The epitome of Singaporean luxury, Raffles Hotel Singapore sports a classic, colonial-style look with a stately white façade. Established in 1887 and painstakingly preserved in a 2019 renovation from NYC-based Champalimaud, it’s one of the world’s last-remaining grand 19th-century hotels.
Throughout the hotel’s more than 130 years, the grande dame has been a stalwart provider of service, fine dining and grandiose comfort. Raffles is a piece of history — it was declared a national monument by the Singaporean government. It was the retreat of choice for luminaries like Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, Rudyard Kipling and Ernest Hemingway.
But you don’t need a famous name to get the VIP treatment at this icon, where every accommodation is a suite, and every guest gets a dedicated butler. Other indulgences include a soothing spa and nine restaurants and bars — including the famed space that originated the Singapore Sling cocktail.