As the global luxury zeitgeist pivots from ostentation to understated opulence, Singapore has quickly emerged as a blueprint for the art of tastefully curated indulgence. Luxury in Singapore is no longer draped in gaudy gold and Ferragamo – today it’s quieter, more refined, and leans into subtlety over showiness. As I checked into the Paiza Collection at the iconic Marina Bay Sands – a collection of ultra high-end luxury stays on the highest floors of the hotel that feel far more like sprawling penthouses than hotel rooms – I found myself stepping not just into a suite, but into Singapore’s quiet revolution in hospitality, an experience so eloquently curated it might be mistaken for a high-art installation.

The entire affair from start to finish is designed to make you feel like you’re being held close and coddled like a newborn babe in the literal lap of luxury – but executed effortlessly so it never feels suffocating. It started at my doorstep with a private chauffeur service that picked me up in a custom Rolls-Royce Cullinan – my chauffeur was friendly and ensured the temperature of my car was precisely to my liking and not a degree too warm or cold. He also doubled up as a DJ in case I had any car-ride song requests – but since I was staying just about 4.5 minutes away from the hotel, I didn’t have much time to soak in the pimped out ride.

We drove in through a discreet entrance to the Marina Bay Sands, cordoned off exclusively for VIP guests of the Paiza Collection and designed to ensure we weren’t battling the crowds of tourists that normally flood the entry lobby of the hotel. As we pulled up, a warm welcoming committee was ready to greet me with friendly faces and a warm cup of herbal tea in the arrival lounge, before taking me up in a private elevator that leads straight to the suites (I didn’t even realize I was checking in – with the in-suite check in service all I had to do was hand over my passport and everything was magically and seamlessly executed.) At the suite, I was introduced to my two butlers – Ronny and Stephenie – who were assigned to ever so graciously attend to my every need 24-7 for the entirety of my stay. Did I want my suitcase unpacked and a dress ironed for dinner? Ronny to the rescue. Did I need a bath drawn or directions to the restaurant? Ronny to the rescue. Did I need a drink made for me in the suite because I was too lazy to make it to one of the hotel’s many, many bars? Yes – Ronny even doubled up as a bartender.

The views from my suite were nothing short of magnificent, perched right in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District overlooking the Marina Bay waterfront promenade. The artistry of the 1,076 square foot space reveals itself in the minute and the exquisite: walls clad in soft eucalyptus timber, double vanities sheathed in Italian Palisandro Blue marble, Legle porcelain sitting quietly on display, and a huge residence-style layout that features a living room, an attached bedroom, and a generously laden kitchen stacked with gourmet teas and coffees. Oh yes, and then there’s the beds – undeniably my favourite part of any hotel room experience – and these were handmade Savoir beds, with custom mattresses layered with horse tail and fine soft wool, topped with impossibly fluffy goose-down pillows and duvets. Melt.

My first order of business was to plonk myself down on the cloud masquerading as a bed, after which I was presented with a series of unfairly indulgent choices – the pillow menu asked me to choose what sort of pillow I’d like to sleep on that night (choices included a magnetic pillow that’s meant to promote the body’s natural healing ability as you sleep), and the water menu at the minibar offered everything from glacial spring water from Norway to naturally sparkling spring water from an artesian spring in Slovenia. I didn’t have much time to decide because lunch was in 20 minutes downstairs at Maison Boulud. My bestie Ronny called to ask me if I needed him to accompany me to the restaurant, to which I rather proudly declared that I could do this all by myself – only to get totally and utterly lost in the massive shopping mall, asking every man woman and child along the way where I could find Maison Boulud, realizing that perhaps I did need a butler babysitter in my life after all. Thank gosh for my palate, I eventually found the restaurant.

Founded by renowned chef Daniel Boulud, Maison Boulud offers a modern expression of French gastronomy, guided by the bounty of each season. I sat down, excited to try a brand new menu of items yet to make their debut at the restaurant – charred Spanish octopus with stewed sweet pepper, classic foie gras with roasted apple, linguine with jumbo lump crab and lobster sauce, and sea trout bathed in lemon chicken jus. Lunch was paired with a Chianti Classico from Tenuta di Arceno and a Barbera d’Asti from Marenco – the perfect companion with its generous burst of ripe red cherries, blackberries, and a faint whiff of violet. Maison Boulud’s vast cellar – which I found myself wandering through – currently holds an estimated 1500 bottles and around 400 labels.

Stuffed and satiated, I retired to my room and sank into my impossibly floofy bed – but not before taking a bath in a bathroom the size of a studio apartment, and wrapping myself in a bathrobe that felt like it was made from the fur of a million fluffy bunnies. I fell into a deep, restful slumber and woke up just in time for dinner at Wakuda.

