For the first time since 1887, Singapore has two Raffles hotels.
Exactly 138 years after the opening of the famous Raffles Singapore, the Raffles Sentosa Singapore opened in March on the resort island of Sentosa.
Tucked within this 1.9-square-mile island of lush, heritage-rich terrain, the all-villa resort marks a bold new chapter for the brand.
Raffles has been an Accor hotel brand since the French firm acquired FRHI Holdings in 2016 for $2.9 billion. The deal also included brands Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel.
While not Raffles’ first foray into all-villa concepts — comparable properties exist in exotic locales from the Maldives to Bali — the Raffles Sentosa is a first for the brand in Singapore.
In a secluded spot for Singapore between Sentosa Golf Course and the Singapore Strait, the resort is a 15-minute drive from the central business district.
Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale, cluster general manager of the Raffles Sentosa and the adjacent Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, said the new Raffles’ development reflects a broader shift in the hospitality sector toward locally grounded, sustainability-focused luxury offerings that align with the values of the modern affluent traveler. In fact, Sentosa Island itself is Asia’s first destination certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, he said.
The Raffles Sentosa has 62 villas, ranging from one-bedroom options to a four-bedroom sanctuary with a pool, an outdoor terrace and seamless indoor-outdoor floor plans. The resort’s green spaces include roaming peacocks.
“With Raffles Sentosa Singapore, the brand is extending its legacy to offer a resort alternative for travelers to Singapore, with experiences that are unique and distinct to Sentosa,” Viterale said.
The resort's owner is Singapore-based Royal Group, which has been in business since 1947, albeit 60 years after the original Raffles opened. The company develops and manages real estate across hotel, residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Royal Group's hotels portfolio stretches across Singapore and Malaysia and includes the Royal at Lai Chun Yuen, in what originally was Singapore’s opera house; DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur; and the Hilton Garden Inn North/Hilton Garden Inn South, also in Kuala Lumpur. Royal Group also plans to open a 165-room hotel on Singapore’s well-known Orchard Road district in early 2027.
The new Raffles project marks the first hotel-resort brief in Singapore for U.S. design studio Yabu Pushelberg.
The studio built the hotel around two Ficus trees that date back to the same era as the original Raffles. Designers and hoteliers regard the trees as symbols of continuity connect the two properties’ past and present.
The designers also positioned Raffles Sentosa's villas to respect the land’s natural contours. The resort features travertine and French oak, which were chosen for their ability to age gracefully, and hand-painted murals and rattan help reflect Singapore’s tropical heritage, Viterale said.
“The design … was based on the romance and grandeur of the fabled brand while embracing the rhythm of its lush, tropical surroundings,” he said. “We wanted guests to experience a gradual sense of discovery, where each step reveals a new perspective, from the slowing of pace upon entry to Sentosa Island to the play of light filtering through patterned screens and meandering pathways that immerse them in nature.”
There are nods to the original Raffles Singapore throughout the Raffles Sentosa, Viterale said.
“The Arrival Building is an ode to the classic architecture present in the destination, giving guests the impression of arriving at a grand mansion. By night, the building transforms, its silhouette accentuated against the dark sky. The architectural arches carried throughout emit a warm amber glow from within, evoking nostalgia,” he said.
Raffles Sentosa's five dining venues include Italian, Cantonese and Japanese cuisine. The original Raffles’ famous Singapore sling cocktail has been given a Sentosa Island touch with watermelon peel and lemon leaves harvested from the property’s gardens.
Part of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle division, the Raffles brand supports the group’s broader strategy to expand its ultra-luxury presence in Asia-Pacific. With travel demand recovering post-pandemic, Singapore is well-positioned to attract a larger share of affluent international travelers.
“One thing I would like to highlight is the shift we’re seeing and embracing in the world of luxury hospitality, the growing emphasis on sustainability,” Viterale said. “Increasingly, guests are looking for experiences that align with their personal values, especially when it comes to environmental responsibility. Guests today are more discerning than ever, and they increasingly want to feel that their choices are having a positive impact on the world. It is exciting to be part of a movement that merges luxury with responsibility, and it is something we are deeply committed to.”