SINGAPORE APRIL 2020_Lima APR-08.R5-2 2/20/20 3:27 PM Page 54
Photo: Lawrence Ferber
the magic of singapore
Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple
split my visit between two new properties. My first accommodation is the Six Senses Maxwell. Fashioned from fourteen converted shophouses with rooms that vary wildly in layout and color schemes, this sustainability-centric hotel (amenity kit toothbrushes are created from cornstarch), pays homage to Singapore’s past with European accent, and captures the Six Senses luxe in city style. Upon entering the lobby (its floor is made of stones from medieval Italian cathedrals), one is offered a Tibetan “Singing Bowl” experience involving sound and vibrations to get your chakras on. Amenities here included a selections of local craft spirits, a slender lap pool and sunbathing area, several bars with outstanding cocktails and food menus, and complimentary ice cream (from 1-5 P.M.) distributed from an outdoor cart. The Capitol Kempinski (15 Stamford Rd. Tel: +65 6368 8888. www.kempinski.com/en/singapore/the-capitol-singapore) is in Singapore’s cultural district, a block or so from Raffles and fifteen minutes’ walk from the iconic Marina Bay Sands and Avatar-meets-botanical garden complex, Gardens By The Bay (18 Marina Gardens Dr. Tel: +65 6420 6848. www.gardensbythebay.com.sg). Two heritage buildings, the 1905 Capitol Building and Stamford House, have been joined to create a fabulous 157-room The Capitol Kempinski, a colonial-influenced oasis of calm (thanks to impressive
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soundproofing). If you like to swim, you may be disappointed. A friend and I who were wearing new swimsuits, excitedly ran to the outdoor saltwater pool, expecting some splish-splash frolic and laps, only to find a walled-in, glorified, shallow jacuzzi that felt cramped in every way. I loved my room, the service, the free cookies, aselection of local Fossa craft chocolates, and treatments in its intimate 3-room spa. Breakfast in the 15 Stamford restaurant was flawless as well.
Singapore Style Noodles
Photo: Foodio
rooftop pool, and of course the refreshed Long Bar, birthplace of the Singapore Sling ($22).
