Raise those pinkies, people – we’ve found the best places in Singapore to feast on afternoon tea...kid-friendly spreads included!
Afternoon tea: there’s nothing quite like it for making us feel like we’ve got our fancy pants on. Because everything tastes better in miniature, are we right? Luckily for us, this very British tradition does a roaring trade here in Singapore. So whether you’re looking to order in high tea treats for a special treat or head out for a special family occasion, we’ve compiled our picks of the best places for afternoon tea in Singapore. And lots are kid-friendly too!
From babyccinos and fussy-eater-friendly buffets to chocolate fountains and handy highchairs, we’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to. Three…two… scone… it’s tea time! And psst – for when you want to graze child-free, we’ve also found some relatively affordable high teas for a catch up with friends, and even the best places to take the grandparents. Yup, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best afternoon teas and high tea sets in Singapore, so pinkies up!
The best afternoon teas in Singapore for all occasions
1. Best for shopping break: 1- Atico
You’ve seen Orchard Road from the ground, now head to the top of ION Orchard and take in its full glory from above. The floor to ceiling windows lets you immerse in the dazzling skyline while you snack on delectable treats from their high tea set. They come in an elegant stack and includes both sweet and savoury items. Champagne optional but recommended!
When: Daily from 12–5.30pm
Where: 1- Atico, 2 Orchard Turn, ION, Level 55 & 56, Singapore 238801
Cost: From $38++ per person – price varies depending on seasonal sets
2. Best for kid-friendly fanciness: Tea Lounge
We can personally vouch for the variety of yumminess on offer at Conrad Singapore Orchard’s Tea Lounge. Trust us, your kids are going to want in on this one because it’s a chocolate themed afternoon tea, crafted in collaboration with French chocolaterie, Valrhona! The three-tiered set comes with kid-friendly finger sandwiches and scones, and chocolate pastries such as the Vanilla Layer Cake with Guanaja 70% Dark Chocolate and the Raspberry Cremeux and Coco Biscuit with Opalys 33% White Chocolate. Instead of coffee or tea, the kiddos can even drink up Valrhona Chocolate, iced or hot. Visit on the weekends for the afternoon tea buffet spread, which includes a chocolate quiche and chocolate risotto!
When: Mon – Fri 12–5pm ; Sat – Sun 12–2.15pm and 3–5.15pm
Where: Tea Lounge, Conrad Singapore Lobby Level, 1 Cuscaden Road, 249715
Cost: From $54++ per adult, $27++ per child on weekdays
3. Best for wow factor: Atlas Bar
A fact of life: if you haven’t been to Atlas yet, you must (without the kids!). You’ll feel like you’re in The Batman movie… this place is Gotham City personified! Set inside the art deco-inspired Parkview Square building in Bugis, everything about this place oozes sophistication and attention to detail. As each component of the Atlas Afternoon Tea is hand-made to order, reservations are required with at least 24 hoursʼ notice. The food won’t disappoint (lobster crostini or canelé de bordeaux, anyone?), and the tea selection boasts customised blends full of all kinds of botanicals and yumminess. Dress to impress and stay for the bubbles or the petite martinis! Watch our reel here.
When: Tuesday – Saturday, 3pm, 3:30pm and 4pm.
Where: Atlas, Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188778
Cost: $68++ per guest
4. Best for a taste of Singapore: Violet Oon
Where better to savour the flavours of Singapore than from the kitchen of Violet Oon, the grand dame of Singaporean cuisine? Offered in all the three locations, the Singapore High Tea Set sees familiar favourites like chilli crab and kueh pie tee with a modern twist. Even the humble tauhu goreng and otah are given a finer touch here. Sweets include traditional nonyna kuehs and Bika Ambon.
When: Daily 3pm -5pm
Where: Violet Oon Singapore, ION Orchard, National Gallery, and Dempsey Hill
Cost: $68++ serves two
5. Best for springtime indulgence: The Rose Veranda
Head over to the mezzanine floor above the lobby at Shangri-La Singapore and indulge in a high tea tradition that’s been going strong for 30 years. It’s called the Mini-Bites Buffet because you’ll get to choose from a wide variety of sweet and savoury snacks. But with everything tasting as good as they look, there’s nothing mini about our tummies after this! Psst: don’t miss kids’ play haven buds by Shangri-La if you really want to keep the good times coming for the littlies. In celebration of the hotel’s 55th anniversary, you’ll enjoy this afternoon tea experience, alongside a host of other dining promotions at $55++.
When: Thu- Fri 12pm – 5pm, Sat-Sun 12pm – 2.30pm, 3pm – 5.30pm
Where: The Rose Veranda, Shangri-La Singapore, Tower Wing, Mezzanine Level, 22 Orange Grove Road, 258350, Singapore
Cost: From $55++ per person
6. Best value afternoon tea: Arteastiq Tea Lounge
Served off gorgeous platters, don’t let the (relative) affordability of this afternoon make you think it’s not special. Because it really is! This boutique teahouse, at multiple locations islandwide, has a selection of high tea options! Its savouries include Nasi Lemak with crispy puff rice and Spicy Otah Sando. Only came for the cake? There’s locally-inspired delights like kueh salat, Ondeh-ondeh mochi balls, and Cendol Macaroon too! Nom!
