Long Bar
Usage time:
Sun–Wed, 11:00 AM–10:30 PM (last seating)
Thursday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM (last seating)
Address:
Raffles Hotel Singapore
#02-01 Raffles Shopping Arcade, 328 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188719 (accessible via the North Bridge Road entrance)
Unavailable booking dates: Oct 2–5, 2025
The historic Long Bar is where the Singapore Sling was first mixed in 1915, and today this cocktail is recognized as the national drink. Spanning two floors, the bar features luxurious yet rustic decor inspired by 1920s Malay life, with its famous gleaming counter transporting guests back in time to a tropical plantation. The menu includes classic and signature cocktails, and to enhance the relaxed atmosphere, guests are encouraged to sweep peanut shells from the tables onto the floor—likely the only place in Singapore where littering is encouraged.
▲In early 20th century colonial Singapore, the improved railway and road systems brought rubber and palm oil plantation owners from Malaya to Singapore every weekend. The promenade bar was located at Cad's Alley. This was no fancy bar—just a few tables lined up facing Bras Basah Road. At the time, it was known as "the plantation owners' gathering spot" and served as an ideal place to pass the time.
In 1915, the clever Raffles sommelier Ngiam Tong Boon decided to create a cocktail that looked like ordinary fruit juice but actually contained gin and liqueur. Based on gin, it also includes pineapple juice, lime juice, Curaçao liqueur, and Bénédictine, while grenadine and cherry liqueur give it a rosy pink hue. This deliberately feminine style, combined with the colorless alcohol, allowed ladies to enjoy the drink in social settings. Thus, the Singapore Sling was born—and of course, it became an instant hit.
▲Exclusive commemorative cup for the activity