Treat your inner tai-tai to Afternoon Tea Buffet at L’Espresso at Goodwood Park Hotel

Sitting down to a carefully-curated afternoon tea set with dainty savoury snacks, finger sandwiches, delicate pastries and more really brings out your inner tai-tai—at least for me. For those of you looking for a tranquil afternoon tea experience, stately Goodwood Park Hotel offers a respite from the hectic work week with Classic English Afternoon Tea at L’Espresso.

L’espresso brings together the relaxed quality of afternoon teas with the variety you get from buffets. Did someone say unlimited scones? You simply have to fill in the order chit, and they’ll serve you promptly. If you missed out an item or two in the first round, simply order another round of nibbles!

Here are some of the highlights from this lovely afternoon tea break. 

Start with something light, like the dainty finger sandwiches. You can choose from four types: 

• Egg Mayonnaise With Watercress
• Roast Beef & Gherkin
• Smoked Salmon & Horseradish Cream
• Cucumber & Cream Cheese

My favourite of the lot had to be Smoked Salmon & Horseradish. Bite-sized and packed full of smoky, savoury flavour with a refreshing tang from the horseradish, who knew a simple sandwich could be this satisfying?

Other small bites include the open-faced sandwiches like Coronation Chicken With Mango Chutney & Almonds, Sea Shrimp With Marie Rose Sauce & Smashed Avocado, and Crabmeat Salad With Roasted Corn Puree. The sea shrimp one was particularly tasty; a burst of oceanic flavours bolstered by the creamy avocado. 

Once you’ve whetted your appetite, it’s time to move on to the heavy-hitters. The hot savouries like Traditional Irish Beef & Guinesss Stew, and Beef Wellington are must-try dishes. If you order the stew, be sure to slurp it up once you get it. Thick and hearty, this delightfully savoury soup dish will warm your belly and your heart. 

However, the Beef Wellington is the true star of the afternoon. Fork-tender, juicy beef tenderloin is encased in pate and flaky pastry, with red wine sauce drizzled over it for the perfect bite. And yes, you better believe I went for seconds. 

What I was really looking forward to were the scones. Ever since I’ve had honest-to-goodness, buttery and crumbly scones in London, most scones in Singapore just couldn’t match up. Suffice to say, I had high expectations. 

You can get either plain or raisin scones, so I decided to just get one of each. The scones came with strawberry jam, butter, and—most importantly—Devonshire clotted cream. I firmly believe that the only way to enjoy scones is with jam and clotted cream. 

Texture-wise, these scones were a little fluffier than the buttery ones I’ve had in London. They’re pretty filling, so even though I could get as many I wanted, I stopped at two. 

Finish your meal with a cheese platter, and take your pick of the desserts from the showcase of British desserts. The Sticky Toffee Pudding will prove to be a hit, for fans of sweet treats. 

We still can’t travel yet, and it’s anyone’s guess as to when we’ll be able to. For time being, head over to Goodwood Park Hotel, and get your fix of British fare with their afternoon tea. 

Dates & Times: Classic English Afternoon Tea at L’Espresso is available from 2pm – 5.30pm (Mon to Fri), 12pm – 2.30pm & 3pm – 5.30pm (Sat, Sun & PH)

Prices: S$45++ per adult, S$68++ per adult (with 1 glass of Taittinger Brut Reserve NV champagne), S$27++ per child (6 to 11 years old) (Mon to Thu) | S$48++ per adult, S$72++ per adult (with 1 glass of Taittinger Brut Reserve NV champagne), S$28.80++ per child (6 to 11 years old)