Destinations

Writers Bar Raffles Singapore review: A legendary bar originating from yesteryear, now finds itself in a modern setting, and within a refurbished legendary grand dame that is this hotel. This was one of the prime destinations the rich and famous stayed in, when on long trips overseas on board passenger ships to the Far East and arriving to colony of Singapore. They included famous authors, actors and other artists. Some famous writers – including Somerset Maugham; Rudyard Kipling; and Joseph Conrad – spent long periods staying at Raffles Singapore while writing – hence the name Writers Bar. And even today there is a Writer in Residence! We will come to that… And now you and I can get to experience this bar, and where ‘casual chic’ is the “rigueur” to have the privilege of trying its signature Million Dollar Cocktail!

 

It now also comes with the outdoor Palm Terrace by Writers Bar for balmy, tropical evenings (open daily from 5.00 pm) in the former colonial Straits outpost. Sip on fresh, delectable highballs and tipples, in serene Palm Court that forms a verdant backdrop, surrounded by the Straits heritage hotel’s authentic colonial-style architecture. Guests enter Palm Terrace and the bar with direct acces from Beach Road.

 

In this new golden age for cocktails, this Writers Bar (now there are also Writers Bars at other Raffles as the brand is expanding) is akin to something sacred. It is something not to be missed, aside having the legendary Singapore Sling at the hotel’s Long Bar. This heritage bar is equally interesting and relevant – in fact taking things up a notch in terms of exclusitity and unique drinks menu!

 

Like Raffles Singapore overall, Writers Bar draws you in, and triggers engagement. You are presented with a thick leather-covered menu that includes a curated trove of cocktail themes and concoctions. This bar bible prompts lots of interesting conversations with the incredibly accommodating bar team.

 

And that gleaming custom-design brass counter bar – what a wow design in an overall sophisticated space, drawing from classic European architecture and the colonial past! It is paralyzingly beautiful and flanked by luxurious leather bar stools with brass button tufted rivets.

 

The bar room has high-ceiling whitewashed stucco walls, as well as a dark tropical wallpaper above and around wood-framed, arched, glass doors and windows.

 

Round and black-tinted glass tables have brass frames with rivets conveying timeless elegance along with with shiny, thick leather armchairs.

 

After the renovation of Raffles Singapore, a curved brass bar counter with bespoke bar stools (with brass button tufted rivets) and velvet grey upholstering takes centre-stage in the relatively small bar room, flanked by grey leather seating and black shin marble bar tables with golden rims.

 

Come evening the rooms turns dimly lit, while being illuminated by a chandelier whose pearls of light shimmer with sophistication. The stylish interior is also decorated with memorabilia, including an antique typewriter, and of course books. 

 

While it is difficult to take one’s eyes off the gleaming bar, of course the menu is the other essential focal point here for the experience, where one gets introduced to the various famous writers and the themed cocktails that have been created in their honour.

 

Writers Bar offers a comprehensive selection of signature cocktails themed around the literary greats that have frequented Raffles Singapore throughout its esteemed history.

 

Beverage Manager Nicholas Alexander introduces it as ”a classy tribute to the literary luminaries who have graced the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore for over a century.”

 

Somerset Maugham has inspired some ’Beautiful Bubblies’ such as the French 75. 

Elegant wine cocktails are found under the Rudyard Kipling section, such as the intriguing Sparkling Stone (with Billecart-Salmon Bruit NV, chamomile, honey, orange blossom, aperitif wine Cocchi Americano, El Dorado rum, Camut Ambrosia Pommeau aperitif, saffron, Yellow Chartreuse liqueur, and St-Germain elderflower liqueur). 

