Three top luxury afternoon tea experiences around the world

To celebrate International Tea Day this week (21 May), we’re dreaming of the perfect afternoon tea. While it might traditionally be an English custom, afternoon tea is served in luxury hotels across the world, with many of our inVOYAGERS offering sumptuous sweet treats in stylish surrounds. Here we share just three high teas on our hit list for when lockdown is over…

Teatime at Le Meurice by Cédric Grolet

Inspired by Dalí and designed by Philippe Starck, Restaurant Le Dalí at Le Meurice, part of The Dorchester Collection, provides a unique backdrop for this very Parisian take on an afternoon tea – one of the most coveted in the city.

World-renowned pastry chef Cédric Grolet joined Le Meurice in 2012, having spent years refining his skills in pastry, chocolate and ice cream in kitchens across France. Multiple awards later, including ‘Best Pastry Chef of the Year’ (Le Chef, 2015), ‘Best Pastry Chef’ (Gault & Millau, 2017) and ‘Best Pastry Chef in the World 2018’ (The World’s 50 Best Restaurants).

Guests can indulge in Grolet’s freshly-baked pastries, cakes and delicate finger sandwiches, all served alongside a selection of tea, coffee and homemade hot chocolate. Grolet is known for his irresistible creations, including trompe-l’oeil fruit desserts, such as white chocolate strawberries on a shortbread crust and filled with strawberry yogurt cream.

Sounds like our cup of tea!!

The Traditional Treat at Ritz Carlton Dubai

With a large terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf, The Palm Jumeirah and surrounding gardens, the glamorous Lobby Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai offers an authentic tea experience.

The classic menu includes a selection of infusions and brews from around the world, sandwiches stuffed with curried egg and capers, roast beef with Pommery mustard and cucumber with chives and sour cream, and scones with Devonshire cream.

The exquisitely crafted artisan pastry and cakes selection includes Lemon Meringue Tart, Pistachio Macaroon, Chocolate and Orange Éclair and Battenberg Cake followed by Petit Four.

Traditional and Champagne options are available, and guests can sit back and relax to the  soothing sounds of the harpist.

Peggy Porschen Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough

This enticing afternoon tea experience was launched by The Lanesborough’s Head Pastry Chef Kevin Miller in collaboration with world-famous bakery Peggy Porschen. The exclusive partnership sees founder and life-long baker Peggy return to The Lanesborough, where she held her first prestigious pastry chef position in 1999 after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu’s ‘The Grand Diploma of Cuisine & Patisserie’.

Combining one of London’s most beautiful afternoon tea settings, under the naturally illuminated domed glass roof of the Michelin-starred Céleste, with the fairy tale pink aesthetics of Peggy Porschen, guests can expect to be immersed into a celebration of beautiful floral features, pastel-hues and exquisite tastes.

Finger sandwiches and homemade scones are served alongside pastries including Strawberry & Champagne Cupcake and Peggy’s Pink Pavlova. Guests will also be invited to choose a slice of one Peggy Porschen’s signature layer cakes of the day from a specially designed cake trolley.

If you can’t wait till the hotel is open again for afternoon team, Head Pastry Chef Kevin Miller shares his recipe on how to make the perfect British scone here.