Traditional English Afternoon Tea
Traditional English afternoon tea – featuring delicate sandwiches, freshly-baked scones with clotted cream and delicious pastries – is presented in an extra-special way at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing with the added bonus of a stunning Forbidden City view.
The afternoon tea experience was inspired by the Rosebury Lounge at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, where patrons enjoy an elegant version of the mid-afternoon classic. As well as carefully following the London recipes, the Beijing hotel also acquired beautifully ornate Rosebury Lounge-style cake stands, designed in the shape of a mandarin tree, with a crystal ball at the base.
The afternoon tea is served from 3 to 5pm and priced at *CNY 688/set on weekdays and *CNY 758/set on weekends and public holidays, with the option of adding a little Champagne sparkle with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reservé for *CNY 128, or Rose Reservé, for *CNY 158. The afternoon tea set is available in limited quantities at Café Zi.
*All prices are subject to 15 % service charge
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When it comes to feeling pampered, not many restaurant outings can compare to an afternoon tea. Theres something special about pouring a steaming hot brew from your own pot into a delicate, beautifully patterned cup and being presented with tiered trays stacked with scones and clotted cream, bite-size pastries and the most adorable sandwiches. Washington hotels and tearooms are putting their own spin on this quintessentially British tradition, which began as a way to ward off hunger between lunch and dinner. Heres a list of tea services so you can find your exact cup of tea.
Head to … the Willard InterContinentals Peacock Alley or the Henley Park Hotel.
Its a splurge, but you can live out all your Downton Abbey dreams with a weekend afternoon tea service in the Willard InterContinentals historic Peacock Alley walkway. Lady Mary would feel right at home in this handsome hallway off the lobby, with its ornate carpets and music from a harpist. Choose from nearly 20 Jenwey teas, including bourbon vanilla rooibos and the Willards signature blend of Keemun and Pu-erh black teas. Treats such as mini pimento BLT sandwiches and dried Maine blueberry scones with lemon curd are arranged on tiers of elegant plates.
Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $68-$75. Reservations required.
Henley Park Hotel, 926 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Daily, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. $14-$35.
Head to …Brothers and Sisters at the Line hotel.
Le Gouter Afternoon Tea At Opaline Bar And Brasserie
- Address: 806 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
- Call 730-8800 or email for reservations
- Seating times: 2pm to 4pm on Saturday only
French bistro vibes get a modern afternoon tea makeover every Saturday at Opaline Bar and Brasserie.
The sweet bites dont venture too far from French classics, featuring an array of fruit tarts, macaron, and madeleines that are adapted to refined tea-appropriate sizes and served on eclectic and colorful serve-ware.
Embrace the true nature of Parisian dining and sip teaor tea inspired cocktailson the spacious and relaxing outdoor patio.
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Modern Day Afternoon Tea
Today, tea ritual is a globalized and standardized practice characterized by differentiation. The average grocery store-goer can identify a bag of tea and its functionality, but maintain completely different perceptions, connotations, and cultural expectations from the globally recognized provision.
Do images of a posh British high-tea or the Queen of England or even childhood birthday parties come to mind? Does a steaming cup unearth nostalgic memories? A sense of belonging? Comfort? Ritual? Community?
As an isolated chai tea drinker, I fully acknowledge the dubious assumption that every American household favors tea as the caffeinated beverage of choicecoffee seems better suited to the American propensity to favor productivity over all else.
But perhaps its less rash to assume most households procure a tea inventory for the dinner guest who fancies a cuppa cuppa after an evening meal.
Which bears a very important questionwhere does tea fit into American culture, or on an even more local level, Washington DC?
Mandarin Oriental Empress Lounge
- Address: 1330 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Reservations required, call 787-6148
- Seating times: 1:30pm to 3:30pm, Thursday through Sunday
The traditional Afternoon Tea experience at Empress Lounge mirrors the Mandarin Orientals five-star luxury hotel standing. Enjoy scones, tea sandwiches, and pastries in the charming lounge space with adjacent views of the Empress Garden.
Lobster salad on butter brioche, deviled eggs and caviar, and opera cake with earl grey and milk chocolate captures an unparalleled tea-time innovation from Executive Pastry Chef Claus Olsen.