I quickly traded the bathrobe for heels and made my way down to Wakuda, walking into a sultry atmosphere, casual but chic, with deliciously dim lighting and a dynamic live sushi counter taking centre stage. Chef Tetsuya Wakuda fuses French culinary techniques with the Japanese doctrine of Shun – the art of serving ingredients only at the height of their season. My mother was my dinner date this evening, and our waiter started us with a glass of Fuji mineral water and a delightfully refreshing glass of white tea, Darjeeling and jasmine Sparkling Tea from the Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company – which, despite the fact that it has absolutely no alcohol, has now become one of my favourite bubblies.

Our first course was a Japanese-style handcrafted cocktail (of course) – for me, a Japanese Sour with gin, shiso, yuzu and kinako – roasted soybean flour that imparts a warm, nutty, and slightly sweet flavour. The tasting menu was a masterclass in the art of cross-cultural persuasion, where Saikyo miso and beurre noisette made unlikely yet convincing bedfellows in keeping with Wakuda’s culinary approach. Each course managed to innovate without descending into culinary gimmickry – the flan made with savoury egg custard and bright pops of Japanese white corn was exceptional, the sushi was impeccably fresh, and the thick, succulent fillet of Patagonian toothfish with buttery, sweet flesh was bathed in Saikyo miso from Kyoto and caramelised into a lustrous golden-brown. The A5 Wagyu was next – Ōmi wagyu from Daikichi which, I was told, was sourced from a wagyu specialist Chef Tetsuya has been working with to rear female cattle solely for his use; what appeared on my plate was coy, silken ribbons of wagyu with marbling that melted in my mouth like a slab of butter on a scorching summer noon.

After a most decadent dinner, it was straight to the Paiza Sky Residence – an executive club lounge with a distinct members-only feel and absolutely breathtaking skyline views of the city. Hushed lilting jazz floated through the rooms, and a whisky tasting awaited me at the bespoke Whisky Bar, which was softly lit and sensuously heavy with oak and leather. To my surprise and delight, Saravana was the name of my whisky specialist – I couldn’t help but feel the serendipity of the moment, given that my dearest uncle, a whisky connoisseur and collector who taught me everything I know about single malts, is also named Saravana. My brother Rohan and I laughed about the sweet coincidence before diving into our flight of Scottish whiskies: a Glenfiddich 12-year-old Sherry Cask Finish, a Laphroaig Quarter Cask, and an Edradour 10 year old that opens with a nose of sugared almonds, honey, and a faint whiff of marzipan, leading to a palate of rich malty toffee and dried fruit. Edradour is one of Scotland’s smallest heritage distilleries, producing whisky in tiny batches that still use traditional methods.

We finished the night with a delightful nip of the Glenmorangie 18-year-old “Extremely Rare” Highland single malt; the aroma of this beauty arrived like a well-curated bookshop: polished oak shelves, old leather-bound books, and the faint trace of dried flowers. I was in whisky heaven, paved not with gold but with oak casks. Saravana was wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate about his craft as well as his bar’s collection – rightfully so; the floor-to-ceiling whisky display showcases 60 types of rare single malts and unique vintages, aged 18 years and above, while the whole bar boasts 90 different varieties of whisky.

The next morning, I managed to wake up early enough to head upstairs to the hotel’s world-renowned infinity pool for a few quick laps – a symbolic penance for the indulgence of the night before. The stunning skyline views were enough to wake me up, and the luxury breakfast buffet at the Paiza Sky Residence that awaited me was a display so thorough it seemed almost impolite not to overeat. There were live cooking and carving stations helmed by top-tier chefs, and everything from dim sum and made-to-order eggs to fresh scallops and tiger prawns, pastries and fruit tarts to cheese and meats from every corner of the globe. It’s undoubtedly one of the most indulgent breakfasts you’ll ever wake up to, and the carbs did my system so much good, given the fact that my bloodstream at that point was 90% single malt.

Staying in the Paiza Collection was a reminder that, in Singapore, luxury is no longer defined solely by spectacle but by a sense of belonging, however fleeting. The suites wrapped me in a finely curated domesticity – pillow menus, handcrafted porcelain, and a service style rooted in the Asian ethos that true hospitality anticipates needs before they are voiced. In the end, what impressed (and surprised) me most about the Paiza Collection was not its marbled vanities or palatial suites, but how it managed to feel, improbably, like home – if one’s home came with discreet butler service, Italian Palisandro marble and a custom-made chinoiserie armoire. This warmth is most definitely because of the people behind the experience. Every gesture of service seemed invisible until the exact moment it was needed, a quiet choreography that was executed with the grace of a ballet and is increasingly shaping the new luxury standard in Singapore – with Marina Bay Sands leading the way. In a city now fluent in the language of curated exclusivity, the Paiza Collection speaks with a softer, warmer tone – because sometimes the grandest gesture is simply making you feel at home.

Paiza Collection

W: Marina Bay Paiza Collection
T: +65 6688 8898
E: Reservations

Maison Boulud

W: Marina Bay Sands Restaurants Maison Boulud
T: +65 6688 6088
E: Reservations

Wakuda

W: Marina Bay Sands Restaurants Singapore
T: +65 6688 8885
E: Reservations

Written by Nirupama Belliappa for Luxuria Lifestyle International