Langkawi has always been the jewel of Malaysia’s northern region but it is also much more than its crystal waters, mystic forests and abundant biodiversity. It is also a destination brimming with best-in-class resorts which are fast becoming the hub for world-class culinary greats to show off their skills. Getting closer to nature with a tropical retreat is the luxury The St. Regis Langkawi wants its guests to discover as it re-opens its doors and reiterates its commitment to bespoke, unparalleled service.
The tropical retreat resort has 89 suites and villas, four of which are the much-in-demand over-water villas. And among the four over-water villas, the jewel of the property is undoubtedly the 4-bedroom Sunset Royal Villa (rates start at RM10,999 nett per night) which embraces opulence with modern, luxurious amenities.
Spanning over 700 square meters, the villa’s four rooms open with private terraces for each room, an infinity pool that overlooks the tranquil waters of the Andaman Sea and an elegant living area that features a tempered glass-flooring panel to enjoy an immersive underwater effect. Dining in the Sunset Royal can be a curated affair with award-winning chefs specially crafting an in-villa dining experience.
Challenging times have made celebrating the simpler things like world-class hospitality all the more important. St. Regis’ legendary butler service is one of its most visible representations of an uncompromising level of attention to detail and anticipatory service. The personalised Butler is at every guest’s disposal and they are there to deliver much appreciated extras such as delivering your coffee order at any time of day, evening champagne rituals and daily garment pressing services. Should a guest have a special request, St. Regis’ butler team is ever ready to see what they can do to make your stay exceptional. The property’s Head Butler Molly illustrates that the butlers always oblige including having children’s books to read bedtime stories to their littlest guests.
The property’s Director of Operations, Natasha Low reiterates that bringing the best in class of service is a St. Regis convention that she intends to extend past the confines of just the property itself. “My philosophy towards guest experience is based on my favourite quote by Maya Angelou ‘People will forget what you’ve done for them but they will never forget how you made them feel’. I want the ‘software’ to be prioritized above hardware. It is the experience and memories that you create here that we want to stay with our guests.”
Guests also have access to The St. Regis Langkawi’s extensive facilities – such as dining outlets, spa, walking trails and various water sports. The timing for the re-opening of the tropical retreat is spot-on, as families and groups start to plan their end-of-the-year holiday season activities. One such activity the picturesque resort is perfect for is a wedding. Be it an outdoor venue set amongst towering palms with the backdrop of the Andaman Sea or a more intimate dining experience indoors, the professional team are on-hand to personalise every detail and ensure that the affair will be memorable and romantic one. (Wedding packages start from RM15,000). Group travellers can also partake in all the splendours the island has to offer such as mangrove tours at the Kilim Geoforest Park, nature treks, or the more languid gondola ride or sunset cruise that can all be arranged in-house.
Dining at the resort ranges from the contemporary L’Orangerie to the elegant St. Regis Bar that offers an impressive list of wines. For the holiday season, there is much anticipation with the re-opening of St. Regis Langkawi’s signature fine-dining outlet, Kayuputi. Manned and conceptualised by Executive Chef Mandy Goh, the menu takes inspiration from both local ingredients and the stories that come out of guest experiences. “I have done a lot of research into sourcing local ingredients and am constantly and pleasantly surprised with the resourcefulness of our local farmers,” she says, adding, “for instance, did you know that you can now get luxury ingredients such as pheasant and caviar locally?” This resourcefulness translates to the fare at Kayuputi where the menu offers a tantalising array of innovation such as mustard sorbet paired with salmon gravalax, and the signature Assam Pedas risotto, a local twist on the Italian classic. Guests can also look forward to more creative pairings courtesy of Chef Mandy in the coming months. “I think after the pandemic, guests are really interested in the stories and the concepts behind their dining experience. I enjoy taking my time to explain the creations to our guests especially after our kitchens have spent months perfecting some of my crazy ideas!”
In the coming days, Kayuputi is serving up a seven-course degustation menu for Christmas Eve (RM650 per person), Christmas Day (RM650 per person) and New Year’s Eve (RM799 per person) where guests will also get to enjoy seasonal festive cocktails at the Pavilion Bar before tucking into their holiday meals.
Visit The St. Regis Langkawi’s website below and head to the tropical retreat of your dreams.
