Our 5 Favourite Spots for Afternoon Tea Around the World

If the gap between lunch and dinner is just a little too long for you, then afternoon tea is the perfect solution when you want to indulge in a mid-day snack with a group of friends. Originating in England in the nineteenth century, you’ll now find variations on this tradition around the world. Here are some spots that you should check out.

London, England: Reubens at the Palace

We begin in London, England at Rubens at the Palace with the only front row seats overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. Start things off with a glass of champagne and select from a wide variety of teas.

When it comes to scones, there are two ways to apply your jam and cream: The Devonian Method, which is clotted cream first, and then jam. Or the Cornish Method, which is jam first, clotted cream second.

Afternoon Tea at Rubens at the Palace features finger sandwiches and pastries that are heavily influenced by Royal events and dining trends throughout the centuries. It’s perfect for special occasions and doesn’t get any more traditional than this.

Ottawa, Canada: Fairmont Chateau Laurier

In Ottawa, Canada, head over to Zoe’s in the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, for afternoon tea in a grand space that was once a concert hall.

Here you’ll find an extensive menu of savoury and sweet bites - from a double stacked smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich, to a chocolate cake with Baileys and Kaluha. You’ll probably want to take the rest of the afternoon off.

Bangkok, Thailand: Supanniga Eating Room

Next we’re off to the Supanniga Eating Room in Bangkok, for afternoon tea Thailand style. Here you can select from a wide variety of high quality signature house blends - from Chinese teas to Assam black tea from India, all mixed with local Thai herbs. Accompanying your tea are authentic savoury and sweet dishes that capture Thai flavours thanks to ingredients like sweet potato, mango, coconut and there’s even a Thai tea panna cotta. Top off your experience with a glass of champagne and a beautiful view of the Chao Phraya River.

Taipei, Taiwan: YEN Bar at W Taipei

At YEN Bar in W Taipei, you can enjoy afternoon tea on the 31st floor with some of the best views of the city. Here you can choose from a selection of premium teas served hot or cold. Taipei has a vibrant cocktail scene so be sure to add a drink (or shot) with your experience. YEN Bar switches up their afternoon tea theme every now and then so there’s always a reason to schedule a session!

Check out more detailed information about afternoon tea at YEN Bar, one of our favourite experience in Taipei.

Toronto, Canada: Ritz Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

We’ve gotta bring it back home! At The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, you can indulge in Chocolate Afternoon Tea, a decadent experience that’s a chocolate lover’s dream.

Start your journey with a glass of champagne and then select from an assortment of carefully curated loose leaf teas. You’ll find some unique savoury creations here: like the lobster & hummus roll and lamb & rhubarb on a toasted almond biscuit. Of course, for this experience, it’s the sweets that steal the show, with desserts that incorporate the entire spectrum of chocolate: there’s a chocolate shortbread cookie with dulce chocolate ganache, raspberry with white chocolate mousse, and a beautiful jan-doo-ya sponge, almond & caramel treat. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is an experience to try.

So there you have it, just a few of our favourite afternoon teas around the world but we’ll leave you to explore the rest.  If you’ve got a favourite spot, let us know! See you next time… à la prochaine!