Where to go for special afternoon teas in Singapore

The English tradition of a leisurely afternoon tea has become a much-loved ritual in Singapore. It’s a lovely way to spend time with friends or family. The EL team reviewed cups of tea, tartlets, sandwiches, scones and more at some of the best afternoon teas in Singapore – from high tea in Orchard to to elegant hotel experiences. Read on for our recommendations.

We review the best high teas!

The Landing Point at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore for an afternoon tea with waterfront views

What’s brewing: Honey & Lemon Afternoon Tea (until the end of June)
Tea time: Monday to Sunday, including public holidays: 1st seating, 12pm to 2.30pm; 2nd seating, 3.30pm to 6pm
Price: $68 per adult ($34 per child aged 6-11); includes two servings of TWG Tea or Bacha Coffee and one Citrus Honey mocktail per guest

With a view of the Marina Bay waterfront, The Landing Point atThe Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore is a great spot for afternoon tea.

The honey and lemon theme was thoughtfully executed, starting off with a citrus honey mocktail – a fabulous way to set the tone. The afternoon tea offers a cleverly curated selection of sweet and savoury treats, with an impressive attention to detail and precision in the desserts.

We sampled both the vegan and regular savoury and sweet sets. The vegan pressed tofu and truffle was my favourite savoury bite, while the mango jelly pomelo stood out as my top sweet treat. My partner enjoyed the citrus cheesecake and lemon raspberry macaron.

Of course, all the delicious food is washed down with your choice of tea or coffee. We chose the Magic Istanbul Bacha coffee with notes of honeycomb and green almond – a perfect fit.

By the end of the high tea session, our hearts were content and our taste buds thoroughly satisfied. We would definitely come back to enjoy these treats again, along with the beautiful interiors and the stunning view of Marina Bay.

Georgia Bisset

80 Collyer Quay
3129 8526 | fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-bay-hotel-singapore/dining/restaurants-and-bars/the-landing-point 

Pacific Emporium at Pan Pacific Singapore for a Singapore-themed afternoon tea

What’s brewing: A Singapore-flavoured afternoon tea with a twist
Tea time: Daily, 1pm to 3pm, and 4pm to 6pm
Price: From $58 per person including a cup of TWG tea or Lavazza coffee; add $20 for a glass of Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne

With a focus on local flavours, Pacific Emporium’s afternoon tea is also a visual feast, with savoury bites as pretty as the sweet treats – imagine an otah-otah filled macaroon, tamarind-infused beef pastrami, or a mini tart shell filled with quail foie gras parfait!

Afternoon tea is served on a three-tiered stand during the week and buffet-style on weekends – which is when we visited. You can go back for more of your favourites, and on weekends there is a live station; when we went, they were serving up fresh Penang prawn noodle soup and mee siam, as well as melt-in-the-mouth beef rendang.

The DIY section has all the ingredients to make your own crispy lobster pie tee, and next to that is an ice cream and waffle station, which my son went back to multiple times!

The lovely helpful staff brought out scones with fig jam and cream halfway through the session, along with another round of either TWG tea or Lavazza coffee.

The sweets are so beautifully presented – one is imprinted with a Peranakan tile motif, another is a black sesame mochi cake in a black shell. A teh halia cheesecake with a hint of ginger was my second favourite, after a chilli chocolate éclair with just the right amount of bite.

My husband’s favourite was the pineapple sorbet refreshment served at the end with lemon verbena jelly – cool and cleansing after traversing the richness of Singapore’s heritage.

Danielle Rossetti

Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard
6336 8111 | panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pp-marina/dining/pacific-emporium.html

Lobby Lounge at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel for a hotel high tea in Orchard

What’s brewing: Tropical Fruits Afternoon Tea (until 30 June 2025)
Tea time: Monday to Thursday, 3pm to 5.30pm; Friday to Sunday and public holidays, 2pm to 3.30pm and 4pm to 5.30pm
Price: $68 for two, Monday to Thursday; $58 per person Friday to Sunday and public holidays, including free-flow tea and coffee; top up $68 per person for 90-minute free-flow Henriot Champagne, and an additional $80 per bottle for BLÅ Sparkling Tea

With a skylight that lets natural light in, the ambience at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s Lobby Lounge is welcoming and seems an appropriate setting for a Tropical Fruits Afternoon Tea.

Arriving on a Saturday afternoon, we started with a welcome drink made with tea and sparkling tea to stimulate our taste buds. The service at this hotel high tea in Orchard was prompt and warm. Despite what was a busy afternoon, the staff patiently made recommendations for the specialty TWG tea blends. We decided on two – the Breakfast Yuzu was bursting with citrus flavours and the Place Vendôme consisted of green tea paired with fruits and flowers.

