Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands is the perfect place to enjoy world-class fine dining, shopping and entertainment, as a group of selected Robb Report Malaysia readers happily discovered.
The guests checked into their club suites which command a view of the gorgeous city skyline, followed by a welcome lunch at Wolfgang Puck’s stylish Spago – located at the panoramic Skypark – which saw them enjoying Heirloom Fuji apple salads; grilled, juicy Angus beef burgers and Puck’s signature Kaiserschmarren, a Viennese souffle pancake dessert from Puck’s childhood.
This lunch would signal a parade of celebrity-chef restaurant experiences as well as a customised tour of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. This newly launched personal shopping service introduced the guests to swanky in-store experiences, with complimentary buggy service, champagne arrivals and customised product experiences.
At Saint Laurent, an intimate encounter with the new collection included a discovery of details such as an intricate black chain integrated into the current season’s offerings. The gentlemen also enjoyed insightful journeys into the world of made-to-measure with Ermenegildo Zegna. A host of new fashion offerings for men such as Valentino, Dolce&Gabbana and Tom Ford provided plenty of interest, as did Berluti, Givenchy and Loboutin.
At the Louis Vuitton Island Maison, guests were enthralled by an exhibition of century-old trunks. Under the tutelage of the in-house artisan, guests tried their hand at hot stamping their initials. This personalised monogramming has also expanded to selected Chinese characters and the Merlion symbol. At the store’s private, VIP-only space called Loggia, the party of six were treated to beautiful views of the sparkling Marina Bay.
Lindsay Nicholas, executive director for retail marketing at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, was on hand to introduce the Sands Rewards LifeStyle membership, a loyalty programme offering rewards, savings, discounts and other special privileges. Among them are complimentary tickets to the ArtScience Museum, discounts on shows at Marina Bay Sands, triple points on dining and year-round savings at Banyan Tree Spa.
For dinner on the first day, the group was treated to Puck’s formidable steakhouse Cut, recently honoured with a Michelin star. The melange of flavours began with wasabi-kosho ponzu on a Hokkaido scallop carpaccio and a crisp 2015 Domain Seguinot-Bordet Chablis. The signature Bone Marrow Flan followed before the grand entrance of USDA Prime New York Sirloin – made all the more delicious with a pairing of 2008 Chateau La Tour de By Medoc. Dessert was a sumptous Kaya Baked Alaska served with Pandan ice cream and coconut sorbet, as well as a 2012 Hungarian Disznoko Late Harvest Tokaji.
Brunch on the following day took place at Adrift, a California produce-based and Asian-inspired restaurant helmed by chef David Myers. The smorgasbord of delights included fresh oysters, chilled crabs, king prawns, artisan cheeses and charcuterie. Tantalising options of Wagyu cheeseburgers, grilled beef strip loins and Furikake-rubbed big eye tuna provided the counterbalance to a free flow of Veuve Clicquot, watermelon mojitos and Ginza-styled fruit cocktails.
After brunch, a memorable visit to the nearby ArtScience Musuem showcased the educational aspects at Big Bang Data, the wonderful objets d’art of Parisian jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels and the immersive installations of Future World. There was time yet for a retail diversion, with Audemars Piguet, Prada, Dior and Gucci among the stops.
Pre-dinner drinks at the Michelin-starred Waku Ghin included sakura-infused cocktails and the indulgent marinated botan shrimp and Hokkaido sea urchin dish, crowned with a rich dollop of oscietra caviar. Dinner rolled in with the Italian delights of Osteria Mozza, the award-winning restaurant concept forged by the considerable talents of Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton and Joseph Bastianich. At the private dining room of Osteria Mozza, executive chef Peter Birks charmed the guests with culinary masterpieces which were yet to appear on the menu. Among them was a Wagyu beef tartare, Boston bay mussels in saffron champagne vinegar, lobster mezzalune in a light chervil and vermouth cream, cedar wood-smoked ocean trout and a vanilla panna cotta to finish. Wine pours for the evening included a powerful 2012 Barbaresco from Piemonte and a 2014 Moscato d’Asti GD Vajra, redolent with the bouquet honey and lychees.
The farewell brunch took place at one of Marina Bay Sands’ recent entrants into its roster of celebrity chef restaurants. Inside the cosy ambience of Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, the guests partook of spicy tuna tartare, flatbread with caramelized onion, slow-roasted Dingley Dell pork belly, fish and chips, and short rib beef burger topped with Monterey Jack cheese and smoked bacon ketchup. The meal proved a great way to cap the weekend escape, with Marina Bay Sands providing the perfect backdrop for ultimate experiences in world-class retail, cuisine and relaxation.
