Raffles Hotel
The colonial grande dame, birthplace of the Singapore Sling, restored to its 1887 grandeur.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time
- Afternoon
- Cost
- Free to visit; dining and drinks paid
The story
Raffles Hotel is a colonial-era luxury hotel that opened in 1887 and is named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. Its grand whitewashed façade, tropical gardens and long verandahs made it a legendary haunt of writers and dignitaries. It is famously the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail, created at its Long Bar in the early 20th century. Now a national monument, it reopened after a careful restoration in 2019.
What to see & do
- 01The iconic colonial white façade and grand lobby.
- 02The Long Bar, birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail.
- 03The lush tropical courtyard gardens and verandahs.
- 04The arcade of boutiques and the heritage-filled corridors.
- 05The elegant afternoon tea in its historic setting.
Make the most of your visit
- Sip a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar for the classic experience.
- The public areas and arcade are free to wander and photograph.
- Dress smartly, as the hotel maintains a refined atmosphere.
- Book afternoon tea ahead if you want the full experience.
- Toss peanut shells on the Long Bar floor, per tradition.
Getting there
Take the MRT to City Hall or Esplanade station and walk a few minutes to Beach Road. The hotel sits in the civic district near Raffles City.
Nearest MRT stations- Esplanade MRT Station3.3 min walk
- City Hall MRT Station5.2 min walk
- Bras Basah MRT Station6.5 min walk
- Bencoolen MRT Station8.7 min walk
Walk times are real pedestrian routing (OSRM) from the attraction to each station entrance, not straight-line estimates.
Where to eat nearby — hawker centres
- Albert Centre12.4 min
- Golden Mile Food Centre18.8 min
- Capitaspring19.9 min
- Hong Lim Complex20.9 min
- Zhujiao Centre (tekka Market)21.9 min
Eat & stay nearby
Top-rated restaurants and hotels within walking distance of Raffles Hotel, pulled live from Google. Tap any to open it in Google Maps.
EV charging nearby
Driving an EV? The nearest public charging points to Raffles Hotel, from Singapore’s LTA charger registry.
- Raffles City Shopping CentreSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 250 kW· DC fast190 m
- The MCity Energy Go Pte. Ltd.· up to 22 kW355 m
- Midtown BaySp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 7.4 kW358 m
- Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, SingaporeSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 50 kW· DC fast464 m
Distances are straight-line from the attraction. See the full EV charger map →
More to see within walking distance
Itineraries that include Raffles Hotel
See how visitors fit Raffles Hotel into a day — with what to pair it with, when to go and real traveller notes.
Staying in the area
Renting or buying near here? These stations have HDB blocks ranked by walk time and liveability: