The best tea rooms in Singapore for afternoon tea

Afternoon tea at Raffles Hotel Singapore is a true classic. While they occasionally hold a thematic afternoon tea session, with curated menus that’ll bring you to far-flung countries like Vienna and New York, their standard afternoon tea ($80) is an easy choice. It all comes beautifully presented on a three-tier silver stand, with finger sandwiches and homemade scones. Now till June 4, their highly anticipated Sakura Afternoon Tea Experience ($108) will transport you to cherry-blossomed Japan with a taste of Japanese-inspired sweet treats and savoury delights.

Indulge in a lavish afternoon tea set in the private enclave that is Shangri-La Singapore. Sine 1991, the afternoon tea institution has been plating up a three-course treat that pleases both sweet and savoury palates. The spread switches up every month so expect to be delighted with tasty creations and of course, the Rose Veranda signature scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and lemon curd. The inclusive tearoom also caters to those who are looking for vegan or gluten-free alternatives. To fizz up the afternoon, free-flow bubbly is made available at $58 for two hours.

They’re offering an entirely new afternoon tea concept at the Atrium at Pan Pacific Singapore – “Panache of Singapore”, a nod to local flavours. There might be heavy-hitting flavours like durian and chilli crab, but the pastries are all elegantly presented in a tiered afternoon tea set. Whether it’s the Singaporean Chilli Crab Brioche Roll or Lychee Chestnut Gâteaux you’re looking to savour, this afternoon tea is bound to be a true delight. There’ll also be classic scones uniquely paired with handmade pineapple peppercorn jam and clotted cream. Prices start from $52 and include a pot of TWG tea or Bacha Coffee.

Over at The Landing Point at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, they serve up one afternoon tea that’s unlike any other. Modern Asian influences come into play here, with fresh flavours featuring shio kombu and seared tuna tataki. Even the selection of sweets has an obvious local flair, with the likes of Egg Kaya Toast and Ice Gem Tart. And of course, freshly baked classics and raisin scones also make an appearance. The Expressions Afternoon Tea starts from $60. Add $20 for a glass of Taittinger Brut champagne.

Over at hotel lounge Ginger.Lily, they go beyond the traditional three-tier cake stand. Instead, the botanical-inspired afternoon tea (from $58) comes presented in a larger-than-life pastel pink hardcover book. Start from the bottom layer, and work your way up from the savouries (lobster roll, an avocado and dill gluten-free bread, and an Iberico ham crostini) to eventually reach the sweets. The crème de la crème of every afternoon tea: the scones and its tea. The scones came as a set of two: one infused with Madagascar vanilla and another studded with golden raisins. They’ve got all the usual trimmings on the side too, with clotted cream, chocolate ganache, and a special house-made Ginger.Lily floral jam. 

High tea may not be a Singaporean thing, but the snacks can be. At The Marmalade Pantry, the spread of dainty treats are inspired by local flavours. Indulge in the Nostalgia Afternoon Tea Set (from $78 for two), which includes sweet and savoury snacks like an otah mousse toast, a Milo Lover's Dream Petite Cupcake, satay chicken brioche and pandan gula Melaka tea cakes. Each set comes with two pots of artisan tea by homegrown brand, Monogram – or you can also top up for something more swish like lychee prosecco. 

There’s no better spot for a traditional afternoon tea than at The Courtyard at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore – it comes beautifully presented in a three-tiered set. While there’s an array of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats, it’s the Norwegian smoked salmon tomato tartlet and an almond Battenberg sponge cake that’ve caught our eye. All the while, tuck into classic or raisin scones too. These freshly baked scones go perfectly with generous lashings of jam and clotted cream. 

Prices start from $51, and you can also add a glass of prosecco for $16.

Luxury hotel Sofitel Singapore City Centre might be fully decked out in modern finishings, but it also pays homage to the rich history of Singapore. Its stylish lobby tea lounge 1864 is a nod to the founding year of Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, which is the forerunner of today’s Maritime & Port Authority. 

And truly, there’s nowhere better to enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea than this lobby tea lounge. From now to June 12, enjoy the Rosé High Tea Experience ($128 for two). It comes presented in a stunning silver and glass stand, with six rosé-infused French desserts and a lineup of savoury bites. With pink hues all around and fresh fruits, it’s an elegant afternoon tea set that ushers in the vibrancy of spring. A unique sweet treat is the Fraiser pot, a sweet treat that comes in the shape of a pastel pink garden pot. It’s an almond sponge that’s laced through with vanilla mascarpone cream, and topped with fresh strawberries. 

Others include a chocolate rocher, lemon yuzu macaron, cruffin with green tea ice cream, an apricot religieuse of two choux pastries, and a lychee rosé gateau. There’ll also be scones, plain and earl grey, served by Chef Sam Leong. On the savoury side of things, look forward to a sliced top shell salad with caviar, crab meat with tobiko, and a duck rillette tart. 

