What’s new at Marina Bay Sands?

At the integrated resort, the downtime has an upside. A look at its line-up of new and exciting experiences shall reaffirm this. From indulgent gastronomical treats to luxury retail therapy, nightlife, and immersive museum exhibitions, Marina Bay Sands has its bases covered and then some. 

There’s also the attractive stay packages at “the island’s biggest hotel” to boot.

Expectations are high with such catchphrases being tossed around but Marina Bay Sands Hotel manages to meet every single one of them. With over 2,500 rooms and suites speckled over 55 floors and across three hotel towers, it is safe to say that the hotel is primed to welcome visitors from the farthest corners of the world at any given time.

WHERE TO STAY

For a next-door neighbour such as ourselves, who are travelling by our lonesome, the Deluxe Room is plenty. The 30-sqm space boasts an elegant décor and is furnished with luxurious amenities such as a king-size bed, spacious bathroom with glass-enclosed shower and an interactive flat screen television with cable channels, among others.

The room, perched on the 32nd floor, conjures a calm and serene atmosphere with a spectacular view of the garden that stretches to the cargo-vessel-tipped South China Sea, readily accessible via the floor-to-ceiling windows. Those who aren’t big fans of height or simply wish to call it a day may draw the blackout curtains that come with a state-of-the-art control system for a restful slumber.

But it must be noted that Marina Bay Sands has recently announced a billion-dollar reinvestment programme and that means an extensive upgrading of all rooms and suites in Towers 1 and 2 of the hotel is afoot. The works have already started and will be completed in phases until next year. So be forewarned of potential service delays and noise disruptions.

WHERE TO SHOP

Things may have slowed down in most parts of the world in the last two years but the same cannot be said about The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. The award-winning shopping destination has welcomed over 20 brand-new retailers including luxury menswear label Thom Browne, Italian linen and lifestyle brand Frette as well as tech behemoth Apple.

The reopening of Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Gucci and Philipp Plein’s duplexes is another instance of the flagship mall kicking it into high gear. Gucci’s revamped space, in particular, offers the ultimate retail therapy notably with the Gucci in-store Artwall Display piece — the first in Southeast Asia — and the introduction of the Gucci Lifestyle category.

The Shoppes has also brought in a slew of beauty and fragrance stores to cater to the most discerning cosmoholics. One of the notable residents is none other than Sisley Paris. The luxury cosmetics and skincare brand opened its doors — its first standalone store in Singapore — last year and offers personalised facial and hair analysis services including the renowned phyto-aromatic facial treatments.

WHERE TO EAT

Fans of Chef Tetsuya Wakuda will be delighted to hear that his second restaurant at Marina Bay Sands, Wakuda, is officially open and it’s everything they wanted and more. Following the success of the cuisinier’s two Michelin-starred Waku Ghin, Wakuda sets to redefine the Japanese dining experience with an assortment of dishes and small plates using high-grade seasonal ingredients.

Meanwhile, fellow resident eateries are stepping up their game. Mott 32, for one, has come up with its own plant-based menu — the smoked “cod” with fried fishless fillets in a tantalising sauce and smoked with apple wood is a must-try. Special menus created with heart-healthy ingredients can also be found in a number of other restaurants across the compound.

From wholesome superfoods at Bread Street Kitchen to immaculate green plates at Spago Dining Room and plant-based renditions of Asian favourites at Rise, the health conscious are pampered with the luxury of options. A couple of stops at DB Bistro & Oyster Bar for a generous plate of grilled sea trout and at Black Tap for its jumbo-sized milkshakes on a cheat day are also recommended.

WHERE TO LEARN

A centre of all things innovative and altogether a cultural icon of Singapore, the ArtScience Museum signals an exciting future ahead with the re-launching of its Level 4 area. The cavernous space now boasts a purpose-built screening room, ArtScience Cinema that will present curated film programmes year-round, which will include feature films, documentaries and more.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the room, the VR Gallery has its most ambitious works to date: We Live in an Ocean of Air. Conceptualised by London-based art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, the immersive and interactive art installation illuminates on the symbiotic relationship between animals, plants and humans, and will run until 2nd October 2022.

Other must-see exhibitions on site are Radical Curiosity: In the Orbit of Buckminster Fuller and Attack on Titan: The Exhibition. While the former delves into the mind of a visionary whose prominent works include the invention of the geodesic dome, the latter celebrates the Japanese manga of the same name with a closer look at creator Hajime Isayama’s intricate worldbuilding.

WHERE TO PARTY

Say goodbye to the nights spent in solitude because the niteries here are back with a vengeance. Avenue Singapore, for instance, is bringing back live music to the lounge with its resident DJs set to drop some beats from top-of-the-line consoles and sound systems—the ultimate energiser should one decide to take it to the play areas like the mini bowling alley or the pool table.

Those who wish to hit the dance floor alternatively may make a beeline for Marquee. The 2,300 square-metre nightclub is set to reacquaint clubbers with its immersive party experience driven by advanced technology, sound and whimsical design elements including the Big Q, an eight-armed ferris wheel, as well as Sunny Slide Up, a three-storey spiralling slide.

But if one wishes to take a little breather and a lungful of clean city air, the Waterfront Promenade is the place to be. Here, visitors will be treated to the Spectra light and water show. The popular, free-to-public 15-minute multimedia extravaganza is scheduled to emblaze the skyline at 8PM and 9PM from Sundays to Thursdays as well as at 10PM on Fridays and Saturdays.