Hold your cocktails and keep the coffee on percolate for could there be a more quaint date than a cream cake or two washed down with a spot of afternoon tea? We’ve taken the lids off the teapots to find you the very best handpicked ‘tea for two’ dates.
The Peninsula– The Lobby
Prepare to be wonderstruck as you enter the fabled Lobby of The Peninsula, Hong Kong’s oldest hotel and ‘Grande Dame of the Far East’. Whilst you and your (devastatingly impressed) date locate your table, seventy-six sculptured golden faces gaze down from imposing gilded columns, each one unique from the next. Although the menu incorporates old favourites such as finger sandwiches, delicate pastries, and (naturally) raison scones with Devonshire clotted cream, expect some bold twists courtesy of chef Andy Cheng.
14:00-18:00 Mon-Sun
HK $628 (+10% service charge)
Gleaming stone floors, walls adorned all around with mirrors; the abundance of natural light shows off this elegant setting to a fine advantage. Sink into an armchair and indulge your date with the eco-friendly Wedgwood menu, comprising of Fairtrade and organic sweets such as the Ghana Three Chocolate Delight with Indian Caramelised Cashew Nuts and savoury bites including failsafe smoked salmon cream cheese sandwich, with the added extravagance of caviar. Depending on when you visit, entertainment will either be in the form of a live harp player or pianist.
15:00-17:30 Mon-Sun
HK $598 for two (+10% service charge)
Trendy restaurant L’Atelier by Joël Robuchon boasts a stellar three Michelin stars, not to be sniffed at when you consider many celebrity chefs struggle to hold onto two. Equally trendy Le Café de Joël Robuchon may not have quite the same prestige, yet this doesn’t stop the afternoon tea menu from being both audacious and inspired; Sardine rillette and squid ink toasts anyone? In keeping with the chic setting, canapés are served not on traditional tiered silverware but specially designed signature theme black and red tea stands. Similarly, don’t expect live musical to accompany your meal (so passé). Instead, enjoy the contemporary vibe with the added pleasure of an ocean view when you book a table by the window.
15:00 to 18:00
HK $498 for two (+10% service charge)
Ritz-Carlton– The Lounge & Bar
The show-stopping classy one, if James Bond were a tea-drinking man rather than a martini one, this– atop the ninth highest building in the world– is where he would woo his latest doomed-for-death female sidekick, live jazz played smoothly in the background. Fortunately, shady government work and sharp suits aren’t perquisites for enjoying this incredibly cool venue, smart-casual and a relatively stuffed wallet should get you through the door.
15:00-18:00 Mon-Thurs, longer hours weekends and Fridays
HK $650 for two (+10% service charge)
Mandarin Oriental– Clipper Lounge
Despite being least expensive of the bunch, the Clipper Lounge is a fashionable setting for afternoon tea. Timeless– almost art deco– elegance generates a welcoming ambiance, perfect if you or your date tend to find the fussiness of more conventional tearooms stifling. The world-renowned rose petal jam often receives rave reviews on TripAdvisor, have a try and see if you become a convert.
14:30-18:00 Mon-Fri, longer hours Sat, shorter Sun
HK $488 for two (+10% service charge)
Do you fancy an afternoon tea-date? Tell us if if we missed any fab tea venues @lovestruck
Tweet
