Why Raffles Singapore is one of the world’s most iconic hotels

Raffles Singapore is a 19th-century grande dame that has shaped the city-state’s hospitality scene since opening its door in 1887. 

A stay at Raffles Singapore feels a bit like having a sleepover with history. Tall tales and sensational stories are held within its walls, world-famous cocktails were first shaken at its bar, and the benchmark for five-star hospitality was set within its halls. Raffles Singapore’s architecture, design, service, food and colourful past all come together to create a hotel that is a destination in its own right, dreamed of by many, yet experienced by only a fortunate few. 

Let me tell you a story… of Raffles Singapore

This 19th-century landmark has welcomed royalty, writers, celebrities and more than a few unexpected visitors (including the occasional wayward animal or two). Sitting proudly at 1 Beach Road, this neo-Renaissance beauty opened in 1887 and quickly became a symbol of the Golden Age of Travel. 

Once upon a time…

The tale of Raffles Singapore begins with the Sarkies brothers, savvy hoteliers who transformed an old seaside house into a glamorous hotel at the height of colonial-era travel. Named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, the hotel grew alongside the city itself. Over the decades it has expanded more wings and grown its lush gardens – and developed a reputation as the place to be seen.

Architecturally speaking, Raffles Singapore is a singular property. While steel and glass towers crowd Singapore’s contemporary skyline, Raffles Singapore maintains a timeless and dignified aesthetic with its white façade, fluted Victorian columns, polished marble floors and sweeping colonnaded porticoes. Walking inside feels a little like stepping into a beautifully preserved time capsule, albeit one with butlers, electronic devices for room controls and MICHELIN Key status.

In a land, far away…

Many travellers book a stay simply to experience Raffles Singapore suites, particularly the 12 Personality Suites named after some of the hotel’s most esteemed guests. Where else can you spend the night surrounded by Charlie Chaplin memorabilia or sit on a veranda once favoured by Rudyard Kipling? Each suite showcases elements of a bygone era with modern comforts.

Visitors can while away their time at the Raffles Spa and personalise their session in the Gem Suite, work up a sweat in the Fitness Centre, or cool off with a dip in the foliage-framed pool. A resident historian is on hand to guide guests through the hotel’s fascinating past, while Raffles’ liveried doormen are ready to welcome guests back after a day out. For those who enjoy a spot of retail therapy, Raffles Arcade offers an array of premium boutiques and brands. The hotel’s central location is also a major convenience: it’s within walking distance of the Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, a 10-minute ride on the Mass Rapid Transit to the bustling Orchard Road shopping district, and 20 minutes from Changi Airport.

And then there’s the service. Guests check in directly in their suites and receive a leather-bound keycard, while a dedicated 24/7 butler is on hand to draw a bath, organise celebrations, or secure hard-to-get dining reservations. Every suite features a tablet that controls lighting, air conditioning, curtains, entertainment, and butler services, while modern comforts include complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, 55-inch TVs, daily turndown service, a pillow menu, express laundry, complimentary newspapers, and 24-hour in-suite dining.

If walls could talk…

A hotel doesn’t become iconic without great stories, and Raffles Singapore has pages of them.

An escaped circus tiger once hid beneath the Bar & Billiard Room, spending an unplanned night at the hotel before being discovered (and dispatched) by a sharpshooter. In the early 1900s, heroic doormen famously dealt with a marauding boar and a trespassing python. Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor even arranged a private meet-and-greet with Ah Meng, Singapore Zoo’s beloved orangutan, right on hotel grounds.

Writers flocked here, too. Rudyard Kipling edited his manuscript for The Jungle Book on the veranda. Master of prose Joseph Conrad found inspiration here, while James A. Michener claimed that “to have been young and had a room at Raffles was life at its best”. Countless other luminaries also checked in.

As the story goes…

Raffles Singapore isn’t just about suites and stories. Its restaurants continue to set culinary standards in a city obsessed with eating well. Yì by Jereme Leung plates up a range of contemporary Chinese dishes and is a Michelin-Selected eatery, while Tiffin Room is one of Singapore’s oldest and most esteemed North Indian restaurants, serving up authentic fare since 1892. Alternatively, indulge in afternoon tea in the hotel’s Grand Lobby where finger sandwiches, scones and a delicious array of pastries are presented in characterful fashion. Or try avant-garde wood-fired dining with a theatrical evening at Butchers Block. Those seeking a night-cap or afternoon tipple in opulent surrounds should claim a stool at The Writers Bar – a tribute to literary greats who enjoyed the hotel’s pleasures. Or sit down at the birthplace of the world-famous Singapore Sling cocktail at Long Bar. If a casual refuel is on the agenda, enjoy an alfresco garden meal in the Raffles Courtyard.

To be continued…

More than 135 years after opening its doors, Raffles Singapore continues to define luxury for travellers from all over the world. As the city’s first and only property to be inducted into the prestigious Three MICHELIN Key club, this iconic 19th-century landmark also holds a place on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list at number five. Such feats stand to remind us that heritage and innovation can thrive side by side – to remarkable effect.