Had a delicious high tea with a girlfriend on Sunday. We chose The Tea Room, which I’d heard raves about but had never been in all these years (I mean, really! I must live under a rock). The restaurant is lavish, classy and has fabulous service. But then again, you wouldn’t expect anything less considering it’s $30pp for high tea. I consider that insanely $$ because I was actually thinking it’ll be around half the price, but apparently high tea’s pretty pricey in Australia.. and I guess it was the City location and the pretty interior.
They also offer an enticing lunch menu, but we stuck to our guns and ordered the Traditional Afternoon Tea – a selection of cakes and pastries, finger sandwiches, scones and preserve, tea or coffee. I picked the English Breakfast Tea.. was originally intending to get a Mocha coffee but feared the waitress might baulk at me not ordering tea 😉 When the lovely tray arrived, I realised why it was also so $$ – everything came on Royal Albert china.
The place is perfect to have a relaxed meal with your friends and chat away – we were there for almost 3 hours, and it sure didn’t feel like it. Initially I thought the food looked quite sparse, and thought “Gee, I can eat the entire tower of food.. how is it going to feed 2?” But the fact that we ate slowly and everything was carb-loaded, meant that we were definitely full afterwards.
BEST PART? We got additional free sandwiches!!!!!! Wheeeeeeee!! It was kind of a fluke. The waitress was carrying around a tray and I eagerly eyeballed her, and she caught me looking and came over with a smile. I asked if those were extra sandwiches, and she said they were complimentary and we could have them if we wanted. DUH!! Yes please 😉 So we happily got another 4 sandwiches and scoffed them, despite us insisting beforehand to each other that we were “sooooo full”.
The entrance
Interior
English Breakfast Tea
I hate sandwiches. But not these!! The bread was fresh and moist and the fillings were
soooooo good. And that savory tart thingy was delectable too.
Mega-scones that was freshly baked and crusty on the outside… mmmm… with
awesome homemade jam and King Island cream. The spinach pastries were good too!
Desserts galore. It was all good.
I’ve been reading your blog for years. I’m such a fan.. but this so reminds me when I was in Singapore at Raffles. I didn’t know you could do high tea in Sydney.. 🙂 ps – love the tiffany ring
Lauren
I never really went to high tea, so I didn’t know it was all over Sydney too, so many places offer it here! I’m def going to check it out in SG
I’ve been reading your blog for years. I’m such a fan.. but this so reminds me when I was in Singapore at Raffles. I didn’t know you could do high tea in Sydney.. 🙂 ps – love the tiffany ring
Lauren
I never really went to high tea, so I didn’t know it was all over Sydney too, so many places offer it here! I’m def going to check it out in SG
oh those look soo delicious!!
AND I just got back from Hong Kong/Japan and was playing catch up with previous entries – oh my goodness! I can’t believe you two broke up!!
You seem to be taking it very well, like it was inevitable.
xoxo
HK and Japan are gorrrrrgeous, lucky you! Can’t wait to see pics 🙂
How fun is it go for high tea! I did with some friends when I went to San Juan Puerto Rico and I wish where i live we had one here. But we must do it went I come to Sydney to visit you!
Can’t believe it too me so long to ‘discover’ it. I’d love to go with you if you’re in Sydney!!
wow everything looks very fancy ! i have to find a place like that in my city 🙂
I’m going to go more often with my girl friends! Such a good ideal 🙂
isn’t the tea room just perfect for those girly get-together? i mean the decor, and the pretty food etc. mmm…
It’s just unadulterated girlishness. I love it!
we did high tea at the hyatt in canberra for a girlfriends bridal shower. $30/head for a buffett of the cakes, sandwhiches etc, a glass of champgne and unlimited tea and coffee. mmmmm
Ours wasn’t buffet, so thank goodness they came round with more! But then again, we were too full to fit any more than that in 😉
High tea looks fun, I should try it at the Hotel MacDonald in Edmonton.
It’s lovely because you can sit there for hours chatting and not feel bad. I’ll be doing it more often!
oh those look soo delicious!!
AND I just got back from Hong Kong/Japan and was playing catch up with previous entries – oh my goodness! I can’t believe you two broke up!!
You seem to be taking it very well, like it was inevitable.
xoxo
HK and Japan are gorrrrrgeous, lucky you! Can’t wait to see pics 🙂
How fun is it go for high tea! I did with some friends when I went to San Juan Puerto Rico and I wish where i live we had one here. But we must do it went I come to Sydney to visit you!
Can’t believe it too me so long to ‘discover’ it. I’d love to go with you if you’re in Sydney!!
Ooh, that looks so good! I’m going to have to find a place in California that serves proper tea because the last time I had it was proably 7 years ago when I was in London. I think I get more excited about the sandwiches than the tea itself, though, so maybe I just need to learn how to make the sandwiches!
I’m all for high tea now, going to go more often! 🙂
Oh yum, those scones are giant! Wow haha.
They really filled us up *lol* but they were SO SO SO good, one of the best scones I’ve ever had
Oooooo! High tea sounds like a fun thing to attend 🙂 The sandwiches look soooo yummy
It was so lovely and posh 🙂 $$ here though, urk
wow everything looks very fancy ! i have to find a place like that in my city 🙂
I’m going to go more often with my girl friends! Such a good ideal 🙂
isn’t the tea room just perfect for those girly get-together? i mean the decor, and the pretty food etc. mmm…
It’s just unadulterated girlishness. I love it!
hey. din know you like high teas. we can go for nice ones when you are back here too 🙂
Oooooer let’s! Apparently it’s more reasonbly priced in SG too, I thought this one was a bit scary :X
by the way, can I mention the china looks DAM POSH!
