Enjoying a spot of afternoon tea at The Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
The afternoon tea ritual, a highly civilised affair conducted in oases of calm, has seen its fanbase swell over the last century or so and hotels are increasingly upping the ante to bring tea-time lovers through the door. Whether it’s sparkling teas, an afternoon experience that exudes geographical charm or even afternoon tea sets that you can buy and replicate the experience at home, we have evolved and come a long way from scones and clotted cream. Here’s where to head for the weekend – or if you need to clear leave on a weekday.
Updated on 22 September 2020
THE COURTYARD AT THE FULLERTON HOTEL SINGAPORE
Perhaps no post office has ever experienced such a glamorous transformation as The Fullerton Hotel Singapore. It made headlines when the ball dropped on 31st December 2000, signalling the start of a new era for the heritage building. The property puts its raised ceilings to great use, bringing generous sunlight into The Courtyard where the ritual of traditional afternoon high tea is served. Enjoy savouries such as Ricotta Chives and Mashed Egg Mayonnaise Slider with Olive Bagel and from the sweets section, there are specials like the Fullerton Fruit Cake; even the macaron comes in an ondeh ondeh flavour! There are a few other renditions of the afternoon tea menu to cater, too, for the likes of vegans, vegetarians or those on gluten-free or non-diary diet. To lift your spirits, opt to have prosecco, house rose, red, white and moscato on free flow for two hours. MENU
Available Mondays to Fridays at S$50++ per adult and S$25++ per child
Available on weekends at S$55++ per adult and S$27++ per child
Add on S$78++ for free flow of selected prosecco, house rose, red, white and moscato for two hours.
THE KNOLLS AT CAPELLA
Overlooking cascading pools, the South China and dense forestry, The Knolls‘ luxury resort vibe feels more far flung and idyllic than the location promises. Afternoon tea here involves tasting a selection of savouries like crab salad, foie gras terrine and beef pastrami sandwich. The warm scones come in two flavours – buttermilk and blueberry thyme – and served with organic raw honey, mascarpone and strawberry jam. Bridge your way to desserts and enjoy the sesame-yuzu ganache and Iranian pistachio financiers as you lounge in the contemporary interiors by Yasuhiro Koichi. MENU
Available Mondays to Fridays at S$45++ per person.
BRASSERIE LES SAVEURS AT THE ST REGIS SINGAPORE
The St. Regis Singapore redefines the grandeur of afternoon tea experiences with its St Regis Afternoon Tea Experience at Brasserie Les Saveurs. A classic two-tiered silver stand delivers a who’s who of luxe savouries like Smoked Salmon Blinis with Salmon Roe and Cream Cheese, Foie Gras and Duck Rilette Brioche, Turkey Ham Ciabatta with Comté Cheese and Truffle Egg Mayonnaise Brioche with Cucumber. Buckwheat crêpes featuring turkey ham, cheese, egg and mushrooms are prepared à la minute – just the way we like it. On the sweet front, St. Regis has Raspberry and Pistachio Financier, Hazelnut and Milk Chocolate Tartlet and Orange Mascarpone Dome on offer and more. We highly recommend a glass of champagne to contribute to a bubbly afternoon. MENU
Available daily at S$38.00++ per person
$68.00++ per person, with a glass of “R” de Ruinart Champagne
$98.00++ per person, with a 375ml bottle of “R” de Ruinart Champagne
L’ESPRESSO AT GOODWOOD PARK HOTEL
