Eat or exhale? Grand Hyatt’s new curated escapes ask what kind of staycationer you are

There are, broadly speaking, two ways Singaporeans approach the art of the staycation. 

Some seek a reset: early nights, clear heads, and a few hours stolen for yoga or spa – a kind of rest that sneaks up on you, the reward only felt once you leave. Others take the opposite approach: decadent dinners, long lunches, perhaps even champagne at sunset – unapologetic indulgence in a city you already know too well.

In recent years, travel has, also, since evolved from mere escape to a personalised journey. According to Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends report, travellers are increasingly crafting itineraries that reflect their individual passions, lifestyles, and values. As Skyscanner CEO Bryan Batista notes, “They’re planning with greater purpose, shaping trips that reflect who they are and what matters most, at a price that’s right for them.”

This shift towards purpose-driven travel is not just a global phenomenon, but also resonates deeply within Singapore’s urban landscape. The option of personalised local retreats are, beyond just a change of scenery, opportunities to align one’s travel experience with personal well-being, culinary exploration, or simply a break from the relentless pace of city life.

Choosing your escape

More than a bed or a buffet, today’s travellers are after something curated: a mood, a narrative, a brief chance to be someone else entirely.

But, in particular, for many Singaporeans, the question of staycation versus overseas travel has become a practical – and surprisingly pleasurable – dilemma. Short breaks abroad often involve planning headaches: flight delays, visa checks, or long transit times for what may ultimately be just a couple of days of real downtime. 

A curated staycation, by contrast, promises the same sense of novelty and escape, without the friction. And, in land-scarce Singapore, not every hotel can translate this desire for a ‘curated mood’ into a tangible experience. 

Still, Grand Hyatt Singapore has embraced this challenge head-on with two distinct offerings that read almost like a personality test. 

On one side is the Grand Mindful Escape, designed for those who crave calm, reflection, and a slow reset. On the other is the Grand Culinary Escape, for those who believe that indulgence, sensory delight, and gastronomic adventure are the ultimate form of rejuvenation – and both packages are designed for a minimum two-night stay, giving guests enough time to fully settle in, savour the spaces, and let the curated rhythms of each escape unfold.

Even stepping into the Grand Hyatt Singapore lobby, the quiet of the reception area is immediately noticeable – a warm glow from recessed lighting bounces off marble-lined floors, wood accents soften the edges, and the low murmur of staff and guests forms a calm undercurrent.

It is a stark contrast to the usual buzz of Orchard Road just beyond the glass walls.

Though the hotel first opened in 1971, the interiors feel contemporary yet grounded – Japanese-inspired paneling, an earthy colour palette, and wide, open layouts combine with modern lighting to create airy, sophisticated spaces.

Rooms, whether in the Grand Wing or the newly-renovated Terrace Wing, which followed the hotel’s grand reopening in July 2025, open to sunlight spilling across soft linens, carrying a faint herbal scent that signals calm. The Terrace Wing, in particular, is a small oasis: lush vertical gardens and cascading waterfalls offer greenery and gentle movement even within a built-up city block. 

For the wellness-inclined

Under the Grand Mindful Escape, the mornings begin at StraitsKitchen with an unhurried continental breakfast. The offerings are straightforward – croissants, pastries, toast, eggs – but the ritual of a slow morning meal, accompanied by the rich aroma of coffee drifting across the room, sets the tone for a day designed around calm and reflection.

The real draw, however, is Damai, Grand Hyatt’s newly-opened urban wellness haven. 

Walking in feels like stepping into a rainforest-inspired oasis – aptly named, as “Damai” means “peace” in Malay. Faint sounds of running water – from waterfalls, water features, or the occasional splash in the hydro pools – punctuate the air. 

The gender-segregated hydrothermal facilities, open to all guests, include dual therapy saunas, halo salt steam rooms, contrast showers, and outdoor wellness pools. Soft lighting and natural textures invite quiet focus, and even a few minutes here feels like a deliberate pause, a chance to reset both body and mind.

