Showing posts with label Afternoon Tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Afternoon Tea. Show all posts

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Tea Lounge @ Conrad Singapore Orchard - Art of Chocolate, An Indulgent Afternoon of Valrhona-infused Delights

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Tea Lounge at Conrad Singapore Orchard has launched a decadent Weekday Afternoon Tea in collaboration with Valrhona, featuring a curated selection of pastries and cocoa-infused creations crafted with Valrhona's signature couverture chocolates.

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We started with a warm, creamy, indulgent Hot Chocolate, though a more bittersweet profile might have made for a better opening given the sweets ahead.

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Finger Sandwiches

The tier of savoury finger sandwiches was nothing short of elegant and satisfying. The ratio of soft, fluffy bread to fillings was spot on. The Devilled Mimosa Sandwich offered a classic egg mayo filling, while the Cured Cucumber Sandwich delivered a pleasant savoury crunch. The Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Caviar was mouth-filling and luxurious, while the Smoked Roasted Chicken Sandwich leaned more towards a shaved ham sandwich, though still delectable with its tender bite.

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Vanilla Moist Layer Cake

The tea cakes and pastries tier showcases some of Valrhona's key couverture chocolates, including Guanaja 70% that goes into making the Vanilla Moist Layer Cake. I learnt that Guanaja 70% is regarded as the world's first intensely bitter chocolate with 70% cocoa, when it was first introduced in 1986!

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Crémeux and White Miso Tart

The Crémeux and White Miso Tart stood out the most for me. It features Matcha inspiration, made with Kagoshima matcha and cocoa butter. The savoury white miso tart also draws on umami, reinforcing the creation's Japanese flair. Among the sweets, I thought this had the most balanced sweetness.

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Raspberry Crémeux and Coco Biscuit features Opalys 33%, known for its pure white colour and velvety texture. Coconut is infused into the pastry as well, imparting a gentle tropical note. The Hazelnut Travel Cake is a vegan-friendly cake made using Amatika 46%, Valrhona's first vegan couverture. The nuttiness of the cake came through beautifully. Roasted Buckwheat Mandola is created with Hukambi 53% milk chocolate and elevated with a nutty crunch from roasted buckwheat.

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Mushrooms Royale and Dark Chocolate Quiche

In between, we were also served Mushrooms Royale and Dark Chocolate Quiche, both of which were among my favourite items. The dark notes of the pastry tart complemented the creamy and savoury filling especially well. The scones are served with clotted cream, salted caramel chocolate jam, strawberry jam, and calamansi curd.

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Scones

In addition to the Classic Plain, there is also the Manjari 64% Chocolate and Candied Orange Zest Scone. Studded with chunks of luscious Manjari 64% chocolate in every bite, it was delicious enough to enjoy with just the clotted cream.

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Sweet Risotto

Sweet Risotto was served à la minute, with a choice of three flavours — dark chocolate, raspberry, and matcha. During our visit, guest Pastry Chef Arief Rusli of Valrhona was in residence at Tea Lounge, and we had the privilege of having him finish our risotto with a pepper-spiked mousse. Its contrasting peppery note offset the milky sweetness of the risotto, creating a more balanced and nuanced finish.

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Beyond the existing selection of teas and coffee, you can also customise your own Gryphon tea at a dedicated tea station with a variety of ingredients to choose from.

Art of Chocolate is available Mondays to Fridays from 30 March to 10 July 2026, 12pm to 5pm.

Pricings
$54++ per adult
$27++ per child with selection of tea and coffee
An additional $50++ per adult for free-flow prosecco and wines
An additional $70++ per adult for free-flow champagne and wines

Photos and words by Si An. A homebody who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, the smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Tea Lounge
Conrad Singapore Orchard
Lobby Level
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 67253245
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Nearest MRT: Orchard Boulevard (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 5pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 215pm, 3pm - 515pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard Boulevard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Turn right and walk down Cuscaden Road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes.[Map]

Friday, March 20, 2026

Ginger.Lily @ Hilton Singapore Orchard - Latest Botanical Afternoon Tea: From Root to Bloom

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Nestled within Hilton Singapore Orchard, the serene tea lounge of Ginger.Lily offers a tranquil retreat amidst the bustle of Orchard Road. With its airy, conservatory-inspired interiors and lush botanical accents, it provides a lovely setting to savour their latest Botanical Afternoon Tea: From Root to Bloom, for an afternoon of elegant pastries, chit chat and warm brews.

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Botanical Afternoon Tea: From Root to Bloom 4.2/5

This seasonal afternoon tea is presented by Executive Sous Chef Cindy Khoo in collaboration with premium French dairy brand Président Professionnel and Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) chef-confectioner Gabriel Le Quang. Inspired by the journey "from root to bloom", the menu draws on nature's forms and flavours to create dishes that are both gorgeous and quietly inventive.

