Where to find Queensland’s best high teas

Move over soggy sandwiches and stale scones, high teas are reaching extravagant new heights. Here’s where to find the best in the state.

Move over soggy sandwiches and stale scones, high teas are reaching extravagant new heights featuring everything from celebrity chef collaborations to 3D printed desserts.

At The Langham on the Gold Coast, high teas have become a signature, with the hotel teaming up with big name designers and brands such as Bulgari, shoe king Jimmy Choo and Paddington Bear to launch stunning tiered affairs.

Executive chef Johann Vanier said high teas were no longer about plain scones and a few cakes but rather elaborate experiences equivalent to that of three-Michelin-starred restaurants.

“People come to be impressed by the food,” said Mr Vanier, with more people booking them for hen’s parties, bridal and baby showers and social catch-ups.

“You have delicate pastries you can’t find anywhere else and have a whole experience.”

The Langham hotel’s Greg Rutherford with Alice Hanot, Emma Hale and Jess Sims enjoying a Paddington-themed high tea. Picture: Nigel Hallett

And that means the kitchen team must go to extreme lengths to impress patrons, with The Langham even employing a 3D printer to create bespoke moulds and cutters for their unique designs, such as chocolate brownie suitcases and subway signs for their current Paddington bear-themed offering.

“High tea, when you look at France or in Asia, it’s really about pushing the boundaries of pastry,” said Mr Vanier, who can spend about two months perfecting individual edible items.

“That’s where we can really have fun with what we make and make something that looks good but tastes amazing.”

High teas have also advanced considerably at JW Marriott Gold Coast, which serves more than 100 each week at their poolside eatery Chapter & Verse.

“They have evolved into more inventive, creative expressions of dining, moving away from overly sweet to more savoury flavours,” said executive chef Paul Smart.

“Even desserts you’d typically expect to be sweet are less so. You can now expect to find caviar, smoked salmon and tartin on our high tea menu.”

Mr Smart said the evolution was a result of higher expectations among diners, prompting the hotel to recently team up with celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita to launch a special herb-inspired high tea.

“Guests are looking to be wowed by bold and unexpected flavours and pairings,” Mr Smart said.

“There is an openness to adventure and surprise from modern high teas.”

QUEENSLAND’SBEST HIGH TEAS

PALM COURT, THE LANGHAM GOLD COAST

38 Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise

https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/gold-coast/dine/palm-court/

A selection of petite fours from The Lanham’s high tea at Palm Court. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Overlooking the hotel’s glamorous pool, this indulgent experience pays tribute to its namesake at The Langham, London where traditional English afternoon tea was served over 150 years ago. On the Gold Coast, however, the classic makes way for the contemporary, with unique twists on traditional sweets and savouries and plenty of fun, themed teas including the current Paddington Bear extravaganza, an upcoming collaboration involving special 3D printing and an exclusive Jimmy Choo affair with the shoe king himself on October 28.

CHAPTER & VERSE, JW MARRIOTT GOLD COAST

158 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise

https://www.chapterandversebar.com/high-tea

JW Marriott Gold Coast high tea.

High teas reach another level of luxury at this five-star resort where innovation and evolution is behind every tier. Forget standard finger sandwiches, here they could be mini burger buns crowned with fresh prawns or smoked salmon and caviar on a spinach-hued loaf, paired with mocktails, cocktails, teas and champagne. The hotel is currently hosting a ‘Botanica Luxe’ high tea created in collaboration with celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita inspired by herbs. Chapter and Verse also serves a signature high tea for kids.

PALETTE RESTAURANT, HOTA

135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

paletterestaurant.com.au

The high tea at HOTA's restaurant Palette on the Gold Coast.

Only available on Sundays, this extravagant high tea is as artistic as the gallery that surrounds it. Chef Dayan Hartill-Law has created a modern riff on the original British version, with simple cucumber sandwiches replaced by the likes of prawn toast with fermented chilli mayo and sesame, or MBS 9+ pastrami on rye with sauerkraut. Traditional scones also get a makeover with Palette’s version featuring white chocolate and cranberry; while the usual desserts are given an Aussie makeover, with creations including strawberry gum lamingtons and Davidson plum and marshmallow pinwheels.

GARLIC CLOVE

Ormeau and Brisbane

garlicclovebrisbane.com.au

Indian high tea at Garlic Clove, Brisbane. Picture: David Kelly.

Forget high tea as you know it, the version at Garlic Clove is an all Indian affair. Created by Indian-born chefs Sabir Merchant and Dolly Bhatha, the three-tiered offering features signature street foods such as pani puri and aloo tikki chaat, alongside bite-sized steamed dumplings known as momos and other traditional savouries and sweets, all paired with chai tea.

LIVING ROOM BAR, W BRISBANE

81 North Quay, Brisbane City

https://www.wbrisbanedining.com/

High tea at Living Room Bar inside W Brisbane.

Known for its endless innovation, this hotel lobby bar pushes boundaries and expectations with its always evolving high teas. Continually developing new themes to build its tiers around, the bar is this month serving up an afternoon special inspired by Queensland. Expect everything from Yeppoon spanner crab on rye buns or lamb and red wine pies to lobster rolls and Queensland rum and banana cake, all paired with bottomless tea and coffee, plus the option of a signature cocktail or Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

THE PASTRY LAB

80 Lower Gay Tce, Caloundra

https://www.thepastrylab.com.au/high-tea

This bakery, coffee shop and dessert bar from husband and wife Chris and Emily Scard has become known for its Insta-worthy high teas featuring stunning petite fours, buttermilk scones, and uber cute savouries such as brioche sliders and their beloved croissants in mini versions stuffed with ham and cheese. It’s all paired with bottomless barista-made coffee or loose-leaf tea.