The best affordable afternoon tea in Singapore

With panoramic beachfront views of the calm seas adjacent to an alluring azure infinity pool, you'd expect loftier afternoon tea prices at Sol & Ora. But no, the evocative retreat has orchestrated a weekend high tea that is unbelievably affordable at just $35 per person. So grab a friend along for a joyful midday tête-à-tête with petite sweets such as bite-sized tartlets, lavender-glazed madeleines, macarons and canelé. And to balance the scales, there are also savoury morsels such as smoked salmon mini croissants, mushroom chipotle croquettes, truffle caviar mushroom quiche and of course, Parma ham-wrapped cantaloupes.

The eye-catching mod-Japanese restaurant has got one of the most affordable high tea deals along the Orchard prime shopping belt. Priced at just $38, the set comes with a dainty pot of TWG tea and is good to share between two. Sweet tooths can stick with the Sweet Time Tea Party set while savoury lovers can go with Mixed Messages Tea Party. Amongst the tartlets, pastries and bite-sized cakes, there are also buttery scones and mini-sliders to balance the scales. Had a difficult morning of shopping? You could certainly polish off one (or three) flavoured saketinis ($16) to refresh and refuel for the remaining half of the day.

At this casual eatery, it’s a treasure trove of retro memorabilia, everything from antique bicycles to kerosene lamps. The restaurant itself is spacious and airy, flooded with natural light due to its floor-to-ceiling windows, while surrounding greenery provide ample opportunities for an outdoor shot. But it’s the afternoon tea that you’ll want to try. At $19 per person, this set includes seasonal bites – you’ll find a variety of cakes and pastries alongside local delights such as beef rendang and siew mai. 

While rooftop bistro Sol & Luna only opened earlier this year, they’ve already made a name for themselves with a unique mishmash of Latin-European cuisine. But they do also serve up an affordable afternoon tea, starting from $28 per person. This comes with savoury bites like a crab vol au vent (a petite puff pastry) or sweets like an ispahan tart. It also includes free-flow black coffee or tea.

Contrary to most afternoon teas, such a session at The Hainan Story is available any time of the day – after all, they’re open 24 hours a day at the Hotel Boss outlet. Here, it’s a three-tiered tea set ($19.90) with assorted cookies and Swiss rolls. More interesting, there’s also a Hainanese flair with yibua (a steamed glutinous rice kueh) as well as crispy prawn fritters and pork and chicken satay skewers.

A treat for the senses, La Fez combines Moroccan architecture and cuisine in one gorgeous setting. Its exterior is reminiscent of Marrakesh where the buildings are tinted in natural red clay, giving its name 'Rose City'. The La Sultana High Tea Set starts from $45.90 for two, with an array of six savoury and sweet bites. While the lineup changes regularly, two savoury sandwiches remain a constant: the Tashelhit smoked salmon brioche and Khubtz roast beef brioche. Unlike most other afternoon tea sets, the one here doesn’t come with any beverages – you can top up $8.90 for a Moroccan pot of tea.

It’s a bit of a unique dining experience over at Wildseed, an all-day café that’s tucked away as part of Seletar Aerospace Park along with The Summerhouse. But the afternoon tea ($58 for two) is worth the travel time – if not for its picturesque surroundings, then the exquisitely-presented sweet treats like strawberry scones and mini doughnut cappuccino mousse. Not to worry though if your sweet tooth has a limit, since there are also chilli crab kueh pie tee and chicken mayo croissants. 

Japanese-inspired Boyutei's high tea is an ode to the changing winds of the season. Conceptualised by head chef of Michelin-starred Whitegrass, Takuya Yamashita, the high tea features his favourite otsumami (nibbles and snacks) and ranges from sweet to savoury. Served in special Japanese tiered boxes, a set includes a Hojicha financier, Matcha Warabi mochi, monaka filled with Narazuke cream cheese, somen with Sakura ebi and more. High tea starts from $69 for two and comes with hot brews – available all day long. 

Over at The Marmalade Pantry, you’ll find equally delectable sweets and savoury treats. The menu does change from time to time though, so from now till October 31, the flavours are all clearly inspired by local favourites – to the familiar tunes of a Milo-infused cupcake, otah mousse toast, and pandan gula melaka tea cakes. That said, there’ll be well-loved afternoon tea bites too, such as buttermilk scones that pair beautifully with lashings of strawberry jam, orange marmalade, and clotted cream. It’ll set you back just $78 for two, and comes with two pots of tea by Monogram. 

Now, this is one of the frontrunners of the affordable afternoon tea: TWG Tea, with its delicate finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones. They do have an assortment of set menus here, so you can choose what’s exactly to your liking from the straightforward 1837 set ($20) with a tea and a choice between muffins or scones, or the Parisian set ($72) which serves two with sandwiches like Boston lobster milk buns and crab meat tarts. The latter comes with a choice of two teas, along with savoury mains like a truffle or salmon croque, a warm toasted sandwich with generous fillings. As per any other afternoon tea, you’ll get either muffins or scones too.

Art-jamming café Arteastiq in Mandarin Gallery has been a crowd favourite over the years, typically for its affordable range of afternoon tea sets. Choose from either the Dream Teasery Set for a classy affair or the National Treasure Set for more local renditions. Both start from $58 for two, respectively featuring bites like truffle shell pasta and squid ink macaroon, or rainbow kueh lapis and otah fries. Each set comes with a beverage.