If where and how you take your tea is as significant as the drink itself then these destinations throughout Asia may be your cup of tea. We’ve put together a round-up of how hotels are reimagining the quintessentially British pastime of afternoon tea for two.
Timeless Tea in Cambodia
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor’s afternoon tea in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is served daily in the languid atmosphere of The Conservatory overlooking the hotel’s swimming pool and gardens. A resident pianist plays soft tunes on the grand piano as guests dine on an assortment of savory, sweet and baked favorites, including cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches on beetroot bread, Khmer curried egg on soft brioche, Raffles Signature Berry Religieuse, traditional baked scones and more. The Raffles Signature High Tea is priced at $32++ per person. The hotel also offers a Khmer Afternoon Tea set. Meanwhile, in Phnom Penh, Raffles Hotel Le Royal offers two afternoon tea options in its fabled Writers Bar, including the Le Royal Afternoon Tea set, which features traditional Western favorites, while the Angkor Afternoon Tea set (priced at $18++ per person) offers Khmer sweets, signature scones featuring local influences and assorted mini Nom Pang Khmer delicacies.
‘It’s Afternoon O’Clock’ in Hong Kong
The Hari Hong Kong is introducing ‘The Hari Afternoon Tea’ replete with homemade treats ranging from ‘snowcrab and ikura tartelettes’ and ‘wasabi prawn’ to ‘matcha ice cream and pistachio white chocolate lollipops’ and tiramisu, and optional free-flow champagne. The hotel serves The Hari Afternoon Tea daily between 3-5pm at The Terrace, an alfresco terrace bar framed with greenery, and The Lounge, adorned with books and a rota of eccentric artwork. The selection of sweets includes plain and cranberry scones with strawberry and apple compote and clotted cream, white chocolate strawberries and mochi cake. Miso salmon finger sandwich and salted egg finger sandwich are among the savouries. Presented in The Hari’s afternoon tea box and accompanied with tea, coffee and The Hari’s detox water, the experience is priced at HKD 588 on weekdays and HKD 628 on the weekend for two persons. Free-flow champagne is an extra HKD 198 per person. A new ‘Afternoon O’Clock’ menu available daily from 3-5pm offers scones, a slice of cake of your choice, coffee, tea, Moscato and champagne.
Choose From Two Afternoon Tea Themes
The Colonial Restaurant at The Anam Cam Ranh serves two different themed afternoon tea experiences - Eastern and Western - daily from 3pm-5pm. The teas offer savoury items such as banh mi with chestnut pork char siu with tomato sauce and Vietnamese pickles, grilled scallop with pumpkin flower and corn puree, and Norwegian salmon confit with truffle mustard aioli and dried beetroot on a miniburger, as well as sweets such as Hanoi green rice flakes cake, opera cake, and raspberry cheesecake. Priced at VND 799,000 nett for two people (USD 30.60), the affair is anchored by a selection of Dammann and Vietnamese tea, coffee including Espresso, cappuccino, Americano, latte, and Vietnamese iced coffee.
A Reverence for Nature in Tokyo Tea Time
The plating is just as interesting as the menu of Palace Hotel Tokyo’s Afternoon Tea “Stones” at The Palace Lounge. The lacquerware “stones” that underpin the presentation were handcrafted by a team of artisans under the direction of world-renowned Japanese artist Akito Akagi, and the ‘stones’ are the result of a deep reverence for nature and the value placed on harmony. The menu shifts with the seasons, with the current menu inspired by the lush spring foliage. The savory selection features items like a plant-based burger with a bun made from spinach and white asparagus potage with truffle. The diverse selection of sweet treats include cherry blossom mousse, a raspberry tart, fromage blanc, and strawberry verrine. The Japanese tea is from TEA NAKAMURA, purveyors of tea for over a century. Afternoon tea is served daily and reservations are essential. Prices are JPY 9,000 per person or JPY 12,000 with a glass of champagne.
Afternoon Tea to the Strains of a Live Pianist
Alma Cam Ranh’s afternoon tea is served at Alma Lounge, a café and bar defined by flowing, curved open spaces and a spectacular view of Long Beach. The resident pianist Ben tickles the ivories of a grand piano, making for a mellow soundtrack to ‘Emily’s Afternoon Tea’, priced at VND 660,000 (USD 27.90) net per couple and served daily from 2-5pm. The afternoon tea’s savoury and sweet items include a sandwich set, such as smoked salmon sandwich, cream cheese and cucumber sandwich and tuna and mustard greens sandwich, as well as sausage puffs, opera cake, fruit tartlet, macaron, pralines, vanilla choux, chocolate choux, raisin scone, and baked cheesecake. The tea selection includes black teas, herbal teas, green teas and fresh ginger, fresh mint and fresh lemongrass teas. Single and double espresso, macchiato, Americano, cappuccino, café latte, café mocha and Vietnamese iced and hot coffee are among the afternoon tea’s coffee selection.
