I Stayed at 60 Hotels This Year — This Is the One I Can't Stop Thinking About

The iconic Raffles Singapore has more than 135 years of history — and it's one of the best hotels in Asia.

It's a hotel older than the country it sits in; if the walls at Raffles Singapore could talk, they would have lots of stories to tell. From bringing an orangutan to the pool to meet Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor to serving Rudyard Kipling cocktails as he penned “The Jungle Book,” Singapore’s grande dame has welcomed dozens of dignitaries, celebrities, and authors since it opened in 1887.

But it has come a long way since its days as a 10-room bungalow offering an elegant reprieve from the Southeast Asian heat. Today, it houses 115 suites, with an updated grandeur that suits its A-list clientele.

In 2019, after its 2015 acquisition by Accor, it got a chic top-to-bottom refurb, but don’t worry, it kept its timeless charm. The doorman still ushers guests into the grand, three-story lobby, where the famous grandfather clock has been chiming since the hotel opened.

When you pull off Beach Road onto Raffles’ signature gravel driveway, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. The all-white facade gleams in the Singaporean sun. I’ve stayed here twice, and I still get goosebumps when I hear, “Welcome to Raffles.”

A true oasis in the middle of the city, once you walk by the floor-to-ceiling Victorian columns and under the 13-foot crystal chandelier, past tourists having their afternoon tea, it’s all about privacy. Rooms here are so quiet and peaceful, you’ll forget more than five million people surround you.

And when you’re staying at a hotel as iconic as this, it’s hard to leave the grounds. My days here started at the Technogym fitness center before tucking into a pot of tea made specifically for Raffles and the breakfast spread in the Tiffin Room. I spent the afternoon lounging by the rooftop pool or reading a book on the open veranda overlooking the Palm Court, which has hosted fashion shows, concerts, and movie screenings.

If the history isn't enough to entice guests, the food should do the trick. The first hotel in the city to hire a French chef in 1899 has brought on one of the world’s most famous chefs for its latest restaurant, La Dame de Pic. Chef Anne-Sophie Pic’s French restaurant pays homage to her home country with an ingenious Asian twist. Whatever you do, don’t skip the dessert cheese cart. But the hotel’s eight other dining venues are nothing to scoff at, either. Locals and tourists alike come for the classic Cantonese at Yì by Jereme Leung as well as the Singapore Sling, invented at the Long Bar in 1915.

Here's everything you need to know about Raffles Singapore.

Raffles Singapore

• From the 14-foot-high suite ceilings to the polished teak wood floors, Raffles Singapore has strikes a balance between 1800s colonial architecture and stylish modern comforts.

• Snag a suite with a gold plaque, marking the room where Hollywood royalty, including starlet Ava Gardner, has stayed.

• Guests are welcomed into their suite with a signature Singapore Sling and a room introduction from their 24-hour butler.

• Located on Beach Road, the hotel is situated in the financial district, within walking distance of the National Gallery and Kampong Glam.

• History buffs can request a private tour with Raffles' resident historian — included in their stay.

The Rooms

Throughout its nine room categories, towering ceilings make each space feel larger than its square footage. But there’s no one picking the short straw here; every suite is special. Dark teak wood floors and a plush four-poster king bed balance the all-white coffered walls decorating the suites.

Suites vary in size, like the 750-square-foot Palm Court Suite (my personal favorite), which has a separate rattan-clad living area and access to the shared veranda with Palm Court views. Bathrooms here are all marble and ultra-elegant, some with a stand-alone soaking tub and others with a built-in one alongside a rain shower.

As with any truly special hotel, it’s all in the details. Fresh-cut flowers sit on the marble bathroom sink alongside a pretty blue-and-gold ring holder. Traditional Chinese-style lamps are on either side of the bed, next to a state-of-the-art tablet that controls every function in the room — even calling your butler. Or, you can click the lights on and off using the old-school metal switches. It’s the seamless mix of old and new that makes the rooms at Raffles stand out.

Food and Drink

There are nine bars and restaurants at Raffles Singapore. The Tiffin Room, open since 1892, is the city’s first Indian restaurant and serves its beloved dishes inside ceramic tiffin boxes. The hotel’s other famous haunt is the Long Bar. Known around the world for creating the Singapore Sling, tourists line up around the building for a chance to sip this sugary pink drink and crunch peanut shells on the floor. But the hotel’s lobby bar, the Writers Bar, is arguably better. It's an homage to the famous authors who have sidled up to its shining brass bar, and you won’t have to brave the crowds to get your hands on an expertly crafted cocktail.

Other restaurants include the alfresco Raffles Courtyard, the casual Italian Bar & Billiard Room, and The Grand Lobby, which offers traditional afternoon tea. But the standouts here are Yì by Jereme Leung, serving weekend dim sum and gold-dusted Peking duck, the Michelin-star La Dame de Pic, and Butcher’s Block, with high-quality meats and seafood coming from the wood-fired oven.

Activities and Amenities

As far as city hotels go, Raffles Singapore has everything you need in between meetings or sightseeing. There’s a sprawling rooftop pool perfect for laps and a multiroom gym with machines and free weights. Guests can access the Palm Court for a short stroll, a Wednesday yoga class, or any public events the hotel hosts.

During my stays, I liked to wander the various floors and hallways rather than getting my steps in on the sidewalks. It’s one of the few places I’ve stayed where you can really feel the history while admiring the antique furniture throughout. Guests can book a free tour with the hotel’s resident historian for insider stories, or explore on their own. There’s an entire hallway filled with pictures of notable people who have stayed in the suites.

And in a place as upscale as Raffles, no activity is truly off-limits; just ask your butler or the Les Clefs d’Or concierge attendants.

The Spa

Located in the Raffles Arcade, the spa has seven treatment rooms decorated in gold tones and named after gemstones, a theme that carries throughout. The sophisticated welcome room is exclusively stocked with Isun and Biologique Recherche products used in treatments like the signature 90-minute gem massage. With a new emphasis on wellness, the spa has broadened its treatments to include reiki, crystal sound healing, and tantric awakening. Be sure to arrive early to use the hydrothermal facilities, especially the vitality pool filled with Peruvian pink salt and the herbal sauna.

Sustainability

Apart from the refillable bathroom amenities, Raffles has made drinking sustainable. There are roughly 1,000 Singapore Slings made here every day, and for every 25, the hotel plants one tree in the Kalimantan or Sumatran rain forest.

Location

Located in the middle of Singapore’s financial district, it’s a 20-minute taxi ride from Changi Airport. If it’s your first time in Singapore, you’ll quickly realize nothing is very far away. If walking isn’t your style, simply hop in a taxi, get on the MRT, or take a bus to whatever is on your Singapore itinerary — the Raffles team will even walk you to the bus stop.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

With rates starting at $1,450 per night, Accor loyalists can redeem points at this property. Raffles is also a member of the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which entitles guests to complimentary breakfast and hotel credits. And, of course, keep an eye out for special package deals running throughout the year.

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