October 8, 2025, marks the MICHELIN Guide’s first-ever global Key reveal, during which the MICHELIN Guide hotel inspectors meticulously reviewed an extensive list of hotels with white-gloved precision and evaluated them against exacting criteria to compile a collection of more than 5,000 hotels worldwide.
Already renowned for its discerning taste in gastronomy, the MICHELIN Guide began its thorough assessment of the world’s best hotels five years ago. The goal was to provide a comprehensive travel resource featuring accommodations that go beyond simply offering travelers a place to sleep. Every hotel selected by the MICHELIN Guide, regardless of location, is awarded a Key — ranging from one to three — signifying its ability to provide guests with a special, exceptional or truly extraordinary stay. Three-Key hotels are destinations in their own right, worthy of a dedicated journey for an unforgettable experience.
Raffles Hotel, Singapore is the city’s first and only property to be inducted into the prestigious Three MICHELIN Key club, placing the iconic 19th-century landmark among hospitality greats such as Phuket’s Amanpuri — the flagship property of the Aman brand; Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, set on a 900-year-old estate in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Val d’Orcia in Tuscany, Italy; and its London-based sister property, Raffles London at The OWO, housed in an Edwardian building rumored to have inspired Ian Fleming’s James Bond.
Thus, it is only fitting that Raffles Hotel, Singapore has been chosen to join the ranks of legends. If the walls of Raffles Hotel, Singapore could talk, oh, the stories they could tell. From an escaped circus tiger staying the night beneath the hotel’s Bar & Billiard Room, to a young Rudyard Kipling editing his manuscript for The Jungle Book out on the veranda, the Grande Dame of 1 Beach Road has played host to countless dignitaries, celebrities, and novelists for over 135 years — and for good reason, too.
Raffles Hotel, Singapore, which opened its doors to guests in 1887, is one of the few remaining 19th century hotels in the world.
Today, Raffles Hotel, Singapore, with its neo-renaissance architecture and colonnaded portico, stands out amid its towering glass and steel-clad neighbours. It has, through the years, been passed through the hands of multiple owners and undergone numerous transformations — what began as a 10-room waterfront bungalow has evolved into an expansive multi-winged, 115-suite institution.
The historical landmark may have withstood the test of time, but it was not without peril. The hotel was once dangerously close to being torn down in favour of more lucrative, shiny skyscrapers before the Singapore government gazetted it as a national monument in 1987, the same year it celebrated its centennial anniversary.
Its latest refurbishment came off a 2015 acquisition by Accor when a tired Raffles Hotel, Singapore got a much-needed facelift led by architecture and design firm Aedas and celebrated interior design guru Alexandra Champalimaud, who has also had a hand in the refurb of numerous iconic hotels including New York’s Plaza, London’s Dorchester, and the 18th-century Monkey Island Estate in Bray.
When the hotel reopened in 2019, I paid a visit, eager to witness the fruits born by the two-year renovation, and I was not disappointed. As the English playwright and one of the hotel’s renowned guests, Somerset Maugham, once wrote, “Raffles Hotel, Singapore stands for all the fables of the exotic East” — and it is easy to understand why.
A New Lease of Life
Upon arriving at the hotel’s gravelled driveway, the door of my taxi was ceremoniously opened by a stoic Sikh doorman dressed in familiar ivory livery. “Welcome to Raffles Hotel, Singapore,” a baritone voice greeted me. The hotel’s original fluted Victorian columns, polished marble floors, and dark timbered beams frame the Grand Lobby, while a charming grandfather clock — one of the oldest pieces of furniture in the hotel — chimes in the background. If you happen to find yourself in the hotel lobby in the morning, keep an eye out for a member of the hotel’s staff coming out to wind up the said clock.
So, what exactly has changed? It feels as though nothing much has, but at the same time, everything. The danger of renovating a legacy property is either drowning it in nostalgia, or changing far too much and, therefore, obliterating its personality. With seemingly minor edits, the entire hotel appears to be inexplicably modernised and updated. This delicate sleight of hand is undeniably Champalimaud’s true skill.
“Renovating such a renowned and storied building that has a wealth of immaterial value embroidered within its makeup was a humbling experience for the team,” managing director of Raffles Hotel, Singapore, Christian Westbeld, shared. The hotel team, along with Champalimaud, consistently edited their process throughout the restoration to layer history with a contemporary approach. The result is an elegant update that is at once subtle, discreet, and yet, unmistakable.
