Perhaps your first time having high tea in Singapore was under the red chandeliers in the Rose Veranda of the Shangri-La, or in the Art Deco throwback of ATLAS Bar. Originating in England in 1840, high tea once involved bread, cheese and meat as well as tea. Since then, the decadent mid-day meal has evolved. Today, it typically includes sandwiches cut into thin slices, small, sweet pastries and cakes, and of course—the classic scone, served with jam and clotted cream.
When it comes to high tea from Singapore’s best hotels, expect new takes and fresh imaginings on traditional combinations. Here, find a selection of the most exclusive sets available, to be ordered for delivery and enjoyed from the comfort of your own home, all while imagining yourself in a breezy courtyard.
Tea Lounge, The Regent
With its ideals in re-creating the idyllic English afternoon tea, it’s no surprise that The Regent is now offering it in takeaway form, boasting a three-layered rack with scones, savoury finger sandwiches, macarons and mousse cake. The scones available are Regent classics—traditional plain scones and a dried cranberry version, both accompanied by sweet, thick strawberry jam, and a surprisingly zingy lemon curd. It may not be your usual clotted cream, but combined with the strawberry jam, it provides a delicious take on the English classic.
Available in sets for two or four, the takeaway tea also comes with a choice of Gryphon premium tea bags—for you to enjoy a cup of the best tea England has to offer right at home in Singapore.
Orders for The Regent’s high tea can be placed online.
The Courtyard, The Fullerton Hotel
With two options for their high tea sets, The Fullerton Hotel is coming into its reputation for catering to guests’ every needs, with its classic French-inspired Afternoon Tea set as well as the more patriotic National Day set. The French-inspired Afternoon Tea Set transports you straight to the City of Lights, with savoury options like Tiger Prawn Eclairs, Classic Duck Rilettes, and sweets like Framboise Custard Choux and Fraise Macaron. Meanwhile the National Day set celebrates local flavours and influences, with savoury options like Chilli Crab Choux, Tandoori Chicken Tartlet, Caramelised Soy and Pulled Pork Bun, or sweets like Ondeh Ondeh Cake, Pandan Kaya Swiss Roll, and Kopi Macaron. Both options come with classic and raisin scones, clotted cream and jam.
Orders for The Fullerton Hotel’s high tea can be placed online.
ATLAS Afternoon Tea, ATLAS Bar
Better known as the home of the largest floor-to-ceiling gin collection in Asia or for its art deco-inspired interior, ATLAS Bar is a 1920s influenced bar located in Bugis, and seemingly, the unlikeliest place to order high tea from. However, amongst the savoury side dishes and charcuterie boards, the drinking hole offers offers up a high tea with plenty of luscious sweets to make up for it.
Look forward to a European-style selection of sweet and savoury treats, with the added option of including an ATLAS Martini or Espresso Martini. Tuck into a lobster crostini, smoked salmon, and pumpkin quiche, as well as berry fruit tart, raspberry financier, and classic scones with jam and clotted cream—all served with the exclusive ATLAS Art Deco Tea Blend.
Orders for ATLAS Bar’s high tea can be placed online.
The Rose Veranda, Shangri-La
Just in time for the Tokyo Olympics, Shangri-La has released a Japanese Summer high tea, with savoury and sweet treats inspired by Japan’s prefectures and flavours, as well as a pink-themed Rose Veranda set. Enjoy delicacies likeStrawberry Yuzu Roulade,Litchi Raspberry Choux, andVanilla and Rose Infused Scones, served with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something elegant to enjoy while watching the Games, turn towardsKagoshima Fish Cake with Hokkaido Cheese,Tokyo Style Sea Eel Sushi,Shizuoka Prefecture Yuzu Macaron, andMiyazaki Mango Tartlet. Like its French sister, this set does come with scones, but with a twist: they’re vanilla-matcha flavoured.
Orders for Shangri-La high tea can be placed here.
L’Éclair Pâtisserie
If you weren’t able to visit L’Éclair Pâtisserie and sample the wide variety of eclairs available—fret not, they have extended their repertoire to a high tea set you can take home. The boutique bakery was opened by Le Cordon Bleu graduates, Sarah Tan and Michelle Looi, who were determined to change the way people think of eclairs. Tan and Looi have swapped out plain pastry cream and a dark chocolate glaze in favour of a myriad of more surprising flavours, such as pecan, salted caramel and ispahan. Their eclairs are also decorated in the most Instagram-worthy of toppings, from gold-leaf to rose petals.
L’Éclair’s high tea is a mix of sweet and savoury, featuring French classics like assorted quiches, Egg Mayo Choux, Mushrooms Vol-Au-Vent, and savoury scones. Included in the set are six miniature versions of their well-loved eclairs: Dark Chocolate, Pistachio and Strawberries, Vanilla and Caramelised Pecans, and Earl Grey.
Orders for L’Éclair Pâtisserie’s high tea can be placed online.
MO Bar, Mandarin Oriental
Unlike the predominantly English and French-influenced sets on this list, the Mandarin Oriental takes a different approach and as its name suggests—presents a more oriental influence on high tea. Alongside sweet fluffy vanilla scones and more exotic nori and truffle scones (both with served clotted cream), the set features savoury treats like soy ginger glazed chicken and breaded prawn puff pastry.
Each item is delicately hand-made, including offerings like the soft hojicha roll with kinako, sweet coconut raspberry sable tart, as well as the addictively creamy baked cheesecake, which features yuzu chiboust, crème fraiche, and hazelnut streusel, supported by a crumbly, tender biscuit base. All this is served with a selection of butter cookies and chocolate pralines, for the perfect ending to your meal.
Orders for Mandarin Oriental high tea can be placed online.
