Founded in 1887 by the Armenian Sarkies brothers, Raffles Hotel on 1 Beach Road, Singapore, first opened its doors as a 10-room boarding house. The three brothers – Arshak, Tigran and Aviet Sarkies – opened the property as part of their collection of luxury hotels across Southeast Asia, which included Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang and the Strand Hotel, Myanmar. Named after the founder of modern Singapore, Thomas Stamford Raffles, the hotel stands as a relic of Singaporean history and remains the flagship property of Raffles Hotels & Resorts. In fact, this Grand Dame of Singapore is so revered that, on the hotel’s 100th anniversary in 1987, Raffles Hotel Singapore was officially declared a National Monument by the Singapore government.

While Singapore continues to evolve and expand, Raffles Hotel Singapore remains an idyllic sanctuary in a cosmopolitan area abuzz with activity. The hotel’s neo-renaissance architecture, featuring white-washed pillars, towering ceilings and Art Deco details, is in stark contrast to the steel-and-glass skyscrapers that surround it. The property gradually expanded from its original bungalow structure over the years to become the three-storey, 115-suite property that stands today.

In 2019, the property reopened its doors following an extensive renovation led by architecture and design firm Aedas and interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud. The refreshed property features new bars, restaurants, courtyards, shops and social spaces. 

Alongside standard rooms and suites, the hotel offers 12 “Personality Suites” inspired by some of the unique personalities that once stayed at the hotel. One room features a framed autograph from writer Rudyard Kipling who coined the phrase, “Feed at Raffles” upon being enamoured by the hotel’s food.

The food here is certainly one of a kind, with seven bars, restaurants and eateries available. Choose from Afternoon Tea in the Grand Lobby, live cooking at Butcher’s Block, Cantonese classics at 藝 yì by Jereme Leung, alfresco dining in the Raffles Courtyard or perhaps an elegant affair at one of Singapore's oldest North Indian restaurants, Tiffin Room. The Writers Bar offers sophisticated nightcaps in an intimate setting, while Bar & Billiard Room was the site of the ‘The Last Tiger’; a rebellious furry creature that escaped from a nearby circus in 1902, before unfortunately meeting its end at the Raffles Hotel. 

As an ASMALLWORLD Member, you will have exclusive access to Raffles Hotel Singapore alongside VIP benefits and events. Explore the full hotel offering on ASMALLWORLD Collection.