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Guests enjoy free-flow coffee and an artisanal Pryce tea selection, a delightful opportunity to sample a variety of brews throughout the afternoon. And for a little extra charm, the tea experience comes with complimentary stickers featuring hand-drawn illustrations by local artist @pwendraws.

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Bergamot Gougère

First, we were served a light bite of Bergamot Gougère, aromatic and delicate. The baked choux puff was airy, topped with a crisp Gruyère cheese crust and shaved cheese. An easy and enjoyable bite to start the afternoon.

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Savouries tray

Next, a pretty silver 3-tiered stand of savouries arrived at the table. I enjoyed this course a lot, as the selection offered a refreshing departure from typical afternoon tea fare. I also appreciated that the bites were less bread-heavy than on their previous menu, making each piece light enough to leave room to savour the sweets that followed.

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Cured Trout Crêpe

Delicate crêpes rolled into neat layers around Cured Trout, finished with a light shichimi cream. Popped this into my mouth, and it was gone in one bite.

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Tartiflette Croquette with Curry Pearls

Inspired by the classic Alpine dish, this Croquette combines Reblochon cheese, Hokkaido potatoes, and caramelised bacon into a crisp golden ball. The filling is indulgent and hearty, while the Japanese curry pearls bring a subtle spice that cuts through the richness.

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Fungi Gyoza

A highlight was the Fungi Gyoza, filled with locally farmed mushrooms and béchamel, where the earthy umami of the mushrooms was enhanced by the sauce's creamy richness.

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Smoked Duck Chip

Dainty cubes of citrus-marinated smoked duck are paired with bright orange segments and a touch of yuzu, all balanced on a delicate rice paper chip. The crisp base contrasts with the tender duck, and the citrus adds freshness to the flavours.

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Shrimp Toast

Marinated shrimp atop crisp, golden toast, finished with sriracha mayonnaise. Tiny lime pearls add bursts of tangy brightness, and together they make for a delicious toast. The prawn-to-toast ratio was very good.

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Braised Wagyu Brûlée

Another highlight was the Wagyu puff pastry braised with Ginger. Lily's house-blend dark chocolate, an unexpected pairing that worked surprisingly well, the bittersweet chocolate adding depth to the buttery, flaky pastry and tender wagyu. This course is presented with a touch of theatre, prepared tableside with some flames.

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Sweets resin case

The sweets were just so pretty, showcased in a clear resin case by Singapore social enterprise JOJOMAMA, adorned with colourful pressed dried flowers. Each cake inside resembled a miniature edible sculpture.

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Top Tier: Matcha Swan, Rose & Olive Oil

The Matcha Swan caught my eye immediately. Shaped gracefully like a swan, it features airy matcha Chantilly, a crunchy pistachio praline, and fresh raspberries perched delicately on its back.

The Rose & Olive Oil cake had an interesting flavour combination. Fragrant rose is paired with lychee and raspberry compote. Crafted to resemble a pink rose, it is stunning, though the olive oil made it a slightly acquired taste.

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Second Tier: Chocolate & Pomelo, Président's Cheesecake

I was pleased to have at least one chocolate dessert on the menu, and Chocolate & Pomelo offered just that. The tart is flaky filo dough, filled with chocolate cream, layered with tangy citrus gel and fresh pomelo. This was my favourite sweet of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Président's Cheesecake features a smooth pink-glazed exterior and showcases creamy Camembert, perfectly complemented by sweet-tart blueberry compote.

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Third Tier: Pear & Shiso barquette, Japanese Strawberry & Dill

The Pear & Shiso barquette was fragrant with lemon curd, coconut cream barquette, fresh pear, and shiso, blending sweet, tart, and herbal notes in every bite that left me feeling pleasantly uplifted.

The Japanese Strawberry & Dill combines light citrus sponge with Japanese strawberry compote and dill pearls, though I found it a bit too sweet for my liking.

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Bottom Tier: Scones

I was at this point getting a little too full to finish eating the scones at the table, and took home the Vanilla & Cranberry Seed Scones. They were delicious after being warmed up, and paired really well with the yuzu strawberry confit, citrus vanilla confit, and clotted cream.