When: Available daily, 1–5pm
Where: Arteastiq Tea Lounge, multiple locations including Mandarin Gallery and Jewel Changi Airport
Cost: From $38++ per person or $68 for 2 people
7. Best for iconic drawer display – Anti:dote
Known for serving afternoon tea in an iconic chest of drawers, visit Anti:dote at the Fairmont Hotel Singapore and indulge in monthly-themed sweet treats and bite sized sandwiches. Amuse Bouche and free-flow Fitz Brut Sparkling and Rose are available to complement the delicious bites. Keep an eye on the themes, that vary from whimsical and super cute, to elegant traditional!
When: Daily 12 -2pm, 3-5pm
Where: Anti:dote, Level 1, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560
Cost: From $68++ per adult, $34++ per child
8. Best for sharing: The Marmalade Pantry
Oooh, this one sounds like a goodie! The Marmalade Pantry’s High Tea Set feeds two and features a selection of sarnies, mini cakes and cupcakes, plus buttermilk scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam and orange marmalade. Kids not down with afternoon tea time? No worries. There’s also a dedicated kids’ menu for the under-12 set, with offerings including mini chicken and beef burgers, as well as a couple of yummy-sounding pasta dishes. You can also order High Tea at home, delivered in a cute and clever box that transforms into a stand for your treats!
When: Daily 2–6pm
Where: The Marmalade Pantry, multiple locations including Ion Orchard and Novena
Cost: From $78 – price varies depending on seasonal sets (serves two)
9. Best quintessential ‘high tea’: The Grand Lobby
Is Raffles Singapore THE place to come for the best afternoon tea in Singapore? It’s certainly a showstopper setting, so you should definitely give it a try for the experience alone (although this one is best sans-kids!). Savour finger sandwiches, homemade scones and pastries, and seasonal delicacies, all washed down with fine teas and even finer Champagnes. The opulent setting really is the icing on the cake! When you’re done with the tea, you have to pop into the Long Bar for a swift one. As the home of the Singapore Sling, it’s a bit of a rite of passage for anyone visiting or living in Singapore! Psst… we also love a shop at Raffles Boutique. There are some gorgeous goodies to be had!
When: Daily 12.30 – 5.30pm
Where: The Grand Lobby, Raffles Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673
Cost: From $108++ per guest (prices may vary if themed)
10. Best for an afternoon tea buffet: L’Espresso
We’re big fans of L’Espresso for its afternoon tea offering. Having been to sample the wares ourselves, we can gladly report the spread is topnotch. Instead of your more traditional ‘tiered cake stand’ afternoon tea, L’Espresso puts on a full-on buffet spread. That scores big if, like us, you’re a chronic grazer and love sampling everything (dust off your elasticated waistband pants!). And it goes without saying that all that choice is a huge plus when you’re enjoying afternoon tea with kids! There are loads of yummy morsels to choose from, including dainty sandwiches, pastries, scones, salads, plus savoury hot options, too. Young ‘uns will also go wild for the pièce de résistance: the chocolate fountain. Need a highchair? Just ask, and your child-friendly seating wish will be granted.
When: Mon – Thu 2–5.30pm; Fri – Sun 12 -2.30pm, 3-5.30pm
Where: L’Espresso, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221
Cost: From $65++ per adult; $39++ per child from age 6 to 11 years old; Children aged five and under dine for free! Price includes two servings of coffee or tea.
11. Best themed experience: One-Ninety Bar
Besides shaking up great cocktails, One-Ninety Bar also does great themed afternoon tea. Following The White Lotus Afternoon Tea set, inspired by HBO® Original Series, ‘The White Lotus’ season three, the bar is inviting everyone to slow down the Nordic way. Start the weekend with Scandinavian amuse- bouche before moving into sweet treats and a selection of Smørrebrød — Danish open-faced sandwiches. The set comes with coffee and tea but we’d like to celebrate the weekend with craft cocktails ($27++ each).
When: Sat – Sun from 12–2.30pm, 3-5pm
Where: One-Ninety Bar, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Blvd, Singapore 248646
Cost: From $68++ per person (coffee or tea), $88++ per person (with craft cocktail, coffee, or tea)
12. Best for local-inspired flavours: Atrium Lounge at Pan Pacific Singapore
Over at Pan Pacific Singapore’s Atrium, the private pods floating over a reflecting pool are a huge hit with the knee-high and tween clientele, so be sure to book one for your own famalam when coming for the panache of Singapore Afternoon Tea with the kids. Let’s talk food: the tiered stands (which, in a cool twist, mimic the pods themselves) are bursting with scones, finger sandwiches, quiche, plus more Asian-themed morsels too. Only came for the cake? The hotel’s pastry team has you covered. Great grub + cosy chills = happy parents. For a kid-friendly afternoon tea twist, juices and babyccinos are available.
When: Daily 1pm – 3pm, 4pm – 6pm
Where: Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595
Cost: $58++ per person on weekdays, $68++ per person on weekends
13. Best for lush views: Wildseed Cafe, Alkaff Mansion
Wildseed Cafe at The Alkaff Mansion is the perfect spot to end the walk with kiddo and fido! Hike through the lush Telok Blangah Hill Park to get to this early 20th century colonial bungalow and you can settle in with a yummy afternoon tea set with savoury snacks like Avocado Tart and Chicken Katsu Slider, and end with sweets like Mango scones and Strawberry Cream Cake.
When: Daily 2pm – 4.30pm
Where: Wildseed Cafe at The Alkaff Mansion, 10 Telok Blangah Green, Singapore 109178
Cost: $68++ for two persons
So, which is your fave afternoon tea or high tea in Singapore? Let us know by tagging us on Instagram!