For a boozy afternoon, add on a pink wine flight ($50) – it comes with two glasses each of Minuty M Rosé Wine and Chandon Garden Spritz. Diners can also choose from 18 blends of TWG teas and barista coffee.

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Perched on the 70th floor of the Swissotel The Stamford, Skai overlooks the civic district down from the Padang to Marina Bay. They offer two types of afternoon tea here: premium ($78) and regular ($68). For the $10 top-up, there’s an additional lobster dish served with apple tzatziki and oscietra caviar. Nonetheless, the regular menu itself already reads like a dream with luxe ingredients like foie gras and salmon gravlax making an appearance. There’ll also be Madagascar vanilla scones, with Devonshire cream and strawberry marmalade. 

As a new Latin-European restaurant in the 51-storey CapitaSpring Building, Sol & Luna overlooks the entire CBD: sprawling sunset views and a glimpse of the Marina Bay waterfront included. At $38 per person, the afternoon tea is one of the more affordable choices – but they don’t scrimp on quality. Tuck into a croque monsieur croissant, gruyere cheese profiterole, and mushroom vol-au-vent. They do their sweet treats and pastries well too, with the likes of an ispahan tart and lavender madeleines. The afternoon tea includes free-flow black coffee and tea.

Besides the pretty flora and verdant fauna, the world’s largest greenhouse is also home to a lush garden café, Hortus, that serves up a slice of the Mediterranean. While their afternoon tea ($55) puts savoury treats at the forefront with smoked salmon sandwiches and confit tomato tarts, they also do have a selection of sweets ranging from lemon meringue pies to pistachio macarons. Of course, no afternoon tea is left complete without a Devonshire set of homemade scones – here, they come with the usual fixings of clotted cream and strawberry jam. There’s also a vegetarian afternoon tea available. 

It’s hard not to be impressed when you first step into ATLAS. The grand art deco-inspired bar looks exactly like a hotel lobby of the era. The afternoon tea (from $56) is classically European. Among the savoury items are truffled egg brioche, smoked salmon on pumpernickel, and lobster crostini while sweet tooths will be eyeing the raspberry financier and lemon meringue tart. As one of Singapore’s best bars, choose to indulge in a flight of three miniature martinis ($38) which showcases the Atlas martini, orange blossom martini, and espresso martini. 

Located on the third floor of Ion Orchard, Lady M Champagne Bar provides a gorgeous backdrop for shoppers to unwind over some bubbly and bakes. Grab a seat at the horseshoe bar counter, flanked by reflective rose gold columns, or head over to the main dining area with plush chairs and marble tabletops. Come weekends, at noon and 3pm, Lady M Champagne Bar will serve a luxurious afternoon tea set ($60). Snack on dainty versions of mille crepe, truffle cream crab tartlet, and lobster toast – washed down with pots of tea, freshly brewed by the table, and glasses of champagne.

An afternoon tea affair isn’t just reserved for the ladies; over at Prego, the Italian restaurant has recently introduced a Gentlemen’s Tea ($68), perfect for those with a heartier appetite. Tiered stands are swapped out for wooden boards to lend a rustic charm, and the menu features meat-filled creations. Start with the buttery beef pie, with a flaky crust and chunky bits of meat, and chow down on bites of beef tartare, smoked salmon, and housemade sausage with chilli jam. Usual sandwiches also come topped with steak slices, and desserts come in the form of three chocolate creations – beer-infused brownie, coffee macchiato macaron, and a bitter chocolate cigar reminiscent of a cannoli. Gentlemen’s Tea is only available on the last Friday of every month. On other days, sample its Classic Afternoon Tea ($48).

The Journey Afternoon Tea (from $52) is available every afternoon from Monday to Saturday. Presented in a five-tier ceramic tiffin, highlights include sandwiches with gourmet fillings like tandoori blue swimmer crab and dessert bites like yoghurt olive oil cake. Each set also comes with a glass of bubbly and your choice of tea.

Try InterContinental Singapore’s latest offering – Classic Afternoon Tea: The Splendours of Spring and Summer (from $55). Available from now till 28 August, the entire menu focuses on the fresh flavours of Spring and Summer. Highlights include a berry tea mousse, a poached white pear with oolong tea cream, and a mint ganache chocolate praline. It’s not all just about sweet, summery flavours though – there’ll also be a crab cake, turkey ham roll, and asparagus cheddar quiche for a balanced tea session. 

Drop by L’Espresso and settle down either at the hotel’s lounge area, or choose to dine al fresco by the pool. The Classic English Afternoon Tea (from $60) comes with a free-flow selection of savouries and sweets – all served on elegant tableware. Start by selecting a drink (each set comes with two servings), and indulge in classic options of open-face sandwiches, buttery scones, and even local fare like Nyonya otak-otak and dry mee siam. 

No afternoon tea list would be complete without homegrown brand TWG Tea. Its afternoon tea menu starts from an affordable $20, and features two freshly baked muffins or scones served alongside TWG Tea Jelly and whipped cream. Feeling hungry? Other more indulgent sets (from $35) with hearty mains are also available.