 

Or browse the Joseph Conrad (who made his last visit to Singapore back in 1887!) showcase of bold spirit concoctions – ’Shaken & Refreshing’, which includes a fascinating selection of drinks, for example ‘Nevermore (Altos Reposado Tequila, Los Siete Misterios Doba Yej Mezcal, Cointreau Mandarin, ginger, Baldoria Dry Umami, Empirical Spirits Ayuuk, Amontillado sherry, lemon, espelette pepper, Scrappy’s Seville Orange Bitters); or ‘Ars Poetica’ (Grey Goose Vodka, Botanist Gin, sauvignon blanc, Colmans mustard, turmeric, passionfruit, white balsamic, gum Arabic, lime and Perrier lemon)! 

 

French novelist Andre Malraux (who stayed at Raffles on many occasions) has inspired the spirit-forward ‘Boogy & Stirred’ selection, including for instance ‘Blithe Spirit’ (Peddlers Rare Eastern Gin, Mancino Amberato, Nardini Riserva, Cocchi Dorée grappa, Chartreuse & Grandmont Amer Gentiane liqueur and Jasmine & Osmanthus Flowers). Pablo Neruda, meanwhile, serves as inspiration for no less than nine different negroni cocktails!

 

An ‘After Dinner Cocktails’ is dedicated to Great British playwright, novelist and actor Noel Coward. His first visit was in 1931, his last almost 30 years later, in 1968.

 

The menu also features two pages packed with the ’Reserve Classics Collection’ in honour of Pico Iyer, the first Writer-in-Residence in the Raffles Writer’s Residency programme (appointed in 2019 and stayed at Raffles for the first time in 1984). These classics are elevated with superior premium spirits to raise their distinction; including for instance ‘Sidecar’, ‘Gin Tonic’, ‘Daiquiri and ‘French 75¨.

 

You can also take a tipple from the five handcrafted cocktails inspired by How to Build a Lux Hotel, a book of poems by Madeleine Lee, the current (and first-ever Singaporean) Writer-in-Residence. Madeleine Lee has published 11 books of poetry in English and one bilingual with translation into Chinese. The Raffles Writer’s Residency programme aims to support and inspire the art of the written word and the storytellers of today.

 

Among those Writers Bar exceptional cocktails, Happy Hour Asia opted for ‘Meliot’ (laminaria seaweed-infused St. Laurent Gin Vieax, Cirka Gin 375, Mancino Rosso & Secco, Disaronno amaretto and orange bitters – a long-lasting cocktail giving an abundance of aromas and botanicals for one’s taste buds. ‘Balcon’ with Billecart-Salmon Brut NV, Gin Km12, Hendrick’s Absinthe and Perrier Lemon, is another among those five.

 

Basically relating to all the signature drinks, if feeling uncertain one can see with the bartenders what taste experience to expect and how the cocktail has been conceptualised.

 

Then we have Singapore’s founder himself – Sir Stamford Raffles and a series of Highballs, plus the not-to-be-missed Million Dollar Cocktail, which first shot to fame when it was featured in The Letter, a short story by Somerset Maugham.

 

Aside the Singapore Sling, Raffles bartender Ngiam Tong Boon during the 19th century also created also this – now refreshed – classic. It is made with the Raffles 1915 Gin by Sipsmith – a sensational blend of plants and spices in Asia (jasmine, pomelo, lemongrass, kaffir leaf, nutmeg and cardamom – alongside classic gin botanicals) and created in the celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Singapore Sling. Manciono Rosso vermouth, pineapple, grenadin, Gum Arabic tree gum (!), lemon, egg white and Scrappy’s Bitters aromatic (adding a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg spice) are the other ingredients.

 

The result is a good-looking and flavourful high-ball cocktail, and with – similar to a coffee latte – a dollar signage ”drawn” in the cocktail’s egg white foam surface.

 

There you have lots of details about this highly recommended bar discovery with enough cocktails to require multiple visits to try them all. Joie de vivre! Salute! And it is satisfying to see that with this heritage bar it is not only about celebrating heritage but also being part of the modern and thriving cocktail scene!

 

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday5.00pm – 11.00pm (last order). Friday & Saturday5.00pm – 11.30pm (last order).