When the serving stand was brought out, it resembled a tree – how apt! On its four tiers were two types of scones – classic and raisin – along with four savoury and four sweet bites.

As the name suggests, tropical fruit such as passionfruit, coconut, mango, kiwi and banana were incorporated into the sweet selections as well as one savoury, a Thai-style chicken and pineapple tartlet, its vibrant tartness tinged with notes of sweet citrus.

The sweet bites definitely stole the spotlight. We enjoy tangy fruits so the vanilla and passionfruit tart become our top pick, leaving a refreshing aftertaste on the palate. Our second favourite was the creamy coconut mango panna cotta, with a generous topping of diced mango peeking over the edge of the serving glass.

Although not fruit-based, we also enjoyed the taro mushroom puff and the kataifi calamari roll (only available over the weekend) for their blend of textures and complementary flavours.

As the plates became empty, we wrapped up with a café latte and a mochaccino each, a pleasant full stop to a relaxed afternoon at this high tea in Orchard.

Patricea Chow

Lobby Level, 320 Orchard Road
6831 4605 | lobbyloungesg.com

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore for a Spanish-themed afternoon tea

What’s brewing: Spanish Afternoon tea (until 31 July)
Tea time: 3pm to 5pm
Price: The afternoon tea set comes with two mimosas served in tall champagne flutes – and at $68 for two, it’s fantastic value Grand Copthorne Waterfront is one of my go-tos for a great buffet in Singapore – and as I recently discovered, their afternoon tea is just as lovely! This time around, we tucked into the Spanish Afternoon Tea, a delightful spread of sweet and savoury bites with an Español twist served on a super Instagrammable gold ferris wheel.

The gazpacho was wonderfully fresh and light, while the flavour-packed Spanish seafood risotto cubes were a standout – they even had the socarrat (charred, crispy caramelised rice) that reminded me of eating paella in Spain!

The sweet treats were enough to thrill any dessert lover. Think churros dipped in creamy chocolate sauce, tangy cheesecake, caramel apple crumble and lemonade macarons. Days later, I’m still thinking about the lemon candy scone – soft and tender on the inside, with zesty lemon bits that balanced out any heaviness, and just heavenly with the clotted cream and fruit marmalade. Plus, with a menu that changes every two months, there’s always something new to look forward to.

Guests can enjoy this hotel high tea experience from the plush chairs of the lobby lounge, with sunlight pouring in through floor-to-ceiling windows and glimpses of the Singapore River right outside. You’ll certainly find yourself saying “Another glass, gracias!”

Cherry Lai

392 Havelock Road
8168 1553 | 6233 1338 | millenniumhotels.com/en/offers/asia/grand-copthorne-waterfront/dining/the-lobby-lounge/spanish-afternoon-tea

Madison’s, Pullman Singapore Hill Street for an afternoon tea collab with Madame Ling Bakery

What’s brewing: Afternoon Lingering Treats with Madison’s X Mdm Ling Bakery
Tea time: Until 31 July; Monday to Friday 2pm to 5pm and Saturdays 2pm to 3.30pm and 4pm to 5.30pm
Price: $88 for two

A high tea experience is really about three things: presentation, flavours and… the company! With those in mind, I brought my friend Ida along for a catch-up at Madison’s, located on the ground floor of the newest addition to Hill Street – the Pullman Singapore Hill Street hotel.

Madison’s is an all-day dining hotspot that brings the bold spirit of the iconic NYC deli to life. With sleek railway-inspired interiors blending modern flair and nostalgic charm, it’s where American comfort food meets cosmopolitan cool. But we weren’t there for the sandwiches – we were there for the high tea collab with Madame Ling Bakery.

Our eyes lit up as the tiered box of treats was presented, and we couldn’t wait to dig in. The high tea set comes with a long list of free-flow Dilmah tea. I played it safe with a classic Earl Grey, while Ida went for the Ginger Honey and Mint Tea.

Let’s talk savoury first – my highlights included the Mee Sua Kueh, typically a sweet Asian dessert but Madison’s transformed it into a savoury bite. The Chilli Prawn Pie Tee with 8 Caviar Gems packed a punch, and the Satay Chicken Sando was tasty and satisfying. If you’ve got a guest who wants to sample Singapore flavours in small doses, this is the high tea for them.

On the sweet side, my favourites were the Raspberry Lychee Rose Cake and the Purple Potato Mousse. We also loved Madam Ling’s cookies – so much so, I took mine home because I was absolutely too full to eat another bite. Let’s just say I rolled out of Madison’s one happy diner.

Susan Knudsen-Pickles

Pullman Singapore Hill Street, 1 Hill Street
pullmansingaporehillstreet.com/offers/afternoon-lingering-treats-madisons-x-mdm-ling-bakery/

This article first appeared in the June 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

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