The vibrant Above Washington D.C. paintingdepicting Empress Dowager Cixi swinging over Washington DCis an excellent conversation starter, casting a brilliant light on the Mandarin Orientals blending of Eastern and Western philosophies and cultures.
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The Willard Intercontinental: Peacock Alley
- Address: Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
- Reservations can be made on the website or by calling 942-7010. Afternoon tea to-go available on Saturdays .
- Seating times: 1pm and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday
For a near high-tea experience on this side of the pond, explore The Willard Intercontinentals afternoon tea experience at Peacock Alley.
A corridor strewn with ornate golds, rich reds, and grand crown moldings reaffirms afternoon teas posh undertones with just enough East Coast modesty to allow for family gatherings and American puns. The elegant tea selection features black, green, herbal, and white varieties to accompany stylish sandwiches, pastries, and scones.
Keep a special eye out for Peacock Alleys two seasonal afternoon tea offeringsHoliday Afternoon Tea and Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea. Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and childrens menus are available upon request.
Mandarin Oriental Washington Dc
We are the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas.Washington, D.C.
- The D.C hotels Four-Star spa is arguably the citys finest, and at 10,000 square feet, its also one of the largest. Book the Asian-inspired Bamboo Massage, similar to a hot stone but with the use of heated bamboo rods. Even if you cant fit in a treatment, hotel guests get to use the spas great facilities for free.
- For a respite from the crowds that gather in the capitol on the weekends, indulge in afternoon tea at Empress Lounge, served with finger sandwiches, scones and a selection of sweets from Friday through Sunday.
- Even city view rooms boast vistas of the Washington Monument, an easy and charming reminder that youre staying in the nations capital.
- Despite the luxury hotels large size, it lives up to expectations with discreet, personalized service and friendly staff.
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Afternoon Tea At The Empress Lounge
- Trip type: Traveled solo
Dear “bbcbearuk,”We are so grateful that you chose us for your afternoon tea experience, and that you also took the time to post about your experience.We know that you have several choices in town, so it’s appreciated that you chose to spend an afternoon with us. We have taken your comments and shared them with our culinary team for consideration – it’s a great suggestion!We hope to have the pleasure of your company very soon!Kind regards,
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2,3352,3402,742New York City, New York
- Trip type: Traveled on business
- Value
Dear “Harlemfamily,”We appreciate you taking the time to share with us your experience during your recent stay. We know that you have so many things to focus on when you return from a trip, so when you take the time to post about your visit, we are thankful!We have taken your comments about your dining experience to heart, and have shared them with the appropriate team manager so that they can be addressed.We hope to present a better dining experience to you when you return for your next stay.Safe travels,
- Trip type: Traveled on business
- Value
Oriental Elegance With Luxury Amenities In The Southwest Waterfront
Overlooking the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin Mandarin Oriental captures the essence of Washington, DC delighting guests with an elevated service in harmony with our Asian heritage. Mandarin Oriental is on the Southwest waterfront within walking distance to the National Mall, Tidal Basin, District Wharf, the Smithsonian Castle, and Museums of the Smithsonian Institution by the L’Enfant Metro Station.From our urban oasis at our Spa to cocktails or high tea at the Empress our hotel makes the perfect fit for travelers seeking unforgettable memories in the Nation’s capital. Are you a FanAwards: 2021 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award, 2021 AAA Four-Diamond Award, 2021 US News and World Report Best Hotels in Washington, D.C.
Amenities
- Motor Coach Parking off site
- Motor Coach Parking on site
- Free Wifi
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The Mansion At Strathmore In Bethesda
- Address: 10701 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852Call 581-5108 for reservations
- Specialty Teas & Tea and Talks
- Seating times: Tea event dates available online. Tea begins at 1pm on the date of the event.
Enjoy a themed afternoon tea party with a Specialty Tea at The Mansion at Strathmore. Strathmore is a non-profit community performance center in Northern Bethesda that serves locals and neighboring DC residents.
The Mansions specialty teas extend Strathmores community arts mission with themed afternoon tea events that cultivate artistic conversation. Greek Tea, Outlander Scottish Tea and Talk, and Downton Abbey Teato name a fewpair with brilliantly tailored music, savory nibbles, and steaming pots of tea.
