or so says the Raffles Website - Raffles Hotel, Singapore
"Probably the world's most famous hotel. ‘While at Raffles, why not visit Singapore?' Indeed. Not just a hotel, an icon; Raffles Singapore is an oasis of colonial style, calm and charm in the heart of modern Singapore - exclusive, historic, and one of a kind."
Well we were in Singapore a week ago - this was our view from our hotel balcony -
and we did visit the Raffles - it was next door - here are some pics - elegance at it's best - but of course with a price tag to match......
And a little history -
you can read more by clicking here - Wikipedia-Raffles_Hotel
and the famous Long Bar - You need to go up to the first floor to go to the Long Bar. I have just read that this is not the colonial bar where the likes of Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling put away gin and tonics while penning stories about the jungles of Malaya. The original Long Bar was located in the hotel lobby. However visiting the Long Bar at the Raffles is certainly a thing to do if you are close by.
and the famous Singapore Sling? - expensive yes, but it is iconic.
Worldfoodist-who-invented-the-singapore-sling?
Here are the proportions officially published by the hotel:30 ml gin
15 ml Cherry Heering (brandy)
7.5 ml Dom Benedictine
7.5 ml Cointreau
120 ml Sarawak Pineapple juice
15 ml lime juice
10 ml Grenadine
a dash of Angostura bitters
Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry
And where did we stay? - right across the road from The Raffles - at The Swissotel The Stamford - The Stamford, Singapore
We have stayed there before. Wonderful rooms, swimming pool, connected to a shopping complex, plenty of restaurants to cover all choices in the shopping complex, MRT adjacent, fantastic location.
It's not quite the Raffles, but it doesn't have the same price tag attached either. Ps - if you are going to go to the Raffles, check out their dress standards on their web page first, or you may be turned away.
Our view from our "harbour view" room - the pics in this panorama don't quite match up, but you get should get the idea - that is the Singapore Cricket Club in the lower RHS. You can't see the Raffles in this pic, if was way around to the left from here.
I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of the Raffles. I will be back again soon with some more pics from Singapore. Here's a sneak look - Gardens on the Bay.....
And which camera did I take with me? My trusty little Canon G11 - a handy little camera which takes fabulous pics without the weight and the "she's a tourist with an expensive camera" label pointing to me!
A couple of links for you - Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Singapore Sling, Raffles
I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Our World Tuesday, Travel Photo Thursday and Oh the Places I've Been. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
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Our World Tuesday
Travel Photo Thursday
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I really enjoyed this visit to Raffles. I love how white it all is - cool in the tropics, I imagine.
ReplyDeleteThe first photo of Singapore from your hotel room is stunning. What a gorgeous setting.
yes the view was amazing! We even had front row seats for fireworks over the river the first night we arrived!
DeleteI too have enjoyed your photo tour of Parts of Singapore. A beautiful city. Looking forward to seeing more.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I recognize the name of the city and the authors. After that, it was all totally new to me. Can anyone walk after drinking a Singapore Sling? ; D
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends whether they give you the "tourist pre-mix" or you ask it to be made with the more expensive gin!
DeleteGreat post, we visited Singapore in 1990 and Raffles was still undergoing it's re-modelling, it was lovely to see from your mosaics how beautiful it looks now. We did manage to enjoy Singapore Slings at the Long Bar and I think I may still have the drinks coaster to prove it!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of your visit.
ReplyDeleteI loved the tour !! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jill, I enjoyed this tour of The Raffles and Singapore. The city lights at night are beautiful. Gorgeous photos and post. Thanks for sharing your trip! Have a happy week ahead!
ReplyDeleteThe Raffles is so old world, but there were a lot of people in casual dress, might be different for the dining scene. It was fun just exploring the hotel and going into the long bar and checking out the scene there. thanks for sharing Jill
ReplyDeleteyes the Raffles is an icon of Singapore with the old world elegance. So beautiful.
DeleteGorgeous views. Wonderful photos. Valerie
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely heritage hotel. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see Raffles and all the pictures incl how to do Singapore Sling ! :)
ReplyDeletea sin to be in singapore and not have the singapore sling.
ReplyDeleteWhilst in Singapore in Nov I could not resist the long bar and a Singapore Sling. Yes expensive but an absolute must. Loved your photos.
ReplyDeleteJust mention Raffles worldwide, and everyone knows it. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteyes the Raffles is certainly an icon
DeleteWe've also been to the Raffles and oh so many years ago. It was a great introduction to Asia, the likes of James Clavell stories and the tales of Jim Thompson's disappearance in Thailand all seemed to have had origins in places like Raffles! Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI actually was not familiar with that hotel but it does look like a beaut. Any idea how much it costs to stay there? I'm always amazed that there are enough people to fill up a hotel like this night after night.
ReplyDeleteWould love a drink at the Long Bar!
It is VERY expensive to stay there - but what a wonderful treat it would be! If you click on their website link in my post you can take a look.
DeleteI've been to Singapore twice in the last 2 years and somehow have never made it to the Raffles, although I did get to down a Singapore Sling elsewhere. Thanks for the armchair tour of the place. Penang where I live has a sister hotel to the Raffles called the E&O. It was built and run by the same Armenian Sarkies brothers and is also the hoity toity hotel in my town.
ReplyDeletenext time you are in Singapore you should visit the Raffles - at least to have a look. I was interested to hear that there is a sister hotel in Penang.
DeleteWe've been to the Raffles a few years ago. Of course, we didn't stay there but did have a nice stroll. There was so much understated elegance to the place. We got our Singapore sling somewhere else too. Loved Singapore and looking forward to seeing more of your pictures. It's been way too long since our visit.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures :)
ReplyDeleteNow that looks like a fantastic hotel! Guess you can't pass up a Singapore Sling when in Singapore, can you?
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a magical place. I love the photos and the tour.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lovely view from your hotel room Jill. Nice to get the "proper" recipe for a Singapore Sling. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jill,
ReplyDeleteGoes to show you don'thave to stay at Raffles to get a nice view of Singapore. The view from you room is spectacular. Great shot, too!
Thank you for the virtual tour. The Raffles' certainly a historical icon, what with standing there for more than a century. When visiting SIngapore, I will definitely stop by at the Raffles but my place of stay will be The Stamford. It certainly has a beautiful view. And if such a view comes with a cheaper price tag, definitely no complaints :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I really did enjoy the tour. Beautiful and informative. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking me on a lovely memory lane trip. I had only just met my (then to be) husband when we visited Raffles in 1983, and your pics took me straight back to that time :) I loved the view from your hotel room too, and the recipe for the Gin Sling :)
ReplyDelete