Raffles Hotel opens revamped Raffles Arcade mall, which now has a spa and co-working space
SINGAPORE — Raffles Arcade, the shopping wing of Raffles Hotel, has reopened after a two-year revamp with a new mix of tenants.
Besides retail stores and restaurants, Raffles Arcade (formerly called Raffles Hotel Arcade) will also house a spa, an art gallery, and a co-working space.
The restoration of Raffles Hotel has preserved the charming colonial decor and 19th century architecture. The refurbishment included works to modernise the infrastructure of the buildings.
Raffles Hotel was closed in phases beginning from early 2017 for the restoration works. The hotel suites will be opened again from August onwards.
Raffles Arcade was known as a high-end shopping arcade. Returning tenants from before the hotel’s refurbishment are camera shop Leica and luxury watch store The Hour Glass. All the other retail tenants at the newly reopened arcade are new.
Visitors can buy gifts and souvenirs at the new arcade’s flagship store, Raffles Boutique, which replaces Raffles Hotel's former gift shop.
The new tenants include both retail and dining outlets. Retail tenants include The AC Boutique, Italian furniture brand Minotti, and luggage maker Rimowa.
Besides the famous Long Bar, which reopened last September, new restaurants at Raffles Arcade include Burger & Lobster, the alfresco Raffles Courtyard (both opening soon), and the steakhouse Butcher’s Block.
Raffles Hotel’s spa, which used to be open only to hotel guests, will be opened to the public as Raffles Spa.
The old Jubilee Hall, which used to house the Jubilee Theatre, has been converted into the Jubilee Ballroom, a 300-seater venue for events such as weddings and parties.
Art Matters, a contemporary art and design gallery, will showcase works from artists including Picasso, Monet, Ai Wei Wei and Yayoi Kusama.
Co-working space provider, The Great Room, is on the second level of the arcade, with spaces for working and socialising.
Former tenants at the arcade, such as fashion boutique Lai Chan and tailor shop CYC The Custom Shop, have since moved to other locations.
Raffles Hotel Singapore’s last makeover was from 1989 to 1991, when it was closed for two-and-a-half years.
