The hotel opened in 1971 as The Mandarin Singapore, occupying a single 36-storey block facing Orchard Road.

It has since been converted to a club lounge, open to guests who belong to the hotel chain's loyalty program.

The hotel added a second block in the rear, standing 40 storeys and 152 metres high, in 1973.

With the addition, designed by Lee Sian Teck Chartered Architects, the hotel became the tallest building in Singapore.

The Mandarin Gallery shopping mall houses boutiques including Montblanc (pens), Emporio Armani, Marc by Marc Jacobs, D&G, Vertu, Just Cavalli and Mauboussin, as well as restaurants such as Ippudo and the one-Michelin-starred Beni.