“Savor luxury afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong (香港半島酒店).”
Apparently, a surprising trend – once reserved for the affluent and formal, now embraced by countless tourists as well.
The allure of the elegant afternoon tea rendezvous, often associated with wealthy “tai tai” and showcased in Hong Kong TVB shows, adds a touch of curiosity to the tradition known locally as 嘆下午茶 (Cantonese saying: “taan haa mm cha”). Exploring its roots must be fascinating!
Navigating the surprising popularity of afternoon tea at 5 pm, we learned the queues were inevitable, even on weekdays. No reservations allowed, just a walk-in and wait. Certainly, it seems plausible that privileged patrons might enjoy some special treatment (I would think so).
To beat the queue, arriving 30 minutes before the 2 pm opening or after 5:30 pm assures a seat for the 1.5-hour grandeur until 7 pm. Peak time at 3 pm led us to a 30-minute wait for a table, enjoying The Peninsula’s Classic Afternoon Tea at HK$268 for 1 pax or HK$398 for 2. Remember, sharing isn’t an option; it’s a headcount affair.
As we waited for our food, we couldn’t help but admire the hotel’s classic arches and elegant interior. Take a closer look at the unique silverware and cutlery they use – it’s a signature touch. The high tea treat comes on a 3-tier silver tray, perfect for a photo. Don’t hesitate to ask the serving crew for help; it’s a common thing for tourists. We did and enjoyed capturing the moment! :D
Savoring my fav scones, paired with smooth buttercream and delightful strawberry jam.
Discussing the food’s quality and taste? Most of the snacks like bread, sandwiches, cookies, puffs, tarts, cakes, scones, and so on were pretty good. The standout, especially praised by Mr. Cai Lan (蔡澜先生), the well-known HK/Singaporean food critic in his recent show ‘Chua San’s Feast (蔡澜品味),’ was the cucumber sandwich. It may seem simple, but it was truly fantastic. I loved the crispiness of the cucumber slices and the softness of the bread. Yum~
Each guest was treated to a caramel mousse dessert, elegantly presented in a mini silver cup accompanied by a silver teaspoon.
While we couldn’t polish off everything in the end, we relished the ambiance, their excellent service, tempting sweet treats, and, of course, my favorite hot skinny latte – a truly pleasant experience. :)
Address: Salisbury Road, Kowloon, HK.
Afternoon Tea serving hours: From 2pm till 7pm daily.
Dress code before 7pm: Smart Casual. Jeans are fine, but please no rubber flip flops or beach sandals.
Remarks: Photo-taking is allowed.