Delicate and refined, yet luscious and decadent, afternoon tea has long enamoured the world with its English sensibilities and sinfully indulgent nibbles, all served in nothing less than fine bone china. Tweaked over time, chintzy floral armchairs have since been replaced with sleek, tiber-chic furniture, while bland cucumber sandwiches have given way to couture-inspired fancies (think Christian Dior pink chocolate bikini biscuits).

Take, for example, The Berkeley Hotel in London. While the property may have gained more recognition for its illustrious Michelin starred restaurant, Petrus (helmed by Gordon Ramsay protege Marcus Wareing), the hotel's Caramel Room was once voted by Wallpaper* magazine as having the best afternoon tea. With the recent introduction of a deliciously irreverent Pret-a.-Portea, dubbed as the fashionista's afternoon tea, The Berkeley's pastry chefs have truly outdone themselves. A cheeky nod to haute couture and a refreshing take on the traditional English afternoon tea, on offer are intricately crafted, ladylike nibbles such as Lanvin purple macaroons with raspberry ganache, Chanel lime-green tea cake handbag (chain straps included), and Stella McCartney floral tuile with mango and elder flower cremeux. And to round off the entire experience, full tea service on bespoke Paul Smith fine bone china by

Thomas Goode of May fair, coupled with pours of couture champagne served in Baccarat crystal flutes. Perfect for those with designer taste buds.

In Singapore, the penchant for afternoon tea is no different. The current choice of outlets catering to the glorious afternoon tête-à-tête ensures that it doesn't have to follow the physics of time, nor limit itself to the standard scones/ clotted cream/preserves combination; delicious as they may be. Whether you're longing for a languid, gossip-filled soiree with girlfriends, or a much needed respite from a satisfying bout of retail therapy, we've listed our favourite spots to linger over a fragrant pot, accompanied by divine patisseries.

Tucked away at a corner of quaint Tudor Court is Hediard Cafe-Boutique. A well-loved luxury brand in French gourmet produce, the inviting boutique features rows upon rows of tempting artisan comfitures, flavoured oils, spices, condiments, chocolates, coffees, teas, biscuits and wines from France and other exotic locales.

Adjoining the store is the chicly furnished cafe, an intimate space clad in signature Hediard hues, which still remains blissfully unscathed from the weekend crowd.

Savour an idyllic late morning or afternoon with its signature bourbon vanilla mille feuille, made with bourbon vanilla infused pastry cream sandwiched between numerous layers of crisp pastry leaves, the ever popular chocolate moelleux, a molten chocolate cake served with vanilla analgise, or the refined salted butter caramel macaroon. Complementing these sweet delicacies are a variety of Hediard's own teas the Hediard blend is an earl grey given a citrus kick with additions of sweet orange and lemon while the rooibos Cedarburg is a theine-free South African red tea with notes of cinnamon.

As for the best seat in the house, the window table provides an excellent vantage point for people-watching.

Despite its relatively new status in the local hotel scene, afternoon tea at the St. Regis has long been a time-honoured tradition. Mrs Astor, mother of St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV, who was affectionately referred to as the "queen" of New York's upper crust, often held court with her dearest friends during afternoon tea at the flagship property in New York.

St. Regis' lavish "Afternoon Affair" high tea experience is held at Brasserie Les Saveurs, the hotel's elegant lobby level venue. Cast any weight-watching resolutions aside as you indulge in a spread of artfully prepared sweet and savoury delights by French pastry chef, Alain Herber. Noteworthy patisseries include hazelnut Paris-Brest, rum baba with passion fruit, milk chocolate tart with crunchy hazelnut and assorted macaroons. Accompanying these delectable fancies are scones served with organic homemade conserves from Normandy, chocolates, specialty cookies and a variety oj dainty finger sandwiches.

Exclusive to the St. Regis Singapore are a range of fine teas by renowned French tea brand Dammann Freres, boasting a history dating back to 1672. From the 21 loose leaf teas on offer, favoured blends include 7 Parfums, a mix of Ceylon and Chinese black teas flavoured with lemon, bergamot, fresh fig, lotus flowers, pitanga, orange peel and red and white rose petals, allowing for a floral and fruity brew. Jardin Bleu, another inspiring blend, features unsmoked Chinese tea tempered with the flavour of rhubarb and wild strawberries.

Discreetly located on the second level of a Seah Street shophouse, Tea Bone Zen Mind is a tastefully stylish tea house with loungey armchairs and a soothing environment that encourages you to linger. And linger you do, over exquisite cups of Eight Treasures tea, a recipe handed down by ownerltea artist Carrie Chen's grandmother, and refreshing iced fruit teas made to order from a variety of handmade fruit compotes; all beautifully presented in finely wrought tableware.

Instead of the de rigueur pastries and scones, signature nibbles include comfortingly luscious tea eggs, stewed for six hours in a herbal broth, and deliciously moist apple cake, containing a whole apple in each individual portion. Fans ofJapanese tea would be pleased to know that their match is served the traditional way, in a bowl and whisked until frothy, accompanied by delicate morsels of wagashi.

Adding a nostalgic touch to the otherwise contemporary decor are the retro furniture pieces which Carrie had replicated from her family's originals, and remade by the same artisans.

Specially blended teas and delicate one-of-a-kind tea accessories are available for purchase.

Despite having opened its shutters a scant few months ago, COVA has fast become the hangout du jour for tired power tai-tais after they have flexed their credit cards at one of Paragon's many luxury retail outlets. A cafe with lustrous

Italian flair, the lO8-seat outlet is split between an elegant tea room and an open concept cafe. Embracing classic European style, charming wood furnishings and gold accents are enhanced by soft ambient lighting, while smartly dressed wait staff wield their skill with panache.

Specialising in coffee, pastries, cakes and chocolates, this exclusive Italian establishment traces its history back to 1817, when it was first founded in Milan by Antonio Cova. The afternoon tea sets, tastefully presented on polished silver, offers one the option of having homemade finger sandwiches and open-face sandwiches, an assortment of cakes and pastries, or a mixture of both. The sets pair brilliantly with COVA's premium coffee, a smooth full-bodied blend comprising seven different varieties of hand-selected Arabica beans, leaving little acidity or bitterness on the palate.

While the bright, open concept cafe is ideal for a spot of people-watching, the cozier tea room is just right for those looking to indulge in some old world European charm.

With over 200 varieties of single estate and specially blended teas, TWG Tea will appeal to even the most discriminating tea connoisseurs.

This Singapore-based luxury tea establishment offers not just green and black teas, but a mindboggling array of exotic red, white, blue and yellow teas specially sourced from tea estates all over the world.

Tucked away in Republic Plaza, the intimate tea salon is decorated with nostalgic European furnishings - warm polished wood tables, cushioned rattan-backed chairs, turn-of-the century photographs and crisp linens. During the day, soaring 8m-high windows, is flanking the far end of the salon, floods the space with a natural incandescent glow, while the dimming evening light sets the perfect scene for romance.

TWG's Executive Chef Philippe Langlois specialises in tea gastronomy, and presents a scrumptious assortment of pat isseries and savoury dishes. The almond financiers with matcha tea are toothsome to the last crumb, particularly when paired with generous dollops of airy, clotted cream and smears of homemade vanilla bourbon tea jelly. Also popular are the tea flavoured macaroons, in gorgeous pastel hues, while the TWG Tea Sandwiches make perfect savoury partners to an aromatic brew.