Hotel Review: Capella Singapore (Two Bedroom Garden Villa) - Family and Pet-Friendly Luxury Hotel in Sentosa
Located on Sentosa Island, the Capella Singapore is arguably Singapore's most luxurious hotel. It is also one of three hotels in Singapore to receive the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Rating in 2017. What a lot of people do not realise however is that the Capella Singapore is also one of the rare few hotels in Singapore that is pet-friendly.
Bedroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
The Capella Singapore is home to 112 rooms, suites, villas and manors and some of these are massive - the Colonial Manor (which costs over S$10,000 a night!) offers over 400sqm of space! For those of you looking to stay here on a longer term, check out The Club Residences at Capella. I stayed in a beautiful Two-Bedroom Garden Villa here at the Capella Singapore one weekend and since it is a pet-friendly hotel, I brought my family and my toy poodle along for this stay. I have previously been in this Two-Bedroom Garden Villa approximately 7 or 8 years ago for a friend's farewell party and did not actually realise how big it actually is (that's what alcohol can do to you, kids).
Bedroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
The Two-Bedroom Garden Villa offers 186sqm of of space (if you prefer, the smaller One-Bedroom Villa offers 133sqm of space) and it comes with a private plunge pool as well as an extensive living area. The photo that you see above is the smaller bedroom in comparison to the master bedroom but it is fully equipped with everything you need. The bedroom itself has a really comfortable king-size bed, a bedside touch panel control which you can control the lighting, air-conditioning as well as drapes, as well as luxurious Pratesi linens to ensure a good night's sleep. You will also find a 46-inch flat screen LCD TV here (as well as in the other bedroom and living room) with a healthy selection of cable and satellite channels. One thing to take note is that the doors are automatically locked when you close them - I am not sure if there is anyway you can disable the auto-lock feature but do remember to carry your key-card with you when you leave the room. Alternatively, there are two more doors that can open up to the balcony and private plunge pool deck. You will also find a Nespresso coffee machine here in the bedroom - I highly recommend sipping coffee in your very own private plunge pool.
Bathroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
Reminding me a little bit of the Villa du Jardin in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa where I held a company event last year, both bathrooms here in the Two-Bedroom Garden Villa come with a tub as well as separate rainshower. The bathroom that you see above is attached to smaller bedroom and only accessible via the bedroom (there is a reason why I am saying this!) - there is also a shower on the right side and a toilet here (this is a full bathroom!).
Bath Amenities by Aesop
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
One of the many things that really stood out to me in the bathroom is the Aesop-branded bath amenities. You get the full set here - shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body cleansing bar and body balm and you will find them in both bathrooms. In fact, they are also replenished upon turndown and in the morning (if you are staying for more than a night). I am a huge Aesop fan and I probably bought more products than I can ever use during my time in Australia.
Pet-friendly Hotel
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
I have not mentioned this yet but my toy poodle has been running around the villa quite a bit as I was taking the photos - I had to make sure that she did not unintentionally photobomb any of my images but honestly, having her around on a staycation truly makes a world of difference. I guess a lot of Singaporeans enjoy weekend staycations but like what I have observed previously, bringing a pet along may not always be possible and even if it is, it may not be the easiest thing to do. With that being said, you do get assigned with your very own Personal Assistant if you book a villa - I am not certain if the regular room and suite guests enjoy this benefit but it is truly quite impressive. Similar to what a credit card concierge can do for you, your personal assistant here at Capella is responsible for making every single component of your stay in Capella perfect. The official check-in time of the hotel is at 3:00PM and I was actually personally contacted by my personal assistant that an early check-in is available if I would like - it was via this email channel that I was also able to inquire on parking and directions since I was carrying my puppy with me.
Pet-friendly Hotel
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
My toy poodle was very excited when we got to the villa - actually she started showing signs of excitement once she stepped out of the car. If you are traveling with your pet, Capella Singapore will be able to arrange pet amenities for you. During my stay with my toy poodle, a bed, bowl, snacks and drinking water was placed in the living room of the Two-Bedroom Garden Villa. In fact, you can't see it in the photo above but during turndown, someone actually stuck a velcro with Miu Miu's name onto the bed which I thought was a very thoughtful touch.
Living Room
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
The living room was probably where I spent most of my time with the family over that weekend. It Apart from a huge sofa to lounge on, there is also a coffee table, a work desk, another Nespresso coffee machine, a mini-fridge (stocked with non-alcoholic beverages which are free to consume), a huge flat-screen TV and more importantly, sliding doors that open up into the balcony and private plunge pool.
