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Pollen (Afternoon Tea)
my own impression of high tea is a very English-styled activity that has a cottage or a garden somewhere in the backdrop to complete the overall ambience. so when we discovered that there's a place at Gardens by the Bay that offers good afternoon tea, and inside the air-conditioned confines of the flower-dome no less, we thought it'd be worth a shot.
The restaurant is called Pollen, pretty apt since it occupies 2 storeys within this flower dome. an afternoon-tea dining session also earns you a free buggy ride from the main entrance, and also free admission into the dome. the inside is air-conditioned, to preserve an optimal environment for plants to cultivate and having tea in this setting certainly makes you feel like you're in European spring. 
With each afternoon tea set going for S$38++, the food portions at Pollen turned out to be just right. with 2 servings of savoury and another 2 platters of sweet dishes, we didn't feel the overkill that tends to be the case for some famous high teas. there's also a free flow of flavoured tea selections and gourmet coffees to choose from, making the whole package real value-for-money. we particularly liked the above savoury set that came with hummus dips and dukkah spices over toast, as well as the ice-cream cone shaped chicken-liver parfait. 
for the sweet servings, the lemon meringue tarts are simply fantastic. topping that off with some banana tea cake, brownies, macaroons and hot scones, this made a pretty hearty yet not overly-filling combination. i don't know about you, but at high-teas, i usually get killed by the scones, yet that is the hallmark of a typical English tea. the scones at Pollen are not too hard, not too large and has a nice buttermilk taste that went well with the jam and cream. 
in all, considering the prices for hotel high-teas nowadays, the whole package at Pollen makes it a very good deal. it is a perfect way to spend an afternoon catching up with friends, people-watching and enjoying the wide selection of teas and coffees. including the entry to the flower-dome and the overall environment, a trip to Pollen would mark a full day of activities that you're not likely to do on a daily basis. 
Pollen Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay 18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-09 Singapore 018953 Opening Hours Mondays to Thursdays: 11 am to 9 pm Fridays to Sundays (including public holidays): 9.30 am to 9 pm Afternoon Teas: 3 pm to 5 pm (closed on Tuesdays) Epicurean journey of unique gourmet offerings.. |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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