The smell of fresh paint still lingers in the air, and a current of excitement runs through the historic Raffles Hotel Singapore right now.
The hotel has officially reopened its doors to guests after an extensive renovation that kept it completely closed for roughly two years.
During a recent visit, just days before the official reopening on August 1, the buzz among the staff was palpable, and no one was more thrilled than general manager Christian Westbeld as he watched the vision and painstaking work of many years finally put on full display.
Partner links: booking through them supports the blog at no extra cost to you.
"We think that, on this scale, it will never be done again," he says. "We took this restoration very seriously and poured a great deal of energy and time into it. All the time it took was time well spent."
"The hotel feels much fresher. The spaces look far brighter, far lighter, far more inviting and approachable, which is exactly what we wanted to achieve. We wanted to look at luxury in a new way: not stuffy, formal and intimidating, but rather welcoming and conducive to connection. It's very comfortable and surpasses anything else in Singapore."
The renovation was led by Alexandra Champalimaud, founder of the design firm Champalimaud.
This was no ordinary refresh. The last time Raffles Hotel Singapore, which opened in 1887, underwent a major overhaul was back in 1991.
The challenge, of course, was how to preserve the aura of the hotel's colonial architecture while giving modern travelers the technology and amenities they've come to expect from a luxury stay.
Never mind that every single step required government approval, as this is a historic Singapore property that was declared a national monument in 1987.
"We haven't lost any of the architectural charm, the colonial heritage," Westbeld says, noting that the renovation plans were in the works for nearly a decade.
"That's the biggest win, and I think it's the first thing people will notice. But at the same time, we've modernized the building in a way that reflects the Singapore of today and the era we live in."
While most of the renovation won't be visible to guests, such as the engineering systems and the kitchens, returning guests of Raffles Singapore will notice tangible changes the moment they step into the lobby, which no longer has a reception desk.
That freed up space for the Writers Bar, which, judging by the crowd we saw during our recent visit, has already become a popular after-work spot among young locals.
As for the rooms, the revamped Raffles offers nine suite categories: State Room Suites, Courtyard Suites, Palm Court Suites, Personality Suites, Residence Suites, Promenade Suites, Grand Hotel Suites and Presidential Suites.
The renovation added the Residence, Promenade and Studio suites, bringing the total number of suites up from 103 to 115.
"The suites are far more comfortable than they used to be," Westbeld says. "No noise disturbances. Beautiful bathrooms. Technology that doesn't overwhelm you: it's simply another tool to make your life a little easier."
"We were always very clear about what we wanted to achieve. We never want to make the headlines or the news because we have the latest cutting-edge technology. That's not what we stand for. We're a legendary, legendary provider of service, and that's what we want to be known for."
As part of that commitment to service, every guest now has a personal butler who acts as the main point of contact and passes requests along to the right specialists, from airport transfers and spa visits to restaurant reservations and room service.
Guests can reach their butler through the DigiValet app on in-room tablets, which also let them control the television, lighting and air conditioning.
New Dining Experiences
The hotel's F&B restaurants have been completely rebuilt.
Take, for example, the beloved Tiffin Room, which has been part of Raffles since 1892 and serves incredible North Indian cuisine. During the renovation, herringbone wood floors were laid here, and the decor now features locally made porcelain and tiffin boxes.
Among the new restaurants is La Dame de Pic, a collaboration with chef Anne-Sophie Pic of the three-Michelin-starred Maison Pic in Valence, France.
Also not to be missed is afternoon tea in the Grand Lobby, with fine teas, champagne, classic sandwiches, homemade scones and pastries.
Even the hotel's ultra-touristy Long Bar, the birthplace of the original Singapore Sling, has been refreshed and styled with modern, plantation-inspired touches. Don't worry. You can still toss your peanut shells onto the floor.
A few new restaurants haven't opened yet: BBR by Alain Ducasse; 兿 yì by Jereme Leung, which means "art" in Chinese; and Butcher's Block, which, as the name suggests, offers a wide selection of the finest cuts of meat.
Celebrating the Old Ghosts
Amid all the talk of face-lifts and modernity, one member of the Raffles team truly stands out: Leslie Danker, the hotel's resident historian.
He has worked at Raffles for more than 45 years and still leads guests through its halls and grounds, sharing his personal anecdotes along with fascinating details about the hotel's transformations over the years.
As he guides us around the property, his pride is unmistakable. Eventually we reach the "wall of fame," a gallery that transports visitors back in time with images of celebrated guests such as Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Rudyard Kipling and Ava Gardner, to name just a few.
Danker has met many of them, including Michael Jackson and John Wayne. But ask him which guest truly left him starstruck, and he doesn't hesitate. Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the city in 1989.
"When I was in school, we were a British colony for many years," he recalls. "I remember when I was little, and it was her coronation, I made some decorations for my house. So I admired her a great deal."
That reverence for the past, paired with the drive to keep the hotel relevant today, has caught the attention of Singaporeans and foreign travelers alike.
For locals, the hotel is a key chapter in the city's story. According to Westbeld, Singaporeans have embraced the changes warmly. Today a new generation of Singaporeans is arriving to create their own memories at the hotel, just as their parents, and perhaps even their grandparents, once did.
"It's one of the most rewarding experiences, to be part of this, to have the privilege of being the general manager of Raffles at such a pivotal moment," Westbeld says.
"When you see it all come together, it's incredibly rewarding. We all know we're here for only a brief moment in the life of Raffles. We simply want to deliver the most fitting and proper activation that Raffles deserves, to set it up for many, many more years of success. It's truly a wonderful feeling, and I'll never forget it."
