merged for family stays. Bathtubs are available in all rooms and suites. The creme de la resistance here are the 4 unique Villa du Jardin. These 2 bedrooms villas are located individually and come with their private pool and deck.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Size | No. of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury | Yes | 36 Sqm | 84 |
| Luxury Garden | Yes | 36 Sqm | 62 |
| Luxury Family (Interconnecting Rooms) | Yes | 36 Sqm (72 Sqm per set) | 28 (14 Sets) |
| Junior Suite | Yes | 55 Sqm | 9 |
| Prestige Suite | Yes | 64 Sqm | 20 |
| Prestige Family Suite | Yes | 72 Sqm | 7 |
| Imperial Suite | Yes | 190 Sqm | 1 |
| Villa Du Jardin | Whirlpool Tub & Private Pool | 300 Sqm | 4 |
Checking In
I was accorded early check-in at 12pm. I arrive using the hotel shuttle and came right on the dot accordingly to schedule. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is located at Bukit Manis on Sentosa Island, above a little cliff top. It is steps from the amazing Tanjong Beach. This is a destination to enjoy the island vibes and being secluded from the main island.
Upon alighting, the Bellboy was on hand to help me with my bags and the safe entry procedure. The reception is located to the right of the lobby. I love the airy open-air concept, keeping in view of the island vibes. You can find some seats in the lobby area. Despite it being a Friday, there is no wait at all during check-in and it was a breeze. The reception is located to the right of the lobby. We are advised to check-in alone given the social distancing measures now and our partner can wait at the waiting area. Wai Wai from the front desk was awesome and went thru with me all the recent service changes. I was also given information on ordering my meals. Late check out was given till 2pm and further extended till 3pm on the day of departure.
She further escorted me all the way to my suite, which was located in Tranquility Wing and give me a little introduction to the suite. I really appreciate the personalised welcome and it is a good touch as well given that the property consists of various wings and buildings. It is nice that you are brought to your room rather than being left alone to figure out your own way. The resorts gave me lots of Bali vibes.
Junior Suite
My suite is located on the 4th floor, located in the Tranquility Wing. It is a short walk from the main lobby itself which is actually on level 3. The junior suite was of a good size and located in the corner of the building. I love the open-air corridors design which adds up a flair of resort vibes.
Upon heading in, there is a small walkway entrance area before you turn right to enter the main space of the suite itself. The suite can be connected to an adjacent twin luxury room making it into a two-bedded suite. This will be perfect for family stays.
Being a junior suite it does not come with a half bath however the main bathroom is designed to be located on the living room side. This makes it more conducive for hosting guests here. I will share more on it later. The bedroom and living room area are separated by a partition with the suite mainly in a regular rectangular shape. This makes it rather spacious despite it being only 55 Sqm.
The focal point in the living room will be the couch area which faces the decent size TV for the suite. The couch can easily seat 3 pax. In addition, you have some additional stools on the sides. There is a huge low coffee table that is good for dining in the suite. This is especially important these days since you are dining in most of the time.
A lovely fruit platter was brought over as a welcome amenity shortly after check-in. I love that they had my favourite mangos.
On the side of the wall you can find a nice decorative rack where a care pack is also left here. A norm these days in hotels. You can find some sanitizing wipes in it as well as two bottles of hand sanitisers. The suite doesn’t have a view as it simply faces the common corridor outside. Sadly, the curtains are manually controlled only here.
Towards a side of the wall, you can find the minibar setup which is housed in a gorgeous chest. Very French I would say, nicely kept with the heritage. It consists of a Nespresso Machine, a kettle, all sorts of glassware and a little fridge below. The minibar is fully housed here, a contrast to many properties that choose to keep it empty these days. I appreciate the hygiene practices that Sofitel have here. The packaged teas and capsules are packed into little kits and sealed up in a bag. A total of 4 capsules and assortments of TWG teas are provided.
