Raffles Hotel Singapore
Recently we had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful and newly refurbished Raffles Hotel Singapore. Raffles is a colonial-style luxury hotel and an iconic part of Singaporean history. It was established by Armenian hoteliers, the Sarkies Brothers, in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the British coloniser of Singapore.
The recent extensive restoration has breathed new life into the storied hotel, adding thoughtful modern touches, whilst retaining its old-world Colonial charm. Raffles provides a relaxing getaway in the heart of the city and with an influx of new restaurants, bars, courtyards and boutiques, you will find it a challenge to even leave the hotel grounds.
Raffles is more than just any hotel – it is an experience from the moment you step foot into the grand lobby. One the biggest statements of the refurbishment being a chandelier boasting over 2000 crystals imported from the Czech Republic, which in itself is enough to take center stage placed in the very middle of the hotel lobby.
As part of the restoration, the hotel now boasts a new and enlarged fitness centre, rooftop swimming pool and pool bar located on the 3rd level of the Main Building. On the wellness front, the seven-suite Raffles Spa offers a rejuvenating journey with an array of authentic body and facial treatments, amidst a luxurious setting.
The heritage
The very last morning of our stay, we were invited on a private tour with the resident hotel historian, Leslie Danker. This tour is offered exclusively to hotel residents, providing a much deeper appreciation of the very wall you walk past. As we walked the grounds, Danker shared a gold-mine of information and stories from the hotel’s past, we paid tribute to the long list of famous former guests, which are also illustrated through the hotel keycards and an impressive hall of fame. Some include Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth, James A. Michener, Michael Jackson and Mandy Moore.
The suites
We fell in love the moment our feet entered our Raffles Suite, and at a point it felt right to almost call it home as it became our personal oasis in Singapore. All 115 suites follow the colonial, monochromatic decor as the rest of the hotel, evoking all the glamour and sophistication of the golden age of travel. The beautifully restored suites feature colonial architecture, lush gardens, modern technology and polished teakwood floors.
Your suite can be controlled from a centralised iPad that includes everything from temperature, curtains and lights to bringing your very own private butler to your door. The Raffles Butler will exceed every expectation and be on-call 24 hours a day for every need, whether it’s running a bubble bath or packing up your luggage.
We stayed in the courtyard suites, which were clustered around the heart of the hotel, it provided easy access to the main hotel building and also the arcade of boutiques and dining options.
Food & Drink
The food and drink options at Raffles have been polished to the point of perfection. Raffles has introduced half a dozen new spaces including Sophie Pic’s La Dame de Pic, Jereme Leung’s Yi, Butcher’s Block and Alain Ducasse’s BBR. We had a long lunch at Jereme Leung’s Yi, whom is one of the most influential chefs in the modern Chinese culinary movement. The food is exceptional; everything from the hundred-ring cucumber with poached sea whelk, to the golden roasted duck pancakes and the braised beef cheeks. We had dinner at the newly opened Butcher’s Block where the service was quite frankly the best we have ever received at a restaurant. The food was just as spectacular.
Dishes from Jereme Leung’s Yi
During the mornings, Raffles serves up a delectable semi-buffet breakfast in the refurbished Tiffin Room from 6.30am to 10.30am which has been a part of the hotels history since 1892. There’s a selection between local and international a la carte selections, a variety of pastries, cold cuts and cheese, as well as salads and fruits. It’s an experience you definitely won’t want to miss out on during your stay.
Over the years, we have stayed in many hotels that have had us thinking that the bar could not be set any higher, that was until Raffles Hotel reopened their doors August 2019 and had us asking that question for the very last time.
