Mett Singapore brings the brand’s lifestyle-driven hospitality to the region
Singapore is an intriguing prospect for ambitious hoteliers. Already home to several world-class brands and properties, the city-state has established itself as one of the most compelling getaways in the region. So when a new brand—fresh-faced, energetic, and eager to disrupt—joins the party, it is greeted with both a degree of surprise and an air of inevitability. Singapore, after all, is an undeniable hotspot for discerning travellers. But how does a brand expect to make a splash in a market replete with some of the finest names in hospitality?
It’s a puzzle that the lifestyle-focused Mett brand, part of Dubai-based Sunset Hospitality Group, has taken up to solve. The brand, now expanding into the region for the first time with the opening of Mett Singapore, is no stranger to competitive markets. With stunning properties in Bodrum, Marbella, and Barcelona, Mett has consistently operated in destinations where travellers arrive with high expectations for service and experience.
It’s a reality that Antonio Gonzalez, group CEO of Sunset Hospitality Group, recognised long before he and his team decided to take over and reimagine the former Fort Canning Hotel as Mett’s first Asian outpost.
“Singapore is a synonym of quality,” says Gonzalez. “For me, it’s one of the capitals of the world. It is a great gateway for us to showcase what we can do in the whole region and we want to translate our quality and high standards here.”
If the name Sunset Hospitality Group sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The hospitality group, founded in 2011, made a strong debut in Singapore in 2024 with the opening of SushiSamba, an effervescent multi-concept Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian dining venue located on the 52nd floor of Capital Tower.
Just as with the lively restaurant, Gonzalez is confident that the group’s experience—and its ability to tailor a refined yet relatable offering to Singaporean audiences—will ease concerns about introducing a socially driven, communal style of hospitality in a city sometimes described as reserved.
“The most important thing is to cater to your clientele,” explains Gonzalez. “Just like with SushiSamba, we have once again embraced the values of the city into Mett Singapore. We have provided areas that are more private and more reserved. We have also provided restaurants and wellness programmes helmed by talents who have been very successful here.”
More than anything else, true-blue Singaporeans will appreciate the cultural significance of the address. Formerly Hotel Fort Canning, the colonial-styled building—which once served as the British Far East Command Headquarters in 1926—is a heritage site, a quality that Gonzalez sees as a double-edged sword.
“This was both a blessing and a challenge,” says Gonzalez. “Because it’s a protected building, there are elements we have to respect. What we have done is embrace and highlight the elements that make this building special while blending them with premium finishes, new decoration and furniture, and better lighting to achieve an optimum blend of contemporary design and cultural heritage.”
This balance is immediately apparent the moment you move through the reworked spaces. With a total of 84 rooms and suites, ranging from 35 to 160 sqm, Mett Singapore offers refreshed interiors adorned with a light colour palette, soft textures, and ample natural light to accentuate the building’s high ceilings.
Designed by Jeffrey Wilkes, the property has also been fitted with warm lighting, updated and contemporary materials, and a more intuitive layout that allows the colonial framework to feel open and casual. Public areas such as the lobby and bar area draw in more daylight and greenery from Fort Canning Park, creating a natural continuity between the building and its surroundings.
Of course, the Mett brand—known for creating places built around food, gathering, and easy social interaction—would not enter the Singapore market without an exciting array of experiences for guests to sink their teeth into.
Under the direction of Chef Daniele Sperindio, Mett Singapore introduces four distinct dining concepts, from L’Amo Bistrò del Mare—an Italian coastal restaurant—to the Canning bar and lounge, a relaxed all-day space for coffee, cocktails, and light bites. In the coming months, Sperindio will also unveil a new home for Art di Daniele Sperindio, his contemporary Italian restaurant previously housed at the National Gallery, followed by Hanu, a modern take on the Korean grill.
Beyond dining, the property sharpens its lifestyle credentials with two outdoor pools, padel and pickleball courts, and a state-of-the-art gym. These foundations will extend further with the arrival of Madison House, a four-storey private members’ club set within a separate building on the estate. Designed as a self-contained social and wellness hub, it will house The Longevity Suite, the brand’s first Asian flagship, offering cryotherapy, bio-hacking treatments, and a full suite of longevity-focused therapies.
And while Gonzalez is confident that Mett Singapore will find its footing among both locals and visitors, he remains clear-eyed about what it takes to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape.
“You can’t think long term,” explains Gonzalez. “You have to adapt very quickly and stay close to the market. The most important principle is to be a customer centric organisation that develops an experience around the customer. It seems easy to do, but it’s a craft that demands a lot of time and understanding.”
