Top 50 High-End Afternoon Tea and High Tea Rooms

AFTERNOON TEA is a light meal typically eaten between 3.30 pm and 5 pm. Observance of the custom originated amongst the wealthy classes in England in the 1840s. Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, is widely credited as transforming afternoon tea in England into a late-afternoon meal whilst visiting Belvoir Castle, though Charles II of England's wife Catherine of Braganza is often credited with introducing tea to the court upon her arrival in 1662. By the end of the nineteenth century, afternoon tea developed to its current form and was observed by both the upper and middle classes: "the table was laid ... there were the best things with a fat pink rose on the side of each cup; hearts of lettuce, thin bread and butter, and the crisp little cakes that had been baked in readiness that morning."

Traditionally, loose tea is brewed in a teapot and served with milk and sugar. The sugar and caffeine of the concoction provided fortification against afternoon doldrums for the working poor of 19th and early 20th century England who had a significantly lower calorie count and more physically demanding occupation than most Westerners today. For laborers, the tea was sometimes accompanied by a small sandwich or baked snack (such as scones) that had been packed for them in the morning. For the more privileged, afternoon tea was accompanied by luxury ingredient sandwiches (customarily cucumber, egg and cress, fish paste, ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with clotted cream and jam, see cream tea) and usually cakes and pastries (such as Battenberg cake, fruit cake or Victoria sponge). In hotels and tea shops the food is often served on a tiered stand; there may be no sandwiches, but bread or scones with butter or margarine and optional jam or other spread, or toast, muffins or crumpets.

HIGH TEA (also known as meat tea) is the evening meal or dinner of the working class, typically eaten between 5 pm and 7 pm. High tea typically consists of a hot dish, followed by cakes and bread, butter and jam. Occasionally there would be cold cuts of meat, such as ham salad. Traditionally, high tea was eaten by middle- to upper-class children (whose parents would have a more formal dinner later) or by workers when they came home from work. The term was first used around 1825, and high is used in the sense of well-advanced (like high noon, for example) to signify that it was taken later in the day. The term "high tea" was used as a way to distinguish it from afternoon tea, and was used predominantly by the working class and in certain British dialects of the North of England.

Afternoon Tea News, Reviews & Resources

• 36 BEST AFTERNOON TEA IN LONDON 2024: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE - CNN Traveller.
• A guide to afternoon tea in London 2023 - "Advice from an "international tea expert" on where to go for the most Instagrammable afternoon tea and whether cream or jam goes on a scone first."
• AFTERNOON TEA | HIGH TEA - Wikipedia.
• Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford - (1783-1857). The Duchess is best remembered as the creator of afternoon tea. She found a light meal of tea (usually Darjeeling) and cakes or sandwiches was the perfect balance. The Duchess found taking an afternoon snack to be such a perfect refreshment that she soon began inviting her friends to join her. Afternoon tea quickly became an established and convivial repast in many middle and upper class households.
• Coffee & Chocolate: a Winning Combo - "Both come from the seeds of tropical plants, both contain caffeine that keeps our energy levels up and, together, they increase our concentration: we’re talking about coffee and chocolate, a winning combo in every sense, especially flavour. In higher-end cafés, coffee is often served with a glass of water and a chocolate, which poses its own slight dilemma: is it better to eat the chocolate before or after your coffee? And what about the water?"
• HighTea.com - "50 High Teas and Afternoon Teas All Over The World."
• HISTORY OF AFTERNOON TEA - AfternoonTea.co.uk.
• HISTORY OF HIGH TEA - "History of High Tea - History English Afternoon Tea - Tea Etiquette."
• Is this Britain's best Valentine's afternoon tea? - The Telegraph.
• Lift a Pinkie. It's Time for Tea - "In a fractious era, tea salons provide an oasis. A new service in New York, Tea Around Town, hosts afternoon tea aboard a pink and white double-decker bus for those who would like to take in the sights while sipping organic Earl Grey with lavender. The bus's interior has soft pink banquettes in place of the seating one might find on a Greyhound."
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• Louis Vuitton Afternoon Tea Box - since 1854. "In the timeless tradition of Louis Vuitton to create lifestyle trunks to accompany stylish travelers, several trunks for picnic use can be found in the archives of the house. To continue this tradition and create a new companion, the Afternoon Tea trunk will accompany 4 guests to share this gourmet moment wherever they travel."
• Mouthwatering afternoon tea recipes - The Telegraph.
• TEA GUILD TOP AFTERNOON TEA AWARDS 2017 - "Now in their 33th year, The Tea Guild Awards are considered the 'Oscars' of the tea world, with world-famous London hotels and tea rooms competing for the highly coveted honour."
• TEA HOUSE - Wikipedia.
• TEA ROOM - Wikipedia.
• Tea traditions around the world: in pics - The Telegraph.
• UNITED KINGDOM TEA COUNCIL - independent non-profit making body dedicated to promoting tea & its unique story for the benefit of those who produce, sell & enjoy tea.

