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Originally published by Sophie Pettit. Last updated by Jen Paolini.
Fancy a cuppa? There’s nothing quite like catching up with your friends over a lovely cup of tea and some cheeky nibbles, but before you put the kettle on, why not consider taking it to a whole new level of luxury by booking afternoon tea at one of these glamorous hotels in Hong Kong? And the best part is, there’s no washing up! Pinkies up...
New kid on the block Rosewood rocked the hotel scene in Hong Kong when they opened last year, bringing with it 43 floors of luxurious living. Their glamorous afternoon tea ($758 for two people) is served in the versatile all-day dining lounge of The Butterfly Room and offers three courses of tea sandwiches, savouries, madeleines, and scones, as well as two dessert trolleys. Make sure you arrive hungry because there’s a lot to cover! From delicate mille-feuille to a third trolley completely dedicated to artful chocolate desserts, The Butterfly Room is what sweet dreams are made of. For a limited time only, the glamorous afternoon tea set is also available for self-pick-up.
The Butterfly Room, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3891 8732
André Fu’s St Regis serves a decadent afternoon tea ($718 for two people) at The Drawing Room, and if you simply cannot get enough of the sweet treats, there’s also an unlimited afternoon tea ($998 per person) to delight in. With lofty ceilings and full-length windows that clock in at almost three stories high, The Drawing Room takes grandiose to new heights, promising a luxe experience not soon forgotten.
Food items are served on a duo of elegantly gilded trolleys, containing your choice of eight finger sandwiches, savouries, scones, and homemade pastries. Scones are served with four different jams from St Regis’s own label, but our loyalties will always lie with the clotted cream. Craft teas are curated by PLANTATION by teakha and include leaves sourced from China, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, and more. A highlight of this particular afternoon tea is the champagne sabering that takes place at 5.30 pm sharp—a spectacle not to be missed.
The Drawing Room, 2/F, The St Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai | (+852) 2138 6800
There’s nothing more quintessentially Hong Kong than enjoying the acclaimed afternoon tea ($748 for two people) at the Peninsula while a live string quartet accompanies the experience. Served daily in The Lobby, this classic British set offers a selection of finger sandwiches and savoury pastries, homemade afternoon tea pastries, freshly baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream, as well as your choice of teas from The Peninsula tea collection. Go one step further and add a glass of Deutz Peninsula Brut Champagne to your table for an extra $220 per person. Tradition has never tasted so good!
The Peninsula, 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2920 2888
Step into the wondrous mezzanine lounge of Grand Hyatt and indulge in sweet and savoury bites all whilst feasting your eyes on Hong Kong’s gorgeous jungle of skyscrapers, accompanied by live music arrangements. Tiffin’s afternoon tea (starting from $596 for two people) remains as popular as ever, driven by the colourful seasonal creations of executive pastry chef Smita Grosse.
Three tiers of French-inspired afternoon tea nibbles await you, and Chef Smita is making the most of in-season fruits to craft refreshing desserts, such as the Signature Lemon Cake, Elderflower Summer Berry Cheesecake, and Mango Oolong Tea Tart. Aside from Tiffin’s fantastic Earl Grey scones, there is also plenty more to try from the live dessert stations and homemade ice cream counter.
Tiffin, Mezzanine Floor, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2584 7722
For a contemporary high tea in a beautiful airy setting, the Garden Lounge at The Murray is the perfect spot. Surrounded by modern and glamourous décor and overlooking the imposing façade of St John’s Cathedral, guests can enjoy sweet and savoury light bites from the afternoon tea ($678 for two people) along with a curated offering of speciality teas by Jing.
Savouries include Smoked Salmon, Japanese Chicken Breast, Green Asparagus Royale, and Hard-boiled Quail Eggs, while the sweet tier features a Strawberry & Mandarin Tart, Green Tea Opera Cake, Pistachio Cake, and Mango & Passionfruit Verrine. The highlight, though, has got to be the beautiful Lemon-Poppy Seed Scones, served with artisanal jam and clotted cream. You can choose to add a glass of R De Ruinart Brut Champagne for an additional $148, too.
