Indulge in an exquisite Afternoon Tea session in the oldest and most iconic hotel in Singapore, Raffles Singapore.
Opening its doors in 1877, Raffles Singapore has remained as one of the most iconic hotels in Singapore and in the world. It is highly raved about for its rich history, nostalgic charm and the luxurious ambiance it provides. Stepping into the ground of the hotel, it seems as though I have been transported back in time. The Grand Lobby is surrounded by classic black and white architecture, Victorian pillars and the traditional arch windows, which definitely helps set the mood for The Raffles Afternoon Tea Experience.
Never belittle the classic sandwiches. They may look ordinary, but can taste extraordinary. The Multigrain with Chicken Sandwich definitely looks simple, but it was divine! When asked if there were any ‘secret’ ingredients in it, the waitress came back saying that it was simply mayonnaise, salt and pepper … that must have been some amazing salt and pepper then! My other favourite was the Curry with Crab Sandwich. The curry flavour on the wasn’t overpowering at all. In fact, the crab and curry combination worked really well together, definitely a nice twist on two popular local flavours.
Now that the savoury courses are out of the way, I was eagerly waiting to get started on the sweets, what I found really interesting (but slightly apprehensive at first) was that for many of the sweet desserts, they married two very different ingredients and created something quite out of the norm. The first surprise was the Orange Sesame Financier, which turned out to be really unexpected! The cake portion was very moist and the orange blob atop the sesame chocolate layer added just a right bit of tanginess. Overall, a 10 out of 10, for even a non-sesame lover like myself.
The second surprise was the Apply Ginger Verrine. There were altogether 4 layers – apple juice at the bottom, followed by panna cotta, a hint of ginger, an apple jelly ball, topped with butter crumbs and apple bits. This combination blew my mind and took me a while to figure out the intricacy of each layer and how it all came together. For the highly adventurous, you will definitely enjoy this!
The one and only chocolate dessert served was the Salted Caramel & Guanasa Chemuex. The chocolate that filled the tart was rich, decadent and smooth – with little crispy balls that helped to add crunch to the whole dessert. This was something that definitely tasted as elegant as it sounds.
And finally, afternoon tea is never complete without scones! The scones were slightly dense but what stood out was their strawberry jam which was infused with rose petal, giving the jam an extra fragrant boost.
The Raffles Afternoon Tea Experience allows you to choose from an exquisite tea selection. Guests may select between ‘Mariage Freres’ loose tea leaves or the Raffles custom blended coffee beans.
It was such a splendid afternoon at The Grand Lobby. Albeit on the pricier side, dining in this 19th century hotel, is in itself a memorable experience. Despite coming on a weekday, the restaurant was almost at full capacity.
Oh, and just fun fact, snippets of the movie Crazy Rich Asian were filmed on the premises of the Raffles Singapore.
Afternoon Tea Menu:
Savoury:
- Multigrain with Chicken
- Wholemeal with Tuna
- Classic Egg Mayonnaise
- Curry with Crab
- Squid Ink Smoked Salmon & Cucumber
Sweets:
- Vanilla Raspberry Choux
- Orange Sesame Financier
- Salted Caramel & Guanasa Cremuex
- Apply Ginger Verrine
- Yuzu Hazelnut Roll
- Original and Raisin Scones
You may highlight any dietary restrictions while making your reservations, preferably 2-3 days before your visit so the kitchen can make the necessary arrangements.
High Tea Singapore – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory
Reviews for this venue:
- 2 November 2014: High Tea at The Raffles Hotel Singapore
