Rose Veranda High Tea Buffet (Shangri-la): a review

Update: At some point in 2023, Rose Veranda stopped the high tea buffet and currently only offer a fixed afternoon tea set instead. Whether the high tea buffet returns in future is subject to the decision of Shangri La Singapore and the Rose Veranda. Readers are advised to check with the hotel dining establishment before making any dining decisions.

Rose Veranda at Shangri-la

As Singapore prepares to gradually open after being on lockdown circuit breaker for so long, many are looking forward to dine out. I know i certainly am.

Sharing here one of the best places for a high tea buffet in Singapore, the Rose Veranda at Shangri-la hotel Singapore.

Usually, thanks to the (i) American Express Love Dining Programme, I can dine up to 50% off. And (ii) with the Entertainer App by HSBC, I usually get one-for-one mains. The upside is that I get great deals when eating out all the time. But the downside is – I’ve become hard pressed to dine in places not included in the Love Dining or Entertainer App.

The Rose Veranda at Shangri la is one of these places that I’m willing to dine at (yes, it is THAT GOOD) – EVEN WITHOUT A DISCOUNT.

Note: I’ve also stayed at Shangri-la Singapore on staycation before (booked using special rates from American Express), and it’s one of the most family-friendly places I can recommend if there are small kids. Read more here:

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Ambience, Drinks, Menu

Brought my family (husband and child) here earlier this year, and it was such a wonderful experience.

Upon entry, the whole set up – high ceilings, comfortable sofas, and general tai-tai vibes, makes this place lovely for afternoon tea.

Featuring an extensive tea menu, tea lovers would literally be spoilt for choice.

Click on the images below to enlarge the Tea Menu and sample Menus at Rose Veranda (yes, they do change up the items for the high tea buffet!)

Unfortuantely I can’t remembered what the husband and I ordered (probably Chai and peppermint… lol). But both teas that we got were fragrant, served in pretty tea sets, and were enjoyable. 

At the time we visited, each person was allowed a maximum of two kinds of drinks (including both coffee and tea). So choose wisely 🙂

Another thing worth mentioning is the hot chocolate station, located right by the  pandan chiffon cakes and chocolate fondue.

Here, one can choose the TYPE of chocolate desired, place a little piece in a mug, and pour hot milk over it. My three-year-old child loved this to bits (which kid doesn’t?). It’s 100% fun to melt and even more delightful as a drink.

Starters and Small bites

What I love about the food here – the variety is decent, and the quality is good.

Sashimi lovers – there’s fresh cuts of raw fish up for grabs 🙂

Left to Right: Salmon belly, Tuna (Maguro), Salmon

 Of course – no hotel buffet is complete without their breads and cheese platters.

Assortment of Bread (top), Cheese platter (Bottom)

The breads were actually really fragrant and fresh! I am a sucker for good bread, and I loved their little rolls with butter. 

Close up of Bread Baskets

An assortment of finger sandwiches and salads awaited us.

Salads and Sandwiches display

That day, there was tuna on soft herbed bread, smoked chicken sandwich, and vegetable with tortilla roll

Smoked Duck, Smoked Salmon, Ham

Left to Right: Mixed Greens, Mushroom with Capsicum salad, Capsicum with Feta Cheese salad

In the hot section of small bites, there was both a mix of western (quiche!) and chinese dimsum varieties. 

Salmon Quiche and Dimsum (prawn har gow, chicken siew mai, chicken char siew bun)

I actually really liked the salmon quiche. Topped with roasted or toasted rosemary – it gave that special herbed touch to an otherwise simple quiche. 

Salmon Quiche, close up

Mains: Hot Dishes

Firstly, who can resist the carving of the day: roast pork with vegetables!

Roast Pork with Vegetables

The carving of the day actually rotates – on some days it’s beef, and other days it’s lamb. I was delighted that it’s a pork with crispy skin. Oh-so-flavourful and juicy, and the skin crunchy. I had to stop myself from eating more so that there’s room for other dishes!

Sashimi on the left, Roast Pork dish on the right. Mmmm. 

The main dishes, on first glance look more western – but it is really fusion at heart. Classic European favourites, such as roasted meats or stews appear alongside local dishes.

Steamed Vegetables, Lamb Stew

The Lamb Stew above – had to be my favourite among all the hot meat dishes here. Fall-off-the-bone soft, the tenderness was practically unrivaled.

