The Drawing Room at St. Regis had launched a new theme for its afternoon tea, and it would have been a waste if I hadn’t given it a try.
At MYR 208 nett per adult, it isn’t exactly an afternoon tea you book on a whim, but the concept intrigued me enough to make a reservation.
This season’s theme was The Botanist Study Afternoon Tea.
Going by the name, I imagined something resembling a beautiful garden — perhaps florals, greenery and delicate pastries inspired by nature.
What I walked into was quite different. Instead of feeling like I was sitting in a garden, I felt as though I’d somehow landed in the middle of a science-meets-art class.
There were elements of experimentation throughout the experience, and it quickly became apparent that this wasn’t going to be a conventional afternoon tea.
An Experimental Start
The afternoon began with a soup that reminded me of a tangy tomato soup.
It was certainly an experimental way to begin, but personally, I found it a little strange. Soup isn’t something I naturally associate with the start of an afternoon tea, and the sharp, tangy flavour didn’t quite work for me.
I’ll admit: after the first course, I was beginning to wonder whether I had made the right decision. Thankfully the savory delights were good especially Prawn and Croquette, the portions were considerably small. The other two weren’t anything of big higlights.
A Rather Unexpected Intermission
Then came the intermediate course — and this was where the Botanist Study concept completely baffled me.
In a previous afternoon tea theme, guests were given a chocolate puzzle to assemble. It was interactive, playful and, most importantly, you could eat your creation afterwards.
This time, I was presented with paper, glue, dried leaves and flowers. Yes, arts and crafts.
I suppose this was my cue to pause, slow down and embrace my inner botanist. There was something rather therapeutic about sitting there arranging dried flowers and leaves, and I appreciated having a moment to switch off and do something I probably wouldn’t normally make time for.
But I also couldn’t ignore the other thought running through my mind: I’d paid MYR 208 for this afternoon tea.
Finally something sweet
After my unexpected arts-and-crafts session, it was finally time for the last course: the sweets.
Visually, this was certainly the prettiest part of the afternoon tea. The delicate cakes and pastries brought some of the botanical inspiration I’d originally imagined when I first heard the name of the experience.
Taste-wise, however, I found most of the cakes leaned rather heavily towards the sweet side.
Individually, they were pleasant enough, but working my way through several sweet creations one after another became a little overwhelming. I found myself wishing there had been more contrast — perhaps something tart, bitter or refreshing to break up the sweetness.
The Verdict: Is the Botanist Study Afternoon Tea Worth It?
I really wanted to love the Botanist Study Afternoon Tea. The concept sounded intriguing, and there were certainly moments I enjoyed — particularly the prawn and croquette from the savoury selection.
But at MYR 208 nett per person, I expected more.
The opening course didn’t quite work for me, the portions were considerably small, and while the final selection of cakes looked beautiful, I found most of them a little too sweet for my liking.Then there was the botanical activity. I appreciated the intention behind encouraging guests to pause, create and enjoy the moment, but paper, glue and dried flowers felt underwhelming when compared with the previous theme’s interactive chocolate puzzle — something you could assemble, admire and eventually eat.
Perhaps that sums up my experience best: the Botanist Study was creative in concept, but the execution didn’t quite justify the price for me.
If you’re visiting Kuala Lumpur and specifically want an elegant afternoon tea experience, The Drawing Room at The St. Regis certainly provides the beautiful surroundings and polished service you’d expect from the hotel. However, based purely on this particular experience, I wouldn’t rush back for the Botanist Study.
And if you’re willing to blur the line between afternoon tea and brunch, I’d also consider the Curate experience at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur. It’s a different proposition altogether, but one I’d choose if the priority is indulging in a wider variety of food during a leisurely afternoon.
Would I return to The Drawing Room? Not anytime soon — I’d wait to see what concept they come up with next.
