Feeling Like Royalty at Raffles

One of the three imposing doormen at the entrance to Raffles

Checking into Raffles is an uplifting experience. When you pull up the gravel driveway outside the white wedding cake of a hotel in the heart of Singapore, you’re greeted by a toweringly tall sikh doorman, bearded and turbaned and wearing an imposing sashed uniform. He ushers you into the lobby, all cool marble flooring and fluted columns that reach up three lofty storeys. There is none of the hubbub of other hotels – only guests or “residents” are allowed inside – so the atmosphere is reassuringly calm and rarified. To borrow from Holly Golightly, you feel as though nothing bad could ever happen at Raffles.

Raffles’ lofty and serene lobby

We’re shown, not to the Presidential Suite, where William and Kate recently stayed, but to the Somerset Maugham suite, number 102, overlooking the Palm Court. There have been many additions and alterations since Raffles first opened 125 years ago in December but this wing is the most serene. The view invites you to sink into a rattan chair on the balustraded veranda and sip a welcome Singapore Sling brought to you by your butler. So we do.

All the suites (there’s nothing so hum drum as a room at Raffles) are vast compared to modern hotels. They come with a veranda and a sitting room to the front and a huge bathroom to the back. Don’t expect a zen wetroom but instead Victorian tiles, a liberal amount of marble and brass fittings.

Number 102 was Somerset Maugham’s favourite and is now the hotel’s most frequently requested suite. As well as the usual dark wooden floors, half tester bed, oriental rugs and antiques, our suite has framed pictures of and letters from W Somerset Maugham lining the walls, a writing desk and a smattering of the author’s novels. I suddenly feel under pressure.

The hotel’s Palm Court

Time for a cocktail. We cross the courtyard into the main building to the Writers Bar. Some people will encourage you to visit the famous Long Bar and throw peanut shells on the floor but the Writers Bar is lovelier; an exclusive little nook off the lobby. Billecart Salmon Ultra Brut champagne is on offer here – an exclusive in Singapore. Wine director Stephane Soret, winner of the prestigious Wine Spectator Excellence Award, cleverly chose it for its lightness in the searing Singapore heat.

After the resident pianist plays Noel Coward’s I’ll See You Again at 8pm on the dot, we move into the adjoining Raffles Grill for dinner. An engaging waitress talks us competently through the menu and to start I choose the steamed foie gras which has a delicious salty topping and served with a pear that’s been poached for two hours in red wine. Eric, the young and enthusiastic Chinese sommelier, matches it with a sweet wine. I usually steer clear of the foie gras-dessert wine combo but this has a tropical fruit tang that’s not at all cloying.

Raffles Grill

The halibut main course comes with a nice crust of butter on the skin with punchy tomatoes on the side and is paired with a wonderful minerally Pouilly Fume. To finish, there’s a chocolate souffle which is all that it should be. Eric appears with a gigantic bottle of ’88 Armagnac and it would be churlish to refuse but after that it really is time for bed.

The next morning we climb the Gone with the Wind staircase that leads up from the lobby and head to the swimming pool, tucked away on the third floor. Set in a walled roof terrace with trellises covered in climbing plants, terracotta urns, flowering trees and striped towels on sun loungers, it’s part Italian garden, part beach club. Wonderfully I have the pool to myself save for a dragonfly.

The outdoor swimming pool oasis at Raffles Singapore

I’m just about hungry now so we go for breakfast in the Tiffin Room – an airy, colonial style restaurant with white pillars and ceiling fans on the opposite side of the lobby to Raffles Grill. There’s the usual five star buffet arrangement which is very well done but also an interesting a la carte menu. I order the Raffles Omelette – a spicy empire days inspired dish of eggs, peppers and chilli powder. Just the trick after a late night.

The Tiffin Room

We return to the Tiffin Room for lunch to try Raffles’ famous Indian buffet (while you’re staying here you should really eat inside the glorious main building as often as you can). The buffet is a spread of northern Indian hot and cold starters, chutnies, curries and vegetables with standouts such as cucumber masala salad and overnight-cooked black lentils. The highlight though is the chef’s specially prepared curry (on this occasion, a rum-soaked lamb dish) served as a generously proportioned amuse bouche, and mopped up with a freshly made naan breads.

The grandfather clock in the lobby is chiming, signalling that it’s time to leave. I do so reluctantly. So long Raffles, I’ll see you again.

Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road, Singapore. Tel: 65 6337 1886. http://www.raffles.com/singapore

[UPDATE: Restoration of Raffles Singapore began in January 2017. The hotel’s Arcade, including the Long Bar, is closed for refurbishment and the doors of its magnificent main building (which houses the lobby, Raffles Grill, the Tiffin Room and suites) closed for refurb on August 12th 2017. The hotel will close fully at the end of 2017 for a further revamp and expected to re open in mid 2018.]