City Hotel
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
9.5
Rosewood Hong Kong
A vertical estate on the Kowloon waterfront whose art-filled interiors, harbour-view rooms and formidable dining set Hong Kong's current standard.
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City Hotel · £££££
Raffles Singapore
Singapore, Singapore — Southeast Asia
9.3Editorial score
Editorial research. Profiled through in-depth editorial research; Browntravels has not yet stayed at this property. How we review
The 1887 colonial legend—all white verandahs, frangipani courtyards and butler-tended suites—polished to brilliance by careful restoration.
Raffles Singapore is the colonial-era grand hotel against which others are measured. Founded in 1887 and restored with forensic care, its gleaming white facade, travellers' palms and cast-iron portico occupy a full city block of calm amid downtown's towers. The doormen's Sikh turbans, the Long Bar's peanut shells and the birthplace-of-the-Singapore-Sling story are theatre, but theatre backed by real substance.
Every key is a suite arranged around verandahed courtyards: parlours with writing desks, bedrooms under high ceilings and period fans, bathrooms in cool marble. The 24-hour butler corps—successors to a century of famous predecessors—delivers old-world service updated with modern fluency. Despite the museum-piece setting, the atmosphere stays surprisingly relaxed and genuinely romantic.
Dining spans a grand tiffin room for Indian-influenced classics, chic Mediterranean and Chinese rooms from name chefs, and courtyard gin bars beneath the frangipani. A rooftop pool and discreet spa complete the estate. History-minded travellers should simply book it; everyone else should at least come for a Sling beneath the verandahs.
Why stay here
- Immaculately restored 1887 colonial architecture
- All-suite accommodation with 24-hour butlers
- Courtyards, verandahs and the storied Long Bar
- Central location walkable to the Civic District
Things to consider
- Public areas draw sightseers and Sling-seeking visitors
- Traditional styling won't satisfy those wanting cutting-edge design
Rooms & Suites
115 suites around garden courtyards, with parlours, verandahs, period detailing and modern comforts seamlessly hidden within the heritage fabric.
Dining
A portfolio spanning the grand Tiffin Room, name-chef Mediterranean and Cantonese venues, and the Long Bar's famous Singapore Sling ritual.
Spa & Wellness
An intimate spa with personalised treatments, a rooftop swimming pool among the palms and a well-appointed fitness suite.
The Browntravels Verdict
The world's most convincing colonial-era restoration: stay for suite living, butler charm and a genuine piece of travel history.
Last updated 5 August 2026
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