Review / We review Raffles Hotel Singapore: after renovations at the heritage hotel where Michael Jackson and Queen Elizabeth were once guests
Has Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel, established in 1887 and named after the city-state’s founder Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, retained its colonial charm, elegance and strong sense of culture?
As I pulled up to 1 Beach Road, Singapore, many questions reverberated in my mind. What modern touches would have been made to this heritage hotel, with more than 130 years of history, and would they blend in with this historic property and national monument? After two-and-a-half years of renovations, would it retain its colonial charm, elegance and strong sense of culture?
How had the hotel evolved over the years since Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson had graced these halls?
The bathroom was where I’d spend a great deal of my time … I spent multiple hours a day soaking in the tub, I just wished there was some sort of bath salts, bath bomb or oil to elevate the experience
The welcome
As soon as the car door opens you see the same classic white exterior with stained-glass trimming and are greeted with kind smiles and a warm welcome. This greeting follows you into the lobby where you also stand before a newly installed chandelier that was made in Prague and has 8,142 crystals.
The chandeliers, light fixtures and artworks by Ran Hwang and Ho Sin-ying were the first new additions to the Raffles Hotel Singapore that I spotted. They blended seamlessly into the original high ceilings and black and white colonial design with dark wood and pristine white columns.
The room
I checked into the Noel Coward suite, one of 115 suites in the hotel (there used to be 103). Named after the English playwright, this is one of 12 named after famous personalities who have stayed at the hotel. From my polished teak veranda, I looked out across the lush gardens and couldn’t believe I was in the heart of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.
On entering the suite, which was in one of the oldest wings of the hotel, I was delighted to see the original architectural design with four-metre high ceilings, and a British layout with a sitting room that leads to the bedroom and then to the bathroom.
The bathroom was where I’d spend a great deal of my time. I admired the luxury Victorian-style bath tub, separate toilet and standing rainforest shower, all paired in marble detailing and classic white shutters. There was even a nod to Singaporean culture with Peranakan-designed tiles lining the floor. Again we found modernity integrated effortlessly with the classic design and fixtures. I spent multiple hours a day soaking in the tub, I just wished there was some sort of bath salts, bath bomb or oil to elevate the experience.