Inside Sheraton Johor Bahru: A Masterclass in Scandinavian Design and Spacious Elegance
Opened on 1 October 2025, the Sheraton Johor Bahru marks the arrival of the brand’s first hotel in the city, bringing 345 exquisitely designed rooms and suites to the heart of Johor Bahru. Just a five-minute, RM$6 Grab ride from CIQ, the hotel is seamlessly connected to the upcoming SKS Mall, slated to open in December 2025 in time for the festive season. Rain or shine, guests can access the mall without leaving the comfort of sheltered walkways, combining convenience with sophistication.
For travellers exploring Malaysia or returning to Singapore by road, the hotel’s proximity to a petrol station echoes the thoughtful practicality seen in other Marriott properties such as Renaissance, allowing effortless topping up of fuel tanks for continuity on road trips.
Design and Atmosphere: Spaciousness, Texture, and Scandinavian Elegance
Designed by Blu Water Studio Sdn Bhd, the team behind Amari Kuala Lumpur, Sheraton Johor Bahru immediately impresses with a sense of spaciousness and refined restraint.
From the moment you step into the lobby, the expansive layout and soaring ceilings signal that this is not merely a hotel, but a sanctuary of measured luxury. This feeling of openness is especially apparent in the guest rooms (and all the more precious for Singaporean travellers), and extends even to the all-day dining restaurant, where space is curated to feel generous, calm, and effortlessly sophisticated.
The rooms themselves are a studied masterclass in contemporary Scandinavian design. A muted palette of sand, brown, black, and white is punctuated with warm wood accents and textured feature walls, creating a serene environment that feels both modern and timeless.
One immediately notices the asymmetrical design beside the bed: bedside tables and lamps differ in form yet are harmonized in visual weight, creating a subtle tension that draws the eye while maintaining balance.
Practicality meets elegance in every corner of the room. Sheraton Johor Bahru has eschewed the typical long study desk, as seen at Amari KL, in favor of a round dining table with an overhanging standing lamp, paired with a chaise lounge and an additional chair. This arrangement allows for versatile use: one guest can work at the table while another reclines on the chaise lounge for a meal, a reading moment, or quiet contemplation—a design solution that exemplifies thoughtful luxury and intelligent use of space.
Storage is equally impressive. A five-door wardrobe offers perhaps the most generous storage in any hotel room of its class, while a luggage bench with a dedicated shoe shelf ensures order without compromising elegance.
Another long bench positioned beneath the TV serves dual purposes: it can be used as a comfortable spot for putting on shoes, or double as an additional luggage bench, providing seamless functionality without disrupting the refined aesthetic.
Above the kettle and Nespresso machine, a cleverly positioned shelf accommodates snacks, takeaway delicacies, or small purchases from the city, further demonstrating the hotel’s attention to practical yet stylish design. The combination of function and aesthetics rivals that of Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Singapore.
Textures abound throughout Sheraton Johor Bahru, enriching the sensory experience. The TV feature wall carries subtle relief, mirrored by textured glass behind the coffee bar and a distinctive feature wall in the shower stall—perhaps a first in the city—adding visual interest and tactile intrigue.
Gilchrist & Soames toiletries complete the olfactory dimension, with warmly masculine notes of oak, cedar, citrus, and spice, enveloping guests in quiet sophistication.
Elsewhere in the hotel, textured tiles and generous warm wood accents continue the narrative of tactility and craftsmanship. Small yet thoughtful details, such as hooks beneath countertops in the Executive Lounge and &More by Sheraton for jackets and bags, reveal a meticulous approach to guest convenience, ensuring that even the most practical aspects of the room feel considered, refined, and luxurious.
Sheraton Johor Bahru, through its combination of generous spatiality, Scandinavian restraint, and layered textures, sets a new benchmark in hotel design for the city. Every element—from lighting to furnishings, from storage to feature walls—has been curated to create a harmonious balance of form, function, and aesthetic elegance, making it a definitive destination for design-conscious travelers seeking both luxury and comfort.
Dining and Social Spaces: A Symphony of Flavors and Experiences
Sheraton Johor Bahru offers a collection of culinary and social venues designed to engage, delight, and inspire:
Daily Social – A vibrant all-day dining restaurant inspired by bustling food markets, offering international and local cuisines.
The breakfast spread is typical of world-class five-star hotels. Beyond the classics, guests can delight in Shakshouka cooked to perfection and fluffy frittatas. From sumptuous breakfast spreads to sophisticated dinners, the atmosphere is dynamic yet refined, blending energy with elegance.
Pro Tip
Salmon linguine glazed in prawn bisque that’s irresistibly rich, umami, and deeply savory.
A luxurious, ocean-kissed dish that lingers on the palate long after the last bite.
&More by Sheraton – A hybrid coffee shop, market stall, and casual bar where guests can transition seamlessly from morning coffee to evening cocktails. Locally inspired beverages and freshly made pastries enhance the immersive experience.
Soo Noodles – A celebration of authentic Asian flavors, serving curated noodle dishes with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. What’s fun for night owls and culinary adventurers, the restaurant offers a late-night supper menu open until 1 a.m.—a first in Johor Bahru. No other five-star hotel in the city serves up indulgent bites this late, making it the perfect destination for a spontaneous midnight feast, a flavorful snack after a long day, or a secret rendezvous with gourmet cravings.
Unspoken Bar – Soon to open, this speakeasy-style lounge promises intimate elegance with handcrafted cocktails, premium spirits, and curated wines for a refined evening experience.
Leisure and Wellness: Pools, Cabanas, and Family-Friendly Retreats
The hotel’s swimming pool is a study in opulent luxury, complete with sheltered cabanas.
When lit up at night, the cabanas feel premium and luxurious.
Pro Tip
Go use the pool in the afternoon if you want to avoid the sun. The sun shines from behind the hotel and is blocked by the hotel.
While the hotel does not feature a spa, guests are encouraged to visit Siam Oasis Royale Johor Bahru, just seven minutes and a RM$6 Grab ride away, for deep tissue massages and rejuvenating aromatherapy experiences.
For Families
Sheraton Johor Bahru offers Family Rooms and Suites designed for comfort, style, and fun. Each features two bedrooms, a master suite with a king-sized bed for parents, and a dedicated kids’ room with playful bunk beds. The Family Suite includes a spacious bathroom with a bathtub, while both accommodations embrace a calming oceanic theme, with turquoise tones and coastal-inspired décor. Children can enjoy water slides at the dedicated kids’ pool, ensuring a playful and memorable stay.
At Sheraton Johor Bahru, the refined contemporary Scandinavian design creates rooms of serene elegance, where muted palettes, warm woods, and textured feature walls cultivate a sense of calm and understated luxury. Outside, the glamorous poolside cabanas shimmer under ambient lighting at night, offering a private, premium escape where leisure feels effortlessly indulgent. And for those drawn to a playful adventure, the late-night supper menu—an unprecedented offering in Johor Bahru—invites guests to wander in after dark for a spontaneous feast, blending culinary delight with a sense of nocturnal fun. Here, design, luxury, and enjoyment converge to create an experience that is at once sophisticated, immersive, and utterly memorable.
Sheraton Johor Bahru
Jalan Storey, Bukit Senyum, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Tel: 60 7-707 7777