The other items weren’t bad too. My husband liked the duck breast – so really, to each his or her own.

Seabass with Tomato Sauce, Duck Breast with Pineapple Sauce

Beef Brisket, Seafood Nyona style

Roasted Herb Potatoes, Chinese style Fried Vegetable Rice

One of the must-try dishes is the Rose Veranda Signature Laksa. Some may balk at the idea of going to a hotel buffet to have some LAKSA. But honestly, the laksa here is really special. Large prawns, just enough coconut milk in the broth, and overall spicy enough without being overpowered by any ingredient. Extra oomph comes from the curry leaves’ toppings  chilli sauce. Totally worth the calories!

Another hotel I can think of that has equally-awesome laksa would be at Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Singapore – Crossroads Cafe does an amaing Laksa Lemak. I’ve had it and honestly it’s comparable to the one here at Shangri-La.

The Rose Veranda Signature Laksa

I kind of like the do-it-yourself station – it does mean that you can put as many prawns as you like into the laksa, haha!

Do-It-Yourself Laksa Station

So many hot dishes to try, so little tummy space. Try a bit of everything if you can. However, if i had to recommend a strategy, it’d be to go for the lamb strew first and choose any other meat dish (duck or fish perhaps) to enjoy. And leave more leeway for dessert (seriously). 

Desserts Galore

There is ‘spoiled for choice’, and there is something called ‘i have died and gone to dessert heaven‘. The Rose Veranda at Shangri-la falls into the latter category.

So. Many. Cakes.

Durian fans – there is a Durian Coconut cake here that’s super awesome. Rich durian cream lightened by coconut flakes – it’s something I haven’t found anywhere else. This item disappears really fast, so go for it first when you’re ready for dessert!

Durian Coconut Cake

My husband’s favourite item was the Berries Tart. It had an almond base and filling, was lined with crushed pistachios and topped with a generous amount of berries. Not too heavy and very berry luxurious.

Berries Tart

I swear, trying to strategize over what dessert to eat is a failure. All strategies just fly out the window and it becomes a ‘lets just eat everything‘ kind of moment.

Tiramisu cups, Coconut Sago with Gula Melaka

Mini Creme Brulee

There were so many kinds of macarons – from caramel to panda to strawberry and chocolate – seriously, how does one even choose???

Top: Assorted Macarons. Bottom: Panna cotta and Chocolate Mousse

Not to be outdone was the Ice Cream Station. The flavours actually rotate for this. It’s wonderful how repeat visitors may have something new to try when they come again.

Pistachio Ice cream and Yuzu Raspberry Sorbet

Of course, multiple ice cream topping options were available.

Pistachio ice cream – so creamy and nutty. A contrast to the Yuzu Raspberry Sorbet – refreshing and light. I cannot pick a winner. 

Another dessert highlight – the flower pot!

Rose Veranda Signature Flower Pot

Alonside our Macarons, Panna Cotta, and Chocolate Mousse

Aesthetically pleasing and a hit with the child – it so happens that she loves all things pink, and couldn’t wait to rip the poor ‘plant’ out.

You gotta admire the dessert chef here at Shangri La’s Rose Veranda. A pink chocolate pot, filled with strawberry or raspberry jam, topped with cream and nuts, overflowing with jelly (i think it’s champagne jelly), and topped with a chocolate stick of plants with chocolate or marzipan flowers. 

Cross-section of the Rose Veranda Signature Flower Pot.

Overall Thoughts

The food pictures pretty much have been self-explanatory, right?

The icing on the cake (no pun intended): This buffet is literally 5 and a half hours long. While it’s labelled as a ‘high tea’, currently (according to their website) the meal time is between 11.30am to 5pm!

It’s also a highly child-friendly place – the chef actually offered a small pasta dish and juice to my three-year-old. A pleasant and unexpected surprise!

Service was impeccable. I have been here three times for this exact same buffet, and every time – the staff were polite and professional, and just very attentive overall.

The fact that this place remains one of my favourite places for lunch or high tea buffet in Singapore despite not being on a huge discount programme (such as the American Express Love Dining Programme, or the Entertainer App by HSBC) really speaks volumes about how good it is. At the moment, personally, it is rivaled perhaps only by the seafood buffet dinner at St.Regis, or the barbecue buffet at LaBrezza, also at St Regis.

100% would return again and recommend it to friends.

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