We all deserve a little pampering once in a while. Whether you’ve been on the grind for the past few months without a break, or it’s just been a tough period in your life, take this as a sign to treat yourself. Indulge a little, spend on a little something for yourself – you deserve it! And there’s no better way to partake in a little luxury than booking yourself an island getaway at The Barracks Hotel Sentosa!
Okay, it’s not exactly an island getaway, but it’s tranquil enough to be! If you want the numbers, The Barracks Hotel Sentosa is a 40-room bespoke luxury hotel housed within two conserved colonial buildings, which were once a British artillery outpost. Talk about the merger of both heritage and history!
If you always thought Sentosa was only good for the theme parks and attractions, then let this change your mind. Enjoy the pampering and the slowness that comes with a five-star hotel; trust that all your needs will be taken care of, and all you have to do is sit back and relax. Part of the enclave of Sentosa hotels managed by Far East Hospitality Holdings Pte Ltd (Far East Hospitality), guests can revel in an award-winning spa, a plethora of dining options and more as well.
Okay, enough about the background of the hotel – let’s find out what The Barracks Hotel Sentosa has ready for us!
The Living Room
The moment we alighted at the basement drop-off point and I saw the lift lobby enclosed behind those glass doors, I could already feel the aura emanating. And we weren’t even at the main level yet!
As we wandered into the main level of the hotel, we were immediately greeted by a staff member from The Living Room, the hotel’s exclusive guest-only lounge. We were led into the simple yet classy lounge and presented with a welcome drink while the staff settled the check-in for me (remember to bring your physical ID or passport!) – I didn’t even need to step foot into the reception office!
Down to every detail, everything in The Living Room was deliberately and thoughtfully placed and decorated. It was a cosy lounge with both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoors, you could sit facing the pool or by the entrance. However, as someone who cannot stand the heat and humidity, ducking into the cool interior filled with plush seats and comfy chairs is definitely my preferred choice.
This quaint little area is where you’ll have breakfast, all-day refreshments, evening canapés and more! With free snacks available, mocktails and cocktails for your indulgence, as well as mouthwatering eats, this lounge has got to be one of my favourite places in The Barracks Hotel Sentosa! Sip on tea blends and tea-based cocktails such as the Martini Tonique from the award-winning Pryce Tea, a partner of the hotel since its pre-opening phase.
If I could, I would recline here all day and just chill. After all, you’re providing me with snacks, a comfy seat I can sink into and a quiet corner to curl into, you’ll see me stuck in the same spot from sunset to sunrise. The possibilities if I had one more day at the hotel… However, we must move on, for there’s still one place left to explore: the room.
Room
As they led us down the corridor to the room, my breath was once again taken away by the intricate architecture. And this charm carries on to the room as well. As though they’ve carved a little pocket away from the bustle and simple functionality of everyday life, the rooms here are oozing with old-world charm and vintage vibes.
The hotel has five different room types, and I stayed in The Premier Room with Pool Access, which is located on the ground floor. It had an outdoor patio that overlooks and connects to The Barracks Pool. As I pushed open the wooden double doors of the hotel room, I was ready to flop onto the king-sized bed. But first, room tour!
Once the door swings open, you’ll be greeted by the bed, occupying the middle of the room. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was a hand-written card, an adorable teddy bear, as well as a tote bag with gifts from renowned perfumer Miller Harris’s Tea Tonique collection! This is the perfumer’s first partnership with a hotel in Singapore – simply said, I get the hype.
The main section of the room was dimmer than I thought it would be, making it easy on the eyes and cosy. Most of the main lights were ceiling or floor angled, with only two bedside lamps and two concentrated reading lights.
In front of the bed is a 55-inch TV, holding all the amenities, menus, and also the option of smart connection to watch whatever you want. I made sure to take advantage of the TV, having it on as background noise as I went about my evening and night routine.
To the immediate left of the door is a classy and simple desk and a leather chair. While I didn’t really use the table, that chair was perfect to curl into with a good book and a steaming, fragrant cup of tea. Speaking of tea, in the corner of the room is what looked like a chest of drawers from medieval times. However, inside held all the tea blends from Pryce Tea, alcohol, as well as the room’s coffee machine and kettle. Bend down and pull open the doors, and you’ll see the mini fridge by some wine glasses, if that’s something you’re in the mood for!