Top 50 High-End Afternoon Tea & High Tea Rooms

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• Afternoon tea at Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel - 76 Orange Street, Cape Town, 8001 South Africa. "At Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, afternoon tea is a true institution." Enjoy delicate finger sandwiches filled with rare roast beef and rocket, smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise or cucumber. Follow with a delectable dark chocolate cake, lemon meringue and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves. The signature Mount Nelson Tea has been expertly blended from six teas: Darjeeling, Kenya, Assam, Keemun, Yunnan, Ceylon, and rose petals from our garden. In addition, we offer an array of leaf and flowering teas.
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• Afternoon tea at Claridge's - London, England, U.K. "Claridge’s serves the best afternoon tea in London. We received 'The Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea 2011' award, the highest accolade in the tea world."
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• Afternoon Tea at Dean Street Townhouse - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress - Victoria, BC, Canada.
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• Afternoon Tea At Fortnum & Mason - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Four Seasons at Park Lane - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Great Fosters - Surrey, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Hotel Amigo - Brussels, Belgium.
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• Afternoon Tea at InterContinental Amstel - Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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• Afternoon Tea at InterContinental London Park Lane - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Liberty - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Lowry Hotel - Manchester, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at MARIAGE FRÈRES - since 1854. Paris, France.
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• Afternoon Tea at Montague on the Gardens - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon tea at Mount Nelson Hotel - Cape Town, South Africa. "The signature Mount Nelson Tea has been expertly blended from six teas: Darjeeling, Kenya, Assam, Keemun, Yunnan, Ceylon, and rose petals from our garden."
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• Afternoon Tea at Pennyhill Park Hotel - Surrey, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at PERCH'S TEA-ROOM - since 1835. Kronprinsensgade 5, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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• Afternoon Tea at Royal Garden Hotel - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Royal Horseguards Hotel - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Sanctum Soho Hotel - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at Sofitel St James - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at THE ATHENÆUM HOTEL - London, England, U.K. Recipient of the Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 Award of Excellence from The Tea Guild. Considered the 'Oscars' of the tea world.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Balmoral Hotel - Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Bingham - Surrey, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Capital - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Connaught - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The CORINTHIA HOTEL - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Drake Hotel - Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
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• AFTERNOON TEA AT THE GEORGIAN - The Georgian Restaurant at Harrods, London, U.K. "The Georgian's quintessentially English afternoon tea stands amongst London's finest and, when enjoyed in such regal surroundings, is an experience to be savoured, remembered and repeated. Freshly cut sandwiches, scones and pastries are accompanied by your choice of tea from Harrods private tea gardens."
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• Afternoon Tea at The Goring Hotel - London, England, U.K. The Goring has been serving its quintessentially English Afternoon Tea since the day the hotel opened in 1910 and after 103 years, has mastered the perfect menu - with everything from deliciously traditional British brews, to tea-leaves sourced from the foot of the Himalayas. Such excellence has resulted in The Goring’s being awarded with one of the highest accolades from the UK Tea Guild, The 2013 Top London Afternoon Tea Award.
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• Afternoon Tea at THE LANESBOROUGH HOTEL - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at the Langham - "A tradition since 1865." The centre piece of the hotel, the dazzling Palm Court is famed as the place where the tradition of afternoon tea was born over 140 years ago, an indulgence that lives on today as Tiffin at The Langham.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Mandeville Hotel - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula - Hong Kong, (SAR, China).
