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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Spend almost any amount of time in Singapore and you will hear a lot about how green the city is—not just the vertical gardens covering high rises or the skyscraper rooftop gardens, but also the numerous parks and nature preserves. But if there is one corner of it that feels even more lush it is Sentosa Island, a kind of engineered paradise to the south of the city, with beaches that overlook a harbor filled with shipping containers and the calls of monkeys offering a soundtrack. On a recent trip, I met new friends for a drink at a Latin-themed restaurant; they had biked there and left their wheels unattended while we sipped sundowners. (You’ve heard about the low levels of crime in the city-nation; this is what it looks like during an average Friday happy hour.) Arguably the jewel in the hospitality crown is the Capella Singapore hotel, a five-star paradise surrounded by 30 acres of tropical rainforest. —C.S.
On one of the lower levels, you’ll find the Auriga Spa, its entrance tucked away along a curved wall covered with silver sculptures of fish, shimmering in the reflected light of the pond below. That sense of underwater tranquility extends through to the reception area, where you’ll be greeted with a glass of fruit- or herb-infused water and then spirited away to the spacious changing rooms (after having been encouraged to arrive an hour or so early to enjoy the impressive gender-separated facilities at each end of the enormous spa complex).
The name Auriga is inspired by a star constellation in the northern hemisphere, and fittingly, the general philosophy here is one that follows the cycles of the moon. The signature treatments promise to offer benefits that speak to the properties of that phase of the celestial cycle (invigorating, nourishing, balancing, or cleansing)—if that reads a little woo-woo at first, know that it’s underpinned by some serious wellness know-how, thanks to the depth of experience of the therapists, many of whom have been working here since the resort first opened. (It doesn’t take long to realize that they really know what they’re doing.) The spa has a co-ed relaxation areas with refreshments, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to take a final dip in that vitality pool and an aromatherapy shower. It’s a tropical paradise, inside and out. —L.H.
What’s the vibe?
The Capella Singapore is a hotel of two—equally striking—halves. When pulling up through manicured lawns to the restored 1880s colonial building that serves as the resort’s main hub, there’s a feel of having stepped back in time to a glamorous Old World country club; until, that is, you walk through to the other side of the colonnaded porch. There, you’ll find those striking views of jungle and sea, but perhaps even more striking is the flowing colossus of steel that frames those views, housing the majority of the guest rooms and fusing with the original building to make a fabulously Frankensteinian whole. Designed by Sir Norman Foster for the resort’s opening in 2009, it’s a genuine architectural marvel.
The interiors, overseen by the Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim, have an air of artful, laid-back elegance, while the extensive grounds are dotted with plenty of villas—and even two manor houses—for hire. (Rumor has it this is where Taylor Swift stationed herself while performing in the city earlier this year.) As far as hotels in Singapore go, there’s nowhere else that offers this kind of breathing room—when I visited, the property was at full capacity, but you’d never have guessed it watching the odd guest breeze by to pick up an iced tea at the café then waft their way down to one of the pools. It’s no wonder that the hotel—and the spa—are just as popular with in-the-know Singapore staycationers as they are with visitors from further afield. —L.H.
The history?
The history of the original colonial building is rich: The reception area was once the officers’ mess of the British Royal Artillery stationed in Singapore, before eventually falling into disrepair and being snapped up as the first property from the Capella hotel group. Its most unlikely claim to fame? It was here, in 2018, that Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un for their infamous peace summit, a fact that is commemorated with a floor plaque near the main building. Yes, really. —L.H.
What should you try?
Auriga makes the case for being a destination spa by offering a variety of packages that extend for up to four hours. I went for a more modest (well, relatively) two-hour Balot Ng Aruga Healing Experience, which takes its cues from traditional Javanese rituals. After being led to one of the tastefully decorated treatment rooms, I was exfoliated from head to toe with a lulur scrub, before being slathered in a butter-soft tanaka powder body mask and wrapped in banana leaves (a canny substitute for the typical sheets of plastic) and then received a hair treatment—by this point, as the sounds of tropical rains wafted from the speakers, I was ready to ascend. Once I’d been unwrapped and showered, the massage table was covered with a plush sheet for me to receive an hour-long massage tailored to my needs (stiff shoulders after a long flight), all using fragrant organic oils. Even as something of a spa junkie, I can say with confidence it was one of the most relaxing treatments I have ever received. —L.H.
There are a number of “journeys” on the menu at Auriga, and while the term might invite an eyeroll at other locations, Auriga is the kind of place where the experiences are so carefully edited that I found myself willing to go along. I was guided to the New Moon Ritual, which involved a scrub and body wrap followed by a “new moon massage” that involved extensive cupping to release tension in my back (and left me with a constellation of crescent shaped marks). The cupping, in particular, was a distinctive offering, marrying the kind of treatment usually only available at more specialized clinics with the general opulence of a (very) high-end spa.— C.S.
How environmentally friendly is it?
Singapore is one of the world’s leading cities when it comes to sustainable urban planning, so it only makes sense that its top hotels follow suit. Measures here include rainwater harvesting to keep its extensive gardens looking ship-shape, solar panels on the residences to help reduce energy intake from the grid, and both refillable glass bottles and zero plastic bags used across the property.
Anything else you should know?
You’ll want to spend some time relaxing by one of the outdoor pools. While they’re helpfully stacked along the side of the hill like rice paddy fields, each one caters to a different group of the resort’s guests, meaning that if you’re looking for some proper chill time (by which I mean, no kids around), the adults-only pool will allow you to continue your serene spa journey in the great outdoors.
Who can go?
Appointments at the Capella Singapore can be booked by hotel guests and non-guests alike.
Booking details for Auriga Spa
Address: 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
