High tea. Many say that it’s one of the most relaxing and indulgent things to do in Singapore, and we can definitely see why. At the Shangri-La hotel it begins with the grand staircase. As you walk up the carpeted marble stairs to the Rose Veranda, you catch a glimpse of the opulent lobby below you, which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the experience.

Since, it's inception in 1991, the Rose Veranda has become a landmark venue for a leisurely afternoon tea with friends or family. It truly is a feast for all the senses.

From it's beautiful decor that include plush suede and leather seats and walls lined with tins of TWG teas in bright hues of red and yellow (a uniquely Singaporean touch) to its wide array of gastronomical delights such as scallops with balsamic reduction, fish kapitan and chicken floss brioche, it's no wonder that the queues extend long beyond the host stand, with people eagerly awaiting to enjoy a slice of heaven. (May 2012)

Despite our intense love of food, the Chope team also loves dining at fancy digs. I mean, it all adds up to a pretty awesome dining experience, no? Well, if a great atmosphere is what you are looking for, look no further.

From their delicate rose bud ordained porcelain tea cups to their embroidered placemats and napkins, no detail is spared. And their attentive and polite service is certainly something we appreciated.

The Chope team spent most of our time standing in line at a buffet table fit for a king, which contained an array of local and western delights. From chicken ginseng soup with wolfberries, smoked duck breast with apple celery and cream cheese with honey walnut sandwiches to baked chicken puffs and pan seared tuna with a black pepper crust, we were pretty much spoiled for choice. And that's just the starters and main courses we are talking about! We haven't even explored the dessert.

Besides the delicious array of food, the star of this show is the tea. After all, it's not called afternoon tea for nothing! At the Rose Veranda, you might find it a little difficult to pick just one of their 164 blends of TWG tea. Our favourites include the 'Happy Birthday' tea, a mild black tea blended with a festive melange of sweet red berries and a touch of vanilla, as well as the Shangri-La tea (the crew at TWG decided to blend an exclusive tea just for the hotel!) which features black tea blended with white flowers and breathtaking exotic fruits.

Finally, our favourite stop at the Rose Veranda was the dessert table. From their creamy vanilla creme brulee and exotic coconut sago melaka to their rich jivara chocolate with granora cherry and date and cinnamon shooters, we were in sugar sweet heaven.

At the end of our fantastic meal, our only regret was staining those delicate pearly white napkins with a mouth full of chocolate. It probably isn't going to be easy to wash off. (May 2012)

Standard Chartered (The Good Life): 10% off total bill. Offer valid till 31 Dec 2013.