Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
Tea Time: Thursdays to Mondays, 1pm to 5pm
Spill the Tea: If you’re looking for a central yet quiet spot for intimate conversations and laidback meet-ups, The Rose Veranda is a worthy consideration. Tall ceilings, bold red chandeliers and full glass windows set the stage for a luxurious afternoon tea session at the spacious and grand dining room.
The Red High Tea experience ($78 for two people) is served over three courses: four savoury bites, followed by your choice of main, and then ending with a round of desserts. The dishes rotate weekly, so if you’re a frequent afternoon tea goer, you’ll love the variety offered here. We utterly enjoyed the veggie-friendly snack of house-made bagel with hummus, grapes and chipotle sun-dried tomato, and the sweet-savoury starter of pan-roasted foie gras on toast with caramelised figs and onion compote. Among the mains, one excellent (and filling!) pick was the braised short ribs with truffle hollandaise and buttered broccolini.
We were wowed by the extensive tea menu, which features more than 30 premium tea selections, including my personal favourite: The Shangri-La Tea (top up $5). A robust blend of high elevation teas from Ceylon with vanilla notes, this full-bodied tea went amazingly well with the three-tiered display of desserts. The macarons were sadly too sweet for our liking, but the yummy strawberry tart and warm raspberry scones made up for it.
Top tip: dress up in full red and you’ll be treated to a complimentary glass of red wine!