Raffles Hotel
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn iconic Singapore luxury hotel known for its preserved colonial architecture, suite-only accommodation, Long Bar, and association with the Singapore Sling.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Raffles Hotel is a historic luxury hotel at 1 Beach Road in Singapore and the flagship property associated with the Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand. It opened on 1 December 1887 after the Armenian Sarkies Brothers leased the site from Syed Mohamed Alsagoff and converted an earlier seaside residence into a ten-room hotel. Named after Stamford Raffles, the British colonial official commonly associated with the founding of modern Singapore, the property developed a reputation for high service standards, spacious accommodation, and a prominent social setting. The hotel expanded rapidly during its early decades. Two wings were completed in 1890, the Palm Court Wing followed in 1894, and a new main building designed by Regent Alfred John Bidwell of Swan and Maclaren opened in 1899. The enlarged complex added guest suites, verandas, a ballroom, restaurants, a bar, and a billiards room. It was also an early adopter of modern hotel infrastructure in the region, including electric lighting and powered ceiling fans. The property became a focal point for colonial-era travellers, writers, entertainers, and business visitors. Raffles experienced financial pressure during the Great Depression. The Sarkies Brothers declared bankruptcy in 1931, and the business was reorganized in 1933 under a public company called Raffles Hotel Ltd. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore in the Second World War, the hotel was renamed Syonan Ryokan. After the war, it returned to its former identity and continued operating as one of the city’s best-known hotels. The property’s heritage status became especially important in the late twentieth century. Singapore designated Raffles Hotel a National Monument in 1987. It closed in 1989 for a major restoration costing a reported 160 million Singapore dollars and reopened in 1991. The work sought to recover the atmosphere of the hotel’s early twentieth-century peak while adapting it for contemporary luxury hospitality. Guest rooms were converted into suites, and Long Bar was moved from the lobby into an adjoining shopping arcade. The bar is strongly associated with the Singapore Sling, a gin-based cocktail traditionally credited to bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. Ownership and corporate management changed several times in the twenty-first century. Colony Capital agreed in 2005 to acquire Raffles Holdings and its hotel interests. A Qatar-based investment structure acquired the Singapore property in 2010, and Katara Hospitality is identified as its owner. Accor acquired the Fairmont Raffles Hotels International portfolio in 2015 and manages the Raffles brand and hotel operations. The property’s Raffles Hotel Museum, which displayed historical photographs, menus, silverware, china, and other memorabilia, closed in 2012. A further restoration began in January 2017. The hotel closed in December of that year, underwent room refurbishment, soundproofing, technological upgrades, flooring replacement, and food-and-beverage renovations, and reopened on 1 August 2019. The project increased the number of suites from 103 to 115, gave Writer’s Bar a dedicated space, and converted the former Jubilee Theatre into a ballroom. The complex also contains a shopping arcade with specialist boutiques and restaurants. Today, Raffles Hotel functions both as a luxury accommodation business and as a heritage and cultural landmark. Its identity rests on architectural preservation, personalized service, suites rather than conventional rooms, destination dining and bars, literary and celebrity associations, and the Singapore Sling. It has also appeared in films, television programs, novels, and video games, reinforcing its international recognition beyond the hotel industry.
History
The site began as a privately owned beach house built in the early 1830s. Dr. Charles Emerson leased it in 1878 and operated it as Emerson’s Hotel. After Emerson died in 1883, the building was temporarily used by Raffles Institution as a boarding house until the lease expired in September 1887. The Sarkies Brothers then leased the property from Syed Mohamed Alsagoff and opened Raffles Hotel on 1 December 1887 with ten rooms. Its seaside location and service reputation attracted affluent travellers. Expansion followed quickly: two two-storey wings were added in 1890, a neighbouring building was renovated, and the Palm Court Wing was completed in 1894. These works increased capacity to 75 rooms. A new principal building designed by Regent Alfred John Bidwell was completed in 1899 on the site of the original beach house. It introduced electric lighting and powered ceiling fans, among other contemporary amenities. Additional wings and public spaces—including a veranda, ballroom, bar, and billiards room—eventually created the recognizable hotel complex. A notable 1902 incident involved a tiger that escaped from a nearby circus and was shot in a storage area beneath the Bar & Billiards room. The Great Depression severely affected the business. The Sarkies Brothers entered bankruptcy in 1931, and the operation was reorganized in 1933 as Raffles Hotel Ltd. During the Japanese occupation beginning in 1942, the hotel was renamed Syonan Ryokan. It was reclaimed at the end of the war during Operation Tiderace, when the British naval flag was raised over the building. In 1987, the same year the hotel was declared a Singapore National Monument, researcher Andreas Augustin located original architectural drawings in a Singapore archive. The drawings were later published in The Raffles Treasury. The hotel closed from 1989 to 1991 for a major restoration. The reopened property was styled around its 1915 appearance, but all guest rooms were converted to suites. Long Bar was moved from the lobby to an adjoining arcade, where it remains associated with the Singapore Sling and the tradition of dropping peanut shells on the floor. The hotel changed corporate hands during the following decades. Colony Capital announced the purchase of Raffles Holdings in 2005. Qatari ownership followed in 2010, and the property is associated with Katara Hospitality. Accor’s acquisition of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International in 2015 placed the Raffles brand under Accor’s management. The hotel museum closed in 2012. Another major renovation commenced in 2017. The hotel closed in December that year and reopened on 1 August 2019. The work refurbished and soundproofed suites, added modern technology, replaced flooring, renewed food-and-beverage venues, created a separate Writer’s Bar, transformed the former Jubilee Theatre into a ballroom, and expanded the suite inventory from 103 to 115. The hotel continues to operate as a luxury property, heritage site, dining destination, and widely recognized symbol of Singapore.