Living Room
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
Similar to the other bedroom, the main door that opens into the living room automatically locks from the outside when you close it so be sure to carry your keycard with you or simply leave one of the sliding doors unlocked. After spending so many weekends in hotels, I actually have an innate habit now to carry the keycard everywhere I go so that was not a problem for me at all. The team over at the Capella Singapore was also kind enough to prepare a cake for my toy poodle (since we were celebrating her birthday) as well as a separate one for my family since we were celebrating my mom's birthday in advance too.
Master Bedroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
The Master Bedroom which is the second bedroom in this Two-Bedroom Garden Villa here at the Capella Singapore is connected directly to the living room and there is a sliding door which can be closed for privacy. The king-size bed also looks out to the lush greenery outside and the sliding doors can be opened to give direct access to the balcony and pool. Generally speaking, all bedrooms (including the bathroom that is connected to the master bedroom) here have doors that can be opened up to allow guests to take in the natural beauty of the surroundings and also to enjoy the warmth of a tropical country like Singapore. Most Singaporeans do not see much value in this since we are so reliant on air-conditioning but travellers from much colder cities tend to appreciate this.
Bathroom - Master Bedroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
While the other bathroom in the smaller bedroom is impressive enough, the bathroom here in the Master Bedroom truly shines - it is equipped with double sinks that are not side by side but on opposite sides instead. There is something pleasing about symmetry and I can't quite put my finger on but this bathroom is really quite a sight to behold.
Bathroom - Master Bedroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
As mentioned, the sliding doors here can be opened up as well if you prefer to immerse yourself in the beautiful sunshine and warmth of a tropical country. Aesop bath amenities can also be found here in the bathroom - you will find a complete set in the indoor rain-shower as well as the outdoor one (yes there is an outdoor rain-shower and bathtub which I will show you next!). You will also notice that the amenities are slightly different (catering to His and Hers) on each side of the dressing table and sink.
Outdoor Bathtub and Shower - Master Bedroom
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
Surprisingly (even to me), one of my favourite parts of this Two-Bedroom Garden Villa here at Capella Singapore is the outdoor bathtub and shower. While it is definitely not my first rodeo with an outdoor tub (check out my review of the Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang as well as the Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort), I really liked how it is connected to the actual bathroom. There is also something calming about showering under the lush canopy and hearing the rustle of leaves in the morning. With all that being said, while the Capella Singapore is a very private property with only a handful of discerning guests, there is a very narrow gap near the outdoor rain-shower which makes it possible (though unlikely) for people to look in.
Private Plunge Pool
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
One of the things I was really looking forward to was the private plunge pool here in the Two-Bedroom Garden Villa at the Capella Singapore. We have actually sent Miu Miu the toy poodle for swimming lessons before we have never been in the same pool as her so it was quite a family adventure together to be dipping in that same pool while being under the sun. If you are looking for a portable speaker to bring to your stay, I highly recommend the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ which not only looks amazing but sounds great as well - these speakers are loud so be sure to keep the volume down in the evening!
Pet-friendly Hotel
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
One of the best things about being able to access the Master Bedroom's bathroom from the balcony is that it is incredibly easy to get from the pool to the showers without leaving a puddle of mess. This is especially so when you are traveling with your furkid and you do not want him or her to shake off the water in the living room or god forbid, the bedroom. We did not spend much time in the pool since we had a dim sum afternoon tea to get to at Cassia but I definitely used the plunge pool at least three or four times during the stay.
The weekend dim sum afternoon tea experience at Cassia is highly recommended - it is priced at just S$39.90++ per person and while it is not an a la carte buffet, every single item on the menu is so intricately prepared and carefully presented. Honestly, I cannot recommend this place enough - while I am generally not motivated to go into Sentosa since it requires additional effort which I do not typically have on a weekend, the food here is so good that I would go back in a heartbeat. If you are a mile-chaser and there is a high chance that you are, you can earn up to 9 miles per dollar on top of your credit card here at Cassia when you sign-up and pay using Mileslife.
