Hong Kong’s best Christmas afternoon teas
Dig out your posh frock and tuck into the city’s sweetest yuletide treatsThe Ritz-Carlton
Soak up some of the best views in the city (especially during the gorgeous, crisp, blue sky days Hong Kong enjoys at this time of year) from The Lounge & Bar on the 102nd floor at The Ritz-Carlton and Cafe 103 on (you guessed it), floor 103.
The hotel is collaborating for the first time with Montblanc to host the Montblanc Wishing Tree Afternoon Tea. Expect a tray of savoury and sweet treats using the finest German ingredients that are sure to put you into the festive mood.
What: The Montblanc Wishing Tree Afternoon Tea.
When: December 24, 25 & 26 and January 1.
Prices: $498 per person.
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon.
Reservations: ritzcarlton.com
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Never failing to ‘Wow’ Hong Kongers with festive delights, The Peninsula takes inspiration from the golden age of railway travel this year, transforming its first floor into a full-sized train platform, Grand Salisbury Station.
From the platform, guests can board The Peninsula Express for an enchanting voyage to new Peninsula destinations – London and Istanbul. Onboard, guests can indulge in the hotel’s “Teas of Hope” afternoon tea menu, part of an annual fundraising campaign that raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The menu includes sweet offerings by the hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef Florian Couteau, such as blackcurrant Mont Blanc, mandarin passion fruit marmalade with whipped ganache, Christmas cookies and festive chocolate bonbons, accompanied by traditional raisin scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Savoury dishes, created by The Lobby’s Chef de Cuisine Anton Ho, include foie gras with brioche and orange confit, tsar-cut smoked salmon with crème fraîche panna cotta and avruga caviar, langoustine with ratatouille and milk bun and classic cucumber sandwich.
What: Teas of Hope” Afternoon Tea & Festive Afternoon Tea
When: Until December 15 & December 27-30. Between December 16-26 a special Festive Afternoon Tea menu will be served.
Prices: $518 per person ($658 per person for the Festive Afternoon Tea menu)
Where: The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Reservations: peninsula.com
181 Fortnum & Mason
There’s truly nothing quite like taking afternoon tea at Fortnum’s and 181 offers a true taste of Fortnum’s most famous pastime. Inspired by Fortnum’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon in London’s Piccadilly, famously opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2012, Fortnum’s luxurious menu includes exceptional rare teas, moreish scones and flavoursome finger sandwiches, finished with a glass of Champagne. Fortnum’s Christmas Afternoon Tea is inspired by the rich flavours of winter’s seasonal ingredients with a specially curated menu with an irresistible selection including Tonka Bean Chocolate, delicate Rose Éclair, aromatic Orange and Spice Cake, delightful Pear dome, and velvety Chestnut Mousse as well as Fortnum’s famed scones and perfectly-cut sandwiches.
What: Fortnum’s Christmas-themed Afternoon Tea
When: Until mid-January
Prices: $588 per person
Where: Shop 022, G/F K11 Atelier Victoria Dockside 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Reservations: 181fortnums.com.hk
Spices at The Repulse Bay
Head out of town and soak up the winter sun as you tuck into a delightful beachside afternoon tea at Spices.
The restaurant’s brand new Spice Route afternoon tea takes its inspiration from Thailand.
Bitesize treats include prawn toasts with Pandang mayonnaise, fresh shrimp and potato rolls, Thai beef salad and Thai fish cake mini burgers.
Sweet pastries include miniature versions of the dining space’s most popular desserts, such as rainbow lapis cake, mango and glutinous rice and coconut pudding. Coffees and teas are included in the experience.
What: Spice Route Afternoon Tea.
When: 2.30 to 5.30pm, November 20 onwards, weekdays only.
Prices: $268 per person.
Where: Spices at The Repulse Bay, 109 Repulse Bay Road, Repulse Bay.
Reservations: therepulsebay.com/en/dining/spices
Regent Hong Kong
It only reopened this year but the harbourside hotel is already laying on not one, but two tasty teas for Christmas.
They’re served in the hotel’s dramatic lobby lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over sparkling Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.
The Festive Afternoon Tea is available from December 16 onwards.
And for Christmas weekend only, executive pastry chef Andy Yeung and Lobby Lounge head chef Rajiv Chowdhorry will be collaborating to present a special Christmas Afternoon Tea. Delicacies include cod fish rillettes paired with seaweed and miso calamansi and Madagascar vanilla mousse with calamansi jelly and yoghurt sponge.
