Afternoon tea at The Westin Singapore Lobby Lounge – This Cantonese afternoon tea has no scones!

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying Canton Afternoon Tea at The Lobby Lounge at The Westin Singapore. It’s always nice to be back here thanks to the captivating views and ambience. It’s one of the few afternoon tea places perched so high and boasting such a vast view.

The Lobby Lounge offers a stylish and modern space that exudes a sense of urban sophistication. An interesting interlocking brick-patterned shelving space that extends all the way to the ceiling flanks one end of the Lobby Lounge. The other end features floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning views of the sea and Southern Islands beyond the Tanjong Pagar Terminal.

The Canton Afternoon Tea is curated by Chef Leo Cao from sister property The Westin Pazhou. The menu features a selection of traditional Cantonese delicacies, including Bi Feng Tang-style Deep-Fried Lobster, Braised Cod in Golden Pumpkin Broth, and Duo Snow Stewed Bird’s Nest.

Many of the items would not look out of place at a Chinese restaurant. You might ask, is this “Dim Sum”? I would say it is not, given that these are not the usual dim sum dishes. The “Western” aspect of this Afternoon tea comes in in that you get to enjoy the Cantonese delicacies with your choice of a variety of English or Chinese teas, or coffees. Beverages are free flow so you can sample as many flavours of tea and coffee on the menu, during the afternoon tea session.

The Bi Feng Tang Lobster was undoubtedly our favourite, thanks in part to the lovely crisp garlicky bits signature to this cooking style. Interestingly, lobster is never far from Westin’s afternoon tea menu, no matter the theme! When I last visited quite some years back, it was Lobster Thermidor. That’s good value if it is in addition to the usual afternoon tea sets.

I’ll be frank, the mala skewers seem a bit out of place at a dainty afternoon tea, especially with the spice level.

The Pillow Puff Pastry was another delightful morsel. So paper thin that I might have single-handedly increased the decibels in the room upon crunching into it.

Desserts are also distinctly Chinese/Cantonese. Yup, there are no scones, if you were still keeping tabs.

Which is why this Canton Afternoon Tea at The Westin Singapore might actually be the perfect place to introduce the older folks to the concept of afternoon tea! Reel them in with familiar flavours and when they’ve settled into the warm experience of afternoon tea, gradually introduce them the classic English experience.

Make sure to take lots of photos while you are at The Westin Singapore. Lots of lovely photo spots. Best to have a tripod with you so that you may angle your shots perfectly instead of relying on random strangers. This is the tripod I used.

Also check out the wonderful staycation we had at The Westin Singapore a couple of years back. I believe they still have this kid-friendly promotion going on, which is pretty worth it.