Afternoon teas fit for royalty in Sydney
They say that big things come in small packages. This is certainly true for these high tea selections. High tea is the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, so you won’t need to worry about getting dessert after your meal!
1. The Tea Cosy
The interior of this quaint and cosy shop will make you feel like you’re in a small London café with its brick walls and teapot displays, but I highly recommend sitting outside in the little courtyard to enjoy the beautiful Sydney weather.
Tea Cosy’s scones have followed an old fashioned family recipe, and are made by hand from scratch every day. The high tea menu ($35pp) consists of an assortment of dainty finger sandwiches, sweets and cakes, and of course, their signature homemade scones served with jams and double thick cream. They offer an extensive range of Australian-made gourmet jams with choices including Rhubarb & Ginger, Strawberry & Vanilla, Paw Paw & Lime and Passionfruit jam.
The high tea menu also includes two complimentary drinks of your choice. So you can choose from a selection of homemade iced teas to hot coffee and tea. Gluten free scones are also available, but you must contact the café before you arrive!
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 10am to 4pm | Closed on Tuesdays
Address: 33 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Website
2. The Tea Room
The Tea Room is one of Sydney’s most treasured gems with an impressive interior located in the iconic Queen Victoria Building. You’ll feel like a princess having your afternoon tea served to you on authentic British silverware and classic Royal Albert China.
The Traditional Afternoon Tea ($45pp) serves a selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours, sweet and savoury pastries, as well as buttery scones accompanied by tea or coffee. Add an extra $5 to add a glass of Australian sparkling wine to your meal. If you’re feeling like you want to top your high tea experience off with some fine champagne, you can opt for the Champagne Afternoon Tea ($65pp) for a piccolo of French champagne.
If you decide that you don’t want a heavy high tea experience, you can come from 10am to 12pm for the Morning Tea ($35pp) selection. This includes everything from the Traditional Afternoon Tea except the sweet and savoury pastries and scones with cream. There is also a Gluten Free Afternoon Tea option with buckwheat, quinoa, chickpea flour, and almond meal used as ingredient substitutes.
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm
Address: 3, Queen Victoria Building, 455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Website
3. The Tea Salon
If and your colleague are pressed for time but crave some delicate treats, The Tea Salon is the place to have high tea and make it to your meeting. Located in the vicinity of Westfield Sydney, The Tea Salon is easily accessible and their service is swift and efficient.
The Summer High Tea ($39.95pp) requires a minimum of two people per order. This will include a selection of ribbon sandwiches, berry crumble, orange choc top, gingerbread donut with honeycomb, and a petit mint chocolate éclair. You will also be able to select your favourite scone from the Tea Salon’s ‘Top Ten Scone menu’, along with premium loose leaf tea or espresso coffee. If you want something cold and refreshing, you can opt for one of their signature iced teas for an extra $2. Upgrade to the Couture High Tea ($52pp) if you want to try a flute of De Perriere Sparkling French Rose.
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 10am to 6.30pm
Address: Lvl 4 Westfield Sydney, cnr Pitt Street Mall & Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Website
4. The Westin Sydney
Head over to The Bar located on the lobby level of The Westin hotel to try the Mad Tea Party ($49pp) high tea selection which is bound to give you a magical and memorable high tea experience. The Mad Hatter draws on elements from Alice in Wonderland, displaying quirky and creative treats that serve two guests. If you think the bright green hat is some sort of lime-flavoured meringue, your guess is far off! It is a chocolate mud cake that has a light texture. And if you are wondering what the watch really is, it’s a large, chewy macaron with blueberry cream filling. The “Queen of Hearts” cake had the perfect balance of raspberry mousse and jelly, and the rich chocolate ganache.
As for the savoury selection, the roast beef with asparagus roulade was called “Twiddle Dumb and Twiddle Dee”. The “caterpillar salad” consisted of a fresh green salad topped with cherry tomatoes, crunchy noodles, and pomegranate dressing. The final savoury dish is the Alaskan crabmeat ‘sandwich’ wrapped in a thin slice of cucumber. Just pop it into your mouth and feel all the flavours of this refreshing dish mingle perfectly.