L’Espresso‘s latest rendition of the English Afternoon Tea is now served to you so you can consume it comfortably tableside either indoors or alfresco at the poolside terrace. It is a hearty spread consisting of sandwiches, tartlets, croissants and more. What makes this so much of a meal is that L’Espresso has a number of warm items on offer: Pork & Cannellini Bean Stew served with Mini Baguette, Cheesy-baked Tortellini with Bacon & Sea Shrimps and even Maple Pecan-crusted Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic-Mustard Sauce! At the end of it all, partake in the Bread and Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce as well as the Chocolate/Vanilla Ice Cream (with a choice of toppings such as mini chocolate pearls or jelly candies). There is an assortment of desserts displayed, too, at The Deli for your selection. There is an extensive selection of fine TWG Tea but you should not leave without trying the Goodwood Exclusive – Legacy Blend 120. Customised for the hotel’s 120th Anniversary, this commemorative black tea blend draws inspiration from the rich history of the hotel and features bergamot, blue cornflower with hints of the sweet fragrant aroma of almonds. MENU
Inclusive of 2 servings of coffee or tea
Inclusive of a glass of Taittinger Brut Reserve NV champagne and 2 servings of coffee or tea:
ONE-NINETY BAR AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SINGAPORE
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore’s One-Ninety Bar looks to Scandinavia for afternoon tea inspo and the result is a Copenhagen Sparkling Afternoon Tea that has sparkle firmly locked into the agenda. Danish award-winning sommelier Jacob Kocemba and his business partner created three variants of refreshing tea that are available at One-Ninety. Lyserod’s base is an exclusive white Silver Needle tea that combines with Oolong tea for complexity as well as hibiscus flower and First Flush Darjeeling tea for fruity undertones. As for Bla, guests will detect crisp notes of Jasmine and Chamomile and, in particular, three fine white teas which give the tea a signature softness all while remaining complex and elegant. The third variant, GRON, is made with organic green, white, ginger and citrus teas as well as white wine and organic lemon juice, giving it the scent of nectarine and fresh herbal notes. On the palate, you will detect peach and a touch of mint – pure genius!
To add to the sparkle of the experience, Four Seasons veteran and graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu School in London Pastry Chef Audrey Yee has prepared a great selection of food. We love the delicate finger sandwiches, brown sugar shortbread and scones accompanied by homemade Strawberry-Rose Preserve and Devonshire Clotted Cream and will gladly make room for sweets such as the Profiterole with Granny Smith Apple Compote. MENU
Copenhagen Sparkling Afternoon Tea is available on weekends at S$66++ per person. This includes three Copenhagen Sparkling Teas and a choice of freshly brewed coffee or tea.
Weekend Afternoon Tea, with a choice of freshly brewed coffee or tea, is available at S$46++ per person.
THE LOBBY LOUNGE AT SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, SINGAPORE
Living in the lap of luxury: afternoon tea at The Lobby Lounge.
This image is for illustration purposes only – refer to menu for the full list of food and drink items on offer.
The Lobby Lounge, situated in the Tower Wing with its high ceiling and iconic columns, is a great place to while an afternoon away while watching the world go by at this massive property that is home to 792 guestrooms and several more serviced apartments and residences. As you take small, manageable bites from the 3-tier Local Signature Afternoon Tea Set, you will notice inimitable design features of the space – think a basalt rock wall measuring 9 by 6 metres, featuring nine different types of living plants, designed by landscape artist Charlie Albone. There is a large collection of art: Hirotoshi Sawada was commissioned to create the Tree Canopy, an installation in the lobby made up of stylised metallic leaves that drift serenely in the air and contributes to that grand sense of arrival.
The 3 tiers start off with exquisite items such as Strawberry & Lychee Quenelle and 64% Chocolate Truffle at the top, followed by local kueh-kueh in the middle tier and finishing off with droolworthy savouries like Chilli Crab Puff, Smoked Salmon Canape and Hae Bi Hiam Sandwich. MENU
Available Mondays to Fridays at S$38++ per person.
On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, chargeable at S$42++ per person.
