Old charm in a new dress - Raffles Singapore has remained a place of longing for time travelers even after its careful renovation.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
Address: 1 Beach Road, 189673 Singapore
Tel.: +65 6337 1886
Web: raffles-hotels.com
Price: Suite ab 970 Euro
Raffles is one of the most beautiful colonial hotels in the world. It still occupies an entire block on Victoria Street and, after extensive renovation, presents itself as a 19th-century hotel icon in the midst of a world of skyscrapers. The reception of hotel guests has also remained the same. They arrive at the colonial jewel via a red carpet lined with thick golden cords and are greeted by "The General," an Indian brand ambassador in a gleaming white parade uniform with a turban. The journey through time can begin.
Interior designer Alexandra Champalimund and her team have given the suites a makeover. Everything is now a bit brighter and airier, yet the patina of bygone days shimmers through discreetly. Among the gems are sideboards in the shape of old wardrobe trunks, which house the minibar and glasses. Also beautiful are the four-poster beds with dark wood, free from heavy drapes. The new bathrooms feature locally sourced Peranakan ceramic tiles and classy Victorian-style fixtures. High-tech has moved in with tablets displayed in each room. Guests can use them to control all functions - from the air conditioning and light settings to operating the blinds.
The smallest suites are the Studio Suites with 46 square meters of space, four-meter high rooms and verandas overlooking the palm garden. The two Presidential Suites present themselves as 260-square-meter apartments offering every conceivable luxury in regal style. The twelve suites, named after famous people who have visited Raffles over the past hundred years, offer a special charm. They feature unique memorabilia in the parlor and bedroom. The suite dedicated to Somerset Maugham, for example, features a personal letter from the writer that includes his legendary quote about the hotel, "Raffles Hotel stands for all the exotic wonders of the East." Other suites are dedicated to Ava Gardner, Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne and Rudyard Kipling. And then there is also the Raffles butler service that guests of all suites enjoy.
Hinter dem neuen gastronomischen Konzept stehen mit Alain Ducasse und Anne-Sophie Pic ausgewiesene Kochkünstler. In der Osteria by Alain Ducasse kommen mediterrane Köstlichkeiten auf den Tisch. Das neue Design mit zwei geschwungenen Bögen über der offenen Showküche symbolisiert die Mittelmeerküste und das Mittelmeer selbst. Die mit drei Michelin-Sternen dekorierte Anne-Sophie Pic ist eine der besten Köchinnen der Welt und feiert mit ihrem Restaurant im Raffles ihr Debüt in Asien. Sie verwöhnt ihre Gäste auf allerhöchstem kulinarischem Niveau. Mit dem „Butcher’s Block“, einem Steakhouse der Extraklasse, und dem „yi by Jerome Leung“ mit raffinierter chinesischer Küche verfügt das Raffles über weitere ausgezeichnete gastronomische Outlets. Und dann ist da noch der grundlegend modernisierte Tiffin Room, seit 1892 Teil der besonderen Geschichte des Raffles. Hier kommen nordindische Gerichte auf den Tisch, die in den beliebten Tiffin-Boxen serviert werden und zum interaktiven Genuss einladen.
A real tourist magnet is the home of the Singapore Sling, the "Long Bar". Queues form there, and as ever, peanut shells end up on the floor. The new "Writers Bar" is a surprise, a stylish retreat with a solid brass bar, textured walls and a mesmerizing chandelier. The bar pays homage to the many literary figures who once stayed at Raffles. The cocktail menu comes from bar manager Paul Hammond and travel writer Pico Iyer in the form of a leather-bound travel magazine, bringing exotic time travel to life.
The Raffles Spa pampers with a hydrothermal bath, sauna, steam bath, vitality pool, beauty treatments and massages. Special offers include mindfulness meditation and programs to revitalize and restore mental balance, as well as special sound and healing therapies. The gym, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, is open around the clock.
The traditional Afternoon Tea in the thoroughly renovated Grand Lobby is still celebrated. Following the British model, delicious scones and sandwiches are served on etagères with black tea, and of course, a glass of champagne is also allowed. When the wonderfully restored Grandfather Clock, a relic from the old days, chimes on the hour, the experience is perfect.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
Address: 1 Beach Road, 189673 Singapore
Tel.: +65 6337 1886
Web: raffles-hotels.com
Price: Suite ab 970 Euro
