The Lobby at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
Easily the most yuletide-inspired afternoon tea offering on our list, the Festive Afternoon Tea from The Lobby at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel has a menu that includes smoked turkey and Christmas ham sandwiches, Christmas cookies, cream puff Grand Marnier and buche de noel cranberry scones, to name just a few items.
The seasonal treats are certainly fun, but true tea aficionados can also enjoy an extensive range of high-quality teas at the Anantara hotel lounge. The Lobby has an exclusive selection of teas from renowned gourmet French tea company Mariage Frères on offer.
Running until January 5, 2017, the festive offering comes in two variants including a standard option on weekdays and a buffet option on weekends.
Where: The Lobby, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
When: Monday to Sunday
Hours: 2pm to 6pm
Price: THB 890 (US$25) per person, Monday to Friday; THB 990 (US$27.8) per person, Saturday to Sunday.
Contact: +66 2 126 8866; [email protected]; siam-bangkok.anantara.com
The Lounge and Bar, Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s Lounge and Bar is offering a new Caviar Afternoon Tea set this winter featuring a ten-gram tin of Prunier Caviar. Guests are offered blinis (thin pancakes) and a selection of condiments, including crème fraiche, chopped red onions, egg white and lemon wedges to create their own pairings. Meanwhile, additional dishes including a “Devil Egg” with French Dijon mustard, smoked Balik salmon fillets, and Mont Blanc raspberry choux, among others, are also available.
The Lounge and Bar makes good use of its location in the Ritz-Carlton, which occupies the 102nd to 118th floors of the International Commerce Centre, offering sweeping views of the Hong Kong skyline.
The new caviar afternoon tea set will be available from December 16, 2016 until January 2, 2017.
Where: The Lounge & Bar, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
When: Monday to Sunday
Hours: 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Thursday; 2.15pm to 6.30pm, Friday; 12pm to 6.30pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday; 12pm to 4.30pm, December 24 and 31; 4pm to 6pm, December 25
Price: HK$548 (US$71) (+10 per cent service charge) per person
Contact: +852 2263 2270; [email protected]; ritzcarlton.com/hongkong
Mirror Room, London
Rosewood London’s Mirror Room is taking culinary artistry to the extreme with its new Art Afternoon Tea set inspired by and celebrating five notable artists: Yayoi Kusama, Alexander Calder, Mark Rothko, Damien Hirst and Banksy. The set has been developed by the eatery’s head pastry chef, Mark Perkins, and follows a quintessentially British afternoon tea format, including sandwiches and scones.
The set includes a sculpture-esque cake inspired by American sculptor Alexander Calder, that combines pistachio and cherry glazed with red chocolate; a layered coconut and raspberry sponge filled with coconut mousse, fresh raspberries and raspberry chocolate, designed after abstract impressionist Mark Rothko’s works; and a white chocolate cube filled with vanilla cream choux, cherry jelly, hazelnut caramel and chocolate cremeaux, along with a tiny replica of street artist Banksy’s renowned Girl with a Balloon artwork.
A fitting venue for such an art-themed afternoon tea, the Mirror Room itself features decorative mirrors and impressive 3D artworks by Simon Bingle. The Art Afternoon Tea set will be available from now until June 2017.
Where: Mirror Room, Rosewood London
When: Monday to Sunday
Hours: 12pm to 7pm
Price: £50 (US$64) per person
Contact: +44 203 747 6820; [email protected]; rosewoodhotels.com/london
Como Shambhala Estate, Bali
From quintessentially English to traditional Chinese. Less a typical afternoon tea meal and more a traditional tea ceremony, the Lunar New Year tea celebrations at Como Shambhala Estate in Bali will see celebrated tea master and Zen monk, Wu De, welcome in the New Year with a variety of tea experiences.
From January 23 to February 1, guests at the resort can join the Chao Dao (way of tea) practitioner for a variety of rituals, including: a Chao Dao tea ceremony group session on January 28, the night of the Lunar New Year; daily Kedara water gathering and purification rituals; and private Gong Fu tea ceremonies for a more immersive experience.
Each guest receives a special wild or organic living tea, such as oolong, green tea or pu-erh, followed by a talk by Wu De on the relationship between Zen and tea.
Where: Como Shambhala Estate, Bali
When: January 23 to February 1
Price: Rp400,000 (US$30) for Chao Dao group session; Rp600,000 (US$45) for Kedara water gathering and purification ritual; Rp4,455,000 (US$333) for Gong Fu private session
Contact: +62 361 978 888; [email protected]; comohotels.com/comoshambhalaestate
Uptop Bistro & Bar, Hong Kong
Like the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s Lounge and Bar, Uptop Bistro & Bar makes good use of its location in Tsim Sha Tsui district, offering 270-degree views of the Hong Kong skyline and the Central Harbourfront Ferris wheel from the top floor of the Popway Hotel. Its afternoon tea offering is no different, with its Ferris Wheel Afternoon Tea Set proving a popular choice for hotel guests and locals alike.
From December 1, the restaurant has added a slight twist to its tea set, which among other things includes a Ferris wheel-shaped snack plate with treats including apple salted caramel cake and savoury offerings such as pan-fried tuna canapés. Collaborating with hair-removal brand Medilase to celebrate the company’s new store at nearby The One shopping mall, Uptop Bistro has added a chocolate cupcake and marshmallow brownie to its offering.
The Uptop x Medilase Ferris Wheel Afternoon Tea Set starts at HK$338 (US$44) for two on weekdays. Meanwhile a glass of house wine, a mimosa or mocktail can be added with an additional HK$48 (US$6) charge.
Where: Uptop Bistro & Bar, Popway Hotel Hong Kong
When: Monday to Sunday
Hours: 3pm to 5pm
Price: HK$338 (US$44) (+10 per cent service charge) for two from Monday to Friday, HK$368 (US$47) for two on weekends and public holidays
Contact: +852 2117 3526; [email protected]; popway.com.hk
