Review: Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel | Singapore
The Raffles Hotel in Singapore is currently undergoing renovations which means travelers seeking the famous Original Singapore Sling are set to be very disappointed. Fortunately, the hotel has opened a "pop-up experience" around the corner which houses the Raffles gift shop and a small pop-up bar where you can get the Raffles Hotel Singapore Sling, without the Raffles Hotel.
The Long Bar Pop-Up Experience
If you've been to a Raffles Hotel, you'll know the decor and ambiance is truly the shining point of their bars. The pop-up bar lacks all of the decor and there is absolutely no ambiance as tourists cram into the small 15-person bar. Of course, the reason why we put up with all of this is because of the Original Singapore Sling, so that's exactly what I got and I paid a pretty penny for the experience.
Look at those prices! Don't forget tax and service charges...
The Singapore Sling was invented by Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at the Raffles Hotel back in 1915. If you forget this fact, do not worry as it is plastered everywhere within the small shop. There are varying stories about why and how the drink was invented, but I've chosen to believe it's because it was deemed inappropriate for women to drink alcohol back in the day, so a punch-colored drink was a smart way to make drinking socially acceptable for women.
The website says the bar seats fifteen
If you don't already know, a Singapore Sling is a gin-based drink. For those that don't like gin, don't worry, the drink tastes basically like juice and I had a hard time believing there was any alcohol in it. I guess that's the point. They also serve a non-alcoholic version of the drink, which I saw a few kids order.
The walls tell the story of the famous Singapore Sling
This whole event is marketed as "The Singapore Sling Experience" and I saw many a solo traveler (and some groups) come in to the shop starting at 11am, when it opens. The staff are nice but they quickly charge you for your drink as soon as you say "may I please have," it's probably because they don't want you to notice you've just paid $36 for a cocktail. I rolled my eyes and swiped my Visa. CHEERS TO THE EXPERIENCE!
The Original Singapore Sling
To be clear, I ordered just one Singapore Sling. I also got a glass of water because I've been very dehydrated the past few days but the water was free. So were the peanuts that rest on each of the tables. This is the Singapore Sling experience in a nut shell. Zing!
But seriously, that is literally what this experience consists of.
Free peanuts that definitely don't make up for the ridiculous drink prices
Will I be back? Surely not. I honestly wish I had been able to go to the real Long Bar as this experience felt like a waste. That being said, if anyone asks if I've had a Singapore Sling in Singapore, I will proudly say, "Sure have!"
TOTAL COST: $36.50 ($29 USD)
3 Seah Street
Singapore
