Timeless Majesty: Historic Luxury Hotels in Asia That Helped Shape the Region

Luxury Past and Present

For a unique experience, step into Asia’s finest historic hotels where past and present fuse into timeless glamour. In this second of our four-part series on historic luxury hotels, we’ll discover storied properties that have seen dynasties fall, borders shift, and revolutions unfold. If you want to catch up on our first article in this exciting series, read about luxury time travel in Europe.

From the corridors of colonial mansions to serene hillside retreats once favoured by royalty, Asia’s historic hotels tell the story of a continent in transition, and gracefully balance tradition with modernity. Whether you stay for a night, a cocktail, or dinner, you’ll feel the echo of history in every hallway, room and bar. Imagine being in the same place where Mahatma Gandhi stayed, where Charlie Chaplin dined, where political deals were struck over whisky and silk fans. The charm is intoxicating. There’s a reverence to the service, a beauty in the detail, and above all, a sense that you are part of something far greater than yourself.

From Mumbai to Bangkok, let’s explore four hotels that helped shape Asia’s past, and continue to define its luxury present.

The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai – Resilience on the Arabian Sea

Standing proudly on Mumbai’s waterfront since 1903, the Taj Mahal Palace has long been a symbol of elegance and defiance. Built by Jamsetji Tata after he was denied entry to a British-only hotel, this grand property became a beacon of Indian hospitality by welcoming all. Through wars, independence, and tragedy, that ethos has endured, and was extended even to patients when the hotel was converted to a hospital during WWI.

The guest list is a glittering one. Mick Jagger has called it his favourite place to stay in India, while the Obamas chose it for their state visit in 2010. There’s a quiet strength in the walls of this hotel, especially after it survived the horrific 2008 terror attacks. In its response, the hotel didn’t just rebuild—it rose stronger, becoming a symbol of Mumbai’s undying spirit.

You can feel that history in the Sea Lounge as you sip Darjeeling tea and watch the Gateway of India shimmer in the heat. Rooms are an elegant blend of colonial charm and Indian artistry with ornate woodwork, bold silks, and city views that stretch into eternity. The staff remember your name, your drink, and the kind of softness you prefer in your pillow. It’s personal here. It always has been. Our next stop is Singapore.

Raffles Hotel, Singapore – Tropical Elegance and Literary Legends

There’s only one Raffles. Since 1887, this hotel has been the soul of Singapore’s old-world glamour. If its gleaming white façade, lush courtyards, and whispering palms feel like something out of a Somerset Maugham story that’s because they are. Maugham wrote some of his most iconic work here, calling it the perfect place to do nothing at all.

It’s hard to picture a more beautifully preserved past. Ava Gardner sipped cocktails under the unique fans in the Long Bar, which you can still admire today while savouring the breeze. Michael Jackson once booked the entire Presidential Suite, bringing with him his considerable entourage, including a chef (though it’s hard to imagine why given the outstanding food in Raffles and Singapore generally). But for all its celebrity, Raffles has never lost its calm dignity. It’s a place for quiet luxury, a setting where time slows and details matter.

The Singapore Sling was born here, and it still tastes better when drunk in its birthplace, watching sunlight filter through bamboo blinds. Rooms are all suites, and each one has been lovingly restored to maintain their colonial soul while adding modern polish. More than a place to stay, Raffles is somewhere to be still, to breathe, and to feel the past sit gently beside you. Let’s move on to Hong Kong.

The Peninsula, Hong Kong – Grandeur with a Harbour View

Known fondly as "The Pen," The Peninsula in Hong Kong is a city institution. Opened in 1928, it was envisioned as “the finest hotel east of Suez,” and it absolutely lives up to the claim. Its fleet of Rolls-Royces, afternoon teas, and soaring lobby make it the ultimate blend of Eastern elegance and British tradition.

Sir Roger Moore was a frequent guest, often seen reading the papers in the lobby café, while Elizabeth Taylor reportedly demanded only to stay here when visiting the city. There’s something cinematic about The Peninsula, so it’s no surprise it featured in The Man with the Golden Gun. You feel like you’re in a movie too, stepping onto a red carpet each time you return from your day out.

With Victoria Harbour on one side and Kowloon’s bustling energy on the other, you couldn’t ask for a better setting. Inside, it’s marble, crystal, and impeccable service. Rooms have touchscreen everything, but they also retain the warmth of wood panelling and handwoven carpets. The past never really left; it just found its place in the present. And you, lucky you, are part of it now. The final destination in our Asian tour is Bangkok.

The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok – A Riverside Legend

Nestled along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Mandarin Oriental is the oldest hotel in Thailand, with a history dating back to 1876. It began as a rest stop for weary travellers and traders, but soon became a magnet for royalty, writers, and world-changers. Today, it’s a serene oasis in one of Asia’s busiest capitals.

Joseph Conrad stayed here as a young sailor and later immortalised the hotel in his writing. Audrey Hepburn fell in love with its quiet elegance during a tour of Southeast Asia. Generations of Thai royalty have held court here. Political meetings, love affairs, and artistic breakthroughs have all found their setting in these lush gardens and teak halls.

What strikes you most is the hotel’s grace. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t need to be. There’s a perfume of jasmine in the air, soft live music in the lounge, and a river that seems to slow down time as it flows beside you. Rooms feel more like personal villas, filled with light, art, and comfort. The Mandarin Oriental offers an experience you will carry with you forever.

Witness Timeless Luxury

Asia’s most historic luxury hotels are more than buildings—they’re witnesses. They’ve seen empires dissolve, nations rise, and global icons come and go. Yet through it all, they’ve held onto their spirit, their charm, and their role as sanctuaries of serenity and splendour. When you check in, or enjoy a cocktail at the bar, you become part of their story and a participant in something deeper.

Next up in our series, we’ll head west across oceans and decades, where the iconic hotels of North and South America await. Each is as grand as it is unforgettable. Stay tuned for the legends of the Americas.