- 2019
Reopens after latest renovation
[1]Raffles Hotel reopened on 1 August after a comprehensive renovation that expanded the property to 115 suites.
- 2015
Raffles brand joins Accor
[1]Accor acquired Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, becoming the Raffles brand’s corporate manager.
- 1991
Reopens after restoration
[1]The hotel reopened on 16 September after a two-year restoration and conversion of all rooms into suites.
- 1987
Declared a National Monument
[1]The Singapore government recognized the hotel as a National Monument.
- 1942
Hotel renamed during Japanese occupation
[1]During the occupation of Singapore, the property operated under the name Syonan Ryokan.
- 1933
Raffles Hotel Ltd. takes over
[1]The business was reorganized under a new public company.
- 1931
Sarkies Brothers declare bankruptcy
[1]The Great Depression contributed to the financial collapse of the hotel’s founding operating family.
- 1899
New main building opens
[1]A building designed by Regent Alfred John Bidwell replaced the original beach house and introduced modern hotel amenities.
- 1894
Palm Court Wing completed
[1]The Palm Court Wing and related expansion increased the hotel’s total inventory to 75 rooms.
- 1890
First expansion wings completed
[1]Two two-storey wings were added, each containing 22 guest suites.
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Products and positioning
Ultra-luxury heritage hotel combining colonial-era architecture, personalized hospitality, destination dining, and Singapore cultural symbolism.
Luxury accommodation · 1991
Raffles Hotel suites
The property operates as an all-suite luxury hotel rather than a conventional room-based hotel. Its accommodation emphasizes spacious layouts, heritage detailing, private verandas or terraces in selected units, and individualized service. The 2017–2019 renovation refurbished the suites, improved soundproofing, introduced updated technology, and increased the total inventory from 103 to 115 suites.
Bar · 1915
Long Bar
Long Bar is one of the hotel’s best-known public venues. It is associated with the creation of the Singapore Sling, traditionally attributed to bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, and with the long-standing custom of patrons dropping peanut shells on the floor. The bar was relocated from the lobby to the adjoining arcade during the 1989–1991 restoration.
Cocktail
Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling is a gin-based cocktail strongly associated with Raffles Hotel and Singapore’s tourism identity. Its connection with Long Bar gives the drink a distinctive heritage role within the hotel’s beverage business and visitor experience.
Retail and dining · 1991
Raffles Arcade
The hotel’s adjoining arcade contains approximately 40 specialty boutiques and accommodates many of the property’s restaurants and bars. It also provides the setting for Long Bar after its relocation from the hotel lobby.
Brand decisions
2017
Close the hotel for a comprehensive renovationOtherBackground
The property required renewed rooms, infrastructure, public spaces, and food-and-beverage venues while retaining its heritage character.
Action taken
The hotel closed in December 2017 after renovation work had begun in January. The project refurbished and soundproofed suites, added technology, replaced marble flooring, renewed outlets, created a dedicated Writer’s Bar, and converted the former Jubilee Theatre into a ballroom.
Aftermath
The hotel reopened on 1 August 2019 with 115 suites and refreshed public facilities.
2015
Move the Raffles brand into Accor’s portfolioM&ABackground
Accor pursued the acquisition of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, the group associated with the Raffles brand and the Singapore flagship.
Action taken
Accor completed the purchase of the Fairmont and Raffles hotel businesses.
Aftermath
Raffles Hotel became part of Accor’s managed luxury-hospitality portfolio, while the Singapore property remained associated with Katara Hospitality ownership.
1989
Undertake a major heritage restorationOtherBackground
The hotel chose to close for an extensive restoration intended to preserve its historic character while updating the property for modern luxury hospitality.
Action taken
The building was restored toward its 1915-era appearance, and the accommodation model was changed so that all guest rooms became suites.
Aftermath
The hotel reopened in September 1991 with a restored architectural identity and a relocated Long Bar.
Reported renovation cost. 160 million Singapore dollars (1989–1991)
Recent events
- 2019
Raffles Hotel reopens after 2017–2019 renovation[1]
Product generation · Product launch
The property reopened on 1 August 2019 with 115 suites, upgraded technology and soundproofing, refreshed restaurants and bars, a relocated Writer’s Bar, and a new ballroom in the former Jubilee Theatre.
- 2017
Raffles Hotel closes for a comprehensive renovation[1]
Product generation
The hotel began a major restoration and closed in December 2017 so that refurbishment and building work could proceed.
- 2015
Accor acquires the Fairmont Raffles Hotels International portfolio[1]
M&A
Accor purchased the Fairmont and Raffles hotel businesses, bringing the Raffles brand under the French hospitality group’s management structure.
- 2012
Raffles Hotel Museum closes[1]
Other
The hotel’s museum, which presented memorabilia and historical material about the property and its guests, ceased operation.
- 2010
Qatari investment group acquires Raffles Hotel[1]
M&A
A Qatar-based investment structure acquired the Singapore hotel, with Katara Hospitality subsequently identified as the property owner.
- 2005
Colony Capital agrees to acquire Raffles Holdings[1]
M&A
Colony Capital announced an agreement to purchase Raffles Holdings and the wider Raffles hotel interests.
- 1991
Raffles Hotel reopens after major restoration[1]
Product generation
After closing in 1989, the hotel reopened following an extensive restoration intended to recreate its grand early twentieth-century character while modernizing its facilities.
- 1987
Raffles Hotel is designated a National Monument of Singapore[1]
Other
Singapore granted the historic hotel national monument status, formally recognizing its architectural and cultural importance.
Sources1 sources
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