St. Regis Singapore’s The Tea Room: Botanic Gardens-inspired afternoon tea with all the scones you can eat

Following a recent renovation, the elegant and iconic St. Regis Singapore has reopened with a brand-new addition: The Tea Room. 

Drawing inspiration from the much-storied Singapore Botanic Gardens, this new tea lounge is styled with mirrored walls, sculptures, and botanical touches — designed to evoke a tranquil summer garden sanctuary. With its refined, garden-inspired elegance, it’s the kind of place where time seems to slow down.

And if, like us, you’ve ever dreamt of living the tai tai life, this might just be the perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon tea.

Looking for an afternoon sip?

Its Summer Garden afternoon tea set is available daily from 3pm to 5pm. Priced from S$65 per diner, guests can begin their experience with a refreshing glass of sparkling tea, or a glass of champagne for an extra S$30.

Our tea experience began tableside with a choice of beverages, which includes sustainably sourced coffee and tea brands such as well-loved Tanamera Coffee from Indonesia and Taylors of Harrogate.

We got the chance to smell the tea leaves before deciding to go with the Afternoon Darjeeling, a black tea with muscat grape notes that offered a subtle sweetness, and the Moroccan mint green, a lighter option of pure peppermint leaves for refreshing finish. 

First up: Freshly baked scones served tableside from a trolley. It came with a selection of jams and a tin of lemon-infused caviar pearls. The scones were slightly crispy on the outside, and warm and buttery on the inside — so good, we honestly didn’t even need the spreads. 

And the best part? You can have as many as your heart desires. But we’d suggest you pace yourself, because the sweet and savoury treats coming up are well worth the stomach space.

We started with the savouries, as recommended by the chefs. Presented in a whimsical garden-themed wooden case, the bite-sized treats were as visually delightful as it was flavourful.

We enjoyed the St. Regis tea-infused salmon mosaic, layered with cream cheese and mango pearls that beautifully balanced out the smoky and briny flavours of the fish.

Another highlight was the foie gras terrine sandwiched between delicate shortbread and topped with pops of raspberry caviar. 

Next up: Sweets? Say less. This part of the meal is a dream for anyone with a sweet tooth.

These bite-sized morsels came served on an elegant three-tiered stand. While every treat was delicious, we particularly enjoyed the pistachio financier cake, layered with strawberry confit, whipped ganache, and orange compote — a mix of nutty and sweet, citrusy flavours. 

Then, there’s the pear and chocolate vanilla — smooth chocolate cream surrounding a delicate pear jelly centre — and the tropical garden tartlet that was tangy and bright with a crisp tart base. 

What’s an afternoon of tea without some classical music to set the mood? We were pleasantly entertained by tunes performed by a live harpist throughout our session. She performed familiar classics such as Disney’s A Whole New World — pop tunes you’d recognise and can hum along to — that made the whole experience feel even more enjoyable. 

She’s only around on weekends though, so if that’s something you’d enjoy, it’s worth timing your visit. 

Besides the launch of The Tea Room, St. Regis Singapore also welcomes The Patisserie — a takeaway atelier located within the hotel’s lobby that offers whole cakes, petit gateaux, and signature viennoiseries. While it’s meant for taking away sweets and treats, you can also order items to enjoy at your table in The Tea Room.

Apart from afternoon tea, The Tea Room also offers an all-day a la carte menu with both local and western specialties, including dishes such as: chilli crab kueh pie tee, lobster laksa, and more.

For more tea-time ideas, check out this heartland teahouse in Machperson, and Chagee’s new earl grey flavour in collaboration with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.