Long Bar- Raffles Hotel, Singapore

See also updated 2014 article

November 26th, 2010

Raffles Hotel in Singapore first opened in 1887 and is one of the finest of the remaining classic “colonial era” hotels in Asia.
The hotel underwent a two year major restoration in 1989- having been declared a “National Monument” by the Singapore government of the day.

The outstanding features of the hotel are the generous proportions of classic 19th Century architecture, and the spacious tropical garden setting- on what was once the foreshore of Singapore. Numerous pieces of the original furniture and fittings have been preserved and are on display throughout the hotel.
The hotel offers a number of dining rooms and bars, including the Bar & Billiard Room, The Writer’s Bar, the Tiffin Room ( main dining room), and perhaps the most famous of Singapore bars– the Long Bar.

The Long Bar is a two storey bar located in the hotel arcade- and has become famous as the home of the iconic “Singapore Sling” cocktail- which was created in 1915 by the Chinese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. The pink cocktail has retained its popularity to this day – and is a “must have” choice for all visitors to the Long Bar. Another tradition of the Long Bar that has been maintained are the wooden boxes of unshelled peanuts on every table and the bars. The protocol is to drop the shells onto the floor.

Both floors of the Long Bar feature dark timber and tiled floors and exposed timber ceilings and beams, with a spiral timber staircase in the middle of the rooms joining both levels. An interesting feature of the interiors is the quirky ceiling “fans” that mechanically swing to provide the cooling breeze. And as the bar name suggests – the main bars – on both levels- are long expanses of solid dark timber, brass fittings and bar stools.

The Long Bar serves a full range of beers , cocktails, wines and non-alcoholic drinks. Pub food is available- either as full meals or just for snacks. And there are some tables outside on the wide balconies for al fresco dining. Also adjacent to the bar is the Long Bar Steakhouse – for more substantial grilled meals. A band plays contemporary music every evening on the upper level.

The Long Bar is open from 11am – 12:30am on weekdays, and until 1:30am on Friday and Saturday nights. Non-hotel guests are welcome- and the dress code is casual.