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An afternoon at Ginger.Lily is time well spent, with professional, friendly service and an afternoon tea that is charming to look at, and a pleasure to eat. For this particular menu, though, the savouries were the highlight for me, outshining the sweets. I left the tea lounge feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Time: 12pm to 5.30pm (last seating for walk-ins at 4.30pm) Please note each table is reserved for a two-hour seating.
Price: $65++ per diner, with coffee and tea served throughout
MOËT & CHANDON IMPÉRIAL BRUT CHAMPAGNE: additional $15 ++ for a glass or $65++ for a bottle

Photographed and penned by Shermine. Through her pictures and stories, she shares her journey of savouring new flavours and experiences. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ginger.Lily
Hilton Singapore Orchard
Level 5
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 6831 6273
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am to 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to ground level. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Walk down Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

Monday, December 15, 2025

Pacific Emporium @ Pan Pacific Singapore - Launches Festive Afternoon Tea For The Festive Season

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Celebrate the festive season with Pacific Emporium’s Festive Afternoon Tea, a thoughtfully curated spread of savoury bites, festive sweets, Christmas-inspired scones, and a choice of mains. The experience is complemented with TWG tea or coffee, with the option to add on a glass of champagne to amp up the celebratory mood.

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We started with a complimentary welcome drink, Cinnamon Spark, a sweet-citrusy blend of cinnamon-honey syrup, fresh lemon juice, and aromatic bitters, which nicely set the tone for the afternoon.

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Turkey Slider

Each guest gets to choose one main. The Turkey Slider featured a juicy turkey patty tucked between buttery brioche, layered with sweet caramelised onions and cheese.

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Sampler of Festive Sausages

The Sampler of Festive Sausages, which included a Basil Pesto Bratwurst and Garlic Butter Sausage, was well-seasoned and juicy.

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Salmon & Cheese Roulade

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Lobster Salad

The savoury bites include festive creations. The Salmon & Cheese Roulade was a classic pairing of smoked salmon and cream cheese, while the Lobster Salad, cleverly presented as a local-inspired kueh pie tee, proved a delightful surprise.

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Apple & Walnut Savoury Tart

Other savouries included Prosciutto e Melone, offering a light and refreshing contrast, and the Apple & Walnut Savoury Tart, which delivered a buttery, nutty bite with a hint of freshness.

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Grilled Chicken Choux Bun

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Breaded Ham & Cheese Sandwich

The Grilled Chicken Choux Bun was sweet-savoury and filling, packed with a creamy yet chunky chicken filling. Breaded Ham & Cheese Sandwich was served hot and pleasantly different from the usual cold tea sandwiches.

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Hazelnut Passion Fruit Log Cake

The sweet treats this season leaned towards citrusy notes. The Hazelnut Passion Fruit Log Cake was nutty and fragrant, made with buckwheat sponge and layered with tart passion fruit curd.

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Earl Grey Lavender Log Cake

The iridescent Earl Grey Lavender Log Cake intrigued with its Earl Grey Tanariva mousse, though the crunchy dark chocolate tended to dominate the overall flavour.

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Apricot Dianduja Tart

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Raspberry Rosella Choux

My favourites were the Apricot Dianduja Tart and Raspberry Rosella Choux. The tart struck the right balance of sweetness, with distinct yet harmonious chocolate and apricot flavours. The choux, on the other hand, had a spot-on tartness that beautifully balanced the sweetness.

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Lemon Hazelnut Madeleine

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Scones

The Lemon Hazelnut Madeleine was buttery with a gentle citrus lift, while the scones were served with clotted cream, cherry jam, and chocolate hazelnut spread. They were decent, though not particularly memorable.

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Overall, Pacific Emporium’s Festive Afternoon Tea is a well-rounded option for a relaxed, festive catch-up. In particular, the sweet options stood out for their well-balanced flavours and sweetness.

Festive Afternoon Tea
17 November – 31 December 2025
First Seating | 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Seating | 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Mondays to Fridays
$68++ per person
$88 ++ includes a glass of Taittinger Brut Réserve

Saturdays & Sundays, and 25 December 2025 (Buffet-style)
Adult: $78++
Child: $39++ (6 to 12 years old)

Photos and words by Si An. A homebody who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, the smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Pacific Emporium
Pan Pacific Singapore
7 Raffles Boulevard
Level 1
Singapore 039595
Tel: +65 68268240
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
1st Seating: 1-3pm
2nd Seating: 4-6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

The Courtyard @ The Fullerton Hotel Singapore - An Exclusive Afternoon Tea Collaboration with Ami Patisserie

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From 10 October to 30 November 2025, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore presents Aki 秋, an exclusive afternoon tea collaboration at The Courtyard with award-winning Chef Makoto Arami, La Liste's Pastry Talent of the Year 2025.

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Afternoon Tea 4.8/5

Chef Makoto, who helms AMI Patisserie at Scotts Road, is celebrated for his masterful creations that harmoniously blend refined flavours, delicate textures, and exceptional craftsmanship. This afternoon tea experience also captures the tranquil beauty of the Japanese autumn, a season evocative of a graceful dance of change sweeping across the landscape.