Garden Lounge, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central | (+852) 3141 8888
When we’re taking in stunning views of Victoria Harbour at Café Gray Deluxe, it sometimes feels hard to believe our eyes—and that affordable price tag! Enjoy your elevated afternoon tea ($480 for two people) and feel like royalty as you feast on a menu of savoury bites such as Mascarpone Cheese Puff, Edamame Hummus Brioche Sandwich, and Prawn Salad Roll, and mouthwatering sweets such as Yuzu Coconut Gateaux, Peach Verrine, and Apricot Apple Frangipane. Just leave enough room for the delicious Raisin Scones with Devonshire clotted cream to go with your tea and coffee. Marvellous!
Café Gray Deluxe, Level 49, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty | (+852) 3968 1106
If you prefer a touch of nature with your cuppa, then this is the perfect spot for you. Kick back and relax in the elegant Lobby Lounge of the Island Shangri-La and enjoy the view of the hotel’s tropical gardens and ancient Banyan Tree. Listen to live classical music from the piano quartet and enjoy sipping your choice of Chinese or Western tea from charming chinaware while munching your way through three tiers of delights.
With one layer of sandwiches including Smoked Salmon with Green Asparagus on Sourdough, Duck Liver Terrine on Brioche, and Heirloom Cherry Tomato on Focaccia, and two layers of sweet desserts and pastries, including Mango Pistachio Cremeux, Apple Vanilla Choux Puff, and Chocolate Passionfruit Tart, there’s plenty in this afternoon tea ($558 for two people) to satisfy your appetite. Don't neglect the basket of scones with clotted cream and jam!
Lobby Lounge, 6/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central | (+852) 2877 3838
Why not trade a cup of tea for a glass of bubbly at The Clipper Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental? For their afternoon tea ($338 per person), The Clipper Lounge presents a selection of savoury treats, including delicate finger sandwiches and pastries, before indulging in a choice of sweet treats, such as the much-loved 1963 Mandarin Cheesecake, Blueberry & Pistachio Tartlet, Milk Chocolate & Salted Caramel Mousse, and Kouign-Amann. The classic staples of warm raisin and classic scones are also on offer, accompanied by the Mandarin Oriental’s famed rose petal jam and Devonshire clotted cream. Add a few naughty glasses of Ruinart Champagne to the mix for an extra treat.
The Clipper Lounge, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road, Central | (+852) 2825 4007
Well, technically, Fortnum & Mason is not a glamorous Hong Kong hotel, but it would be remiss of us not to include this royal favourite. Named after the famed London department store’s Piccadilly address, 181 brings together 300-plus years of sophisticated food and drink expertise within the striking cultural hub of K11 MUSEA. Fortnum & Mason’s time-honoured afternoon tea ($588 per person), of course, is an elegant affair, with finger sandwiches, scones, afternoon tea cakes, and trademark premium teas stealing the show.
What we love most, however, is that they also offer a vegetarian afternoon tea ($588 per person), a rare sight in Hong Kong tearooms. Additionally, there’s also a high tea ($588 per person) on offer, filled with moreish delights, such as Lobster Omelette, Herb-crusted Glenarm Beef Fillet, Classic Scotch Egg, and Welsh Rarebit.
181, Fortnum & Mason, Shop 002 & 122, G/F, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Set within lush, airy interiors against a backdrop of the largest indoor vertical garden in Asia, there’s no better place for an afternoon of relaxation than GREEN at Hotel ICON. This light-filled dining spot regularly plays host to all sorts of afternoon tea collaborations, with the most recent one being their Häagen-Dazs & Champagne Louis Roederer afternoon tea ($628 for two people). Available from now until 1 November, the menu features a classic tour de force of Traditional Scones with Clotted Cream & Jam and special Champagne-infused savouries like Smoked Salmon Champagne Aspic and Duck Pâté with Champagne Jelly. Did we mention that the sweets portion is made up entirely of indulgent ice cream flavours and diners can tap into an unlimited supply of Häagen-Dazs?
GREEN, Hotel ICON, Lobby, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3400 1300
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