Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel Singapore
A legendary colonial-style hotel that opened in 1887 and is the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail. Visitors can eat peanuts at the long bar and toss the shells on the floor.
Raffles Hotel was founded in 1887 by the Armenian Sarkies brothers. Its white colonial-style buildings, tropical courtyards and teak arcades make it a national monument of Singapore. Celebrities such as Somerset Maugham and Charlie Chaplin once stayed here. Around 1915, the bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created the pink 'Singapore Sling' cocktail at the Long Bar. It is now a must-order for visitors, and it is quite expensive. Following tradition, you can throw peanut shells straight onto the floor. The hotel lobby is open only to guests, but the arcade, courtyards and Long Bar are open to the public. You can also have afternoon tea in the Tiger Room, which requires a reservation and has a dress code. The hotel was fully renovated in 2019. It is near City Hall MRT station.
Opening hours
Open all day (Long Bar approx. 12:00–24:00)
Nearby sights
- National Gallery Singapore
- Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
- National Museum of Singapore
- Fort Canning Park
- Asian Civilisations Museum
- Merlion Park
- Kampong Glam / Haji Lane
- Clarke Quay