A great reason to bust out that snooty outfit you’ve got stashed away in your closet is to indulge in a gorgeously sophisticated High Tea. Think scones, sarmies and all things bite-sized and delicious. Here are ten stunning places where you can have your cake and eat it, too.
The Mount Nelson Hotel
Embrace tradition with an iconic afternoon tea in their luxury lounge. Finger sandwiches that are filled with rare roast beef, delicate smoked salmon or creamy egg mayonnaise, take your pick! Follow the tasties with velvety chocolate cake, lemon meringue or freshly-baked scones topped with preserves and cream for a sweet treat.
Afternoon tea offered Wednesday to Sunday from noon, for guests and non-residents. A completely vegan menu is also available, smoked carrot on blini with cashew cheese.
Details:
- Website: belmond.com/hotels/africa/south-africa/cape-town/belmond-mount-nelson-hotel/
- Location:76 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
- Price: R425 per adult and R215 per child.
- Bookings: [email protected]
Coco Safar
For a sweet and savoury experience that will take you on a culinary journey around the world, join Coco Safar’s High Tea by Day. Take off in Cape Town, and make your way through Paris, Istanbul and Shanghai before returning again to Cape Town.
You will be taken through a multi-chapter sweet and savoury experience by their onboard culinary team that will shatter your taste buds. On this journey, you’ll experience 16 chapters of pure culinary bliss, across four iconic cities.
Their High Tea experience is available every week from Fridays to Sundays between 2pm and 6pm. Group bookings can be made on alternate days via special request. Have a look at their scrumptious menu; we highly recommend the Rooibos Scones: mini Rooibos-cranberry scones with crème fraîche and mixed berry preserve.
Details:
- Website: cocosafar.com
- Location: Artem Centre, 277 Main Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8001
- Price: R695 per person.
- Bookings: [email protected]
The Yard at the Silo Hotel
The concept behind The Yard is to offer an eating experience with multi-faceted elements. Their Chefs offer a fusion of cultural tastes all the way from India to Africa, including scrumptious vegan options.
Study their menu to get an idea of what deliciousness awaits. The Baked Ricotta Hazelnut is a must try.
Details:
- Website: theyardatsilo.co.za
- Location: Ground Floor, Silo District, V&A Waterfront, South Arm Road, Cape Town, 8001
- Price: R425 per person, R475 for the vegan menu
- Contact: [email protected]
The Twelve Apostles
High Tea is served at the table, with a three-tier stand filled with sweet and savoury treats on standby. Look forward to a delicious selection including dainty finger sandwiches, chocolate brownies, cream puffs, macarons, madeleines and more. Of course, there’s also the classic teatime treat waiting for you: scones with jam and freshly whipped cream.
We recommend you try the most delicious chocolate brownies! And we love the fact that guests can enjoy a tea-stand filled with a collection of vegan treats, including dairy-free scones, coconut Panna Cotta, banana and oat cookies, and avocado and hummus wraps.
Details:
- Website: 12apostleshotel.com
- Location: Victoria Rd, Camps Bay, Cape Town, 8005
- Price: R425 per person in off-peak seasons. R415 per person between 20 December and 28 February, but R455 on weekends.
- Contact: [email protected]
One & Only
Savour a spectacular afternoon tea of elegant sandwiches, buttermilk scones and a veritable confectionary of gold leaf éclairs, pastel macarons and individual cakes. Afternoon Tea is served daily at the Vista Bar and Lounge from 2pm to 5pm.
Details:
- Website: oneandonlyresorts.com/cape-town
- Location: One&Only Cape Town, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
- Price: R425 including tea and coffee, or R495 including two glasses of bubbles
- Contact: [email protected]
Orangerie at Le Lude
Indulge yourself with Le Lude’s Morning and Afternoon Tea, with a selection of freshly baked treats accompanied by a glass of the estate’s award winning MCC. Served daily from 10am to 11am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm. While taking in the breathtaking location and decor, make sure to try the sensational Double Chocolate Lamington and the freshest scones on the block
Details:
- Website: lelude.co.za
- Location: Bowling Green Avenue, Lambrechts Rd, Franschhoek, 7690
- Price: R365 per person, including a glass of Le Lude Brut or Brut Rosé Cap Classique
- Contact: [email protected]
The Cellars-Hohenort
Imagine savoury treats such as roasted sun-dried tomato and feta cheese tarts, and grass-fed beef and peppadew skewers, followed by an array of sweet delights including classic Madagascan chocolate cake, a Mélange of flavoured cupcakes and fresh fruit pavlovas – not to forget the traditional finger sandwiches.
When the sweet and savoury are both deliciously on par, you know you’re in for a treat. We adore the sun-dried tomato and feta cheese tarts and couldn’t get enough of the Madagascan chocolate cake. Heavenly.
Details:
- Website: thecellars-hohenorthotel.com
- Location:93 Brommersvlei Rd, Constantia Heights, Cape Town, 7806
- Price: R395 per person including a welcome glass of L’Ormarins Brut Rosé, R195 children aged 4 – 11 years
- Contact: collectionmcgrath.com
The Vineyard Hotel
The Vineyard Hotel invites you to have some tea and continue to talk about happy things. Their afternoon tea menu offers savoury, sandwiches, sweets and of course tea! Afternoon tea is served on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm.
Enjoy savoury, sandwiches and sweets at this breathtaking location.
Details:
- Website: vineyard.co.za
- Location: Colinton Rd, Newlands, Cape Town, 7700
- Price: R295 per person.
- Contact: [email protected]
Manor Kitchen Restaurant at Lanzerac Estate
Enjoy a delectable feast with re-imagined canapés, an assortment of savoury plates, flavourful hot croquettes, a selection of finger sandwiches, scones and sweet delights such as cupcakes, petit fours, tartlets and macrons. Upgrade this memorable experience to include bottomless MCC.
Details
- Website: lanzerac.co.za
- Location: 1 Lanzerac Rd, Karindal, Stellenbosch, 7600
- Price: R380 per person
- Contact: [email protected]
Russian Tea Ceremony at Hazendal
Hosted in the elegant Avant-Garde space, where hand-painted murals and crystal chandeliers evoke the grandeur of Russian nobility, Hazendal’s unique Russian Tea Ceremony celebrates the central role tea has played in Russian society since 1638.
Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menus are available. The Blinchik, a thin crêpe with créme fraiche and spring onion is simply divine, followed by decadent Russian chocolate salami.
Details:
- Website: hazendal.co.za
- Location: Bottelary Rd, Brackenfell South, Stellenbosch, 7599
- Price: R395 per adult or R255 per child (12 years and under). From Tuesdays to Thursdays (Mid-week Special) pay R355 per adult or R216 per child
- Contact: [email protected]
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Picture: Unsplash