I love it! But each saucer and plate and wahtever cost $100+, so I don’t think I’d have it in my own home :X
I’m glad I’m still on your frenw list!
not dead. just busy. your photos of food are as ever, making me….hungry.
p.s. I wanna see Homer again! Homer! *drools….*
Ahahaha happy to oblige!
OMG.
…..in a good way 😉
we did high tea at the hyatt in canberra for a girlfriends bridal shower. $30/head for a buffett of the cakes, sandwhiches etc, a glass of champgne and unlimited tea and coffee. mmmmm
Ours wasn’t buffet, so thank goodness they came round with more! But then again, we were too full to fit any more than that in 😉
I still cannot believe we ate that extra plate of sandwich! Anyway we should go back for lunch another time. 🙂
Yes, we’re such piggies 😉
We should go back when I’m back from Sg late-march.. that pork belly was calling my name
High tea looks fun, I should try it at the Hotel MacDonald in Edmonton.
It’s lovely because you can sit there for hours chatting and not feel bad. I’ll be doing it more often!
High tea is just so much fun! There’s something just so incredibly ladylike and leisurely about taking the afternoon off to munch and catch up with friends :).
I so gotta do it more often! Never had high tea with girl friends before..
I just love the photo of the tea set! Everything looks just precious and delightful! If I ever went there, I think I’d make a fool of myself squealing with delight and pretending to be posh. 😛
Hehe that was me.. it was all so fancy and pretty. Loved it!
I love going for high tea..everything’s so delicate! By the way, love your top too..it’s cute. 🙂
Aww thanks! I got it from Marcs about 2 months ago I think.. it’s SUPER soft!
My girlfriend has been there a couple of times and keeps telling me to go…now I’ve seen your pics, I extra want to!
Ohhh you so should, it’s worth it for a treat!
the cup and saucer looks sooo pwetty! love the last picures. you are making my stomach growl hunz! 😉
Royal Albert stuff is so pretty, but I don’t think I’d pay that kinda money for their stuff!
royal copenhagen (of denmark) is crazily-priced too. i loveee them!
btw, when you swinging by again sweets? my bangle’s still with ya? 🙂
Be there in 2 weeks 😉 I can meet up with you basically from 24 Feb – 17 March
okay doks. 😉 thanks sweeeets!
Ooh, that looks so good! I’m going to have to find a place in California that serves proper tea because the last time I had it was proably 7 years ago when I was in London. I think I get more excited about the sandwiches than the tea itself, though, so maybe I just need to learn how to make the sandwiches!
I’m all for high tea now, going to go more often! 🙂
i love sandwiches!! *drools*
I normally can’t stand ’em.. but these were SO NICE!!
Oh yum, those scones are giant! Wow haha.
They really filled us up *lol* but they were SO SO SO good, one of the best scones I’ve ever had
Oooooo! High tea sounds like a fun thing to attend 🙂 The sandwiches look soooo yummy
It was so lovely and posh 🙂 $$ here though, urk
hey. din know you like high teas. we can go for nice ones when you are back here too 🙂
Oooooer let’s! Apparently it’s more reasonbly priced in SG too, I thought this one was a bit scary :X
by the way, can I mention the china looks DAM POSH!
I love it! But each saucer and plate and wahtever cost $100+, so I don’t think I’d have it in my own home :X
I’m glad I’m still on your frenw list!
not dead. just busy. your photos of food are as ever, making me….hungry.
p.s. I wanna see Homer again! Homer! *drools….*
Ahahaha happy to oblige!
OMG.
…..in a good way 😉
I still cannot believe we ate that extra plate of sandwich! Anyway we should go back for lunch another time. 🙂
Yes, we’re such piggies 😉
We should go back when I’m back from Sg late-march.. that pork belly was calling my name
High tea is just so much fun! There’s something just so incredibly ladylike and leisurely about taking the afternoon off to munch and catch up with friends :).
I so gotta do it more often! Never had high tea with girl friends before..
I just love the photo of the tea set! Everything looks just precious and delightful! If I ever went there, I think I’d make a fool of myself squealing with delight and pretending to be posh. 😛
Hehe that was me.. it was all so fancy and pretty. Loved it!
I love going for high tea..everything’s so delicate! By the way, love your top too..it’s cute. 🙂
Aww thanks! I got it from Marcs about 2 months ago I think.. it’s SUPER soft!
My girlfriend has been there a couple of times and keeps telling me to go…now I’ve seen your pics, I extra want to!
Ohhh you so should, it’s worth it for a treat!
the cup and saucer looks sooo pwetty! love the last picures. you are making my stomach growl hunz! 😉
Royal Albert stuff is so pretty, but I don’t think I’d pay that kinda money for their stuff!
royal copenhagen (of denmark) is crazily-priced too. i loveee them!
btw, when you swinging by again sweets? my bangle’s still with ya? 🙂
Be there in 2 weeks 😉 I can meet up with you basically from 24 Feb – 17 March
okay doks. 😉 thanks sweeeets!
i love sandwiches!! *drools*
I normally can’t stand ’em.. but these were SO NICE!!