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Yuzu Blossom Mocktail

To begin, guests are welcomed with a Yuzu Blossom Mocktail, a blend of TWG Sakura! Sakura! Tea, yuzu juice, honey and butterfly pea flower tea, made using butterfly pea flowers freshly harvested from The Fullerton Farm. The drink's purple and yellow hues make it so pretty! Guests can also select a serving of TWG tea or Bacha coffee to accompany their food.

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Savouries plate

Afternoon tea is served on a classic three-tiered stand, with a menu of five savouries, five sweets, and a plated dessert. As expected of an award-winning pastry chef, the afternoon tea set is pastry-forward, showcasing creative techniques and imaginative flavour combinations.

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Sansho Miso Yaki Nasu Madeleine

We began with a delightful bite-sized treat, the Sansho Miso Yaki Nasu Madeleine, where smoky grilled eggplant meets a touch of parmesan.

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Burrata Cheese and Parma Ham Sando

The Burrata Cheese and Parma Ham Sando is a spin-off of the memorable Burrata Cheese & Parma Ham Croissant that Chef Makoto also serves at AMI Patisserie. It's light yet indulgent, and creamy burrata paired with savoury ham is always a great combination.

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Smoked Salmon Tarte

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Tomato Tartelette

With the Smoked Salmon Tarte, what I appreciated most was the uniquely crafted tarte pastry, beautifully layered and flaky, adding a light, buttery contrast to the rich smoked salmon and capers topping. Meanwhile, the Tomato Tartelette showcases ripe tomatoes atop a crisp, savoury and golden base.

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AMI Signature Caviar Choux (Nomad Caviar)

Last but certainly not least, the AMI Signature Caviar Choux is filled with creamy egg mayo and crowned with Nomad Caviar. Definitely one of my favourite bites of the afternoon!

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Sweets Plate

Moving on to the sweets, some of these creations feel familiar, as Chef Makoto's signature dishes are featured on this menu. I was thrilled to taste them again, and they were as delicious as I remembered!

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Black Forest Choux

My favourite amongst the sweets was the Black Forest Choux, filled with 70% chocolate ganache, kirsch cream, and a tart sour cherry compote. I love the choux's airy, light yet satisfyingly crisp exterior, as well as the rich chocolate component.

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Strawberry Pistachio Tarte

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Mont Blanc

The Strawberry Pistachio Tarte is as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the taste buds, topped with vibrant, sweet strawberries. Meanwhile, the Mont Blanc is an autumn essential, rich, creamy, and perfectly seasonal. For both of these tartes, there is an unexpected touch, a little cake base beneath, adding an extra layer of texture.

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Caramel Banana Mousse

The Caramel Banana Mousse has a sweet and silky texture, with smooth mousse layered over a crisp base. Light yet indulgent, it offers a gentle sweetness that's perfectly balanced, with subtle caramel notes enhancing the natural richness of the banana.

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Kinako and Matcha Tropézienne with Yuzu Jam

To my surprise, this afternoon tea set did not include scones. Instead, it features a Kinako and Matcha Tropézienne with Yuzu Jam. The kinako and matcha cream were delicious, and the yuzu jam added a bright, citrusy note to the bread. However, I found the bread too thick to finish entirely.

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Mango Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango and Passion Fruit Sauce

Served in an elegant glass, the Mango Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango and Passion Fruit Sauce is reminiscent of summer's brightness more than autumn's, but it stands out as one of the most refined and elegant interpretations of mango sticky rice I've ever tasted.

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Overall, fans of Chef Makoto will not be disappointed. The pastry craftsmanship is consistently superb, promising a most wonderful tea time experience, enjoyed within the luxurious surroundings of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, one of the city's most iconic heritage landmarks.

To continue enjoying Chef Makoto's treats at home, two of his best-selling pastry creations —the Caramel Passion Banana Mousse Cake and the Apple Tatin Tarte —will also be available for takeaway from The Fullerton Cake Boutique, adjacent to The Courtyard.

The Courtyard, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
10 October to 30 November 2025
S$68++ per adult, S$34++ per child (six to 11 years old)
inclusive of a Yuzu Blossom mocktail and a serving of TWG Tea or Bacha Coffee beverage

Photographed and penned by Shermine. Through her pictures and stories, she shares her journey of savouring new flavours and experiences. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Courtyard
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778911
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Afternoon Tea Mon-Thu: 230pm - 530pm
Fri-Sun, PH: 12pm - 230pm, 330pm - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk towards the river. At the river, turn right again and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]