Raffles Hotel
Where Somerset Maugham sipped Singapore Slings under colonial ceiling fans
About the Property
The iconic Raffles Hotel has defined luxury hospitality in Asia since 1887, founded by Armenian hoteliers the Sarkies Brothers. A National Monument of Singapore (gazetted 2015), its 115 suites and colonial grandeur have hosted Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling, and Charlie Chaplin. The Singapore Sling was created here by Hainanese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. After the Sarkies went bankrupt during the Great Depression in 1931, the hotel was restructured as a public company and has since undergone two major restorations.
Original Purpose
Colonial government hotel
Highlights
History Timeline
Founded by Armenian hoteliers the Sarkies Brothers
Singapore Sling cocktail invented at the Long Bar
Sarkies Brothers declared bankrupt during the Great Depression
Hotel restructured as a public company
Occupied by Japanese forces during WWII
Declared a National Monument of Singapore
Completed $160M restoration and reopening