Right behind the sofa and in front of the bathroom entrance you can find a proper working desk. I love how a diffuser is left on the table which looks very classy. A QR code is left here to allow guests to access the hotel online interface which contains the room service menu. I will share more about the food options later on. Plenty of house brand bottled water are left here and these are replenished during turndown service. While a proper ergonomics chair isn’t provided, the designer chair does provide sufficient back support for a short period of working. Wifi is easy to connect but it does get spotty at times. It might be a struggle to stream shows.
On the opposite side of the wall, this is where the wardrobe and luggage racks are set up. With the spacious double wardrobe in the middle, on both side, you have the luggage racks. This is a wonderful concept and definitely sufficient storage for most people with their belongings. A safe, ironing set, bath slippers and bathrobes are provided and they are of pretty good quality.
Both TV have good quality and of a good size. There are in fact exactly the same, probably a swirling mounted platform here will be more cost-efficient. The TV doesn’t support casting which is a bummer. It does come with a good selection of Cable TV channels. For the sports fans, you can find Fox Sports, Hub Sports and even Bein Sports available. I also do appreciate that they have designed a HDMI port on one side of the bed, you can easily connect your laptop via HDMI cable. There’s a port easily accessible by the side of the bed, perfect for a lazing movie night
The bedroom is nicely decorated and you have an ottoman in front of the plush king size bed. The beddings were plush and the sheets were smooth. The pillows were full size and plush. I appreciate them not turning into mush the moment you lie down. I just felt that the bedroom is a little warm especially in the night even with the thermostat at the lowest.
You can find nightstands located on both sides of the bed. You can easily find outlets and lighting controls on both sides of the bed. I appreciate them having HDMI ports on the side of the bed, making it super easy to connect your laptop to the bedroom TV.
Lastly, let me share about the bathroom which is located over the living room side. It comes with a classy double door entrance. While the place was nicely appropriated I am surprised that they did not choose to install double sink here. That does mean more counter space instead. Once again, I love their hygiene concept, toiletries and amenities are pack into kits and sealed up. They are generous with them as well. Toiletries provided are from Citron Fresh. I love the scent of them!
The bathroom comes with a separate soaking tub and rainforest shower. Tried and tested, the tub is good for two and by having the tap in the middle it allows for comfortable soaking on both side. Water pressure is excellent here.
The standing shower is spacious and comes with both a handheld and a rainforest shower. Temperature control is excellent however the water pressure on the handheld shower is extremely bad. Thankfully the rainforest shower was good and I had a great shower during my stay. I love the little wording of “Singing In the Rain” on the glass here.
Gym
Due to the current government restrictions the gym is closed. I got a brief look from the outside and the gym is located near the entrance to the pool. When in operation, the gym is open daily from 8am to 9pm.
Kudos to the team at Sofitel Sentosa for placing a couple of exercise bikes by the outdoor pool area. I love the concept! The environment is gorgeous and perfect for getting a spin in. You have an amazing view of the pool right in front of you while exercising. The open-air venue also meant that it is much safer rather than being housed up in an enclosed area with other people. This is something that I would like to see many hotels and resorts adopt during this COVID-19 period if space allows.
Pool
I love the pool here at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. It is one of the highlight and extremely gorgeous. The resort vibes kinda really bring me out of Singapore and resemblance a pool in Ubud, Bali. Prior reservations are mandatory and the pool is open from 9am to 7pm daily with a maximum of 50 guests in the pool at all times. While it is said that each room is limited to 1 booking per day with a maximum of 2 hours of usage for each session. Booking can be done online here. This is loosely enforced during low occupancy. In fact, I wasn’t even asked for my room number when entering.
This is also a perfect spot in the evening and the skies are really pretty when the sun sets over the horizon. The pool seems to be heated as well. You can find plenty of cabanas and sunbeds by the side of the pool. I like that the pool is separated into a couple of areas and with the deeper ends for swimming laps while some are for kids to play in the water.
Dining at Sofitel
During my stay, I got lunch and dinner in my suite. Due to the current regulations, all dining option will be in your room or suite. There will be a QR code left on the desk which takes you to the hotel online interface. You can find all the necessary information here as well including the menus. I have also included pictures of the menu here. You can easily order via online chat or via the phone. For lunch it will be a 2-course affair and for dinner, it will be a 3-course meal. Soft drinks are also included. You can dine anytime from noon to 11pm.
