You know those viral afternoon tea spreads on TikTok and Instagram where every plate looks like it belongs in an art gallery? That’s exactly what I walked into at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s Alchemy of Chocolate Afternoon Tea. I’d heard that this seasonal menu was a dream for chocolate lovers — and after seeing the whimsical cotton candy milkshake pop up on my feed, I knew I had to see (and taste) it for myself.
From now until 31 October 2025, Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s Lobby Lounge transforms into a chocolate atelier, presenting an afternoon tea experience centred entirely around Valrhona’s finest blends — Dulcey, Komuntu, Caraïbe, Manjari, and Ivory. The concept, created by Executive Pastry Chef Richard Chew, is all about exploring chocolate through texture, technique, and taste.
Located in the heart of Marina Bay, the hotel is easily accessible via Promenade MRT (6-min walk from exit B). If you’re familiar with the area, the elegant Lobby Lounge sits just beyond the hotel entrance, crowned with a stunning 24-carat gold leaf ceiling.
The Interior
The space exudes understated luxury with warm wooden panels, plush velvet chairs, and fresh orchids in full bloom. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light, making it the perfect backdrop for an indulgent afternoon. It’s refined yet comfortable, with a mix of private corners for quiet conversations and open spaces for group gatherings. The place is also wheelchair-friendly.
The Chocolate Afternoon Tea Experience
The afternoon tea set comprises of 4 savouries, 4 sweets, 2 scones, Chocolate espuma, 1 chocolate shake with refillable TWG tea or Bacha coffee.
Upon arrival, the staff will gracefully place a napkin on your lap before offering you a selection of drinks – either TWG Tea or Bacha Coffee, all served free-flow. If you’re not sure what to get, you can always ask the staff for recommendations while describing your preference for tea and coffee. You can also change teas or coffees during the 2-hour afternoon tea session if you decide to try another tea or coffee.
Once your afternoon tea set is presented, they’ll take the time to walk you through each creation, explaining the ingredients and flavours so you can fully appreciate the experience.
We tried their TWG teas and Bacha coffee.
Welcome Drinks
You’ll first be served with a Velvet Valrhona Shake, which is a chocolate milkshake crowned with cotton candy, chocolate sticks, and Skittles. It was a cute-looking drink, but we felt that the cotton candy was purely for aesthetics. We only ended up drinking the chocolate milkshake (which tasted like milo) which was still quite sweet even after the ice melted.
Scones
You’ll also be served with 2 different kinds of scones – Homemade Vanilla Plain Scone and Homemade Raisin Scone. It is served with homemade wild strawberry jam and clotted cream. We felt that these are good palate cleansers because it wasn’t too sweet but was plain enough to help with the sweetness overload.
Savoury Treats
Starting from the brown-shaped dish and going in clockwise motion, we have the Toasted Dates, which is dusted in Valrhona powder and coconut. We didn’t really get why this was considered a savoury dish because it was sweet, and personally, we weren’t a big fan of the coconut taste in conjunction with the chocolate taste.
Next, we have one of the Open Sandwich Selection, Parisian ham & Gruyère with peach-ivory mostarda. It tasted like very thin layers of bread and ham. The ham taste wasn’t very porky which we appreciated, in fact it had quite an addictive taste. The bread part tasted mild, but was just enough to go well together with the ham.
The Guanaja Marbled Foie Gras Terrine is blended with 70% Guanaja chocolate, finished with a cherry glaze, though the cherry taste is very strong.
Pancetta Croquette with Chocolate Drizzle is a fried milk croquette, drizzled with tempered chocolate and crisp guanciale. The sweetness from the chocolate drizzle wasn’t very strong, but we felt that it was good because this was one of the more savoury dishes that we needed, otherwise it would be sweetness overload.
Lastly for the savoury treat and the second Open Sandwich Dish, we had the Confit Truffle Egg Yolk with wafer and Shaved Parmesan. While the truffle taste was strong, we found that the egg yolk overpowered everything. It was too much yolk and by the end of the bite, it was all that we could taste in our mouth. My advice, half the yolk is enough to have a more enjoyable experience when eating this dish.
Sweet Treats
Starting with the tart and going in clockwise motion, we have the Dulcey Exotic Marmalade Tart. It has dulcey ganache, vanilla pâte sablée and mango-banana marmalade all in one-bite. While it does sound good, we thought that the combination of the ingredients tasted weird. All the ingredients sounded good individually, but the taste just didn’t suit our palate. We ended up only eating the tart base by itself without the filling.
Next, we have the Chocolate Mille-Feuille. It has hazelnut dacquoise, 80% Komuntu crémeux, 66% Caraïbe whip, 64% Manjari block, 40% Jivara crunch and raspberry jam. We were most excited to try this and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It was soft but crunchy due to the Jivara crunch, and the chocolate and hazelnut flavours were also rich.
Then, we have the Cocoa Pod and this is gluten-free. They used a gluten-free sponge, 80% Guanaja ganache, chocolate crémeux, agar and 64% Manjari mousse. The chocolate was very smooth and strong, which really really enjoyed. But after a few bites, it got too overwhelming for our tastebuds as the texture and taste was just too heavy for us to enjoy anymore.
Lasty, we have the Ivory Chocolate Cake which uses 35% Ivory vanilla whip, vanilla sponge, sea salt caramel and almond crunch. We thought that this was just a pretty dish, shaped like a swan, but it actually tasted as good as it looked.
Both the vanilla and sea salt caramel taste was very distinct, but they complemented each other well. Once again, the vanilla whip was also very smooth, so everything kinda just melts in your mouth.
The Smoky Chocolate Espuma was one of the most dramatic parts of the tea. The chef brought it over with a glass dome covering the cup. When the lid was lifted, smoke drifted out in thin trails. I thought it was just for show, but you can actually taste the smokiness in the chocolate — and it’s strong. I get why some people might find it unusual, but we enjoyed how different it was. The chocolate itself was smooth, rich, and not bitter, with cherries hiding beneath the layers of chocolate.
Verdict
For the price, you’re not just paying for the food — you’re getting a full-on experience. The presentation, from the whimsical cotton candy milkshake to the smoky tableside espuma, makes it feel special.
The chocolate theme is consistent throughout, and while a few flavours might have more of an “acquired taste”, the creativity is worth applauding. We think it’s a solid pick for couples, friends, or anyone who wants a slightly different twist on the classic afternoon tea.
Alchemy of Chocolate Afternoon Tea
Address : Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982
Operating Hours : There are two seatings
First seating: 1PM – 3PM
Second seating: 3.30PM – 5.30PM
Available daily from 1 August – 31 October 2025
Price : $55++ per person, which includes free-flow TWG tea or Bacha coffee pairing.
You can make your bookings here.
This is not a halal-certified establishment.
Check out our other food reviews here.