At the Raffle’s Makati, you can experience delight for both the eyes and taste buds in a rotating high tea experience

Entering the lobby of the Raffles Makati, a pianist tickles the ivories on a grand piano. Walking into The Writer’s Bar and past a tea trolley, our server brings us to a cozy corner with plush armchairs. The room is lined with bookshelves and she shares that we can borrow whatever books we want to read while waiting for our food.

Writer’s Bar Raffles Makati — The luxurious yet cozy Writer’s Bar in Raffles Makati allows you to borrow books while waiting for the delicacies.

Sanso information — This is the first Afternoon Tea experience at Raffles that draws inspiration from an artist.

This is the first Afternoon Tea experience at the Raffles that celebrates an artist in-theme with its culinary delicacies. Drawing inspiration from the renowned Filipino artist Juvenal Sansó, the canapés and confections pay tribute to the artist’s legacy and artworks, culminating in a sensory experience that is both visually striking and flavorful.

juvenal sanso books — Books waiting to be borrowed on Sansó legacy, alongside a small painting by the artist.

Sanso afternoon tea Raffles Makati — Apart from themed coasters and table lamps designed with Sansó’s most iconic paintings, each Afternoon Tea delicacy on the menu aligned with the heritage of the artist.

Apart from themed coasters and table lamps designed with Sansó’s most iconic painting, each Afternoon Tea delicacy on the menu aligned with the heritage of the artist.

On the bottom tier were the savory delights. This included refreshing gazpacho shots, flavorful ham and cheese puffs, and tomato bruschetta. The tortilla squares with chorizo and Filipino fresh lumpia with peanut sauce seemed to make reference to Sansó’s personal heritage—as a Spanish-born artist living in the Philippines.

The second tier went sweeter, with leche flan topped with meticulously crafted netting, as well as mango tartlets that burst in your mouth. The chef also reinvented round churro bites with mixed-in cinnamon and chocolate.

The top tier was just that—except sweeter, with turron de chocolate, divine tres leches cake bites, and charming ube macapuno cupcakes.

And of course, every tea must have its scones and clotted cream. The Raffles Makati delivered with genuine clotted cream, a hard commodity to find; as well as scones that were neither too hard nor too soft, but just right.

colorful Afternoon tea treats — While all the delicacies in the Afternoon Tea made reference to Sansó’s life as a painter with Spanish heritage in the Philippines, the top tier of the Afternoon Tea platters made direct reference to his paintings, with tiny, edible renditions of his well-loved Floral Series.

High tea china — The fine china teapot and cups emphasize the ritual of tea drinking and the appreciation of flavors.

screwdriver drink — A curated cocktail shows orange juice with blue-hued salt, a color combination typical to Sansó’s usual palette.

The service of the Writer’s Bar staff was also impeccable. Our server Sherlyn overheard our companion being greeted Happy Birthday, and brought us a luscious chocolate cake.

Raffles Afternoon tea — The Afternoon Tea at The Writer’s Bar pays homage to Juvenal Sansó, in collaboration with Fundacion Sansó and with a special exhibition by MoCAF at the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel.

Taking from the delightful British tradition of Afternoon Tea, the Raffles Hotel in Makati offers a refined and timeless experience that combines culinary delight, tea culture, and social connection, making it special for those seeking a peaceful and memorable break in their day. But if one thing sets it apart, it is the changing themes for the afternoon tea experience.

For the month of October is a new collaboration, the Swarovski Afternoon Tea at the Writer’s Bar Makati.