Few hotels are as closely connected with the history and image of a city as Raffles Singapore. Opened in 1887 by the Armenian Sarkies brothers, the hotel began as a modest 10-room property and gradually developed into one of Singapore’s most recognised landmarks. Today, its white colonial architecture, landscaped courtyards, all-suite accommodation and long-established traditions remain central to its identity.
Raffles Singapore is also a National Monument of Singapore, having received that designation in 1987. Its history includes celebrated literary guests, the creation of the Singapore Sling and several major architectural transformations. A substantial restoration completed in 2019 added new restaurants, bars, suites and social spaces while preserving the character of the historic property.
For today’s luxury traveller, the appeal is therefore not simply nostalgia. Raffles combines a remarkable architectural setting with contemporary accommodation, personalised butler service, dining, wellness and a location in the heart of Singapore’s civic and business district.
From a 10-Room Hotel to a Singapore Landmark
Raffles Singapore opened on 1 December 1887 in a bungalow-style building overlooking the sea. The hotel was founded by Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak Sarkies, Armenian brothers who had already established themselves as hotel proprietors elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
The original hotel was considerably smaller than the property known today. Expansion followed quickly. New wings were added in the late 1880s and 1890s, while the Main Building was completed in 1899 according to designs by architect Regent Alfred John Bidwell of Swan & Maclaren. The development transformed Raffles from a small seaside hotel into an important architectural and social landmark.
Taormina: The Enchanted Balcony of Sicily’s Eternal Shores
Its guest book subsequently became part of the hotel’s mythology. Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham were among the writers associated with Raffles, while later decades brought personalities including Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor and Charlie Chaplin.
The hotel’s history is also inseparable from Singapore’s changing relationship with international travel. At the end of the nineteenth century, improvements in steamship travel and the opening of the Suez Canal had made long-distance journeys between Europe and Asia increasingly accessible. Raffles emerged during this period of expanding international tourism and became an important stopping point for travellers arriving in Singapore.
Colonial Architecture and the 2019 Restoration
The architecture remains one of Raffles Singapore’s most distinctive characteristics.
The Main Building, completed in 1899, introduced the hotel’s familiar grand architectural identity. Over subsequent decades, additional wings and extensions created the larger complex that exists today. The property was officially recognised as a National Monument in 1987, confirming its importance within Singapore’s built heritage.
Raffles underwent a major restoration between 1989 and 1991, followed by another extensive restoration beginning in 2017. The latter culminated in the hotel’s reopening in August 2019.
The 2019 project was intended to preserve the historic character of the property while adapting it to contemporary expectations. The restoration introduced new suites, restaurants, bars, courtyards and social spaces, while retaining important architectural features and the hotel’s overall atmosphere.
The result is particularly effective in the hotel’s public spaces, where traditional proportions and heritage details coexist with contemporary lighting, furniture and amenities. The Grand Lobby, verandahs and landscaped areas continue to provide the visual language associated with historic Raffles, while the restored interiors accommodate the requirements of a modern international hotel.
This balance is important. Rather than attempting to recreate an imagined colonial past, the restoration uses the existing architecture as the foundation for a contemporary luxury property.
The All-Suite Experience
One of the defining characteristics of Raffles Singapore is its all-suite accommodation.
The property has traditionally offered suites rather than conventional standard rooms, and the 2019 restoration increased the total to 115 suites. New categories introduced during the restoration included Residence Suites, Promenade Suites and Studio Suites.
The accommodation reflects the hotel’s architectural character, with generous proportions, high ceilings and interiors designed to complement the heritage setting while providing contemporary amenities.
The range extends from more intimate suite categories to larger residences designed for extended stays or travellers seeking additional space. Some suites incorporate separate living areas and private outdoor spaces, allowing guests to experience the hotel’s characteristic verandah lifestyle from their own accommodation.
The emphasis on space is particularly appropriate to Raffles. The hotel experience is not designed around the efficiency of a modern urban tower. Instead, it retains the slower spatial rhythm of a historic grand hotel, where the journey from entrance to suite is part of the experience.
For guests seeking the most distinctive accommodation, the property’s larger signature suites are also closely connected with its history. The Presidential Suite, for example, gained additional recognition after being used as a filming location for Crazy Rich Asians in 2018.
Raffles Butler Service
Personalised service has long been one of the defining elements of the Raffles experience.
The hotel’s butler tradition developed in Singapore and subsequently became an important part of the wider Raffles brand. The philosophy is based on attentive service that remains discreet rather than intrusive, anticipating guest requirements while allowing privacy. Raffles describes this approach as a “gentle breeze” — present without becoming overwhelming.
For a luxury hotel in the modern era, this distinction matters. Technology can make check-in, reservations and communication increasingly efficient, but the value of a dedicated human point of contact lies in the ability to personalise the experience.
At Raffles Singapore, butler service extends beyond simple requests inside the suite. The philosophy is intended to connect the guest with the wider property and destination, whether through arranging experiences, assisting with practical details or helping personalise the stay.
It is one of the areas where the hotel’s historical identity remains relevant to contemporary luxury hospitality.
The Long Bar and the Singapore Sling
Few hotel bars are as strongly associated with a single cocktail as the Long Bar at Raffles Singapore.
The Singapore Sling is traditionally credited to bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who created the cocktail at Raffles in 1915. The drink subsequently became internationally associated with the hotel and remains one of Singapore’s best-known cocktail traditions.
The Long Bar itself has changed location and undergone restoration over the decades. During the hotel’s latest restoration, the space was refreshed while retaining its distinctive plantation-inspired character. Its return formed part of the property’s 2019 reopening.