Sky-High Afternoon Tea in Chiang Mai
Accompanied by panoramic views of Chiang Mai city and Doi Suthep mountain, Meliá Chiang Mai’s signature restaurant, Mai Restaurant and Bar on the 21st floor, afternoon tea for two that pays tribute to Chiang Mai’s charming Baan Tawai Wood Carving Village. Highlights include seafood and cheese croquettes, katsu sando, tuna and avocado timbales, yuzu scones with fresh cream and strawberry jam, sakura mochi, Mont Blanc tartlets, and ume plum ice pops. Inclusive of a selection of fine teas or coffee, afternoon tea is presented in a vintage tea cabinet crafted at Baan Tawai, providing a glimpse into the region’s rich heritage of woodcraft. Situated in Hang Dong District, the village is a community renowned for its wood sculptures. Priced at THB 999 net per set for two people, the afternoon tea is available daily from 2-5pm until June 30 this year.
Teatime is Tree Time in Krabi
Beachfront resort Banyan Tree Krabi in southern Thailand has recently introduced a special Afternoon Tea set that perhaps gives a new meaning to the term “high tea”. Its Bird’s Nest venue has three elevated pods perched among the trees with spectacular views overlooking the Andaman Sea.The new afternoon tea set is served in porcelain and presented with a colourful assortment of “hot and cold nibbles” — including signature specialties such as Pani Puri Caviar, Truffle-Braised Wagyu Beef, and Mango Sticky Rice Mousse Cake. Visitors may choose from a selection of three crockery sets — the Citrus Charm Collection, the Sapphire Sips Collection, and the Birdsong & Blossom Bliss Collection — each with either a Chinoiserie or Classical porcelain pattern.The selection of teas is supplied by the Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, and includes all the favourites one might expect: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Sencha Green Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Peppermint, and Chamomile.The photogenic Bird’s Nest tables, which can seat a group of up to four, are a big favorite among hotel guests and locals. Attached by a short walkway to Banyan Tree Krabi’s signature Thai restaurant, Saffron, which is in turn accessible from the resort by a ride in an electric funicular, the panoramic trio of Bird’s Eye tables are one of the most outstanding features of the hotel, which was listed in this year’s MICHELIN Guide to Thailand.
Stay and Savour in Osaka
Zentis Osaka, the city’s only Design Hotels member property, ‘Stay & Savor’ package combines afternoon tea with a two-night stay and daily breakfast. The hotel’s UPSTAIRZ restaurant’s most novel offerings is its ever-changing afternoon tea service. The set’s tiered presentation is a homage to the hotel’s central staircase, which leads guests from the lobby to UPSTAIRZ. Carved out of blue limestone, the asymmetric staircase is one of the design elements dreamed up by Tara Bernerd & Partners, the firm behind the hotel’s interior. The current seasonal afternoon tea is all about strawberries – featuring rare white strawberries, awayuki, along with vibrant red strawberries, to evoke the feeling of spring. In addition to serving up a strawberry garden, sweets presentations include a lychee mousse, strawberry macaron, matcha egg tart, and a rice flour carrot cake. To balance and complement, savory selections include strawberry savory madeleines, caesar salad with strawberries, prosciutto, and pistachios, and a strawberry and wagyu roast beef croissant sandwich. Rates for Zentis Osaka’s ‘Stay & Savor’ package start at JPY 56,500 for Studio accommodations (based on single occupancy), inclusive of taxes and service charge.*
Vegan Delights in Vietnam
Proving an afternoon tea can be both healthy and decadent, TIA Wellness Resort offers two nutrient-dense menus that satisfy sweet cravings less the crash. The plant-based menu mimics a more traditional afternoon tea with plant-based scones with whipped coconut cream and homemade jam, while adding creative vegan fare like cucumber, radish, chive & cashew cheese on charcoal ciabatta instead of your typical cucumber sandwiches. Other dairy-free treats include a blueberry cashew cheesecake, banana cookies and coconut bliss balls, and a selection of fresh berries. The signature wellness menu is predominantly plant-based with the addition of some omega-rich salmon. Both menus are served with wellness teas either in villa or within the garden. The plant-based menu is VND900,000++ for two and the signature wellness VND1,100,000++.
Afternoon Tea on the Perfume River
Guests at Azerai La Residence, Hue in historic central Vietnam can enjoy a memorable afternoon tea cruise on the Perfume River as they glide past picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The tea service includes savory ham and cheese croissants, tuna sandwiches, rich chocolate brownies and much more, in addition to the hotel’s signature teas and freshly brewed coffee, in a thoughtfully curated tea set designed for two. For those who prefer to take their tea on land, Azerai La Residence, Hue also offers a traditional afternoon tea set (VND 320,000++ for two persons) featuring the same menu in its Art Deco-styled Le Gouverneur Bar. In southern Vietnam along the coast, the all-suites-and-villas Azerai Ke Ga Bay serves a complimentary Vietnamese Tasting Delicacies Session daily from 15:30-16:30 featuring three types of homemade Vietnamese cakes and a cup of tea or coffee.
A Legendary High Tea Tradition in Vietnam
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s high tea tradition is legendary in Vietnam, combining the quintessential British tradition with refined French flair and set within the timeless and romantic ambiance of Le Club Bar. Guests are invited to enjoy a cup of fragrant tea paired with an array of seasonal artisanal delicacies, such as freshly baked scones with Chantilly cream and fruit preserves, flavorful finger sandwiches (including mushrooms with cream cheese or poached prawn with avocado and cocktail sauce). The set also includes a tropical fruit salad and an irresistible selection of patisseries, from macarons and éclairs to creamy cheesecake – all crafted to highlight the best flavors of the season. Le Club Bar overlooks the hotel’s beautiful garden courtyard and offers an airy and sparkling feel.