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• Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula - Shanghai, China.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Pierre - New York City, NY, U.S.A.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Plaza - New York City, NY, U.S.A.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Portman Ritz-Carlton - Shanghai, China.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Ritz - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Savoy - London, England, U.K.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Shelbourne - Dublin, Ireland.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Waldorf Astoria - New York City, NY, U.S.A.
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• Afternoon Tea at The Wolseley - London, England, U.K.
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• Badrutt’s Afternoon Tea - at Badrutt's Palace Hotel, Via Serlas 27, CH-7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland. "Best Afternoon Tea of Switzerland." It’s impossible to forget the first time you enter Le Grand Hall in Badrutt’s Palace Hotel. With its high ceilings, marbled floors and elegant furnishings, it’s a delightful sight. Flooded with light from the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the room exudes a scent of old wood and fresh pastries - a smell which, from that day on, you’ll forever associate with the hotel’s afternoon tea. Enjoy one of the 28 teas, served with finger sandwiches - salmon, cheese, ham, cucumbers - as well as scones with jam and cream and a selection of tasty seasonal sweets from the confectioner's master of the Badrutt's Palace Hotel for CHF 39.00 per person.
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• CafÉ Imperial - at Hotel Imperial, Kärntner Ring 16, 1010 Vienna, Austria. "A Tribute to Viennese Coffeehouse Tradition." For the Viennese, a coffeehouse is like a second home outside of one’s own home. After a lavish buffet breakfast between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., guests can enjoy delicious Viennese specialties and tidbits together with popular coffee variations such as Wiener Melange (coffee & milk blend), Pharisäer (the Austrian-style Irish Coffee) or Maria Theresia (black coffee with orange liqueur and whipped cream) as well as the home-made Imperial Torte until 11:00 p.m.
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• Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon - "Elegant & Refined." Join us for cakes, sandwiches, scones and tea in the elegant home of our award-winning Afternoon Tea. Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London, U.K.
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• English Tea Room at BROWN'S HOTEL - London, England, U.K.
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• FASHION AFTERNOON TEA | PRÊT-À-PORTEA AT THE BERKELEY HOTEL - London, England, U.K.
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• High Tea at LUK YU TEA HOUSE - Central, Hong Kong, (SAR, China).
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• KRUG AFTERNOON TEA - "Take one of the finest British traditions, combine it with champagne and give it a Scandinavian touch – and you have d’Angleterre’s luxurious Afternoon Tea. In cooperation with KRUG Champagne, d’Angleterre has reinterpreted the classic English Afternoon Tea and it is served in the beautiful Gallery Hall with high ceilings and imposing chandeliers. Untraditional and eclectic specialties are featured by our Michelin restaurant Marchal, and specially composed tea is served to complement the taste of Champagne." Hotel d'Angleterre, Kongens Nytorv 34, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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• l'heure du thÉ at LADURÉE - since 1862. 75, avenue des Champs Élysées, 75008 Paris, France.
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• l'heure du thÉ at LADURÉE at Harrods - London, England, U.K.
• Queen Louise’s Tea House - "Queen Louise’s Tea House is located at the southern end of Bernstorffsparken. From here you can walk down Ved Slotshaven with the park on your left and the garden and The Parade House on your right. At the end of the road is the nice little thatched house. Chaya took over the lease of Queen Louise’s Tea House in 2008, where we have been serving Afternoon Tea on the weekends ever since. In addition, we have other initiatives in the form of all kinds of tea events. Ved Slotshaven 12, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark."
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• Tea at The Kaboku Tearoom - Kyoto, Japan.
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• The Tea Ceremony at Metropole Hotel - Venice, Italy.