Discover "new" creativity in small places！ Sentosa is the resort destination with the most Michelin stars

Text and photos / Yu Kangwei

In recent years of global instability and ongoing terrorist attacks, "safety" has become my top priority when traveling abroad. The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released a report on travel safety rankings among 136 countries, placing Singapore at 6th (Finland was named the safest country in the world in 2017, while Taiwan ranked 28th and Japan 26th). In the past, many joked that Singapore (新加坡) should be called Singa"Bore" — with "bore" meaning boring. But thanks to its safety, convenience, warm climate, and shared language, I've been here at least once a year for the past three years. I’ve spotted creative details all over and realized how much this small country is

Sentosa was originally a small fishing village on a southern offshore island of Singapore. The name "Sentosa" in Malay means "tranquility." Later, the Singapore government decided to develop the island into a holiday resort destination. Resorts World Sentosa, Asia’s premier integrated resort, was built here by Genting Group, which originated in Malaysia. With the slogan "Play Your Way," it offers travelers the opportunity to create their own personalized and memorable holidays, enjoying the experiences they love most.

Since Singapore was awarded the internationally renowned culinary guide "Michelin Guide" in 2016, it has quickly risen as an Asian food paradise, satisfying travelers’ palates with everything from street food to Michelin-starred fine dining. Resorts World Sentosa is the integrated resort with the highest number of Michelin stars. Its four restaurants collectively hold seven Michelin stars. Among them, the high-end French restaurant Joël Robuchon is Singapore’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant; L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant; the Chinese restaurant "Forest" and the Western restaurant "Osia Steak & Seafood Grill" (also known as澳西亚牛排海鲜烧烤餐厅) each have one Michelin star, totaling seven stars.

During this business trip, I had the pleasure of trying a truly unique and thoughtful Michelin-starred dining experience at "CURATE." Here, you can effortlessly savor Michelin-level cuisine from around the world without traveling globally. What does "curate" mean? Literally, it refers to curating an exhibition, and a curator is the person who decides the theme and orchestrates all the elements required for the exhibition. This role is a blend of director and art director, with the focus on presenting works to the audience in the best possible way.

Each season during specific periods, CURATE invites a Michelin-starred chef from around the world to collaborate with the resident head chef Benjamin Halat. Together, they create signature dishes that reflect their individual culinary philosophies, allowing diners in Singapore to enjoy Michelin-quality cuisine from across the globe. As such, Benjamin Halat is not only the main chef at CURATE but also its curator. As Asia’s first new dining experience venue at Resorts World Sentosa, CURATE provides a stunning stage year-round for Michelin-starred chefs from around the world to showcase their exceptional culinary skills.

To understand Singapore, one can encounter a more local side of the city through "Peranakan culture." As early as the 15th century, in regions such as Singapore, Penang, and Malacca, descendants of Chinese men who came to trade in Southeast Asia and married local Malay women were born. Male descendants were called Baba, and female descendants were called Nyonya (娘惹), also known as Peranakans. Generally speaking, most of them were part of the merchant class.
The Nyonya were a once-prominent, well-educated, and affluent community in Southeast Asia, with a culture that uniquely blends Chinese and Malay influences. Additionally, elements of Indian Ocean culture, as well as trade networks established during the colonial period involving Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain, have all left their mark on Nyonya culture. The Nyonya are known for their use of spices, exquisite embroidery, and distinctive ceramic designs that integrate Chinese motifs with vibrant Southeast Asian colors. In terms of cuisine, they creatively blend Chinese ingredients with rich and diverse spices, creating a fusion of flavors. Their attire and home decor often reflect a strong sense of identity and aesthetic taste, making them a unique cultural phenomenon.
It’s a truly wonderful feeling to witness how Chinese civilization has blossomed and evolved in another land. The colorful, dazzling, and hard-to-ignore exotic charm of Peranakan culture has regained appreciation in today’s visually explosive era. When I was at Resorts World Sentosa, savoring each dish meticulously crafted by the chef like a work of art, or walking through Universal Studios and the aquarium, or staying in an ocean-view suite where you sleep alongside marine life, I finally understood why Singapore can repeatedly amaze and delight. All these WOW experiences come together seamlessly without any sense of dissonance. This has truly been an exciting, fun, and rejuvenating trip that I never wanted to end.

Author of this article: Yu Kangwei

Master's graduate from NYU, majoring in Art Dealership and Collecting. Passionate about life and full of enthusiasm, he admires the British poet John Keats’ famous quote: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” He has worked in the fashion and media industries and is currently a senior consultant at Lion Travel Group, as well as the chief curator of Xinxu Lecture Hall and Xinxu Summit.