Our Favorite Afternoon Teas Around the World
- Bob Glaze
- Jul 28
- 7 min read
By Bob Glaze for Globalphile.com:
When traveling, one of my favorite things is to have afternoon tea in one of the classic hotels or tea rooms. My favorites around the U.S. and abroad include the following:
Chicago, Illinois
The Langham Hotel occupies the first 13 floors of the historic landmark IBM Building (now known as AMA Plaza) designed by Mies van der Rohe. The Pavilion is a lovely spot for afternoon tea overlooking the skyline of Chicago. Make sure to book ahead as it is very popular. Their signature afternoon tea first debuted at The Langham, London in 1865.
Another well-known Chicago institution is the famous Drake Hotel at 140 E. Walton. Here you can enjoy afternoon tea in the elegant Palm Court, They offer special Holiday Teas during the Christmas season.
I have always liked The Lobby at the The Peninsula hotel for their elegant afternoon tea. They offer a full tea with pastries, scones, and sandwiches or you can order à la carte. I just had a pot of tea and a plate of lovely pastries, which was just perfect for me! The lobby is really lovely and overlooks the outside restaurant below.
I just went to Lake Forest, IL on the North Shore in suburban Chicago to have afternoon tea at the award-winning Deer Path Inn. It has been open for over 75 years. I loved being in the Garden Room of the English Room enjoying a great selection of teas along with scones, small sandwiches, tiny quiches, pastries, and cookies.
New York, New York
A great option for afternoon tea is The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel, located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South. A tradition at the Plaza Hotel since 1907, this is the place for its famous afternoon tea. Breakfast and lunch are also served.
A New York institution for over 87 years, the Russian Tea Room has been the place “where actors, writers, politicians, and executives plan their next deals and celebrate their friends’ latest Carnegie Hall performances.” Its elegant, modernist Russian style was recently renovated and is a perfect location for lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, or a pre-theater and post-theater dinner. Located at 150 W. 57th Street near Carnegie Hall.
Richmond, Virginia
Traditional high tea is served in the beautiful lobby of the classic Jefferson Hotel under the statue of Thomas Jefferson. Not only do they feature classic sandwiches, breads, and scones, as it was the third Saturday of the month, I enjoyed the chocolate tea, which included additional chocolate items from small chocolates, chocolate mousse, chocolate-covered strawberries, and more. Located at 101 W. Franklin St.
London, England
My favorite tea in London is by far at the The Connaught Hotel. At Carlos Place in Mayfair, I had tea there again recently at the Jean-George Restaurant, 40+ years after having my first high tea there with my parents in 1972. It is a wonderful, elegant hotel with great bar and restaurant.
Dublin, Ireland
Located on the corner of Wicklow and S. William Streets, this branch of the famed Parisian patisserie Ladurée is known for its wonderful macarons. You can also get coffee or enjoy afternoon tea. The salted caramel macarons are my favorite.
The Merrion Hotel is great for afternoon tea in the Drawing Rooms. Known as their Art Tea, it highlights some of their extensive art collection in three of the cakes served at the end. Make sure to book early online.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Make sure to add afternoon tea at The Merchant Hotel (16 Skipper St.) to your list when you are in town. It is served in their stunning Great Room Restaurant.
Miami/Coral Gables, Florida
Located in Coral Gables, I enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea in the lobby of the elegant Biltmore Hotel with the sounds of a harpist. It was a fun way to explore “Classic Florida” at its best.
Palm Beach, Florida
After a tour of the famed Breakers, built in 1925, you might enjoy lunch or afternoon tea at the Flagler Museum Café.
Hong Kong, China
Another Peninsula Hotel is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, and is the flagship property of the The Peninsula Hotels group. It has been offering luxury to travelers since 1928. You will love the traditional decor while enjoying afternoon tea in the lobby.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Located at 34 St. Andrew Square is a sleek, contemporary bar and restaurant on the fourth floor of the famed department store Harvey Nichols. It has wonderful views of the city and is a perfect spot for afternoon tea.
Glasgow, Scotland
Don’t miss afternoon tea at the Mackintosh Tearooms, formerly known as Mackintosh at the Willow. I booked my reservation months in advance at the Sauchiehall St. location just to make sure I had a chance to see this famous building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I was fortunate to be in the deluxe room upstairs with many of his original details, including stained glass. He is known for his tea rooms, where he designed the furniture as well. Ask to go upstairs to the room where you can see more of his architectural details and a great fireplace.
Vienna, Austria
A trip to Vienna would not be complete without a visit to Demel. This is a famous pastry shop and café from 1786 known for its wonderful cakes and chocolates. They do offer breakfast, small sandwiches, and other entrees. They have wonderful coffees, teas, and hot chocolates as well.
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Mandarin Oriental is now the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. This five-star luxury property has some great dining options. The 23rd floor Tea Lounge is perfect for afternoon tea overlooking The Strip. I highly recommend the experience.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One of my favorite areas in Philadelphia is Rittenhouse Square. A great place for an elegant high tea is the Mary Cassatt Tea Room at the Rittenhouse Hotel, served four times a day Thursday through Sunday.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
One my favorite places to visit in Northern Michigan is Mackinac Island. It is right out of the past, with Victorian homes and no cars allowed. Therefore you can walk, take a horse-drawn carriage, or ride a bike. The Grand Hotel, opened in 1887, is one of the most elegant places in the U.S. It has become a summer destination for vacationers from Chicago, Detroit, and other Midwest cities. I highly recommend enjoying an afternoon tea in the Parlor from 3:30 to 5:00 pm with live music, which has been a tradition for over 100 years. The price includes tea, sherry or champagne, a plate of finger sandwiches, and another plate of lovely desserts. In the high season, there may be a $10 admission fee for non-hotel guests.
Victoria, BC, Canada
My favorite part of my trip was enjoying a traditional afternoon tea at the grand Fairmont Empress Hotel. Set in their formal salon, the tea includes their house-made signature scones, pastries, clotted creams, and strawberry preserves with fresh lavender from the rooftop herb garden. There are 21 loose-leaf teas available to choose from. This is a must when you are in town. The hotel is really lovely, as it recently underwent a two-year $40 million renovation.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver downtown features a themed afternoon tea in the private dining room of its restaurant. When I was there, they were having The Great British Tea Party, featuring scones, tea sandwiches, and sweets. It is a fun experience that I highly recommend.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada
I also recommend enjoying an elegant afternoon tea in the Drawing Room at the historic Prince of Wales Hotel. Here you can pick a choice of tea and enjoy a selection of pastries, sandwiches, and scones. I went after a theater matinee and enjoyed seeing the historic building from 1864. The Victorian Drawing Room is small, so make your reservations online before you go.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Not to be missed is the afternoon tea service at the historic Pfister Hotel, a short walk from the Milwaukee Art Museum. Located on the 23rd floor in the hotel’s Blu Cocktail Lounge, this is an elegant tea with wonderful savory bites along with the best scones and desserts. They serve Rishi tea, which is a Milwaukee-based company. What sets this experience apart from other teas is the presentation by the Pfister Tea Butler, who tells the story behind each tea and allows you to smell each one and pick the best one for you. I chose their own special blend with jasmine and lavender. The views of downtown are really outstanding as well.
*All photos by Bob Glaze for Globalphile.com
Bob Glaze is writer/photographer for the international travel site Globalphile.com. A "citizen of the world," Glaze has traveled to over 900 cities in 43 countries and creates the best in travel content for the independent, sophisticated, creative, and design-conscious traveler to help them craft and create the ultimate experiences in the destinations they wish to explore and discover.
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