There’s a reason why The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur is deemed the city’s ‘Best Address’. Because it does, in fact, offer the best of the best.

The entire experience — whether it’s a stay, dining, or a cosy afternoon tea — The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur makes it their mission to showcase their world-class hospitality to everyone who walks through the hotel doors. Top notch service here is expected. Synonymous to the St. Regis name.

This time,  we tried The Botanist’s Study Afternoon Tea at The Drawing Room. And it surely was an afternoon tea to remember.

To start things off, the ambiance of The Drawing Room was lovely. Natural light poured in through large floor-to-ceiling windows, and a pleasant, calming scent wafted through the air. It set the perfect mood for a relaxing afternoon tea ahead.

And the afternoon tea experience itself wasn’t ordinary, in the best way. What would you expect from something called The Botanist’s Study? The study of plants? Of greenery and lush nature? But how does that tie together with an afternoon tea?

Well, The Botanist’s Study Afternoon Tea is a thematic affair. It’s certainly more than just delicate tea and pretty treats (though those components are still very much a part of it, but of course not the whole). 

The afternoon tea is inspired by the landscapes of Perdana Botanical Gardens Kuala Lumpur; a gorgeous recreational garden in the heart of the city with various distinct environments. Now, imagine these environments (such as the Perdana Lake or the Hibiscus Garden), turned into an edible specimen of their own? This is exactly what is at play here. Nine environments of the garden, reimagined into nine delightful treats, both savoury and sweet. They even provide a map of the Perdana Botanical Gardens at your table as a visual aid.

The full course was a dance of different textures and flavours, presented in a really unique way. Fitting the botanical laboratory theme, these inspired edible creations were served alongside magnifying glasses, petri dishes, conical beakers, and specimen vessels. And let us tell you, it was a marvel of an experience.

It kicked off with the Heirloom Tomato Textures as the first course, followed by a selection of savoury delights. The smoked duck croquette with mango chutney and caviar was a personal favourite of ours. Next came the intermediate course: The Botanist’s Herbarium.

This particular course intrigued us because the menu offered minimal description. Instead, we were presented with a sort of arts-and-crafts experience: a plain card bearing The St. Regis’ wax seal, and a selection of preserved florals to arrange as we pleased. It provided a much-needed, creative break between courses and gave us some welcome time to digest before dessert.

The highlight of the afternoon tea was undeniably the sweet delights, starting with a presentation that left a lasting impression. They brought over a whimsical, tree-like stand with delicate desserts dangling from its branches in transparent pods.

What we particularly loved about these treats is that the pastry team has mastered the art of making things “sweet, but not too sweet.” Even with four different desserts, none were overwhelmingly rich or sickeningly sugary, making them incredibly easy to enjoy. While they were all fantastic, the pistachio cheesecake was in a league of its own.

Finally, we arrived at the last course: the scones. We felt that no afternoon tea is truly complete without them. The scent of the freshly baked pastries was delightful. Pure, buttery deliciousness. Paired with clotted cream and their house jam, it was absolutely heavenly. Remarkably, the “sweet, but not too sweet” sentiment extended even to the jam, wrapping up the entire experience perfectly.

• Time: 12:00PM to 6:00PM daily
• Place: The Drawing Room, Lobby
• Price: MYR208 nett per adult | MYR108 nett per child