MO BAR AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, SINGAPORE
MO Bar‘s fabulous afternoon tea experience can now be replicated at home with their takeaway tea set. They have a good range of bites ranging from a Miniature Sandwich selection and scones to Pastry selection and Cookies and Pralines. For us, highlights from the curated specials include Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich (black forest ham, gruyère cheese and pommery mustard mayonnaise), Vanilla and Chocolate Scones accompanied by clotted cream and artisanal marmalades as well as Matcha Yaki-Imo Cake (matcha soufflé sponge, mascarpone cream and roasted sweet potato bavarois). It’s perfect for a family! MENU
Available daily at S$98 nett for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children). Orders have to be placed at least 24 hours in advance.
THE LOBBY LOUNGE AT INTERCONTINENTAL SINGAPORE
InterContinental Singapore‘s The Lobby Lounge has an all-new Peranankan Afternoon Tea that draws rich cultural cues from the Bugis precinct. Prepared just in time for Singapore’s 55th birthday, this multi-tiered stand showcase is really quite the heritage food journey. Peranakan desserts on offer include Ondeh Ondeh Cake, Banana Genoa Cake as well as Milo and Lemon Scones, served alongside homemade gula melaka coconut jam, strawberry jam and clotted cream. IHG’s talented culinary team has also created savoury treats such as Kale pesto crab sandwich featuring pesto made from Singapore grown kale and crab meat; and fragrant Five-spice kurobuta pork ngoh hiang topped with sweet and spicy mango. The Kikorangi blue cheese strawberry crostini, comprising New Zealand farmed cheese and locally grown strawberries on a peanut butter crostini, sprinkled with crushed walnuts and hazelnut, might just be the morsel that you and your girlfriend fight over.
Symbolic of Sang Nila Utama’s discovery and founding of Singapore in 1299, The Lobby Lounge has also created a series of heritage cocktails crafted in honour of The Prince of Palembang’s journey – each comes with a riveting story to enhance the whole experience of spending an afternoon at the InterContinental Singapore’s beautiful lobby. MENU
Available daily at $118++ for two, inclusive of two flutes of Taittinger Brut Champagne and choice of fine loose-leaf tea or coffee; $88++ for two, inclusive of a choice of fine loose-leaf tea or coffee. This Peranakan Afternoon Tea is available until 31st October 2020.
THE LANDING BAY AT THE FULLERTON BAY HOTEL SINGAPORE
Bask in the glorious view of the Marina Bay area as you sink into the comfy armchairs and sofas of The Landing Point at The Fullerton Bay Hotel; front row view is guaranteed if you pick a spot along the elegant indoor promenade paved with marble mosaics and gold hues. That’s if you get a table – advance reservations are absolutely mandatory if you are toying with the idea of an afternoon catch-up with girlfriends.
Once here, besides being captivated by Andre Fu’s sumptuous interiors, highlights from the afternoon tea include savouries such as Seared Beef Pastrami, Pesto, Cornichon Salsa, Brioche and Maple Pecan Orange Tart from the sweets section. To top the experience, consider adding S$78++ for two hours’ of free flow prosecco, house rose, red, white and moscato. MENU
Available Mondays to Fridays at S$50++ per adult and S$25++ per child
Available on weekends at S$55++ per adult and S$27++ per child
Add on S$78++ for free flow of selected prosecco, house rose, red, white and moscato for two hours.
ALLEY ON 25 AT ANDAZ SINGAPORE
Alley on 25 is Andaz Singapore’s multi-cuisine, all-day dining venue and just for a few hours each day it transforms into the site of a fabulous Andaz Pink Afternoon Tea. Each layer of the botanical-accented tiffin unveils luscious treats such as lobster tartlets and beetroot hummus crostini. For sweets, you’ll get to enjoy small bites such as raspberry beignet and lychee rose cake. Each session is complemented by free flow of beverages like Andaz Iced Tea, homemade lemonade, teas by TWG and coffee.
Andaz finally reopened in September 2020 so we’ll be back often for the afternoon tea and views to match. We’d gladly top up S$33 for a glass of Ruinart Rose, too, and embrace the experience as the golden hour. MENU
Available daily at S$48++ per person.
Top up $40 per person to enjoy free flow of wines, beer and prosecco.