I absolutely loved the ambience and the vibes of the room, but one thing I must bring up. As a light and fairly sensitive sleeper, I need my room to be pitch-black and pin-drop silent. However, there was a light in the bedroom that could not be turned off. It also started raining just as I started getting ready to turn in, cranking the noise of the entire room up. Thankfully, I had noise-cancelling headphones and could hide under the duvet. So, a caution for light sleepers, make sure to bring an eye mask in addition to earplugs, just in case!
Bathroom
Now that we’re done with the bedroom, it’s time for my favourite part – the bathroom! Wait, before we get to that, can I just say, I spent a solid half an hour just trying to find the switches to the bathroom lights? Turns out, they were hidden by the chest of drawers. Let my carelessness be your lesson – now you don’t have to go on a manhunt just to see in the bathroom.
On to the bathroom proper: it is stunning. Separated by an ivory-hued sliding door, it opened to reveal a modern, white-marbled bathroom, a juxtaposition to the dimmer, more traditional bedroom.
It was absolutely huge, essentially a whole room on its own. With a large free-standing bathtub in the middle of the room, I instantly knew what a majority of my evening was gonna be taken up by. Soaking in a bubble bath, enveloped by the tea-inspired scent from the Miller Harris Tea Tonique body wash – let’s be honest, is there any better way to melt away the stresses of the day?
Behind the bathtub was the toilet, complete with a Japanese Electronic Washlet by TOTO and a heated toilet seat, so that every single aspect of you will be pampered. After all, that throne is the most important one!
On the other side of the bathtub was a separate shower featuring a rain shower, decked out with bath amenities from Miller Harris Tea Tonique collection. Let me tell you, the showers I had in this hotel were amazing. With immaculate water pressure and delicate temperature control, you have the ideal recipe for the perfect shower – trust me, I’m extremely picky about this.
On the other side of the bathroom are double vanities, with two see-through cardboards on the sides. While the vanities are quite beautiful, they are a tad… too high for me. As someone who’s on the shorter side (I’m not ashamed to admit it), tip-toeing was hardly enough to see the main mirrors. Thankfully, there was an extendable mini-mirror, so my skincare routine was not interrupted! The lighting of the main mirrors wasn’t the best, however… Make-up girlies, I guess this is another loss for us.
You can store all your outfits in one of the cabinets in the bathroom as well, adorned with all kinds of hangers. In the other cabinet, there lies the comfiest robe I’ve ever had the honour to put on. Feeling like a fluffy warm hug, falling into bed with this on drained any motivation I had to move. With a convenience store within walking distance, dinner became an afterthought as I aimed to get under the covers as soon as possible.
Patio
On the far end of the bathroom is another door that leads to the great outdoors – the poolside patio. If you ever want to enjoy the warmth of the sun with your room being less than five steps away, you can rest easy knowing that there’s a couch alongside a table and chair set-up.
However, the one thing I would love to indulge in out here is the patio: the Patio Dining experience. With two separate menus that are filled with a curated selection of mouthwatering dishes, dining under the stars would be the healing experience everyone can’t say no to.
Breakfast
Since breakfast was included in this stay, I decided to partake, for once. Usually, I tend to sleep in, waking up just in time for lunch. But today, as my alarm rings and I waltz on over to The Living Room, I have zero expectations. Since breakfast is booked the day before, all I had to do was wait.
The Living Room’s breakfast menu is fairly extensive, ensuring that all tastebuds are catered for with a Western menu as well as an Asian menu. Simply put, anything you get from their breakfast is bound to be phenomenal – and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t like eating breakfast! As I basked in the morning stillness of The Living Room, a thought popped into my head: This is truly the height of luxury.
The Barracks Hotel Sentosa
As the stay came to an end, the serenity that the Barracks Hotel Sentosa possesses accompanies its guests long after they check out. Top-notch service, comfort to soothe your aching body and more, a simple stay here will leave you refreshed and ready to face the world again.
It’s never too late to take a couple of days off and invest that time in yourself. Don’t take my word for it, book a stay for yourself and your loved one now! Ah, writing all of this is making me want to go back! Maybe it’s time to plan my next staycation…
📍Location: 2 Gunner Lane, Palawan Ridge, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099567
Photos by Kristen Ong and Heng Yu Cheng of the DANAMIC Team.
