PUBLISHED August 8th, 2018 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 01:34 pm
A location away from the hustle and bustle of city life: it’s a line that’s plastered across so many hotel websites, you’d think it was a preset on every copywriter’s computer. To be fair, many places really do deliver the experience they advertise. More often than not, the rest fall short in varying degrees, from “adequately chill” to “are you kidding me?”
This month’s featured hotel makes the cut, of course. That is precisely what Sentosa Cove was built to be: a transient oasis away from everything else. Chances are you might not have heard of ONE ̊15Marina, but let me tell you that it exists.
Location & Space
Hidden inside Singapore’s most prestigious integrated oceanfront marina, ONE̊15Marina sits in a neighbourhood that, admittedly, is not the easiest to get to. The Sentosa Monorail doesn’t go anywhere near the property, but there are buses (a public and club shuttle bus) from VivoCity that make getting here easier. You can walk to Siloso Beach, or to the attractions at Resorts World in about 20 minutes.
Facade-wise, the hotel looks nothing like a hotel, because ONE ̊15 Marina is first and foremost a yacht club. There is no towering skyscraper or shiny windows glistening in the sun, the small lobby is hidden from view up the stairs, and there are no signs that indicate you can stay here. It is exceedingly white but not plain, simple but not without character. Save for several ocean-inspired paintings around the property, there’s not much by the way of decor. But that’s okay – all the beauty I need can be found around the marina.
Rooms
My Marina View Room is one of 26 taste-fully appointed rooms in the clubhouse – a small number even by boutique hotel standards, but it is spacious and comfortable. The amenities and fittings are modern: comfortable memory foam pillows, Nespresso coffee machine, and best of all, a heavenly Herman Miller Aeron chair that’s widely reputed as the king of all office chairs. I use this to look out onto the stunning cove.
You can walk out onto the balcony with two chairs and a small coffee table. Most interestingly, anything you might want to adjust, from the air-con to the lights and curtains can be controlled with an intuitive panel on your bedside. The bathroom is equally ample, featuring a large mirror with mood lighting, a step-in bathtub with an overhead shower, and get this: a second flat-screen TV for getting your movie fix as you soak in the tub. Therapeutic or what?
Facilities & Service
ONE ̊15 Marina has the advantage of also being a world-class luxury yacht club, so its offerings and service are nothing short of excellent. Check-in is smooth and brisk, and I am shown to my room in mere minutes. The staff I encounter around the property are quick to smile and greet you. There is a well-equipped fitness centre, the comprehensive Spa Rael that offers an intriguing Tremella Hydra Face Treatment, and a pool area with an infinity pool, jacuzzi, and relatively basic pool bar. And of course, there are tennis courts. Got kids? They’ll love the playground and small arcade room…probably.
Food & Drink
You’re in Sentosa Cove, so there is no shortage of dining and drinking options in the vicinity. But if you prefer not to head out, start with WOK°15 Kitchen, which dishes out classic Cantonese fare and fresh live seafood (think frog legs, live prawns, and lobster). Here on a weekend? Take advantage of their affordable buffet lunch ($38++) that includes dim sum. Next door, LATITUDE Bistro is where I enjoy a hearty international breakfast buffet spread. It’s not huge, but it is tasty.
When it’s time for a drink, check out the floating Boater’s Bar right across the clubhouse during happy hour (6pm to 9pm on most days) for quality cocktails and modern tapas. Once your tipple arrives, toast to good times and the breezy night over glistening reflections in the water all around you.
ONE ̊15 Marina Sentosa Cove is located at 11 Cove Drive, #01-01, Sentosa Cove, Singapore 098497. Rates start from $248 per night. For reservations, please call +65 6305 6988 or email to info@one15marina.com.
Readers’ Promo: Enjoy 15% off your room rate when you book using the promo code ‘ONE115’ from now till 31 Dec 2018!