A historic monument first opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the legendary grande dames that stirs the emotions of hotel nerds around the world. It conjures visions of regal architecture and attentive service—after all, this is where the idea of private butlers was first introduced to the world. And then there’s the Singapore Sling, the classic cocktail, which was first invented at the hotel’s Long Bar in 1915. Today, the Raffles flagship has given its name to an international portfolio of Raffles hotels—part of the Accor hospitality group—in Paris, Istanbul, Warsaw, Jakarta and the Seychelles. Needless to say, we’ve been waiting to see the results of a multi-phase restoration which began in February 2017. And on August 1, Raffles Singapore officially announced its reopening.
Overseen by interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud with support from the Aedas architectural firm, the project has sought to retain the hotel’s colonial charm while revitalizing it for the 21st century. Notably, the suite experience has been enhanced with new categories (there are now nine, with Residence, Promenade and Studio Suites being the newest additions). The hotel offers all-suite accommodations, which have been increased from 103 to 115 suites.
What’s more, the restaurant offerings are showing off collaborations with some the world’s top chefs including Alain Ducasse, Jereme Leung, and Anne-Sophie Pic, the acclaimed chef behind the three-Michelin star Maison Pic in Valence, France. And the Raffles Arcade has a new Raffles Boutique and other retail shops. Christian Westbeld is the hotel’s general manager.