Review: A Luxurious Afternoon Tea At The Lady M Champagne Bar With Their Champagne Mille Crêpes

You’ve probably had a slice of Lady M‘s divine Mille Crêpes, filled with twenty layers of the thinnest crêpes and light-as-air pastry cream layered within. That sensation when you sink your fork in and place a pillowy slice in your mouth, only for it to melt like a dream? That’s the kind of luxe the brand is going for with their latest boutique concept and dining experience — the Lady M Champagne Bar.

Image: Lady M.
Image: Lady M.

Decked in rose gold furnishing, contemporary hanging lights, and with a sleek bar space in the middle, it sits comfortably on the upper tiers of ION Orchard, among the mall’s luxury fashion houses. Along with their array of French-Japanese patisserie-style cakes is also a new high tea experience, the Lady M Afternoon Tea ($60/pax), which they’ve designated as a weekend affair for couples and friends who are in for a charming respite away from the bustle of crowds.

Lady M’s Afternoon Tea.

Everything you expect from an afternoon tea is here, as the light bites and little pastries are served in an elegant two-tiered tray that perfectly suits its surroundings. Whether you’re seated at the bar, or at one of the marble top tables, the ambience immediately puts you at ease, away from any unwanted distractions or thoughts. After all, you’re here for the food — and the experience.

The five savoury items include an Open-Faced Lobster Toast and Truffle Cream Crab Tartlet, though my favourite canapé had to be the Mushroom Duxelle Vol Au Vent, filled with sweet onions and sautéed mushrooms that were especially delightful with the buttery and flaky puff pastry.

L: An ‘Art of Tea’ table-side experience ; R: the Crème De La Rose tea.

Along with the petite eats, Lady M also introduces a specialty champagne, the Première Cuvée Extra Brut from Bruno Paillard Champagnes, a top-quality radiant number of fruity and citrus notes, though with a clean finish. Even the teas are not to be looked over — here, it’s served table-side, with the gestures of pouring, straining and infusing the tea leaves treated like a performance act, as gentle aromas graced our noses as well. The Crème De La Rose tea that I had picked out was especially luscious, made of rosy floral notes that lifted the more earthy flavours of the savoury treats.

Pastas include the Chilled Caviar Angel Hair and Creamy Lobster Fettuccine (right).

New on the menu are also boutique-exclusive pastas that you may choose to order alongside your afternoon tea set. The Chilled Caviar Angel Hair ($40) is light on the palate with thin angel hair pasta tossed in house-made Shio Kombu dressing and European caviar, while the Creamy Lobster Fettuccine ($32) is a more filling dish thanks to its creamy base, where we have to laud the generous and fresh Maine lobster chunks that accompany the dish.

L: Sweets include a Petit Very Berry Tart, Pink Petit Choux, and Lady M’s signature cake of the month ; R: the signature Mille Crêpes and the exclusive Champagne Mille Crêpes.

Back to the sweets though — sitting on the top tier, the mini desserts include a Petit Very Berry Tart, Pink Petit Choux, and Lady M’s signature cake of the month, which happened to be a Strawberry Shortcake with the fluffiest sponge cake, a standout surely despite its unassuming nature. This is clearly where Lady M shines, as every little dessert was as sweet and light as you’d imagine.

Of course, the high tea was served with their signature Mille Crêpes and the exclusive Champagne Mille Crêpes as well. While I still highly recommend the classic flavours of the original, the Champagne version is a boozy dessert that’s still refreshing on the tongue, accented with strawberries within the pastry cream, and topped with Rosé Première Cuvée Extra Brut Bruno Paillard champagne gelee, leaving you with that touch of luxury, which you already feel from every part of this refined experience.

 


Lady M Afternoon Tea, available only on weekends with a minimum company of two, at $60 per pax. Guests can choose between 12pm or 3pm slots.

Lady M Champagne Bar
    • Location: 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard #03-32/33, Singapore 238801
    • opening hours: 11am – 10pm (sun – thurs) ; 11am – 10.30pm (fri – sat)
    • Tel: 6509-0790
    • Website: LADYM.COM.SG