by Le Concierge Orient
raffles singapore
A FHA Hospitality landmark hotel
The Background - Arguably the most famous and resplendent Sarkies confection still in circulation, Raffles Hotel Singapore is so much more than its cloyingly sweet Singapore Sling and peanut shells on the floor, both signature representations of the grande dame at her perennially popular Long Bar. The prestige of the Raffles name extends beyond history and architecture, for it has since spawned a collection of luxury hotels across the world bearing its name with signature characteristics and polished deliveries like continental sophistication with Asian refinements, 137 years on. There are over a hundred suites and staterooms under the famous ornate roof of this Singaporean mothership, a bevy of them named after visiting luminaries like Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor and Somerset Maugham, with each raised with impossibly high ceilings and elegantly spaced by beautiful columns and alluring courtyards. The property’s last renovation was a three-year endeavour from 2017 that resulted in refreshed interiors and updated aesthetics, setting the industry benchmark for luxury hospitality once more — mention Singapore and the Raffles invariably comes to mind. After an immensely long run, it remains a stately, iconic and storied institution that puts Singapore on the hospitality world map.
The Gourmet & Wellness Index - Raffles Hotel Singapore is a complete hospitality address replete with restaurants, bars and a fabulous wellness retreat, as is expected of a luxury grand establishment befitting its stature. The routine drill for tourists eager to immerse themselves in the historic milieu of this legendary establishment is to queue for an initiation at Long Bar, failing which, one is to head to Writer’s Bar, or try again tomorrow, for the popularity of these watering holes is immense and unfailing. For a lashing of spices one can opt to visit Tiffin Room where fiery curries accompanying aromatic naans and briyani rice await. Lovers of refined Chinese cuisine can head to Yi by Jereme Leung at the Raffles shopping arcade. Also at the arcade is Butcher’s Block, a moody, lively grill serving sensational wood-fired premium meats. A tranquil hideaway in the gardens, Raffles Spa sets one on a journey of rejuvenation with an array of soothing, therapeutic body and facial treatments.
The Service - As a post Colonial Hospitality Landmark, no single establishment delivers poshness like the folks at Raffles Singapore, from the doormen in full regalia to the resident historian who knows every inch of the building's interiors and delivers the witticisms with aplomb.