What: Festive Afternoon Tea and Christmas Afternoon Tea.
When: Festive Afternoon Tea, December 16 to January 6; Christmas Afternoon Tea, December 23, 24 & 25.
Prices: Festive Afternoon Tea, $1,088 for two; Christmas Afternoon Tea, $1,288 for two.
Where: Lobby Lounge, Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Reservations: hongkong.regenthotels.com
The Murray
The Garden Lounge at the Central-located hotel will be hosting the Murray Festive Afternoon Tea throughout December and into January.
The tea tray includes homemade pastries and coffee taken whilst enjoying views over historic St John’s cathedral and the lush greenery of Hong Kong Park. Teatime treats include turkey and cheddar cheese sandwiches with cranberry cream, salmon and dill cream Christmas tree vol au vents and traditional British mince pies.
Upstairs, the rooftop Popinjays restaurant will also be hosting a Lavish Velvet Afternoon Tea Buffet. Enjoy a sumptuous spread of cakes and pastries, savoury bites and a range of teas.
A third tea, Santa’s Afternoon Tea, will be hosted at Murray Lane in the hotel’s lobby; enjoy a laden tea tray paired with eggnog or mulled wine.
What: Murray Festive Afternoon Tea, Lavish Velvet Afternoon Tea Buffet and Santa’s Afternoon Tea.
When: December 1 to January 8.
Prices: Murray Festive Afternoon Tea, $788 for two and $220 per glass of champagne; Lavish Velvet Afternoon Tea Buffet, $398 per adult and $208 per child and $220 per glass of champagne; Santa’s Afternoon Tea, $364 per person and $220 per glass of champagne.
Where: The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central.
Reservations: niccolohotels.com
The Upper House
Enjoy delectable treats conjured up by Salisterra at The Upper House’s pastry chefs along with bakes courtesy of the Cookie Department. The two teams will be partnering this festive season to create a memorable Christmas tea.
Tuck into savoury bites such as chicken avocado toast, cream cheese & lox on an Everything Bagel and cheddar buttermilk biscuit & egg salad. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a tea tray laden with bite-sized Cookie Department favourites in minis, including the delectable Thumbprint cookie with strawberry, lemon and rosemary meringue, mini buttermilk pancakes and salted caramel French toast. A batch of Salisterra’s fresh and fluffy scones completes the tea table.
What: The Salisterra x Cookie Department Afternoon Tea.
When: 3 to 5pm daily until January 1, 2024, Monday to Thursday.
Prices: The tea costs $680 for two and Friday to Sunday and public holidays $718 for two.
Where: The Upper House, 88 Queensway, Admiralty.
Reservations: salisterra@upperhouse.com
Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour
The hotel’s traditional weekend afternoon tea has had a Christmas makeover in time for the festive season.
Savoury highlights from the tea tray include foie gras mousse tartlets with gingerbread crumble and brie and truffle croissants.
Sweet treats run from chestnut Mont Blancs to seasonal mandarin chocolate verrines and more. And, of course, the tea is accompanied by freshly baked rum raisin scones.
Guests can also take advantage of the live food stations with made-to-order mulled wine-roasted cherries, cinnamon banana crepes and festive flavoured ice creams.
What: Festive Afternoon Tea.
When: 3.30 to 5pm, December 2&3, 9&10, 16&17, 23, 26 and January 1.
Prices: $688 for two.
Where: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour, 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point.
Reservations: hyatt.com
The Park Lane Hong Kong
Calling all chocoholics… Ebb & Flow at The Park Lane is unveiling a spectacular Valrhona Chocolate Christmas Tea for the holidays.
The delectable chocolate-themed tea celebrates the time of year with a yummy selection of choccy-based treats, including Opals 33% Madeleines, Inspiration chocolate cream choux, Satilia Lactee 35% chocolate tart, Guanaja 70% chocolate mousse mango and Ariaga 66% chocolate and plain scones served traditionally with jam and clotted cream.
Decadent savoury bites include a truffle egg salad sandwich with caviar and sunflower seed bread, roasted beef open-faced sandwich with red onion jam and horseradish cream and smoked salmon mousse pinwheel sandwiches with sour cream and salmon rose.
What: Valrhona Chocolate Christmas Tea.
When: 3 to 5.30pm, every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday in December.
Prices: $458 for two guests, $258 for one guest.
Where: Ebb & Flow Lobby Lounge, The Park Lane Hong Kong, 310 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay.
Reservations: parklane.com.hk