For lunch we got the Caesar Salad to kick start the meal. The salad comes with fresh and crispy lettuce, croutons and topped with a generous amount of pancetta and parmesan cheese. I love the dressing. The portion was generous and it is a good appetizer to start a light meal.
For the mains, I ordered the Soya Glazed Pork Pluma which came with shredded cabbage, spring onion, garlic and broccolini. I love the marinated and glaze on the pork, the perfect dish for those who do not take beef. The pork is tender and moist. It is still warm when served.
We then got the Diavola Pizza which was another highlight. I love their pizza and the crust was super fragrant with plenty of sesame seeds. It is pretty authentic and as good as any Italian restaurant out there. I love the spicy salami on the pizza. We had too much food and a hard time finishing the pizza. Later on in the evening, we had a couple more slices of the leftovers and they were still tasty when cold.
We finish off the meal and shared a Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake. It was unmemorable and I will not recommend you guys to order this. The other desserts were better. I love the hygiene concept here at Sofitel. Every food and drinks item came covered with covers or cling wrapped.
We had a late dinner given the amount of food during the day. To start, we got the Creamy Mushroom Soup which I will recommend everyone to order. It was chunky and flavourful. I love the crispy croutons in it which adds up a little more texture to the dish. The best appetizers on the menu.
I also got the Prosciutto Di Parma which comes with Burrata, melted leeks and mustard. The dish was alright and nothing spectacular. I didn’t really like the burrata here.
For our mains, we ordered the Roasted Barramundi which came with a spicy tomato marmellata relish and chickpea puree. The dish was decent and perfect for someone who wants something lighter. It was well executed and the fish was moist and flaky. While the skin isn’t crispy anymore, it is kinda expected since it is via room service.
For the second main, we tried the Butter Chicken from the Indian menu. It was a generous serving and was served alongside some papadam and garlic naan. It was pretty good! Tender chicken thigh and a creamy sauce. Perfect for dunking those naan into them!
Desserts was a lovely Tiramisu and the Chocolate Brownie with Chocolate Ice Cream. Both were delicious and a great way to end off the meal. This two were much better than the chocolate cake. I love how moist the brownie was! However, do take note that the ice cream that comes with the brownie will melt by the time you finish your appetisers and mains. While lovely, it is probably not a dish that is suitable for room service. Similarly, the dinner comes with soft drinks.
Bespoke Picnic Takeaway
Given that dining in is currently not allowed due to government regulations the hotel has come up with a range of takeaway treats. One of them is the Bespoke Picnic Takeaway, perfect for this hotel venue. Pick up one of the baskets and head to the nearby Tanjong Beach or enjoy it on the grounds of the hotel. You can pre-order in advance and simply collect them with everything prepared for a relaxing picnic. The basket comes with 2 choices of Appetizers or desserts, 2 main courses as well as a bottle of red or white wine. Proper glassware and even a mat will be prepared for you. The menu was similar to the lunch and dinner one that I shared about earlier. However, you do not need to top up any amount for the steak. Coming at 118 SGD I find it rather worthwhile. Furthermore, Accor Plus members get a further 25% off.
The basket was delivered to my room right at 5pm, the timing I choose. I plan to bring it down to the beach and enjoy it while admiring the sunset later on. I wanted to try different items from my lunch and dinner and as such got the Club Sandwiches, as well as the Porcini rubbed Ribeye Steak. I then got the Chocolate Mousse Cake and the Baked Cheese Cake. Everything came nicely packed in boxes and the wine chilled in a bucket of ice. You can enjoy it on the grounds of the resort too.
I took it down to Tanjong Beach and had a lovely picnic there. Check out how lovely it is. Easy and fuss less with everything prep for you. Do keep in mind that the beach now closes at 7pm and you will need to make a reservation if heading to the beach on the weekends.
