All the hotel spotlight has been on the new kids on the block at Sentosa: Raffles Sentosa Singapore and The Laurus, both of which are luxury all-suite properties. Even so, big-name mainstays have not been forgotten. After scoring its first Michelin Key this year, the stately hotel resort housed within former wartime barracks has also been recognised by luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller in its Gold List of best hotels and resorts in the world for 2026 – sitting proud in Asia’s total list of 17.
First opened in 2009, the nature-shrounded Capella Singapore’s manors recently underwent a major makeover, with each standalone building now boasting custom furniture, curated art, and personalised host service which offers curated experiences from pool picnics, to heritage tours, to foodie masterclasses and even mahjong sessions. The exceptional hospitality by these personal butlers – or ‘Capella Culturists’, as the hotel calls them – are also mentioned in Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2026 feature.
CN Traveller refers to Capella Singapore as a “hilltop haven”, noting that it “retains as much tropical magnetism today as it did when it opened in 2009”. It also praises its grand colonial architecture blended seamlessly with modern elements, as well as its greenery-rich landscaping and elegant suites and villas.
Other hotels in Asia that made the cut include Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape in Bali, Indonesia; Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô in Vietnam; The Ritz-Carlton in Kyoto, Japan; and Chiva-Som in Hua Hin, Thailand, among others. Check out the full list of Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2026 for the best hotels and resorts in Asia here.