In the lobby, dated lighting fixtures have been removed; and in its place, a modern crystal chandelier hangs from the third floor’s skylight. Grand but not intrusive, the chandelier appears to fit right in. In the iconic Long Bar where bartender Ngiam Tong Boon invented the Singapore Sling in 1915, Champalimaud and her team combined the bar’s original plantation style and palm-shaped ceiling fans with new monochrome rattan chairs and marble-topped tables, giving the space a new lease of life.
The Quiet Luxury Affair
Staying at Raffles Hotel, Singapore is a luxurious affair, and their check-in process sets the tone for this right-off-the-bat. The hotel’s check-in takes place in the comfort of your room; and in lieu of a flimsy plastic card, guests are given leather-bound key cards embossed with the hotel’s logo.
If you are booked into one of the hotel’s 12 Personality Suites, you will receive a card embossed with one of the personalities who have resided at the hotel instead. These suites, inspired by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, The Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling, and Somerset Maugham, bear memorabilia unique to the personality featured.
There are, altogether, 115 suites spanning eight categories. And while the suites in each category vary in size and view, they all come equipped with a three-part layout — a parlour for living and dining; an airy bedroom with a ceiling fan; and a Bianco Dolomite marble-clad double vanity bathroom with a Victorian-style bathtub and separate stalls for a shower and toilet.
The hotel has also managed to retain its age-old charm while updating and elevating the experience for the guests — digital tablets with the ability to control everything, from the room’s temperature to lights and curtains, are available in every suite alongside mechanical gold and black lighting fixtures from a time past. Details like these are, without a doubt, what set Raffles Hotel, Singapore apart from the city’s endless slew of hotels.
Each suite also comes with a dedicated butler, with whom you will be introduced to after your check-in. They will be available 24/7 to assist you with anything throughout your stay — from helping you plan a birthday party, to making dining reservations, to drawing up a bath at your preferred time.
“Our butlers are trained to be keen observers,” Westbeld explains when we asked what sets the butlers at Raffles Hotel, Singapore apart. “It is not surprising for them to make suggestions to a guests’ itinerary or put forward ideas on how they can enjoy the different hotel experiences or the city’s tourist attractions.” The Raffles service ethos, he shares, is meant to be like a gentle breeze — attentive, intuitive yet perfectly discreet.
After checking in, the Raffles world is your oyster. You may choose to remain holed up in your suite with a book from the shelf — a curated collection of literature written by the novelists and playwrights who have, too, been a guest of the hotel — or venture to the rooftop pool, spa, or gym, for a spot of wellness. In-suite dining is available throughout the day, offering an indulgent menu of the hotel’s signature dishes and local favorites. Guests can enjoy a private tête-à-tête in the comfort of their own suite, with afternoon tea delivered right to their door.
The hotel is also home to a team of resident historians who lead complimentary history tours within the premises twice a day. Join one of the sessions to learn about the hotel’s rich history, as well as gain access to parts of the property that would otherwise be out-of-bounds. Just make sure to register your interest with the concierge in advance as there are limited spots available.
"Feed at Raffles"
Activities out of the way, it is now time to heed the advice of Kipling and “Feed at Raffles”, a phrase he coined during a visit as he was so enamored with the hotel’s food. With six well-appointed dining establishments and three bars within the hotel, we think Kipling is onto something.
The Long Bar is a must-visit for many travelers for a two main reasons: it is the birthplace of the iconic Singapore Sling, and you get to relive a fun bit of history by snacking on peanuts directly from the gunny sacks and sweeping the empty shells mercilessly off the table and onto the floor.
Offering a nice respite from the crowd is the charming Writers Bar, a watering hole tucked into a cozy pocket of the hotel like a well-kept secret. Here, guests may pop in for a classic nightcap or opt for one of the cocktails inspired by the many literary luminaries that have graced the hotel through the decades.
If you have time for just one meal at the hotel, make it a dining experience at the MICHELIN-Selected restaurant 藝 Yì By Jereme Leung. Stepping through its doors transports diners into another world. The grand entrance—adorned with thousands of ethereal white flowers seemingly suspended in midair—sets the tone for the restaurant’s exquisite contemporary Chinese cuisine. The menu takes guests on a culinary journey across China, from delicate dim sum to nourishing double-boiled soups.
