Looking for the best places for high tea around the world? The places for afternoon tea conjure up images of elegant old world dining rooms with palm court orchestras, bone china, dainty cucumber tea sandwiches and petits fours. Nowadays some of the best hotels around the world stick to the tradition and offer traditional tea services. If you really want to experience the sophistication and elegance of a bygone age, here are a few great places for high tea.
1. Claridges, London, UK
Although there are a lot of wonderful places that serve afternoon tea in London, Claridges is one of the best ones! This most classic afternoon tea, which consists of wafer thin sandwiches, pastries, freshly baked scones with cream, is served in the fin de siècle foyer or elegant Reading Room to the soothing strains of classical music.
2. Tiffin Room, Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Even though Raffles Hotel is well known for its curries and Singapore Sling cocktails, no trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to this beautiful colonial style hotel for afternoon tea. With so many places for afternoon tea to visit Raffles Hotel is surely one to remember!
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3. Tea & Sympathy, NY, USA
The British themed rooms of Tea & Sympathy right in the heart of Greenwich Village are one of the best places for high tea. Visit this amazing English store which offers large handmade scones served with homemade raspberry or strawberry jam and slathered in thick cream. Sure, it’s not elegant high tea dining but it’s still one of the best places for afternoon tea around the world to visit.
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4. Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang, Malaysia
The opulence of the tea room in this luxurious hotel and palm trees in the garden will enhance your classic afternoon tea. The tables are lavishly laden with elegant finger sandwiches, petits fours and cakes accompanied by a large array of various teas.
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5. Erawan Tea Room, Hyatt Hotel, Bangkok
Afternoon tea at the Erawan Tea Room has absolutely different take on the traditional English afternoon tea. The rich, classic décor of this tea room revives the nostalgic atmosphere of a bygone era and offers delicate Thai flavors of savory and sweet finger food and a large number of international teas.
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6. Mount Nelson, Cape Town, South Africa
Located at the foot of Table Mountain, Mount Nelson is one of the best places for afternoon tea. Besides the many tea varieties it offers the delightful array of traditional buffet finger food. You can even enjoy a tea made from rose petals picked from the garden of the hotel.
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7. The Strand Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar
A famous old colonial haunt of Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham, the Strand Hotel is another place to visit for afternoon tea. The architecture of this hotel is definitely from a bygone era. Afternoon tea is served in the Strand Grill restaurant. The heavily tiered stands are laden with the most delicate petit fours, cakes and sandwiches.
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8. Betty’s Tea Room, Harrogate
Known as one of the best places for high tea in the UK, Betty’s Tea Room has been serving afternoon tea in the North Yorkshire spa town Harrogate since 1919. There are more than 50 different teas and over 300 breads, cakes and pastries to choose from.
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9. The Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, Canada
The Fairmont Empress Hotel has been serving afternoon tea to dignitaries and royalty for over a century. Its tea lobby is furnished elegantly with comfortable wing-back chairs, hand-carved furniture, and classy chintz fabrics. The most delectable sandwiches, pastries and scones are served on silverware and delicate bone china.
Have you ever been to one of these places for high tea? Which of these places for afternoon tea would you like to visit? Share your thoughts, please!