The experience is about more than ordering a cocktail. The Long Bar represents the way Raffles has turned individual traditions into part of the hotel’s broader identity. Even visitors who are not staying overnight can experience this aspect of the property.
The familiar tradition of serving the Singapore Sling alongside peanuts and allowing shells to fall onto the floor remains part of the atmosphere. It is an unusually informal detail within such a formal historic setting.
Dining at Raffles Singapore
Food and beverage have always played an important role in the identity of Raffles Singapore.
Tiffin Room is among the property’s most historic dining institutions. Its origins date to 1892, and the restaurant later became known for its North Indian cuisine served in traditional tiffin boxes. The restaurant’s heritage has been retained while its interiors and service have been adapted as part of the hotel’s modernisation.
The hotel’s wider culinary offering expanded considerably during the 2019 restoration, which introduced additional restaurants, bars and social spaces. This development reflects a broader change in luxury hotels: dining is no longer simply an amenity for overnight guests but an important part of the property’s identity within its city.
Raffles benefits from being positioned not only as a hotel but also as a destination for Singapore residents and visitors. Its restaurants and bars contribute to that role, creating reasons to visit the property even without booking a suite.
For travellers interested in the history of Singapore’s hospitality culture, dining at Raffles can therefore be considered part of the destination experience rather than simply an element of the hotel stay.
Raffles Spa and Modern Wellness
The contemporary Raffles experience extends beyond heritage and gastronomy.
Raffles Spa provides a dedicated wellness environment offering treatments, rituals and classes for both hotel guests and members of the wider community. The hotel describes the spa as a sanctuary for holistic wellbeing, giving the property a modern wellness dimension alongside its historic architecture.
This is an important addition to a hotel whose identity was historically centred on travel, dining and social life. Contemporary luxury travellers increasingly expect wellness to be integrated into the hotel experience, and the spa provides that element without attempting to turn Raffles into a specialised wellness resort.
The contrast is part of the appeal. Guests can spend time in a historic suite or courtyard before moving into a contemporary treatment environment, creating two very different aspects of the same property.
For travellers planning a longer Singapore itinerary, the spa can also provide a quieter counterpoint to the city’s shopping, dining and cultural attractions.
How to Choose a Luxury Wellness Retreat in Europe
A Central Location in Singapore
Raffles Singapore occupies a particularly strategic position at 1 Beach Road, in the city’s civic and business district.
The hotel is within walking distance of the Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Orchard Road’s major shopping district is a short MRT journey away, while the hotel states that Changi Airport is approximately 20 minutes away by car.
The location makes the property suitable for both leisure and business travellers. Guests can use Raffles as a base for exploring Singapore’s cultural institutions and shopping districts while returning to a comparatively secluded environment of courtyards and tropical gardens.
More than a quarter of the hotel’s estate is occupied by landscaped gardens, creating an unusual contrast with the modern skyscrapers surrounding the property.
This sense of enclosure is one of Raffles Singapore’s most effective qualities. The hotel is centrally located, yet its architecture and gardens create a clear separation from the intensity of the surrounding city.
Why Raffles Singapore Remains Relevant
The significance of Raffles Singapore is not based solely on age.
Many historic hotels have survived for more than a century, but comparatively few have maintained such a clear relationship between their original identity and contemporary hospitality. Raffles combines National Monument status, preserved architecture, an all-suite accommodation model, butler service, established culinary traditions and modern wellness facilities within a single property.
Its 2019 restoration was particularly important in this respect. Rather than simply preserving the hotel as a museum-like landmark, the project added new restaurants, bars, suites and social areas intended to keep the property active within contemporary Singapore.
That balance explains much of Raffles’ continuing appeal. Guests are not simply staying inside a historic building; they are experiencing a functioning luxury hotel whose history remains visible throughout the property.
For travellers interested in heritage hotels, Raffles Singapore offers an especially strong combination of architecture, hospitality and cultural history. For those seeking contemporary luxury, its service, suites, dining and spa ensure that the experience remains relevant beyond its heritage credentials.
Best Mediterranean Luxury Hotels for Summer 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Raffles Singapore open?
Raffles Singapore opened on 1 December 1887 as a 10-room hotel founded by the Armenian Sarkies brothers. The property expanded considerably during the following decades.
Is Raffles Singapore a National Monument?
Yes. Raffles Singapore was officially gazetted as a National Monument by the Singapore government in 1987, on the hotel’s centenary.
How many suites does Raffles Singapore have?
Following the 2019 restoration, Raffles Singapore has 115 suites. The property introduced additional categories during the restoration, including Residence Suites, Promenade Suites and Studio Suites.
Who created the Singapore Sling?
The Singapore Sling is traditionally credited to Hainanese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who created the cocktail at Raffles in 1915. The drink remains closely associated with the hotel’s Long Bar.
Does Raffles Singapore have a spa?
Yes. Raffles Spa offers treatments, wellness rituals and classes and is positioned as a holistic wellness facility within the hotel.
Is Raffles Singapore suitable for a luxury city break?
The hotel’s central location makes it particularly convenient for a Singapore city stay. It is positioned within the civic and business district, close to major cultural venues and a short MRT journey from Orchard Road.
What is special about Raffles Singapore’s butler service?
Butler service is an established part of the Raffles hospitality philosophy. The tradition originated at the Singapore property and is based on personalised, discreet assistance designed to anticipate guest needs without becoming intrusive.
When was Raffles Singapore last restored?
The hotel’s latest major restoration began in 2017 and culminated in its reopening in August 2019. The project preserved the historic character of the property while adding new suites, restaurants, bars, courtyards and social spaces.