Our nation’s most iconic hotel, the Raffles Hotel Singapore, is on the cusp of reopening. They’ve earlier announced that they will officially be back in business come the first quarter of 2019 after what will be more than a year of careful restoration works. They’ve also recently made known all the F&B concepts (both old and new) that will be available when they finally do. Here’s what to expect.
Bar & Billiard Room by Alain Ducasse
The ol’ Bar & Billiard Room remains, albeit completely changed, with celebrity chef Alain Ducasse taking over the helm of the 122-year-old restaurant and bar. The refreshed BBR by Alain Ducasse will be featuring Mediterranean sharing plates and charcoal-grilled items, along with a lively bar offering of spirits, cocktails, beers and wines. If you’re a fan of the indulgent Raffles Sunday Brunch, you’ll be glad to know that it’ll be making its return here.
La Dame de Pic
More star power arrives for Raffles with one of the world’s top female chefs, Anne-Sophie Pic, best known for her three-Michelin-starred Maison Pic in France, making her Asia entry with restaurant La Dame de Pic opening at the hotel’s main building. Expect elaborate, complex cuisine and drinks in her menu here, a reflection of the renowned chef’s long culinary history and identity.
yì by Jereme Leung
After stints at some of the top restaurants in Singapore and Shanghai, the MasterChef China personality and successful restaurateur will be coming back to our shores to open a contemporary Chinese restaurant on the third level of the newly restored Raffles Arcade. It’ll be offering Cantonese classics as well as ancient Chinese delicacies, all with a touch of Leung’s sophistication and attention to ingredients.
Butcher’s Block
Another Raffles Arcade addition is vibrant new dining concept Butcher’s Block, which specialises in fine cuts of single sourced meats, all showcased in a glass cooler right next to the open kitchen. Completing the experience are communal tables perfect for gatherings and a library of over 100 wine labels to pair with your choice cuts.
Tiffin Room
This storied North Indian restaurant isn’t going anywhere. Having been a part of the hotel since 1892, you can expect the same attention to flavors and authenticity in their renewed semi-buffet lunch and a la carte dinner menus. You can look forward to tableside service by chefs, as well as refurbishments that hark back to the Tiffin Room from the early 1900s.
Long Bar
We owe it to this bar’s pioneering mixologists to come up with the Singapore Sling, our city’s most iconic cocktail. Well, it’s definitely staying after the refurb with some restoration works done to the counter and interior decor. Can’t wait for the bar to reopen? Head on over to the pop-up Long Bar at 3 Seah Street, right next to the Raffles Gift Shop.
The Lobby
One of the hotel’s greatest traditions and offerings, the Raffles Afternoon Tea, is making a comeback and will now be served at the Grand Lobby. The elegant and grandiose venue suits the selection of food and drinks well: home-baked scones, cakes, exquisite teas and Champagnes, among other delightful morsels.
Writers Bar
First opened as a tribute to famed writers that have come through the hotel’s doors over the many years, the venue will now be expanded into a full bar offering bespoke craft cocktails, wines and spirits. In keeping with its literary legacy, the bar will be decked out with curated books and mementos, and kept discreet, sophisticated and elegant.
Raffles Courtyard
The lush garden alfresco venue remains as the social center of the hotel, offering an all-day bar and lounge venue for guests and customers to soak in the colonial architecture while sipping on refreshing summer drinks and munching on small plates of Southeast Asian delights and local cuisine.
Ah Teng’s Cafe
Ah Teng’s Bakery is now Ah Teng’s Cafe, and still pays homage to the eponymous local baker who used to run a shop in the neighborhood. Expect to find the same good homemade bakes and pastries, as well as cold beverages, premium coffee and artisanal ice-creams available for takeaway.
