Cosmopolitan, green and squeaky-clean Singapore is home to the legendary lodgings of the Raffles Singapore. From the moment the liveried doorman ushered us in to the lobby of the elegant multi-story hotel I’m swept by the ghosts of patrons past to a Singapore of rickshaw rides and tea dances. Its colonial charm perfectly preserved, it is very easy to imagine what the iconic hotel must have been like back in the day, when the rich and famous soaked up Singapore Slings and the refined ambience of the airy verandahs overlooking the (now reclaimed) seafront.
Suite life – An all-suite hotel, the Raffles offers two presidential and five grand hotel suites as well as 12 personality suites (each named after some of the hotels famous past residents) plus 84 Courtyard and Palmcourt suites.
We are escorted along white colonnaded verandas and through the frangipani fragranced courtyard to our suite, located directly above that which once was the residence of writer Somerset Maugham. With its soaring 14ft ceiling, antique furnishings, fine oriental carpets and teak wood flooring it is elegant and colonial in feel and nothing short of stunning. There is a private parlour and dining area which leads into the spacious bedroom and marble tiled bathroom.
Modern comforts like wi-fi don’t hurt either but our favourite feature is the visceral service of our butler who kindly offers to organise toys and games for our children, should we desire. At this moment we only desire tea, which we enjoy overlooking the cloister-like garden where our children play hide and seek along the colonnades and frolic in the Singapore sun.
Epicurean delights – Without even leaving the hotel residents can undertake a sumptuous epicurean adventure. From delicious pastries, biscuits and cakes at Ah Teng’s Bakery, alfresco nibbles in the Courtyard and grilled prime cuts of Australian and US beef (and of course a Singapore Sling or two) at the Long Bar Steakhouse to the iconic high-tea served in the Tiffin Room or a champagne buffet in the Bar and Billiard Room, every one of the fifteen restaurants, cafes and bars is nothing short of sublime.
We take advantage of the hotel’s superb babysitting service and, while our children dine on room-service and watch cartoons, we enjoy flawless French cuisine and a drop of the Raffles exclusive Billecart-Salmon Extra Brut at the hotel’s exquisite fine dining room, Raffles Grill where our meal, and the service, is nothing short of sublime.
Celebrity roll call – Beyond the literary likes of Noël Coward, Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham – who described the Raffles as “the legendary symbol for all the fables of the Exotic East” –and their fellow scribes who once fuelled their creative juices at the hotel’s Long Bar, The Raffles has also played host to Hollywood legends like Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne and Ava Gardener; former US President Bill Clinton, the late King of pop, Michael Jackson, and the Queen of England, Elizabeth II. More recently The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been on the receiving end of the Raffles extraordinary hospitality.
Shop & Indulge
The ultimate Singaporean experience, the Raffles is a destination in itself. It has its own museum and an arcade lined with exclusive stores stocking the best luxury labels. A welcoming haven from the heat of tropical Singapore, the Raffles Spa offers a delicious menu of treatments inspired by Asian, Middle Eastern and European spa traditions. I took particular pleasure in the sauna and steam room and after an indulgent aromatherapy treatment enjoyed a quiet hour or so relaxing in the jacuzzi and by the pretty rooftop swimming pool. The spa, for the exclusive use of Raffles Guests, offers seven soothing treatment rooms, including a VIP suite with its own Jacuzzi, steam shower and lounge area for couples who want to share their experience.
Kids welcome – The Raffles is calm and classy without a trace of stuffiness and children are most welcome. From the splendidly moustachioed doorman and the friendly lobby staff to the hotel’s residents (the Raffles’ charming term for guests) who stop to say hello, kids are made feel very special indeed.
Something special – See Singapore in grand style with Raffles chauffeured classic Daimler or Bentley limousines service.
Information – www.raffles.com/singapore
