Why stay?

For the stellar service, showstopping views, and elegant, art-filled interiors, all wrapped up in a modernist high-rise designed by the late Pritzker Prize–winning architect Kevin Roche. Michelin-starred Cantonese dining is another plus, while the CBD-adjacent location is a good fit for business and leisure travelers alike.

The neighborhood

Rising 32 stories above almost three hectares of lushly landscaped grounds, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia can feel like an oasis amid the bustle of the Marina Bay area. Attractions such as Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade theater complex, and the ArtScience Museum—all of which have been developed since the hotel first opened in 1996—are near at hand, as are the Marina Square and Millenia Walk malls, to which the hotel is connected by a walkway. Joggers will appreciate being close to the water; the three-kilometer running route around Marina Bay passes some of Singapore’s most iconic buildings.

Inside the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

The feel

Dominated by soft tones of pale stone and marble, the feng shui–aligned interiors are a study in symmetry and pared-back elegance. Setting the scene is the grand light-filled lobby, with its vaulted ceiling of pearlescent glass panels and a suspended sculpture of spiraling fiberglass, Cornucopia, by Frank Stella. The latter is just one of 4,200 pieces in the hotel’s museum-worthy art collection, most of which were specially commissioned from the likes of Dale Chihuly, Zhu Wei, and David Hockney. Warmly attentive staff assure that everything (barring the occasional wait at reception) flows smoothly, from check-in to checkout. You’d hardly guess that this is the largest property in the Ritz-Carlton portfolio by room count.

Guest quarters

Last remodeled in 2011, the rooms and suites here are among the city’s biggest, starting at 51 square meters. Oversize windows, a subdued palette, and smartly positioned mirrors enhance the sense of spaciousness, while walls are covered in pebble-skinned faux leather and glossy satinwood paneling. But the views are the real selling point, especially for guests who’ve booked one of the south-facing rooms, which look out to Marina Bay and the downtown skyline. (Rooms on the other side of the building overlook the less picturesque Kallang area, and are priced accordingly.) Marble-tiled bathrooms come with soaking tubs set next to the hotel’s trademark (and highly Instagrammable) octagonal windows; residential-sized Diptyque bath amenities and plush microfiber bathrobes are nice too. Club-level accommodations are well worth the upgrade for access to the excellent 32nd-floor Club Lounge, as well as benefits such as in-room check-in and complimentary limousine service in the vicinity.

Food and drink

Redesigned by New York–based designer Tony Chi in 2015 ahead of its 20th anniversary, Summer Pavilion is among the city’s top Chinese restaurants, with a Michelin star to show for it. At the helm is Hong Kong–born chef Cheung Siu Kong, whose refined Cantonese specialties include sautéed wagyu with black truffle, steamed Dong Xing grouper fillet with salted lemon sauce, and braised greenlip abalone, all served on beautiful hand-painted plateware. Colony, located in the lobby level’s glass-ceilinged west wing, is the buffet restaurant that puts all others to shame, with seven live kitchen stations dishing up everything from tandoor-roasted meats to iced seafood, beef Wellington, grilled foie gras, and dim sum; its Champagne-fueled Sunday brunches are particularly popular. In the east wing, the Republic bar is the newest addition to the lineup, a handsome crimson-hued space (also by Tony Chi) whose on-point cocktail menu takes inspiration from the pop culture of the 1960s, the decade Singapore secured its independence.

Lobster poached rice is a signature dish at the Michelin-starred Summer Pavilion.

Wellness factor

The serene, marine-themed Ritz-Carlton Spa distinguishes itself with La Mer facials and an extensive treatment menu that includes warm lapis-stone massages and detoxifying algae wraps. The signature experience here is the Cello Concerto, a 60-minute massage synchronized to the strains of a classical cellist. The hotel’s 24-hour gym is equipped for full fitness sessions, while its 25-meter outdoor swimming pool is equally suited for laps or lounging.

Family matters

More resort-like properties might be better suited for kids, but The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia does what it can to cater to families. Younger guests (from ages four to 12) receive an activity book and discovery map at check-in; the latter can be used to redeem a scoop of ice cream after obtaining four animal stamps on a scavenger hunt. For a fee, the Ritz Kids Night Safari is an in-room camping experience featuring a toy-equipped tent. Complimentary baby cots and prams are available on request.

Sustainability cred

The hotel’s eco-efforts are driven by its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals, a Marriott-wide program that targets significant reductions to food waste, water usage, carbon intensity, and landfill waste by 2025. Its recycling initiatives include collecting ring tabs from guests’ aluminum drink cans for reuse in making prosthetic limbs.

What else?

Overlooking turns 16 and 17 of Singapore’s Grand Prix street circuit, the hotel is a prime race-watching spot come F1 weekend. It should also be noted that the property does not participate in the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program.

Reviewed by Christopher P. Hill

ritzcarlton.com
+65 6337 8888
Marina Bay, 7 Raffles Ave., Singapore

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore: an Art-Filled Oasis in Marina Bay

Singapore Hotels

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