Story of the iconic Raffles Hotel
By Kirsty Turner
The Raffles Hotel has welcomed countless stars
One of the most famous buildings in the whole of Singapore, the Raffles Hotel sums up the country’s colonial past and affluence. Dating back to the end of the 19th century, this iconic establishment has seen its fair share of famous faces and drama over the years and has played an important role in the development of the state of Singapore.
The Raffles Hotel was built in 1887 and is named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the esteemed founder of Singapore. Featuring large, luxurious rooms and suites as well as excellent restaurants and a wide tropical garden courtyard to wander through, this is the accommodation option of choice for those who can afford to stay here. More on luxury Singapore hotels.
But the Raffles Hotel is so much more than simply somewhere to hang your hat while visiting Singapore. For more than 100 years the hotel has been receiving prestigious guests from all over the world, including writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Somerset Maugham plus iconic actresses from Ava Gardner to Elizabeth Taylor.
The large and luxurious Raffles Hotel was founded on Beach Road by the four Sarkies brothers from Armenia, namely Martin, Aviet, Tigran and Arshak Sarkies. The hotel started life as a 10 room colonial bungalow, which was owned by the wealthy philanthropist and trader Syed Mohamed Alsagoff. The Sarkies brothers extensively modernised this building, and in 1899 the main area was added.
Over the course of the next few years several other wings as well as a verandah, a bar, a billiards room and a ballroom were added to the Raffles Hotel, until it had been transformed into a veritable playground for the wealthy to enjoy during their visits to Singapore. During this time, Singapore was still under colonial rule and was a popular destination where the British aristocracy, and others of wealth and power, may escape the harsh European winters.
A large number of significant events are rumoured to have taken place in the Raffles Hotel over the years. One of the most famous took place in the hotel’s Long Bar somewhere between 1910 and 1915, when resident bartender Ngiam Tong Boon invented the gin-based cocktail the Singapore Sling. People still travel to the Long Bar from all over the world to sample this signature cocktail, and the bar even sells Singapore Sling mix for visitors to take back home.
Singapore founder Sir Stamford Raffles
The Long Bar is also said to be the place where Singapore’s last surviving tiger was shot, on August 13, 1902. Although some stories insist that the tiger was wild, others suggest that it had escaped from a nearby show and was killed as it roamed through the Raffles Hotel. More on Singapore history.
Despite a brief period of financial hardship during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Raffles Hotel has managed to establish itself as one of the most salubrious placed to stay in the whole of Asia. The Raffles Hotel Ltd company was established in 1933 and this helped to pull the hotel out of the financial difficulties that crippled many of its competitors.
The arrival of the Second World War brought new challenges to the owners and staff of the Raffles Hotel, and while the building managed to escape unscathed, it was used as a transit camp at the very end of the war.
So great is the beauty and importance of the Raffles Hotel, that in 1987 it was declared a national monument by the government of Singapore. The hotel closed its doors two years later in order to receive extensive renovation, which was conducted by South Korean construction firm Ssangyong Engineering and Construction to the tune of US$160 million.
When the hotel reopened on September 16, 1991, it had been restored to the grand colonial style of the early 20th century, with the addition of teak wood flooring in all of the rooms as well as lush handmade carpets.
The hotel has also been graced with an elegant shopping arcade, which stocks luxurious brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Luis Vuitton as well as an excellent selection of restaurants. Those who value quality clothing above all else will want to pay a visit to CYC Custom Shop, where the talented tailors make shirts for prestigious customers such as prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
Visitors can learn more about the Raffles Hotel in the onsite museum, while other amenities that can be found here include a push Victorian-style theatre and a gift shop, where guests can purchase souvenirs to commemorate their stay here.
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