If you're after a slice of the eccentric with your Earl Grey, these sumptuous spreads are just the ticket.
While some people like to put their feet up with a cuppa in the afternoon, others prefer something a little more impressive when the clock strikes four. Luckily, high tea has gone offbeat of late, whether tucking into scones and sandwiches in the company of giraffes in Nairobi or dropping down a rabbit hole with an Alice in Wonderland feast in Las Vegas. From the sublime to the fantastical, these hotel and restaurant afternoon offerings will be just your cup of tea.
Baccarat Hotel, New York
@baccarathotels
Best for: an oh-so-decadent afternoon tea
Everything about the Baccarat Hotel in NYC dazzles – the Midtown Manhattan property is, after all, the flagship for the legendary French crystal house. Afternoon tea is presented in the ornate Grand Salon, where silk-covered walls, lush furnishings and arrangements of fresh roses glisten beneath a 64-arm chandelier. Each menu celebrates a different historical personality who has an association with the brand. For true opulence, make it the Louis XV Afternoon Tea (he issued a royal decree to establish a glassworks factory in Baccarat, France in 1764), which comes with Golden Kaluga Caviar. Those with a sweet-tooth will prefer the Princess of Monaco – cakes and scones, minus the savouries.
Sketch, London
@sketchlondon
Best for: a whimsical afternoon tea
Behind the Georgian façade of Sketch in Mayfair the rooms are kaleidoscopic, from the clashing brights and neon lights of all-day dining spot The Parlour, to ethereal bar The Glade. But it’s The Gallery which steals the show. Once bubblegum pink, the gastro-brasserie has had a makeover, with architect India Mahdavi bathing the space in golden yellow and copper gold against which British artist Yinka Shonibare’s artworks shine. It is here that afternoon tea is served daily, accompanied by a live classical string trio. Though the menu changes according to the seasons, the Sketch stalwarts – smoked salmon, Battenberg cake and eclairs – remain. Make sure to pay a visit to the retro-futurist egg-shaped Pod bathrooms.
Electric Playhouse, Las Vegas
@playelectric_lasvegas
Best for: the idiosyncratic afternoon tea
Only in Vegas could you disappear down a rabbit hole into Teatime in Wonderland, a whirling, swirling immersive experience at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The Mad Hatter and White Rabbit will lead you on this culinary journey, with high-tech surround sound and lighting adding to the whimsy (take note: it’s a little interactive, too). Celebrated pastry chef Keris Kuwana has devised a four-course menu incorporating Curiouser Sandwiches, Eat Me, Drink Me Cookies and Rose Garden Desserts such as Orange Yuzu Semifreddo and Coconut Panna Cotta Rose, washed down with intriguing teas and cocktails. You can dress up if you wish but either way, expect the unexpected.
Giraffe Manor, Nairobi
@thegiraffemanor
Best for: afternoon tea on the wild side
You’re sipping your tea, soaking up the late afternoon sunshine, and then someone sidles up to join you… Nothing extraordinary except this someone is 5m tall, and weighs around a tonne. Welcome to Giraffe Manor, a boutique hotel set amongst 12 acres of private land in Nairobi, that’s also home to a herd of Nubian/Rothschild’s giraffes. As guests tuck into homemade cakes, sandwiches and scones on the terrace, these gentle giants will come and greet you, their long necks allowing you to get quite the close-up - at breakfast, they even poke their heads through the windows of the dining room. If you’re feeling brave, steal a ‘giraffe kiss’ by offering a dried grass pellet between your lips (don’t worry, giraffe saliva contains antiseptic properties).
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
@mo_bangkok
Best for: an afternoon tea celebrating literary greats and local flavours
This hotel is steeped in history. It started off life in 1876 as The Oriental, the first ever luxury place to stay in the Kingdom of Siam and, over the years, has hosted royalty, dignitaries and literary figures including John le Carré, Noel Coward, Barbara Cartland, Graham Greene and W. Somerset Maugham. They would have taken tea in the ground-floor lounge, now aptly called the Authors’ Lounge, just as guests can today. Opt for The Oriental Afternoon Tea and you’ll be rewarded with a spread of local delicacies, such as Jasmine Flower Dumplings with Herbed Fish, Lemongrass Salad with Crispy Shrimps, Mango Scones, and Pandan and Butterfly Pea Layer Cake. Plus, of course, the most wonderful choice of teas.
At.mosphere at Burj Khalifa, Dubai
@atmospheredubai
Best for: afternoon tea in the clouds
When the Burj Khalifa officially opened in 2010, it had everyone in Dubai craning their necks. For this was – and still is – the tallest building on the planet, a whopping 828m from ground to tip (that’s just over half a mile) and a feat of modern engineering. Located on the 122nd floor of this soaring skyscraper is At.mosphere, the world’s highest restaurant from ground level, which, as well as serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, takes afternoon tea to new heights. The Luxurious High Tea comprises delectable cakes, mini sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a bottle of champagne, all served at a window table alongside endless views of the city’s glittering skyline and the Arabian Gulf.
Anantara Kihavah, Baa Atoll
@anantarakihavah
Best for: a flower-filled afternoon tea
The island resort of Anantara Kihavah, in the Baa Atoll, may have the requisite Robinson Crusoe-style beaches and neon-azure lagoon, overwater villas and a five-star spa, but beneath the gently swaying palms are also secret oases. One such spot is the Nala Orchid Garden, where more than 1,200 orchid plants of 24 different varieties are in full bloom, all under the care of Prem who’s been looking after the garden for more than a decade. Nature lovers can take tea in this tropical paradise at a private table for up to four people, surrounded by the sweet-scented blooms. Accompany Maldivian delights such as lobster and caviar mashuni rolled in chapati bread and spiced bread with caramel banana cream, alongside a chilled glass of champagne.
Airelles Contrôle de Versailles
@airelleschateaudeversailles
Best for: an afternoon tea fit for royalty
Once the home of Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette, Château de Versailles is a visual extravagance of gilt, grandeur and gardens. So when luxury hotel group Airelles opened a hotel in the palace grounds, it was always going to be nothing short of majestic. And it is, swathed in true-to-the period fabrics and glorious antiques, with personal butlers on hand to cater to guests’ every whim. The Queen adored cakes, so settle into a velvety armchair in the gilded Salon d'Audience and order Alain Ducasse's Royal Afternoon Tea of bourbon vanilla mille-feuille, miniature brioches, sorbets and ice-cream. To drink? Homemade hot chocolate, which you can have au naturel or flavoured with orange blossom (a favourite of M-A). Be sure to book an exclusive after-hours private tour of Versailles for the full royal treatment.
The Victoria Falls Hotel
@thevictoriafallshotel
Best for: an afternoon tea with spectacular scenery
If you dream of afternoon tea backdropped by one of the Seven Wonders of the World, we’ve found your spot. The Victoria Falls Hotel – incidentally, one of the oldest hotels in Africa – perches at the edge of Zimbabwe’s Batoka Gorge, with a bird’s eye view of the mighty waterfall. There’s even a private pathway that leads you directly there. Or you could simply take a table on Stanley’s Terrace where, beyond the perfectly manicured lawn, you can see the spray and hear the distant roar as the falls crash into the Zambezi River below. Surely best appreciated while you’re working your way through their famous High Tea: three tiers of sandwiches, scones and miniature sweet treats, with a refreshing cup of tea.
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