A grand dame hotel is the most famous hotel in town in terms of historical or heritage value, and one that the locals are proud to show off to visitors. It is an institution with all the stories, and which has hosted famous celebrities and high society.
Asia is famous for its grand dame hotels with their timeless style and classic elegance, and they all have certain elements that still feel like they have been locked in time. Once you step into the hotel, you will be transported into another world full of historical charm and even intrigue. Welcome to some of the most celebrated and legendary grand dames of the East.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
Named for the founder of Singapore, Raffles Singapore is perhaps the world’s most iconic luxury hotel having welcomed international legends and celebrities since its opening in 1887. It is known for its colonial-era architecture, rich history and legendary service. The Raffles Doormen, being ambassadors of the Hotel, are recognised by their immaculate white turbans and striking uniforms.
Its 115 beautifully-appointed all-suite accommodation comes with the 24-hour Raffles Butler service. The 12 Personality Suites are a tribute to celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and John Wayne who have visited Raffles over the last century. Michael Jackson also stayed at the hotel when he held a concert in Singapore.
Inspired by the royal culinary heritage of the maharajahs whose golden age coincided with the origins of the restaurant, Tiffin Room serves a symphony of authentic North Indian delicacies, a beautiful ambience and dedicated tableside service. At lunch or dinner, authentic specialities are charmingly served in tiffin boxes by the chefs.
The Long Bar is notable for patrons’ unusual practice of throwing peanut casings onto the floor. The Long Bar is also where the national cocktail, the Singapore Sling, was invented. During the colonial times, ladies could not consume alcohol in public. In 1915, Raffles bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created a cocktail that looked like plain fruit juice but was actually infused with gin and liqueurs. This led people to believe the cocktail was socially acceptable for women. With that, the Singapore Sling was born and, needless to say, it became an instant hit!
Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang, Malaysia
This colonial-style luxury hotel, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel or affectionately known as the E&O, was established in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers who also founded Raffles Hotel two years later.
This remarkable hotel has stood as a testament to the grand elegance of the British colonial era. located at centre of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown. It is an all-suite luxury hotel 232 rooms and the only one with a seafront in the city.
As one of the few historical hotels around the globe, great emphasis has been placed to preserve elements of the hotel’s 134-year old history such as the iconic Java tree along its waterfront. The Java tree is the oldest living species of the tree in Penang. One of the hotel’s restaurant is named Java Tree which serves classic European dishes.
The Palm Court offers a selection of ethnic Asian inspired dishes and the classic three-tier afternoon tea. The new Farquhar’s Bar is a vintage cocktail bar with a view of Penang’s waterfront outside its expansive windows. Amongst its dining outlets, Sarkies serves buffet-spread of Malaysian and international delights.
The manually-controlled Waygood Otis lift at the lobby, which comes with a sliding grill was featured in the Hollywood film Crazy Rich Asians, and has been well maintained although no longer in use. There are also three British era cannons on the hotel grounds facing the Andaman Sea.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong or ‘The Pen’ as it’s nicknamed, is a luxury hotel synonymous with colonial elegance located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon overlooking Victoria Harbour. The hotel opened in 1928 and was the first under The Peninsula brand. Expanded in 1994, the hotel combines colonial and modern elements, and is notable for its large fleet of Rolls-Royces painted a distinctive “Peninsula green”.
With white-capped pageboys standing guard by the door, The 300-room Peninsula has long been a top meeting place for Hong Kong’s upper crust. Scenes of the 1974 James Bond movie ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’, were filmed at this hotel.
Around the property, old world charm meets avant-garde atmosphere in restaurants such as Felix – designed by Philippe Starck. Award-winning Gaddi’s features high ceilings and French atmosphere come with grand chandeliers and white-gloved service. The ornate Lobby Lounge serves elegant afternoon tea sets soundtracked by a live string quartet, while Spring Moon has been a bastion of Cantonese fine-dining.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is a five-star historic luxury hotel which opened in 1901. It is today one of the most important buildings of Vietnam in the French colonial style blended with local Vietnamese style.
The hotel has proved to be an outpost for the most dignified guests, including actors, songwriters, socialites, and more. It now boasts 364 stunning guestrooms and luxury suites housed in two wings amidst lush greenery and courtyards. The historic Metropole wing has 106 rooms and three legendary suites which are named after famous hotel residents and visitors (Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, and Somerset Maugham).
In 1964, with American air raids imminent, hotel managers built a bomb shelter in the courtyard of the hotel to protect guests. It had a 1m thick concrete ceiling and could accommodate 30 to 40 people. In 2011, the ‘Bunker’ was rediscovered which survived decades of flooding by ground water. It was restored and can now be visited by hotel guests and tourists.
In 1987, the Vietnamese government worked to restore this local landmark with the assistance of the Pullman Hotels chain. AccorHotels then acquired the hotel, and invested heavily into its own series of renovations. Among the new facilities developed included the Opera Wing, as well as many new guestrooms to the original Metropole Wing.
