After a massive two-year renovation project, Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel is open again, welcoming visitors with a refreshed look and its legendary hospitality. Baroque Travel makes a visit
The famous hotel, meticulously restored to its former glory by renowned interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud and global architecture and design firm Aedas, reopened its doors in August 2019.
The new iteration of this famous hotel is exquisitely refreshed, a perfect blend of beauty, Singaporean culture and gentility. The hotel boasts new suite categories as well as lifestyle offerings that include stunning dining concepts and those renowned Raffles Butlers. The result is a place where Singapore locals and visitors from all over the world come to meet, mingle, shop, stay and dine – and let’s not forget they can still savor the famous Singapore Sling in the hotel’s refreshed Long Bar!
Long considered one of the most graceful and elegant landmarks in Singapore, Raffles Hotel is more a legend than just a hotel, a luxury establishment that has won too many awards to mention and has hosted the rich and the famous for more than 120 years. The hotel’s signature Colonial-style architecture and lush tropical gardens exude timeless elegance and the Raffles Amrita Spa provides guests with pampering relaxation in a stunning setting. The three-story Raffles Hotel Arcade is home not just to the hotel boutique; here guests will find elegant international brands including Tiffany and Co, Louis Vuitton and Armani Casa.
Raffles Singapore now offers guests a choice of nine different categories of Suites – brand new Residence Suites, Promenade Suites and Studio Suites plus the existing State Room Suites, Courtyard Suites, Palm Court Suites, Personality Suites, Grand Hotel Suites and Presidential Suites. This brings the number of Suites to 115 from the previous 103.
The suites are still Colonial in architecture, with those legendary 4-meter high ceilings, double glazed windows, charming verandas and polished teakwood floors. But the en suite bathrooms have been completely redesigned with Victorian details and Peranakan tiles.
There’s a new Raffles Boutique in the Raffles Arcade plus some of the hotel’s 16 stunning restaurants and bars, some of which are collaborations with famous chefs. The hotel has collaborated with Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, of the three-Michelin star restaurant Maison Pic in Valence, France as well as French Master Chef Alain Ducasse and Chef Jereme Leung, famous for his innovative Chinese cooking.
In addition, guests can enjoy the traditional Afternoon Tea at Raffles at the Tiffin Room, and relax in the Billiard Room, famous for its legend, ‘The Tiger under the Billiard Table’ – apparently this is where the last tiger on the island was killed. Other luxury facilities include a fitness center open 24/7 and a movie theatre on the premises.
First opened in 1887, the 132-year-old Raffles Hotel was declared a National Monument on its centenary in 1987. It is consistently recognized as one of the Best hotels in Asia and Australia and, indeed, the world.