For those seeking deeper indulgence, massages and facial therapies provide additional layers of sensory experience. Calm Mind aromatherapy, Deep Tissue sessions, mineral-based body wraps, scalp treatments, and LED light therapy can be combined according to personal preference. 

The Body Blueprint consultation, conducted by an in-house physical trainer, uses state-of-the-art 3D body scanning technology to map weight, muscle mass, and tension points, offering tailored treatment and fitness recommendations. By combining evidence-based methods with time-honoured wellness practices, the experience charts a restorative journey that extends well beyond the staycation itself.

Guests with a more active bent can complement the wellness journey with yoga, pilates, or gym sessions in sunlit studios suitable for all levels, or wander along paths lined with greenery and cabanas. Even the hotel’s lift lobbies, with terraces overlooking cascading gardens, provide quiet corners for reflection.

Dinner at StraitsKitchen closes the day with a feast for the senses. Heritage-inspired yet modern, the space features several live cooking stations – satay, charcoal-grilled chicken wings, noodle counters, a tandoori oven, and more – alongside a Peranakan kueh dessert section.

The scent of fragrant barbecue and spices fills the air, while platters of local favourites, from laksa to fresh seafood, offer comfort and satisfaction after a day devoted to stillness and recovery.

The Grand Mindful Escape is less about ticking boxes and more about inhabiting stillness – a chance to slow down, recalibrate, and experience a curated pause in the heart of the city.

For the epicureans

If the idea of tasting your way through the city makes your stomach rumble, the Grand Culinary Escape might be for you.

The package centres on four of Grand Hyatt Singapore’s signature dining concepts. Mornings begin at StraitsKitchen, located on the lobby level, which offers a buffet breakfast with a mix of Western and local favourites – a familiar anchor before the day’s more curated culinary stops.

Lunch takes place at Oasis, the hotel’s poolside restaurant, where guests can enjoy a three-course meal in a tranquil alfresco setting. The space is designed for relaxed dining, with views of the hotel pool and surrounding greenery providing a sense of meditative escape without leaving the property.

Afternoon tea is served at 10|Scotts, a lounge on the upper floors that specialises in refined pastries, teas, and light bites. The concept emphasises an elegant, measured pace – a place to pause, reflect, and enjoy the city from a quieter vantage point.

Evenings culminate at Le Pristine Singapore, the hotel’s fine-dining destination, which offers a curated three-course dinner. The restaurant combines modern plating with locally inspired flavours, providing a structured yet indulgent conclusion to the day’s culinary itinerary.

Its open kitchen offers a peek into the preparation no matter where you’re seated, while the striking entrance is as impressive as it is Instagram-worthy.

Together, these four destinations map a curated tour through Grand Hyatt’s dining portfolio. Guests don’t even have to leave the building – a bonus for anyone who enjoys the luxury of returning to their room within minutes for a nap between meals. 

Beyond the package

Staycations in Singapore have evolved into something more deliberate than simply booking a room. The Mindful Escape offers a chance to slow down, the Culinary Escape a structured indulgence – but whether these moments feel restorative or just convenient depends entirely on the guest.

For many, the decision to stay local rather than hop on a short-haul flight is practical as much as it is pleasurable. Flights, visa checks, and transit time can turn a long weekend abroad into a logistical headache. A curated weekend in the city, by contrast, promises novelty and escape without the friction, even if it comes within familiar streets.

Luxury, in this context, is less about opulence and more about how time is experienced – the orchestration of a day, the sense that moments are arranged around the guest rather than the other way around. The modern staycation becomes a kind of choreography: a sensory indulgence, or a few hours of deliberate quiet, all designed to feel meaningful even when the clock keeps moving.

Ultimately, the appeal lies in choice. To reset, to indulge, or simply to step aside from the pace of everyday life – that decision, for now, is yours. 

So, which kind of escapist are you?

Bookings for the Grand Culinary Escape and Grand Mindful Escape are open now until 31 December 2025, with a minimum stay of two nights.