The Mansion On O & O Street Museum
For the ultimate high tea party in the heart of Dupont, the Mansion on O offers private room packages for 10 or more . The five-course spread, complete with butler service and a self-guided tour of the historic museum, comes with Tea Forté loose-leaf selections, bottomless bubbly, pastries, savory bites, cheese plates, and more.
Housed in a English Tudor-style building built in 1918, this historic hotel serves a quiet afternoon tea in its Tavern Room, where light streams in through lead glass windows. Choose from two menus and indulge in a selection sandwiches, tartlets, dried fruit scones, and more. A selection of champagne cocktails are $16 for each drink or $28 for unlimited drinks. Tea is served Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Reservations required.
Open near the White House since 1926, the St. Regiss new Presidential afternoon tea service features desserts, pastries, tea sandwiches, and scones that pay homage to past presidential guests. A layered blueberry cheesecake honors President Franklin D. Roosevelts love for his wifes blueberry pudding, while a toasted coconut lime cream profiterole speaks to President Ronald Reagans obsession for jellybeans. Offered in its opulent lobby with Dammann Frères teas and optional Champagne pairings. Thursday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are required, and the price starts at $65 per person.
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Review Of Empress Lounge
Having done numerous afternoon teas, I was excited to do High Tea at the Mandarin Oriental during my recent stay. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectation of what tea at the Mandarin Oriental should be.The tea was held in the Empress Lounge, which is in the middle of the lobby. While it is definitely a place where one can be seen having tea, it was not as intimate a spot as I would have preferred and I was surprised they weren’t having tea in Muze. Having looked at the tea menu beforehand, I knew what to expect but was still impressed by the presentation of the food. You won’t get your traditional tea sandwiches or desserts here. While the portions were small, everything tasted good, but service is slow. It appears they tried to mitigate this by having all elements of the tea brought out at once instead of in stages. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel this tea was as good a value as other’s I have attended.
Decadent And Affordable Afternoon Teas In Washington Dc
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Those of us who cannot get enough of Ted Lassos laugh-out-loud one-linersstrategically scripted to delineate between British and American humorare well aware of teas stealth but note-worthy role.
Barely ten minutes into the series, Jason Sudeikis reaffirms a preconceived notion that tea tastes like hot brown water and proceeds to ask for water. This short but effective hysterical scene proves that even pop-culture certifies that tea-drinking is not a one-size-fits-all convention.
So what does this hot brown water say about a global beverage phenomena that has both tea-drinkers and tea-avoiders identifying a universal practice?
The truth is, supermarket shelveswith bright yellow boxes of Lipton Tea and poshly-marketed English Teatime Bigeloweasily disguise a layered past pertaining to one of the worlds most circulated agricultural commodities.
But if you look beyond the colorful packaging, hip blends, and luxurious marketing strategies, teas 16th century trajectory mirrors modern day imagery of nationalism, hybrid cultures, and identity.
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Chiense New Year Celebration At Mandarin Oriental Washington Dc
1330 Maryland Ave. SW , District of Columbia20024
2:48 PM
Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. invites local residents and visitors to celebrate Chinese New Year 2022, the year of the Tiger, with a sensational dancing lion appearance, calligrapher, themed Afternoon Tea, authentic Chinese cuisine, and specialty cocktails.
The celebrations begin on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 3:00p.m. in the hotel lobby. Guests will experience a traditional dynamic and colorful lion dance in the main lobby. The Chinese Lion Dance performance is accompanied by live music of Chinese drums, cymbals, gongs, and more for a truly moving experience.
As a keepsake everyone is encouraged to visit an authentic Chinese calligrapher to have your name written in traditional Chinese script.
Special for the month of February guests can embrace the celebrations with a Chinese New Year themed Afternoon Tea, special Dim Sum and cocktail menus in Empress. The Eye of the Tiger specialty cocktail is the perfect addition to the culinary Chinese New Year offerings.
WHEN: Saturday, February 5 beginning at 3:30p.m.
Empress Hours:
What We Think
If you get a little stressed visiting our nations capital, may we suggest a stay in this exquisite hideaway? Every single guest room feels like a de facto spa, thanks to a palette of neutrals and Tiffany blue, gleaming polished metals and sumptuous amenities, like marble-lined bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers. Architecture lovers will find upgrading to the Oriental Suite worth it for porthole windows and a Juliette balcony that peep out on the Jefferson Memorial .
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