The other option on the high tea menu is Heritage Afternoon Tea ($49pp) selection. The savoury bites consist of a three-tier smoked salmon sandwich with capers, a prawn salad with a lime dressing, slow cooked chicken and pickled bell peppers on a spinach toast roll, and double smoked ham, cheese, and cucumber on tomato bread.
On the sweet side, we have profiteroles with dark Belgium-chocolate cream filling, vanilla crème brulee with biscotti, and glazed caramel mousse with fresh berries and raspberry gel. Seating is limited and the restaurant can get quite busy during these hours, so it’s essential to make a reservation at least 24 hours before your visit!
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 12pm to 6pm
Address: 1 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW 2000
Website
5. Burnt Orange
Situated where rows of trees and the expanse of the waters are in full view, Burnt Orange is the perfect place to relax, nibble on some small bites, and sip on a cup of tea. High tea is only served on the veranda, so the brightly lit environment along with the beautiful scenery is guaranteed to take your high tea experience to another level.
The Burnt Orange High Tea ($35pp) includes a selection of sweet and savoury treats, accompanied by tea or coffee. The sweet tier consisted of salted caramel and chocolate tart, Moroccan orange and almond cake with sugared almonds, classic lemon tart with blueberries and cream. In the middle, the savoury tier consisted of pumpkin and goat’s cheese tart with carrot jam, smoked salmon on brioche with avruga caviar and herb ricotta, and poached chicken with tarragon on avoca brown bread. And of course, finish off with some freshly baked homemade scones with jam and cream. Add an extra $10 for a glass of Veuve Tailhan sparkling wine to go along with your Sparkling High Tea ($45pp).
The Burnt Orange High Tea is only available by reservation only. On another note, if you like the cute designs of the crockery that lay on your table, you can head into the café’s store to purchase one just like that!
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 8.30am to 5.30pm
Address: 1109 Middlehead Road, Mosman NSW 2088
Website
6. Sadhana Kitchen
Sadhana Kitchen’s high tea is an alteration of the traditional high tea experience. Priced at $55 per head, Sadhana plates up beautiful organic raw vegan treats and is strictly limited to customer bookings only. You don’t have to worry about being thirsty, because Sadhana’s high tea offers bottomless tea of your choice from the rabbit hole organic tea bar.
The savoury bites include cucumber sandwiches with dill cream ‘cheese’, mini caramelised onion and mushroom quiche, and mini coconut bacon pizzas. On the sweet side, these raw vegan treats are bound to leave your tastebuds craving for more. These include chai and white chocolate macaroons, seasonal fruit tart, mini ‘cheesecake’, and scones with strawberry chia jam.
Indulging in these organic raw vegan treats is the perfect way to fill your tummy, leaving you and your body feeling nourished and less guilty!
Afternoon Tea Hours: Mon-Sun 9am to 11.30am (bookings only)
Address: 147 Enmore Road, Enmore NSW 2042
Website
7. Shangri-La Hotel
Indulge in some afternoon tea treats at the Lobby Lounge of this classy hotel. The high tea ($42pp) includes three tiers of sweet treats, savoury delicacies, and scones with clotted cream and raspberry compote.
Presentation is always key here in Shangri-La! On the sweet tier, you have the chai tea and apple marshmallow, one of Zumbo’s creations. The coconut disc topped with pineapple and baby coriander leaves has a similar texture of a light and chewy macaroon. Then, you have the caramelised puff pastry with a vanilla pastry crème filling topped with fresh rose petals. The final treat on the sweet tier is a slim and tiny glass packed with everything bananas. It’s layers consist of caramelised white chocolate, passionfruit jelly, banana jam, vanilla bavarois, banana bread crumbs, and a white chocolate dome that you have to crack open using a small teaspoon attached to the side of the glass.
