We flew to Singapore to check out the watch scene, and no visit to Singapore would be complete without visiting Audemars Piguet’s AP House and Café at Raffles.
In our line of work, we tend to travel a bit. Within Australia, but also to watch hot spots around the world like Switzerland (obviously), Dubai, and Singapore, to name a few.
Many of the brands you know and love have headquarters in Singapore for the Asia Pacific market, so we tend to find ourselves there at least once a year. Singapore is a watch lover’s dream, a veritable mecca for watches, with most major brands having boutiques there, not to mention the myriad of multibrand dealers. It is also one of the few places in the world where a shopping centre, Marina Bay Sands, has a “Watches” category in its directory, which gives you an indication of just how popular watches are in Singapore.
So, it isn’t a surprise that it was chosen as one of the locations around the world for Audemars Piguet to set up an AP House, and along with it, the very first AP Café. And on our most recent trip to Singapore this year, it would be remiss of us not to check it out when there, so, camera and phone in hand, I did just that.
A Home Away From Home For Watch Lovers
Singapore has no shortage of impressive hotels, restaurants, bars and luxury boutiques – see my previous comments on being a watch mecca. So it serves as a great city for Audemars Piguet to combine all of those things into something a little different. That is essentially what Audemars Piguet set out to achieve when it opened AP House Singapore in January 2025, taking over the historic Bar and Billiard Room at Raffles Hotel.
Spread across 1,000 square meters, yes, it is literally almost as big as my house, AP House in Singapore is the brand’s first AP House in the city and serves as its Southeast Asian flagship. The idea behind an AP House is to create somewhere that feels more like a private home, where clients, collectors and newcomers can spend time in a more relaxed environment. And, stepping into an AP House, you immediately notice that it feels nothing like a boutique.
In Singapore, that concept has been taken a step further with the addition of the first-ever AP Café, which is open to the public and brings together Audemars Piguet’s Swiss heritage with Singapore’s strong culinary culture. The backdrop for AP House and AP Café in Singapore? None other than the iconic Raffles Hotel.
Old World Charm, With A Modern Take
Raffles Hotel dates back to 1887 and has become one of Singapore’s most recognisable landmarks, while the Bar and Billiard Room itself was added in 1896 as a social hub for the hotel’s guests. Audemars Piguet has retained the character and architecture of the historic building while transforming the interior into a contemporary interpretation of an AP House. The result is an interesting meeting of old and new, with the heritage of Raffles providing the setting and Audemars Piguet’s modern approach to hospitality filling the space.
And it is a super impressive space. The connection between Switzerland and Singapore carries through into the design. The interiors draw inspiration from both the natural surroundings of Le Brassus and Singapore’s reputation as the Garden City, with muted greens, gold accents, wood and stone used throughout.
Norfolk Pine trees reference the spruce trees found around Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux, while locally sourced Rain Tree features prominently in the space. The central marble bar is another standout, with its solid end stones weighing around 800 kilograms each, while the building’s existing arches continue through the interior and help make the most of the seven-metre-high ceilings.
How I describe it to people is that it is modern, with old-world charm, and walking through the space, you cannot help but feel at home here among the variety of spaces Audemars Piguet provides for guests.
Experiencing Watches In The Best Possible Way
Of course, this is still Audemars Piguet, so watches are the main attraction here. As you walk into AP House via the main entrance, three Watch Totems greet you with a selection of historical pieces, ranging from historical pieces, pocket watches through to more recent wristwatches. Although, the peices do change from time to time.
In addition to these, the central Watch Wall displays watches from the current collection. Here you can see examples of the range of watches Audemars Piguet offers to try on.
There are also three private salons, a dedicated music room with a high-fidelity audio system and vinyl collection, a gourmet kitchen and a five-metre dining table, along with a rotating exhibition space designed to explore the wider worlds of art, music, gastronomy and craftsmanship.
The Exhibition
The other aspect of AP House in Singapore which is unique is the exhibition space housed on the lower level. This is where Audemars Piguet showcases some of the most important historical pieces from its archives as well as private collectors.
While most people know Audemars Piguet for the Royal Oak, the reality is this model has modern historical significance, however, Audemars Piguet has some amazing historical pieces that pre-date the Royal Oak and are core to the brand’s DNA, like the Jumping Hours I referenced earlier in the article.
As you work your way around the exhibition, you realise just how many designs Audemars Piguet has in its back catalogue, even its more modern catalogue from the past 30 years or so. And of course, if you are interested in the Royal Oak and variations of, then you have come to the right place.
The First AP Café
Once you are done looking at watches, and taking in the history of Audemars Piguet, or maybe beforehand as a relaxing way to start your day, you can head into AP Café, situated outside the main doors to AP House and within the historic confines of Raffles.
The AP Café at Raffles is the first of its kind for Audemars Piguet. Open to the public, it was conceived as an introduction to the brand for people who may not necessarily consider themselves watch enthusiasts, and also to give existing clients another reason to visit. The menu takes traditional Swiss dishes and reinterprets them through a Singaporean lens, reflecting the same meeting of cultures that runs through the design of AP House itself.
Sitting on the verandah under the fans, overlooking the old fountain and courtyard of Raffles is a treat, especially to escape the humid Singaporean weather and to soak up some old-world charm. It is a great way to while away the morning or an afternoon, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Raffles is like a sanctuary in the city with its tropical gardens and laid-back feel, and AP Café captures this spirit too.
Time Well Spent
It is easy to spend a lot of time at AP House in Singapore. It is a place where the watches are obviously important, but they are part of a much broader experience built around hospitality, culture and spending time with people.
Even if you are not in the market for a new watch, AP House is designed for watch lovers of all types. In my experience, the staff are all too happy to show you around and talk about the history of Audemars Piguet, the significance of certain watches and models. You can try on some of the current collections and enjoy a coffee or drink at the bar, not to mention some delicious food at the AP Café.
Audemars Piguet describes the AP House concept as imagining how its founders might live in the 21st century, travelling the world and sharing their passion for beautiful watches. In Singapore, that idea has been given a particularly distinctive setting inside one of the city’s most historic buildings, and it works beautifully.
The relaxed atmosphere, the stunning interiors, super-friendly staff, and not to mention the ability to take your time to enjoy the watches and the food. And that is ultimately what makes AP House Singapore so much more than a conventional watch boutique. It is one place that is a must-visit if you are in the city, and I for one, will be stopping by again next time I am in the Garden City.