Even in the lead-up to the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix, as the Marina Bay Street Circuit began to take shape, the buzz at Marina Bay Sands was palpable. It wasn’t just pre-race anticipation heightening the excitement at Asia’s leading business, leisure and entertainment destination, but a thrum of activity that confirmed Singapore was finally in its post-pandemic era, packed with local and international visitors determined to live it up again.
In a clear indication of travellers’ undiminished appetite for the high life, numerous suites and rooms overlooking the Marina Bay waterfront—notably those from The Signature Collection, including the Chairman Suite and Presidential Suite—were snapped up for their prime view of the circuit. With that in mind, parent company Las Vegas Sands’ enormous US$1 billion reinvestment in Marina Bay Sands, on top of a multi-billion-dollar expansion unveiled back in 2019, couldn’t have come at a more fortuitous time.
Extensions to Marina Bay Sands’ hospitality experiences encompass wide-ranging upgrades of all rooms and suites in Towers 1 and 2, the introduction of signature experiences across the 55th floor of all three hotel towers, and a refreshed Executive Club Lounge. Add that to the launch of WAKUDA Singapore in the hotel’s grand lobby—a Japanese dining concept created by chef Tetsuya Wakuda and restaurateur John Kunkel of 50 Eggs Hospitality Group—and that’s reason enough to stir up ample curiosity.
Well aware of the complex desires and requirements of high-end travellers, Wakuda is keen to point out that he and Marina Bay Sands are working together to offer a level of original, unmissable gastronomy. “Guests are increasingly well-versed in food, with more refined palates and appreciation for rare seasonal ingredients,” he remarks. “They are well-travelled, adventurous eaters with high expectations of what a quality omakase experience should entail, from the cuisine and beverage pairing, to service and ambience. All of these factors set the bar high for our team, who have fine-tuned the intricacies of our omakase, and I am looking forward to showcasing this one-of-a-kind experience to our guests.”
WAKUDA and its forward-thinking Japanese cuisine, which ranges from cold soba with truffles and Oscietra caviar to gold leaf-strewn soft-serve miso ice cream (a house special), joins a lineup of more than 80 restaurants in Marina Bay Sands. Other culinary titans present include the ever-charming Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro & Oyster Bar, Wolfgang Puck’s Spago Dining Room, and Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen—all intent on placing phenomenal meals on their tables.
Beyond edible delights, visitors can take the avenue of retail therapy at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands to reach the Elite tier of the Sands Rewards Programme. It’s a feat that might seem a little easier after perusing the 170 luxury and premium brands on offer, heading to the slick, spherical Apple Store, or creating a bespoke perfume at Maison 21G. An annual minimum spend of SGD$50,000 earns Elite members redeemable Destination Dollars, impressive savings on hotel, spa, and retail purchases, and a whole host of hospitality perks such as complimentary tickets to ArtScience Museum exhibitions.
The iconic lotus-shaped landmark on Bayfront Avenue is one of the beating hearts of Singapore’s arts and culture scene, with 21 galleries spread across 5,000 sqm. Having recently hosted exhibitions such as Patricia Piccinini: We Are Connected—an absorbing and, at times, confronting collection of hybrid, hyper-realistic sculptures and installations that blurred the boundaries between humans and animals—ArtScience Museum provides a feast for the eyes and mind. Visitors can stand at a confluence of art, science, culture and technology, dipping into current exhibitions such as Future World: Where Art Meets Science and Sneakertopia: Step Into Street Culture, or venturing into new worlds in the new VR Gallery.
As evening falls and Marina Bay Sands’ post-dinner treats start to unfold—beginning with the laser-led, fountain jet-powered Spectra – A Light & Water Show at the Event Plaza—bars and clubs such as KOMA and AVENUE Lounge spring into action. Even if champagne-soaked dancing isn’t for all late-night partiers, AVENUE Lounge has a mini bowling alley plus old-style arcade pinball and skee ball machines for extra amusement, proving that there’s plenty of fun to go around at Marina Bay Sands.