If time luckily permits, the hotel’s other dining outlets are also worth a visit.
At another MICHELIN-Selected restaurant, Butcher’s Block, diners can indulge in a menu of wood-fired specialties — think freshly grilled marron from Western Australia and Black Wagyu porterhouse steaks; and at Tiffin Room, North Indian delicacies inspired by the royal culinary heritage of the Maharajas. Finally, the Grand Lobby is where the refined ritual of afternoon tea takes place. As Henry James once wrote, “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
“Singapore and Raffles Hotel have always been special to me, and I can’t think of a better place to start a brand-new journey,” Chiang shared in a statement. “I’ve always loved and connected with this city—I’m really happy to be back. I call Singapore the home of ‘grown-up André.’”
The announcement of the partnership followed Chiang’s stint as the hotel’s writer-in-residence, a unique initiative that traces its roots to the late 1800s, when men of letters such as Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad inaugurated the hotel’s legendary literary tradition.
Preceding Chiang were writers including British-born travel writer Pico Iyer and Singaporean poet Madeleine Lee, who penned a collection of poems titled How to Build a Lux Hotel, inspired by conversations she overheard and meaningful encounters she experienced during her stay. Chiang is the hotel’s fourth writer-in-residence — and the first chef to take on the role since its inception in 2019.
As part of his residency, Chiang released a 200-page book titled Fragments of Time, inspired by his four-week stay at the hotel last year. The book interlaces Singapore’s culinary and cultural narratives with Raffles Hotel, Singapore’s rich history, offering readers a taste of the chef’s gastronomic philosophy and reflections. It also includes recipes for sauces and components that passionate home cooks can recreate to elevate any meal — Chiang’s “Umami Bomb” purée can take a humble roast chicken to the next level, while his green curry sorbet is designed to impress even the most discerning dinner guest. One thing’s for certain: there is nothing ordinary about Chiang’s book.
The Cost of Extraordinary
As most are aware, a stay at Raffles Hotel, Singapore doesn’t come cheap. A night in its lead-in category — a Studio Suite King — will set you back approximately SG$1,000 so the question is: is it worth it? My thoughts are yes, it absolutely is.
The extravagance of space in the suites, as well as the hotel grounds, are monumental. The moment you are whisked from the driveway to your suite for your check-in, it is easy to forget you are in downtown Singapore. This is quite a feat when you stop to consider that the country is only 49 kilometres from its widest tip to tip. Raffles Hotel, Singapore is an impressive universe unto itself.
That’s not forgetting the 24-hour butler service that will cater to your every whim, some of the country’s best culinary offerings at your fingertips, and sweeping lawns flanked by centuries-old traveler’s palm trees. All that, combined with the hotel’s brand of discreet, intuitive service and plush room furnishings makes for a remarkable visit.
But what truly sets the Raffles Hotel, Singapore apart from the slew of hotels in the city state lies in its history. While most city hotels tout views of the city’s skyline as its main draw, Raffles Hotel, Singapore welcomes guests to explore the stories and legacy within its walls of over 135 years. A stay at Raffles Hotel, Singapore isn’t simply about finding a comfortable place to lay your head, although that is undoubtedly a given, it is about being a part of the Raffles narrative like so many others before me, contributing a thread or two to the rich tapestry of its storied past.
As the saying goes, all great hotels are universes unto themselves, and Raffles Hotel, Singapore is undoubtedly a great hotel. With that much to do and see within its walls, it is difficult to find the motivation to venture outside. If you absolutely must, a quick chat with your butler will set sightseeing plans in motion. Alternatively, you may opt for one of the hotel’s curated experiences — a guided morning walk on the Rainforest Trail in the Singapore Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or a visit to the local wet market with the hotel’s Chef de Cuisine.
Me? You will find me lounging on a rattan chair in the veranda overlooking the hotel’s quiet, idyllic courtyard on a balmy afternoon with a drink and a book in each hand. Luxury may mean different things to everyone, but for me, it is epitomised by the tranquility that comes with monumental space. Here, on the sprawling grounds lined by century-old travelers’ palms and frangipani trees gently swaying in the tropical breeze, it is easy to comprehend why I am, like so many others before me, enthralled by the magic of Raffles Hotel, Singapore.
All images are courtesy of Raffles Hotel, Singapore
