The most exotic places in the world to have Afternoon Tea
7 far flung corners of the Empire where traditional English Afternoon Tea is still observed, in style
1. Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
High tea is served on the Stanley Terrace at the legendary Vic Falls Hotel from 3pm to 5.30pm. Booking is not required just show up, find a table and order. The current price is US$30 and this serves up to four people. It has views over the gorge to the bridge and falls, and you may even spot a zebra strolling over the lawn.
2. The Strand,Yangon, Burma
A favourite haunt of Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham, the grand colonial architecture of the Strand Hotel in the former Burmese capital is from a bygone era. High tea served in the Strand Grill restaurant complete with cane furniture and ceiling fans, the tempting tiered stands are laden with sandwiches, cakes and the most delicate petit fours you could wish for.
3. The Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Before the handover, The Peninsula was the haunt of governors, generals and visiting royalty. Little has changed. It remains the height of luxury in Hong Kong and where afternoon tea involves sipping tea from cups of eggshell-thin bone china amongst classical columns, gilded furnishings and carved gargoyles.
4. The Eastern and Oriental, Penang, Malaysia
Overlooking the Malacca Strait, “The E&O” is a timecapsule of Malaysia’s British colonial era. The hotel’s afternoon tea is traditionally English, featuring blue and white porcelain tea sets and crisp white tablecloths. The old-world service and tradition of a bygone era will convince you that the British never left.
5. Mount Nelson, Cape Town, South Africa
Set among expansive, lush gardens in the shadow of Table Mountain, the Mount Nelson’s legendary high teas are regarded as the best in the world by food critics, tourists and locals alike. Favourites include the raspberry vanilla cream cake, smoked salmon choux pastry puffs and freshly baked scones. But make sure you save a little room for the South African milk tarts. And good luck, choosing from over 30 loose leaf teas.
6. Tea & Sympathy, New York, USA
Tucked into a tiny shop in Greenwich Village, Tea & Sympathy is owned by English husband and wife, Sean Kavanagh-Dowsett and Nicky Perry. They offer a more informal afternoon tea experience, serving homemade rhubarb crumble, custard, and orange scones, served on shabby-chic, mismatched floral china.
7. Tiffin Room, Raffles Hotel, Singapore
A truly classic high-tea that revives all the elegance and glamour of Singapore’s colonial days, served every afternoon, between 3:30 and 5:30pm in the Tiffin Room. Guests enjoy a range of exquisite teas, finger sandwiches, chicken pies and pastries followed by the famed Singapore Sling cocktail under chandeliers and ceiling fans, gently serenaded by a harp player.