Cookies and Water - Evening Turndown
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
After the weekend dim sum afternoon tea experience at Cassia, we took a slow walk down to Tanjong Beach (the only pet-friendly beach in Sentosa) from the hotel. There is a small path that will connect you directly from the Capella Singapore to Palawan Beach and from there, it is approximately 15 minutes away on foot to Tanjong Beach. I wanted to grab a light dinner and some drinks at the Tanjong Beach Club that evening but unfortunately they were running a private event so we ended up getting UberEATS delivered to our villa later in the evening. While we were out, we also requested for evening turndown and upon our return, we found these delicious cookies that were placed by the bedside - all towels, Aesop bath amenities and Nespresso coffee pods were also replaced.
Swimming Pool
Capella Singapore
After getting a good night's rest and waking up the next morning, I decided to take a dip in the pool before breakfast - this is when the pool is quietest so if you want to take any photos without anyone in the background, this is perhaps your best window. There are three main swimming pools here in Capella Singapore that hotel guests will be able to use. The two freeform pools are probably the most iconic and they are popular with families in the late morning and afternoons.
Lap Pool
Capella Singapore
The third pool here at the Capella Singapore is probably the least talked about one - there is actually a lap pool here for hotel guests who want an actual workout. While I have never been there, this pool actually reminded me of an iconic photo that I saw of the Hanging Gardens of Bali in Ubud.
Eggs Benedict - Buffet Breakfast
The Knolls - Capella Singapore
After a couple of laps in the pool and sometime in the sun, I decided that it was time for breakfast at The Knolls. Priced at S$48++ per adult, the breakfast at The Knolls was easily one of the best I have ever had. It could have been the entire atmosphere, the delicious coffee or the perfectly-poached eggs but I sincerely thought that the breakfast experience here could not have been better. In fact, I even opted for a seat outside (instead of one indoors) to enjoy the morning breeze and the accidental encounters with the peacocks.
Pancakes - Buffet Breakfast
The Knolls - Capella Singapore
While there is a selection of food from the buffet item (check out the butter, fresh pastries and honey inside!), there is also an a la carte menu that diners can order from. In my opinion, the a la carte menu is where the quality of food truly shines. The Eggs Benedict is a definitely must-order and the pancakes come with the logo of Capella so that alone is a good enough reason to order!
Buffet Breakfast
The Knolls - Capella Singapore
Apart from the a la carte menu as well as the extensive range of pastries and fresh breads, diners will also get to enjoy a selection of western and Asian dishes over at the buffet spread - there is even an area where you can get freshly-squeezed juices and fresh coconuts!
Peacock
The Knolls - Capella Singapore
One of the perks of dining outside here at The Knolls is the opportunity to come up close and personal with the wild peacocks. I noticed that they only arrived later in the morning after more guests have arrived for breakfast so if you want to see them, be sure to stay a little longer.
Pet-friendly Hotel
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
Getting around the Capella Singapore is easy but if you are afraid of getting lost or if you simply do not wish to walk, you may pick-up the phone to get a buggy to come pick you up - they will also be able to send you to nearby places if need be. Depending on where your villa is located, getting to the main building of Capella Singapore may require you to travel past slightly hilly areas and if you are staying over with older folks and young children, it may be a good idea just to call a buggy for pick-up instead. I went back to the villa after breakfast and decided to take one last dip in the plunge pool - while the one here in the Two-Bedroom Garden Villa is nowhere near as big as the one over at the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa's Villa du Jardin, it is a definitely a lot more inviting and seriously all it needs is a place for a jacuzzi.
Private Plunge Pool
Two-Bedroom Garden Villa - Capella Singapore
As I have mentioned, the strongest contender to the Capella Singapore's Two-Bedroom Garden Villa in Singapore is the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa's Villa du Jardin but between these two properties, the Capella Singapore is a clear winner. The food is drastically better, the property feels a lot more cohesive, the villas while smaller and approximately the same price are more elegantly finished without being overly-extravagant and most importantly, the Capella Singapore is a pet-friendly property which stands out on its own. One night here in Capella Singapore may set you back quite a bit of money but if you are dreaming of a luxurious escape from the city life in Singapore, the is really the best experience money can buy in this city.
The Capella Singapore is part of the Virtuoso network and booking a Virtuoso Rate (essentially the Best Available Rate) will give you exclusive amenities like property credits (typically USD 100), room upgrades and complimentary breakfast. These perks can only be accessed when you book with a Virtuoso advisor and The Shutterwhale partners with ClassicTravel.com to bring these perks to you at no additional charge. Most importantly, you can still earn elite-qualifying nights and points if the hotel participates in a loyalty program (e.g. Marriott Rewards).
Booking Link: Capella Singapore
Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297
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The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.