Food By Themes

5 Best Afternoon Teas In Singapore, Including Picnic Basket Tea Sets And Locally Inspired Bites ─ Eatbook Top 50 Awards 2020


Best afternoon teas In Singapore


I have been infatuated with afternoon tea lately. There’s just something about spending a sedentary afternoon, pampering your tastebuds with sweet and savoury delicacies that makes this such a comforting pastime. Plus, I get to glam up and sip tea in a picturesque setting─perfect for a fervent social media addict such as myself, who’s always on the lookout for Instagrammable places and food. Forget the trouble of hunting one that ticks all your boxes, because we have curated 5 best afternoon teas that made the cut for Eatbook’s Top 50 Awards 2020.


1. Lime Patisserie


Found at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Lime Patisserie at Lime Restaurant serves an Afternoon Tea Set that has a punny name─Tiers Of Joy. This includes a sleek three-tiered platter which carries 10 sweet and savoury treats, and plain and bak kwa scones, along with unlimited coffee and TWG tea. Despite being set in a hotel, this fanciful spread comes at just $58++ for two.

Lime Patisserie takes inspiration from Singapore’s local dishes. Their Nasi Lemak Rice Balls are adorable spoonfuls of goodness that pack the iconic Nasi Lemak dish all into one mouthful. The crunchy and coconut-fragranced balls are deep-fried, and served with shredded cucumber, quail egg, curry leaf and punchy sambal chilli. 

Read our full review Lime Patisserie high tea!    

Address: 3 Upper Pickering Street, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore 058289
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 3pm to 5pm, Sat-Sun 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Tel: 6809 8899
Website
Lime Patisserie is not a halal-certified eatery.


2. JUMBO Seafood


Heads up to all dim sum lovers, because this one’s for you. JUMBO Seafood has rolled out an afternoon tea set perfect for a pair, going at $48++. Conveniently located in the heart of Orchard, this afternoon tea set has three components─a two-tiered rack with six savoury and sweet bites, two dim sum buckets, a chilled dessert and a pot of tea.

Here’s a shout out to their Pan-fried JUMBO Chilli Crab Bun for its crisp exterior and gooey centre, featuring JUMBO Seafood’s signature chilli crab sauce with real crab meat.

Apart from their savoury options, you’ll find sweet delicacies like the Black Sesame Cake, which has a texture like mochi. Despite its petite size, it is loaded with the nuttiness of black sesame. 

Read our review of JUMBO Seafood’s high tea set.

Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #04-09, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Daily 2pm to 5:30pm
Tel: 6737 3435
Website
JUMBO Seafood is not a halal-certified eatery.


3. Cedele


Cedele takes an interesting approach to afternoon tea. Instead of serving dainty tea sandwiches and miniature pastries, their afternoon tea set for two ($48++) speaks to those with a big appetite. Cedele lets you pick and choose some of the elements in the set, and some of the choices here include a spice-infused Crispy Soft Shell Crab & Hollandaise, hearty Grilled Beef Patty & Cheese Sliders and even addictive Truffle Fries

If fries and subs aren’t enough to satisfy you, they’ve also included Bangers and Mash in the afternoon tea set, which features sundried tomato sausages nestled on a bed of mashed potatoes. 

Cedele sits in one of the atriums of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Bask in the ambience of this aesthetically-pleasing scene as you munch your way through their afternoon tea set. 

Read our full review of Cedele’s afternoon tea.  

Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B2-120/120A Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972
Opening hours: Daily 2pm to 6pm
Tel: 6688 7345
Website
Cedele is not a halal-certified eatery.


4. Atrium Lounge


Adding a touch of class, Atrium Lounge at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay presents their picture-perfect afternoon tea set in a picnic basket. Coined the Picnic In An Oasis, this set costs $38++ per person, which comprises a mix of 10 mostly botanical-themed items.

Desserts are definitely their strong suit as they taste as good as they look. One of the more noteworthy ones would be the Peppermint Passionfruit Choux Puff. Though its greenish hues were a little bizarre, it surpassed our expectations with its refreshing flavours. 

If I could give this place an award, I would. Besides the standard seating area, you can also opt to dine in one of their few birdcage pavilions, though there is a minimum spending for these seats. Note that the high tea set at Atrium Lounge is prepared using a halal kitchen, but isn’t certified halal since the Atrium Lounge has cocktail offerings.

Read our full review of the Atrium Lounge high tea.

Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6845 1119
Website
Atrium Lounge is not a halal-certified eatery.


5. Dian Xiao Er


I’ve always associated afternoon teas with a Western-centric slant, but Dian Xiao Er enters the scene with an experience that highlights Cantonese cuisine instead. Exclusively available at their Jewel Changi Airport outlet, this homegrown brand offers tea for two with their Floral Tea Set ($23.80++), which makes it only $11.90++ per person.

Paired with their signature gravy that uses a total of 10 different herbs, the robust Ten Wonder Shredded Duck Porridge had a pleasant herbaceous taste, with the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Dian Xiao Er also lets you select two other dishes to go with your porridge. I recommend going for the crunchy Deep-Fried Kailan with Floss as it complements the porridge perfectly.

Wash the meal down with a soothing cup of blooming Osmanthus Green Tea. which has subtle fruity and floral notes. You can also select other tea blends like the Mango Green Tea, Lychee Green Tea and Calendula Green Tea.

Read our full review of Dian Xiao Er’s Afternoon Tea.

Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #B2-229, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 9:30pm, Fri-Sun 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6542 3789
Website
Dian Xiao Er is not a halal-certified eatery.


Decadent afternoon and high teas in Singapore


Afternoon tea is past the age of finger sandwiches and mundane desserts. Expect to see extravagant mini treats and bites that take inspiration from other cuisines. Even though afternoon tea is often considered an atas, fancy experience, we hope this list can offer you a great afternoon tea experience that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. For more Eatbook Top 50 2020 winners, check out our guide to the best desserts, and the best hawker stalls of 2020!

Ashley Lim

Sucker for Pasta and Seafood

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