The St. Regis Langkawi

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The St. Regis Langkawi opened in April this year – positioned as the trendsetter of sophisticated island living where the resort is set amidst nature and the Andaman Sea. rif and I were one of the lucky few to be given a preview of this 5-star luxury resort by Starwood Hotels and the St. Regis team.

St. Regis Langkawi has one of the nicest beachfronts among the hotels on the island, with 85 suites and 4 over-water villas that embodies the style and finesse of the St Regis brand. It comes across as elegant yet modern – and service was commendable throughout.

We stayed at the St. Regis Suite, a 90 square metre space with plush furnishing and warm tones on dark wooden floors. It boasts a large living area, a bedroom with king bed, spacious bathroom with ample of wardrobe space and a balcony that opens up to the sea and lush greenery. True to the St. Regis brand, we enjoyed the St. Regis Butler Service where our requirements were fulfilled promptly and without us even noticing.

Note that the staff were aware of my arrival and presence, hence the level of attentiveness might vary. I’ve read reviews online where some raved about the butler service which a handful mentioned it fell short.

The packing and unpacking service was one of my favourites, where my clothes were nicely pressed (limited to 2 per day) and hung in the walk-in closet. Other intuitive gestures included them taking note of my preferences – which side of the bed I sleep on and the type of chocolates I like (judging from which one I left untouched) as a night cap.

There are six F&B choices at The St. Regis Langkawi, and a 24-hour private dining option should you choose to dine in your room. Breakfast is at L’Orangerie where one can tuck into a breakfast spread of local and international cuisine. The ala carte menu is fairly extensive and portions are kept small to allow guests to try more items.

Kayuputi is the crown jewel of the resort, set over-water to allow uninterrupted views of the sea and nature. The bar is one you should check out at sunset – lounge by the sundeck benches with oversized hammocks and enjoy a cocktail or two while admiring the view.

Other F&B options include the Gourmand Deli, The Drawing Room Lounge, The St. Regis Bar and Decanter Wine Bar. The food at Kayuputi is Asian-inspired, combining traditional and contemporary techniques to produce dishes with flair.

That said, I feel the food needs work as most of the dishes I tried were average at best. I reckon it’s partly because of their location on the island; where ingredients are difficult to obtain. Service at Kayuputi is attentive and on point, and they are very detailed when it comes to guest requirements such as doneness, allergies and also timing of food.

If you’re looking to go around the island, do get your butler/concierge to assist with planning the trip. They are able to help with tourist attractions, restaurants to eat and also places to shop (especially for duty free items).

rif and I spent more time at the resort than exploring the island as we’ve been to Langkawi a few times prior to this. The massage at Iridium Spa is one of the best I’ve enjoyed – you can opt to tailor your pampering package to suit your requirements. BABOR products are used at Iridium Spa; one of the most sought after brand used by top hotel spas in the world.

Overall, our stay was enjoyable though I noticed some teething issues in terms of floor service and staffing. It is still fairly new (barely 4 months old) so I reckon it’s better to let them iron out the kinks before planning your visit. I feel there’s plenty of potential in this property.

For more information about The St. Regis Langkawi, visit the official website here. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.