Villa Samadhi is a rustic retreat in the urban jungle of Singapore with 20 rooms in a former British colonial barracks. Located within Labrador Nature Reserve near Sentosa Island, it’s a unique combination of history and relaxation.
Staying at Villa Samadhi is a rare opportunity to experience a ‘black and white’ house in Singapore.
In this post:
Villa Samadhi Singapore Price & Booking
Villa Samadhi Singapore positions itself as a five star luxury boutique hotel and prices accordingly. Room rates start around S$255++ for the lead in Crib category up to S$695++ for the Luxe Sarang with private pool.
Booking direct comes with a generous list of inclusions including afternoon tea, an hour of sundowners and a laundry allowance. All bookings come with breakfast.
I booked via trip.com as there was a reasonable price differential for the two nights in January.
Villa Samadhi Singapore Location
Villa Samadhi is located within Labrador Nature Reserve on the southern coast of Singapore, near Sentosa Island. Labrador Park MRT station on the Circle Line is about 10 minutes walk from the hotel.
Grab was readily available from the hotel despite the secluded location. Fares to Changi Airport are usually around S$25 and Singapore Zoo around S$20.
Villa Samadhi Singapore Check In, Lobby & Layout
Arriving via Grab from Changi Airport, a staff member came out to welcome me and begin the check in process. The lobby itself is wonderfully decorated with an old bank counter as the check in desk and an oversized Buddha statue greeting guests.
The formalities were super efficient with a signature tamarind juice and cold towel presented with the required guest information form.
With only 20 rooms, which is about half the size of the already boutique Warehouse Hotel in Robertson Quay, the hotel is easy to navigate. The main hub is The Library on the upper floor, and the guest rooms all open up onto the main corridor.
On the lower floor, rooms open up directly onto the garden, while on the upper floor guests enjoy a shuttered corridor. Comfortable chairs are located between rooms.
Villa Samadhi Singapore Crib Room Review
The Crib is the entry level category at Villa Samadhi, but is spacious at 25 sqm and with high ceilings on the upper floor rooms. A King sized four poster bed with chandelier above is the main feature of the room.
There is a large antique wardrobe with hanging space above and the mini bar below. The vintage suitcases on top are also bonus style points.
Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities are also offered, with bonus points for loose leaf tea.
A fruit basket was provided as the welcome amenity and all the items were high quality.
Drinking water is provided in a copper jug with matching copper cups, a nice touch that adds to the unique nature of the hotel.
The bathroom is generously sized with a walk in shower and wonderful wooden vanity. All the usual amenities including toothbrushes, shower caps and a hairdryer are provided in the drawers.
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool at Villa Samadhi is a recent addition and most welcome in tropical Singapore. Located next to the main building, it’s relatively shallow (hip height) but long enough to swim laps.
Given there are only 20 rooms at the hotel, there is a good chance you’ll have the pool to yourself.
Breakfast
Breakfast is included for all guests and is a hybrid buffet and a la carte offering. Guests are requested to provide their hot main selections to the front desk by 8PM the night before.
The verandah at Tamarind Hill, the hotel’s signature and only restaurant, is a most pleasant location for breakfast. Connecting the hotel and restaurant are lovely tree lined walkways.
A good selection of buffet items were available including local favourites like nasi lemak and noodles. Naturally, pastries, yoghurt and fruit were also provided.
In terms of the hot dishes, the beef noodle soup was the best with a deep, herbal broth.
The roti canai with dhal was served crispy and was also good.
However, the Villa Samadhi Big Breakfast was average with the poached eggs being closer to hard boiled and the hash browns decidedly lacking in crunch.
Villa Samadhi Singapore Service
The service at Villa Samadhi Singapore is unobtrusive, and reflects the understated nature of the hotel. All the staff I interacted with were friendly and pleasant, with a 2PM check out proactively offered when I stopped by the front desk to enquire about the usual check out time.
I appreciated the extra time to enjoy the hotel, with a read outside my room and a pot of tea.
A WhatsApp message is proactively sent to all guests at check in with restaurant opening hours and provide the option to raise any service requests via chat, which is a nice touch.
However, the room was not serviced at all during my two night stay. I’m not sure if that was by design (i.e. a COVID precaution) or a service lapse.
Villa Samadhi Singapore Review Summary
Villa Samadhi Singapore is a unique hotel combining heritage and a rustic retreat. Having visited Singapore dozens of times, it was brilliant to have such a relaxing stay set in nature.
While first time visitors might be better off by the Singapore River or Orchard (where the Yotel offers excellent value), the Villa Samadhi is a hidden gem for the return visitor.