On the savoury tier, the tiny choux éclairs touch on creativity, where the éclairs are filled with a flavourful chicken mix on top of a creamy mayonnaise base. The smoked salmon bagel is a high tea favourite, and the salad with dried figs, apricots, and radicchio adds a refreshing touch to the savoury tier. For those who hate soggy salads, not to worry, the balsamic dressing for this salad dish is placed in a tiny pipette where you can slowly drip some tangy flavour onto your salad. The last savoury dish is a small waffle cone filled with whipped goats curd and tomato salsa. Light, refreshing, and crunchy, the flavours all blend together perfectly.
For the sweet toothed, there is also a chocolate high tea for two ($62) where you will be offered a delectable assortment of house made chocolate desserts that is bound to leave you on a sugar high.
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 1pm to 5pm
Address: 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Website
8. The Gunners’ Barracks Tea Room
This heritage site is known not only for its good food, but also for its postcard like views of the intertwining bushland and the harbour. The Gunners’ Barracks Tea Room Signature Traditional Afternoon Tea ($45pp) comes in a gluten free option, and you can add a glass of Australian sparkling wine for just $5 or a piccolo of French champagne for an extra $20.
If you’ve got kids who want their own exclusive little tea party, Gunners’ Barracks has got you covered. The kid’s menu is disguised as the Children’s Traditional Afternoon Tea ($25) consisting of petite pastries, finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and a choice of hot chocolate, soft drink, or juice.
Perfect for intimate gatherings and bonding with the cheeky little ones!
Afternoon Tea Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10am to 5pm | Thursday to Sunday 10am to 2.30pm
Address: Suakin Drive, Mosman NSW 2088
Website
9. The Cortile @ InterContinental Hotel
You wouldn’t want to miss out on this beautifully presented afternoon tea. The interior of The Cortile at Sydney’s InterContinental Hotel is absolutely charming! All that’s missing are some delicious sweet and savoury treats and a glass of sparkling wine.
Cortile’s savoury selection includes Moroccan vegetable rolls, asparagus ricotta quiche and beef and Guinness pie. The dessert range touches on the creamy (vanilla crème brulee), the chocolatey (raspberry peanut butter chocolate bar with caramelised popcorn), and the fruity (raspberry lemon pannacotta). Last but not least, Cortile’s scones are served with hibiscus strawberry jam and Chantilly cream.
If you’re feeling like you can inhale countless sweet and savoury treats, it is recommended that you try the All About Berries High Tea Buffet ($60pp inclusive of a glass of sparkling wine) that is only available on weekends. It is guaranteed that you will be spoilt for choice, with a dessert selection that will make you feel like you are in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. I don’t know about you, but a free flow of assorted French macarons sounds heavenly to me.
Afternoon Tea Hours: Weekdays 11am to 5pm | Weekends 1 to 2.30pm or 3pm to 4.30pm
Address: 117 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Website
10. The Langham Sydney
The Langham offers a traditional and dainty high tea menu called the “Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood”. On weekdays, the afternoon tea is priced at $65pp, and $75pp on weekends. You have the choice to add a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne for $20, or a glass of Laurent-Perrier Rose Champagne for $30.
The sweet tier is made up of homemade pastries and tea cakes in flavours like matcha and Thai milk tea, banana and honeycomb Chantilly, and the chef’s selection of macarons. The light and fluffy vanilla scones are to die for. These are served with house made strawberry jam and cream.
The savoury selection consists of tuna sandwiches, smoked salmon roulade with caviar and cream cheese, carb and avocado ‘ice-cream’, butternut squash tartlet with spiced pepitas, and beef sliders with smoked cheddar and onion relish.
The tea selection at The Langham is also eclectic, offering some signature blends from different countries like the Ceylon Orange Pekoe and the Pure Assam tea.
Afternoon Tea Hours: Daily 12pm to 5pm
Address: 89-113 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Website
Keep calm and drink tea
Treat you and another lucky person to an unforgettable high tea experience, where you can dine in class and enjoy some of Sydney’s finest creations! Sip on some of the best quality teas or bubbly wine. I’m sure the Queen will approve.
Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.
