Who says indulgence is reserved for weekends? Pamper yourself with a weekday high tea sesh from our list of top picks.
High tea in Singapore? So posh. Tiny sandwiches and scones are very Downton Abbey. But, perhaps even better, we’re thinking of traditional treats like kueh. We just love ’em all! Here’s the thing: You don’t have to save this dining experience for the weekend. The proof? We’ve rounded up our favourite weekday tea places in sleek hotels and cosy cafes for that perfect afternoon indulgence.
Best high tea spots in Singapore
1. The Lobby Lounge at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
Capitol Kempinski’s lobby lounge is the perfect refuge for a zen “Fire & Ice” high tea in Singapore. Choose between a three- ($38) or five-course ($48; $58 on weekends) afternoon tea menu. You’ll enjoy a mix of sweet and savoury snacks such as chicken rice ‘arancini’, smoked salmon focaccia, bacon cheese quiche, passionfruit chocolate spread and strawberry cheesecake. Best of all, you get tea pairings with each course to bring out the best flavours. Psst: top up $20 for two glasses of champagne!
The Lobby Lounge, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, 15 Stamford Road, Singapore 178906; 3-course menu available on weekdays only, daily 2.30pm to 5pm
2. Atlas
Nothing says treat yo’self like afternoon tea with a side of glitz and glam. Step into the roaring twenties at Atlas, an European Art Deco-inspired bar in the iconic Parkview Square. Settle down for a high tea spread of two selections: Atlas ($56) and Prestige ($60), with the choice of teas being the difference in price points. Savouries include pumpkin quiche with cream cheese, lobster crostini and truffled egg brioche. Meanwhile, sweets feature scones, lemon meringue tart and banana cream pie. Each component is handmade to order, so make your reservation with at least 24 hours’ notice.
Atlas, Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188778; Monday to Friday, 3pm and 4pm slots; Saturday and public holidays, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm slots
3. 10 SCOTTS at Grand Hyatt Singapore
Who can say no to a high tea sesh with cascading waterfall views? Ideal for cosy get-togethers, this restaurant promises delectable cuisine and Instagram-worthy views. It takes the colonial tradition of high tea up a luxurious notch with a four-course menu ($58++ per person), which features a sustainable edge to make you and Mother Earth happy.
Highlights include Yarra Valley salmon caviar with crumpets, croque monsieur and chilled gazpacho. For mains, choose between poached sustainable barramundi or baked eggplant parmigiana. End things on a sweet note with the likes of lemon curd and meringue tart, chocolate brownie bits and seasonal fruits.
Wash it all down with a pot of Gold Moscato Oolong tea, a bespoke tea by Monogram Tea, sheathed in edible gold glitter. Or sip on coffee or juice. Craving a tipple? 10 Scotts has one of the best free-flow offerings with bottomless Baron de Rothschild Champagne, wines and cocktails at an additional $40! Alternatively, top up $30 for unlimited themed cocktails and mocktails.
10 SCOTTS, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211; 4-course menu, daily 12pm to 2pm and 3pm to 5pm
4. Coffea at Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Escape the hustle and bustle of the CBD at this swanky coffee bar for a relaxing high tea session. Sofitel Singapore City Centre is joining hands with The Art Faculty (TAF) to offer an afternoon tea experience presented artfully in an artist-designed box. From 10 August to 30 November, An Artful High Tea will feature a beautiful gold box designed by Selena Seow from The Art Faculty, a social enterprise by Autism Resource Centre (Singapore). The lovely package depicts vibrant shophouses lining Neil Road and an illustration titled “Looking Through”. Inside, you’ll find classic afternoon tea treats with a local twist. Prepared by the hotel’s executive pastry chef Sam Leong and his team, goodies include durian choux pastry with vanilla, pandan coconut scones and Portuguese egg tarts. Now, that’s what we call an afternoon well spent!
Coffea at Sofitel Singapore City Centre, L5, 9 Wallich Street, Singapore 078885; 10 August to 30 November, daily 2pm to 5pm
5. Alley on 25 at Andaz Singapore
Get transported to the French Riveria with Alley on 25’s St. Tropez Summer Afternoon Tea ($48). Savour sweet and savoury delights like marinated prawn with fougasse, snapper bouillabaisse, lemon lavender tartlet and vanilla scone with rhubarb jam and clotted cream. And, free-flow beverages come in the form of TWG teas and coffee. Or go all out by taking the bubbly route. Brownie points for the amazing city views! Yup, Alley on 25 is strategically located on the 25th storey of the hotel – talk about living the high (tea) life.
Alley on 25, Andaz Singapore, 5 Fraser Street, Singapore 189354; Monday to Sunday, 3pm to 5pm
6. Brasserie Les Saveurs at The St. Regis Singapore
At St. Regis, you know you’re in for some pampering – and you won’t even have to wait for the weekend. Just take a day off work and nibble your way through a lavish array of classic sandwiches, desserts and pastries on a two-tiered silver stand, as well as handmade crepes served à la minute. From $48 (per person), you get to enjoy the experience with coffee or tea. At $73, you’ll be clinking champagne glasses with your fellow diners!
Brasserie Les Saveurs, The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911; Monday to Saturday, 3pm to 5pm; Sunday, 3.30pm to 5.30pm
7. Skai at Swissôtel The Stamford
Due for a high tea sesh? Why not take it up a notch, literally. Say, 70 floors above ground? Skai has a spread of savoury and sweet creations layered with – in true Skai fashion – Japanese and Asian accents. While you admire the view, munch on bites like crab roll with ikura, foie gras on beet bun, smoked salmon with roe, raspberry almond macarons and yuzu butter cake. For $65 (per person), complete your meal with aromatic brews by TWG or Suzuki coffee.
Skai, Level 70, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore 178882; Sunday to Friday, 3pm to 5pm
8. The Lobby Lounge at InterContinental Singapore
One seriously spiffy option that’s on our radar is the hotel’s Heritage Royale Luxury Afternoon Tea. Enjoy treats like ayam buah keluak crostini, caviar and smoked salmon pumpernickel, chilli lobster sandwich and gold dusted ondeh ondeh cake. Jazz up your afternoon with two flutes of champagne, tea or coffee and unlimited servings of scones and ice cream ($228 for two).
The Lobby Lounge, L1, InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966; daily, 1pm to 3pm or 3.30pm to 5.30pm
9. Prego at Fairmont Singapore
This classy Italian resto offers two afternoon tea experiences. The classic one ($48 per person) features rustic Italian treats such as focaccia with cheese and salami, puff pastry stuffed with ricotta, walnuts and honey, citrus meringue pie and parmesan cheesecake. Each set comes with TWG tea or coffee. For something a little meatier, the Gentlemen’s Tea ($68 per person) on Fridays replaces delicate finger sandwiches with baked beef pie, steak and chimichurri on sourdough, coffee macchiato macaron and bitter chocolate cigars.
Prego, L1, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560; daily 3pm to 5pm
10. Wildseed Cafe
We all know surrounding yourself in nature works wonders for your wellbeing. So for a change of scene, head to Wildseed Cafe. Situated amidst quiet nature, the space is decked in lush foliage. As you heal your mind, nourish your body with an exquisite selection of afternoon tea bites ($45). Bite into mini crab mayo croissants, mini spinach portobello quiche, scones with cream and strawberry jam and mini eclairs. And for an additional $10, you can clink to a glass of Cava.
Wildseed Cafe, multiple locations including The Alkaff Mansion and The Summerhouse
11. The Grand Lobby at Raffles Hotel Singapore
Settle in for an elegant afternoon at the heritage hotel with a refreshed spread of indulgences in a refined setting. You can’t go wrong with the Classic Afternoon Tea ($80 per person) for a scrumptious experience! Just be sure to make your reservation a day in advance.
The Grand Lobby, Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673; Monday to Thursday, 1pm to 5pm; Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 6pm
12. Anti:dote at Fairmont Singapore
This fixture at Fairmont Singapore is no small contender in the cocktail scene. For its current Afternoon Indulgence tea, the splendid spread (from $58) includes delish sammies like roasted crab meat with tobiko, smoked salmon with ikura and coronation chicken with curry mayo; and tempting sweets such as financier tea cake and Nespresso cocoa macaron. Oh, and feel free to splurge on extras like champagne if you’d like. Talk about an antidote to your mid-week blues!
Anti:dote, Fairmont Singapore, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882; daily from 12pm to 2pm; 3pm to 5pm
13. Atrium at Pan Pacific Singapore
Get cosy with a Japanese-inspired afternoon tea experience ($44 per person) that’ll have you enjoying goodies such as salmon quiche, Japanese egg sandwich, earl grey macaron and chocolate cake. Complete the meal with two beverages from a menu that includes cold brew infusions, TWG teas and Lavazza coffees.
Atrium, Pan Pacific Singapore, Marina Square, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595; Monday to Thursday, 2:30pm to 5:30pm; Friday to Sunday, 12:30pm to 3pm, 3:15pm to 5:45pm
14. The Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
Not one for finger sandwiches? Have your high tea with a homegrown twist instead! This local three-tiered afternoon tea set (from $60) features some of Singapore’s all-star foods, including Nyonya kuehs and desserts like coconut kaya tart and durian dome. As for the scones, they get a splash of familiar flavours like gula melaka and pandan. Wash it all down with tea, coffee, kopi tarik or teh tarik.
The Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350; daily 3pm to 5pm
15. Lime Patisserie at Parkroyal Collection Pickering
Now, here’s a high tea sesh that brings us Tiers of Joy. Have tea for two in the lush, elegant space with plush sofas and comfy corner tables. From $68, the set for you and a dining partner features goodies such as Earl Grey cappuccino tart, parma ham sandwich, nasi lemak ball, mini shepherd’s pie and pandan coconut tart. Oh, and did we mention the unlimited servings of coffee or TWG tea? That’s your caffeine for the day, sorted.
Lime Patisserie, Parkroyal Collection Pickering, 3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289; Monday to Friday, 3pm to 5pm; weekends, 3:30pm to 5:30pm
16. TWG Tea Salons
Calling all tea lovers! Go gaga at TWG Tea salons with hundreds of brews to choose from. When tea time rolls around, you can pick a spot to lounge around with your fave flavours and light bites. Feeling peckish? Nibble on muffins or scones served with TWG Tea jelly and whipped cream, plus your choice of hot or iced tea with the 1837 set ($20). For $35, you’ll enjoy all that alongside finger sandwiches such as Thai basil chicken brioche and crab meat tart.
TWG Tea Salons, multiple locations including Ion Orchard and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands; daily 2pm to 6pm
17. Mo Bar at Mandarin Oriental
Make your high tea situation an unforgettable one at Mo Bar. The Japanese-themed afternoon tea set ($48 per person, $88 for two) comes with rotating treats like egg roll with ikura, smoked salmon with wasabi mayo, baked cheesecake and sable tart. And yes, vanilla, and nori and truffle scones are also available. Pair your meal with a pot of tea or take it up a notch with a signature cocktail ($65).
Mo Bar, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797; daily 3pm to 5pm
18. Colony at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
One of our favourite hotel buffets in town, Colony provides the best dining experience complemented by a sophisticated yet cosy setting. The Journey Afternoon Tea ($52) gives you a true taste of Singapore with its five-tier menu. Think scones with jam and clotted cream, mini mushroom cheese chicken pie, seafood rendang and king crab sandwiches, yuzu praline tart, lemon confit cheesecake and more. To complete the experience, you’ll be sipping on your choice of champagne or prosecco.
Colony, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799; Monday to Saturday, 3.30pm to 5.30pm
19. L’Espresso at Goodwood Park Hotel
Choose to enjoy your high tea spread in the cosy indoor space or by the breezy poolside terrace at L’Espresso. The reputable afternoon buffet-turned-tableside service (from $55) features a dazzling assortment of dainty sandwiches, cheeses, pastries, meats, ice cream, an assortment of dessert and, of course, traditional English scones.
L’Espresso, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221; Monday to Friday, 12pm to 2.30pm or 3pm to 5.30pm; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 11am to 1pm or 1.30pm to 3.30pm or 4pm to 6pm
20. The Landing Point at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
Unwind at The Landing Point as you dine along the waterfront and soak in magnificent views of the Marina Bay area. Its Teatime in Paris Afternoon Tea ($60) will whisk you away to the City of Lights with delights like crispy bayonne ham, canele and framboise custard choux. If you’re in the mood for bubbly, add on $58 for free-flow champagne, house white and red. Cheers!
The Landing Point, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326; Monday to Friday, 3pm to 5.30pm; Saturday to Sunday, 12pm to 2.30pm or 3.30pm to 6pm
21. Fennel Cafe at Gardens by the Bay
Nestled within the lush garden of Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome, this experience allows you to bask in a Mediterranean setting and admire the exotic flora around you. For $45 per person, the set includes savoury bites like gruyere cheese gougere and egg salad sandwich. Oh, and there’s also a vegetarian menu for plant-based diners!
Fennel Cafe, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953; Wednesday to Sunday, 3pm to 5pm
22. The Marmalade Pantry
This quaint cafe has bloomed in popularity, and it’s one of the more affordable places in Singapore to get your high tea fix. Served on a two-tiered stand, the menu ($54 for two people) has a great mix of sweets and savouries. We’re eyeing the spicy crabmeat with fried mantou, truffle egg mayo sandwiches, buttermilk scones with clotted cream and bonbons. Sip on tea from Monogram or get your hot or cold coffee fix.
The Marmalade Pantry, available at Downtown and Novena; Friday to Sunday and public holidays, 3pm-6pm
23. Arteastiq
Arteastiq is synonymous with relaxed art jamming afternoons and chi-chi meals. But if busting out your Picasso moves isn’t the plan of the day, perch yourself on a plush, velour chair for an afternoon of dainty delicacies. The signature high tea set ($32 per person, $48 for two) comes with truffle shell pasta, mochi, mini New York cheesecake and teas. Meanwhile, the National Treasure set ($39 per person, $55 for two) goes the local route with otah fries, satay chicken with rice cake, rainbow kueh lapis and baked tapioca kueh with lychee.
Arteastiq, multiple locations including Mandarin Gallery and Jewel Changi Airport; daily 1pm to 5pm
What are you waiting for? Time to book yourself a luxe weekday afternoon tea sesh in Singapore!
