— Read in German

Who says tiny sandwiches and scones are for Downtown Abbey only? High tea may be derived from the Great Britain, but with a significant amount of English influences, it is also a popular afternoon activity in Singapore. That’s why you will find the cute étagères with all kinds of pastries, small canapés, and the indispensable scones-clotted-cream-and-jam combination in many classic hotels in Singapore, and I am happy to share my favorites with you, right in time for the festive season.

High tea may have begun as an earnest tradition in England’s 19th century, but being a multi-cultural state, Singapore serves the popular sweets and savories influenced by many cuisines of the world. There is, for example, a “Vienna Afternoon Tea” at Raffles Hotel, inspired by the Austrian capital’s charm, the “Local Signature Afternoon Tea Set” at Shangri-La, influenced by the flavors and culinary techniques of Singapore’s local cuisine, or the “Pink Afternoon Tea” at The Fullerton Bay Hotel, inclusive of a SGD donation to the breast cancer prevention.

During our time in Singapore, we have already tried out a few Afternoon Tea Sets, and I am sharing my favorites with you, as well as those I want to indulge in soon. Nothing beats a warm tea, scones, and yummy sandwiches on a rainy day in the festive season.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Afternoon Tea

The Grand Lobby at Raffles Hotel Singapore

Since the Raffles Hotel is an icon in Singapore, a trip to The Grand Lobby of the famous hotel must visit Singapore anyway. In addition to a classic Afternoon Tea with sandwiches and scones, Executive pastry chef Tai Chien Lin has crafted a “Vienna Afternoon Tea” (served until 16th of December) that comes with Sacher cake and other delights inspired by the imperial capital and will be served for the rest of the year. During our visit to Raffles Hotel, we chose the classic version. We were extremely impressed by the quality of the small cakes and sandwiches, the exquisite tea selection, and most of all, the luxurious ambiance.

The Grand Lobby serves tea daily from 12 am to 6 pm.
Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673

Alley on 25 at Andaz Singapore

In Alley on 25, the classical sweet and savory treats will not be served on a classic étagère, but in a whimsical picnic basket with two tiffin carriers that make a perfect leisurely weekday afternoon taking in the Singapore skyline views from the 25th floor of the Andaz Singapore. The picnic is locally-inspired, featuring treats such as Pandan Cake, Kueh Lapis, and Impossible Cheese Balls, with a highlight being the Andaz pandan chiffon cake – a reinvention of the classic layered with mousse and a delightful green glaze. I did like the sweets and savories and found them worth the price, but I have to say that the view didn’t appeal to me in the main restaurant. Luckily, we were seated in front of the panoramic windows and did enjoy stunning views, but only after we asked for them in particular.

Alley on 25 at Andaz Singapore serves tea daily from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Andaz Singapore, Alley on 25, 5 Fraser Street, Singapore 189354

The Landing Point at the Fullerton Bay Hotel

The luxurious Fullerton Bay Hotel is located where the Singapore River flows into the Marina Bay. The main building – Fullerton Hotel – originally served as a post office, one of the first contact points on land when Marina Bay did not yet exist. Quite appropriately, the Fullerton Bay Hotel’s restaurant is called The Landing Point and offers a panoramic sweep of Marina Bay and the famous hotel of the same name. Seated on cozy high chairs, small cakes, pastries, and famous scones are served here in beautiful-looking étagères. The atmosphere and the view are recommendable, but we’ve had better pastries to be honest. Nevertheless, the trip to the iconic hotel is well worth it – especially since SGD 5 of the price were donated to breast cancer prevention in our case.

The Landing Point serves tea 3-5 pm Monday to Friday, and in two sessions from 12-6 pm on weekends and public holidays.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326

Afternoon Tea ON My List

Atlas

ATLAS Bar may be best-known for its after-hours drinks and heady atmosphere. Still, the bar in the legendary Parkview Square Building with its glamorous Art-Deco Architecture also serves classic Afternoon Tea. Brown butter scones and banana cream pie don’t only make my mouth watering, as it seems to be booked out far into 2021 already… and I can’t wait to try the Atlas Afternoon Tea myself.

ATLAS Bar serves tea 2 pm to 4 pm Monday to Wednesday, 3 pm to 4 pm Thursday to Saturday.
Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188778

Skai at Swissôtel The Stamford

Skai on the 70th floor of Swissôtel The Stamford serves mainly modern barbecue dishes by executive chef Paul Hallet. With a gorgeous view of the city, you can also have classic British tea time here Sundays through Fridays. At Christmastime, there’s a Festive High Tea, with turkey, cranberries, and gingerbread scones to set the festive mood.

SKAI serves tea from 3 pm to 5 pm Sunday to Friday.
Swissôtel The Stamford, Skai, Level 70, Singapore 178882

Anti:dote at Fairmont Singapore

Being a stylish bar in the evening, the Anti:dote in Fairmont Singapore offers the British classic in the afternoons, too. The Fairmont is a sister hotel of the Swissôtel The Stamford, which means that the same management and team serve equal quality and meals. That’s why my expectations are high. Oh, and at the moment, the Anti:dote cooperates with Nespresso, which makes my coffee heart beat faster.

Anti:dote serves tea daily from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Fairmont Singapore, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882

The Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore

The “Local Signature Afternoon Tea Set” at The Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La is – as the name suggests – inspired by Singapore’s local cuisine and uncovers all sorts of classic dishes like Nyonya Kueh, savory items like Kong Bak Pau, desserts like Pulut Hitam and pastries with Pandan or Gula Melaka, and combines Western dishes with local flavors like Coconut Kaya or Durian.

The Lobby Lounge serves tea daily from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350