The club sandwiches come with bacon and grilled chicken as well as a side of fries. It was a huge portion as well. I love the chicken filling and the tasty sauce. The highlight of the picnic goes to the steak which was super tender and flavourful. I love the delicious green garlic salsa. I was certainly surprised by how juicy and lovely it is despite being packed for a while. The cheesecake was much better than the chocolate cake. The picnic basket comes with a bottle of red or white wine. I got the white one which is a bottle of Outback Jack Chardonnay. For the red, it will be a bottle of Shiraz. I had a really good experience.
Beach access
One main perk of doing a staycation in Sentosa is having the best beach in Singapore right in your backyard. I certainly took advantages of this and head down to Tanjong Beach, which is right in front of the hotel for a little picnic that I have shared earlier. The hotel does have a direct path that brings you to the beach. You can access this from the pool area down a fleet of stairs. It takes about 15 mins to walk to the beach.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served daily from 7am to 11.30am. Due to current regulations and the ban on dining out, everything will be via room service. You can choose your preferred timing and order it simply via the phone. The in-room dining team here at Sofitel never disappoints. My orders always arrived correctly and within minutes of my preferred timing. You can check out the current in-room dining breakfast menu here. You can choose one set per person. While I usually do prefer dining at the restaurant and trying out an assortment of dishes. It is rather relaxing when you can just wake up, open the door, brush your teeth and eat in the comfort of your suite!
We got the American Breakfast set which comes with two eggs any style, bacon, chicken sausages, hashbrown and roasted tomatoes. The set also comes with a fruit platter, bakery basket and bircher muesli. It is definitely more than enough food. You also have your choice of juice and hot beverage. We opt for scrambled eggs which were served creamy and silky. It was pretty good and we really love the hashbrown and tomatoes.
The bakery basket comes with white and wholemeal toast, pain au chocolat, croissant and muffin. The tea and coffee were normal, orange juice was decent but you should skip the pineapple juice.
We also got the Healthy Breakfast Set that comes with an egg white omelette and avocado salad. It also comes with cherry tomatoes, yoghurt, and a fruit platter. It was pretty good and you can tell that the omelette was freshly prepared. A perfect light breakfast after the huge amount of food I had the night before.
I got nothing but good things to share about their housekeeping and room service team. I appreciate Sofitel for doing a full room service breakfast experience during this period. It must be really taxing on the team. Everything was served in proper tableware. Items were covered and cling wrapped when brought to you. I have heard so many stories about hotels asking guests to self collect their breakfast in disposable boxes and plastic cutleries. That isn’t how a vacation should be? There will be some inherent issues arising from room service, like lukewarm food since they travelled. But this is not the issue of the hotel. Hopefully, soon enough we will be able to dine at the restaurant again.
Takeaway High Tea
The team at Sofitel Sentosa very nicely prepared a takeaway high tea set for me to bring home upon check out. Thank you so much for the lovely touch. This is one of their newest concepts during this COVID situation where people are encouraged to stay home. It is perfect for times when dining out is not allowed. I love the concept of it! It is easy and fuss-free. It comes in a disposable tier stand that looks classy for any occasion. Get some of those, share them with you family and friends. You can even elevate it with some vintage bubbles from your own cellars. It will be more affordable doing it this way. The set cost 58 SGD ++ which is good for 2 pax. Once again, Accor Plus members get a further 25% off.
My family thoroughly enjoy it! Look at how cute this is! The set includes Chicken Mayo Sandwich, Smoked Salmon & Capers Mini Bagel, Avo Tortilla Wraps and all sorts of sweet treats. Some of the standout items are the sandwiches, wraps, eclairs and macarons. The cakes were pretty lovely too!
Conclusion
I had an amazing stay at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. It is a great way to be acquainted with the Sofitel brand. There is little to find fault with the entire stay! Perhaps just a little wear and tear around the suite which is kinda expected given that the property was last renovated in 2015. Excellent service and hospitality here. There is really something special about doing a staycation in Sentosa, giving you a temporary reality of being out of Singapore. I had a good experience of the Sofitel brand and will certainly look forward to being back once again. I would love to try out the Sofitel City Centre soon and do a side by side experience. This was a hosted media stay, all views expressed are my own.
Seeing The World In Steps stayed in Early June 2021 during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)
Seeing The World In Steps 
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