Eat Street: Where to find Sydney’s 10 best high teas
Whether you want a traditional cuppa and cakes or something with a little more punch, this is where to find the best high teas across Sydney.
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Whether it’s tea and cakes or casual canapes and drinks, high tea has traded in its traditional formality for the simple enjoyment of time with friends.
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THE TEA COSY
While the aroma of freshly-baked scones will lure you to the cobblestone streets of The Rocks, the colourful knitted blankets and eclectic tea cosies on the outdoor tables pinpoint this quaint and quirky teahouse’s location. A former terrace house, The Tea Cosy offers “scones and tea the way Nanna used to make”, or, more specifically, the way owner Ash Kinchin’s Irish nanna used to make.
The recipes for their famous Devonshire scones may hail from Ireland, but the gourmet jams, such as lemon and rhubarb curd, are all Aussie. Ash says, “We’ve recently started to do a seasonal high tea … using ingredients and inspiration from flowers, fruits and vegetables that grow in Australia in that season”.
Try the plain or blueberry lemonade scone with cream and jam ($16), or go bigger with The Grandstand, a sampling of the day’s scone flavours, choice of jams, all-natural double thick cream, and finger sandwiches. (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am-4.30pm $28pp, minimum two people. Bookings essential).
7 ATHERDEN ST, THE ROCKS; THETEACOSY.COM.AU
SPRITZ HIGH TEA
Traditionally, High Tea is sandwiches, cakes, and scones, but Henley’s Bar & Kitchen’s version has a twist … with a Spritz. Relatively new to the King Street Wharf dining precinct, Henley’s Spritz High Tea swaps out the standards for snack-sized versions of their sweet and savoury menu items with two hours of bottomless spritzes, house wine, and beer.
Henley’s manager Cameron Lonsdale said, “The Spritz High Tea offers delicious bites with a Henley’s twist while also staying true to what people come here for – fruity spritz, beers & wines with a great harbourside view!”
The tower includes prawn and avocado tartlets, Karaage chicken tacos, black pepper, and parmesan panna cotta, house-made arancini, smoked salmon finger sandwiches and more. ($79pp. Minimum four people. Saturday and Sunday, 1pm-3pm).
9 LIME ST, KING ST WHARF, SYDNEY; HENLEYSBARKITCHEN.COM.AU
HIGH CHEESE
At Reign, it pours … champagne. And lots of it. Channelling Champagne bars of a bygone era, this sundrenched elegant and expansive, white-marbled space is renowned for the decadent “nibbles” such as steak tartare and caviar on its standard and tasting menus.
But equally divine is Reign’s take on High Tea, the High Cheese.
Reign’s manager Anthéa Auville said, “Our High Cheese offers a unique alternative to the classic high tea we all know and love. With a selection of gourmet cheeses, delicious crackers, quince paste and dried fruits, the High Cheese is the perfect option for a mid-day catch-up with friends or shopping break pick-me-up.
If you’re a lover of all things charcuterie boards – you’ll absolutely love our High Cheese.” ($36pp, minimum two people. Add a bottle of NV Kilikanoon ‘Brut’ Vouvray, Loire Valley, for an additional $90. Available Wednesday-Sunday)
LEVEL 1, QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING, 455 GEORGE ST SYDNEY (DRUITT ST ENTRANCE); REIGNATQVB.COM.AU
ALIBI BAR’S PLANT-BASED HIGH TEA
Located in the trendy Ovolo Hotel along Woolloomooloo finger wharves, Alibi, passion for a clean food philosophy and locally sourced ingredients is as plain as the artistically prepared and presented plant-based food on your plate.
Taking it to the next level, though, is Alibi’s High Tea. Served on a bespoke multi-level rectangular stand, each mirrored base showcases decadent-looking sweet and savoury bites. Even the most vetted vegan would raise a brow at the vibrantly-hued pastries such as the purple yuzu and Manjari chocolate, coconut, and mandarin cakes, which so closely mirror their sugar and butter-laden patisserie counterparts.
Whether you’re an established vegetarian or others tuning in to the meatless movement, you’ll be astounded by the beauty and thrilled with the flavours of these plant-based treats. ($79pp). Add two hours of free-flowing Prosecco ($59pp), sparkling rosé ($79pp), or Taittinger ‘Cuvée Prestige’ Champagne ($119pp). (Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-4pm.)
OVOLO WOOLLOOMOOLOO, 6 COWPER WHARF ROADWAY, WOOLLOOMOOLOO; ALIBIBAR.COM.AU
WHAT’S FRESH
THE CHARLES – AFTERNOON TEA TROLLEY
This Euro-styled brasserie inside a CBD heritage-listed art deco building embodies the extravagance and opulence of the era with all-day dining and a wine bar. A highlight is the afternoon tea service, a dessert trolley that Head of Pastry, Rhiann Mead (Quay and Bennelong) has loaded with Russian Honey Cake, Opera Gateau, and Petit fours, which makes its way around the room between 3pm and 5pm, Monday-Saturday.
-66 King St, Sydney; thecharles.sydney
QTEA at QT SYDNEY
Should Willy Wonka ever fancy cake over candy, QTea would be his happy place. Located in Studio Q and the opulent lobby of QT Sydney, pâtissier Adriano Zumbo – also known as the Sweet Assassin for scaring the aprons off Master Chef contestants with his intimidating Croquembouche – has curated a fantastical High Tea experience with sweet and savoury dishes, a glass of Champagne, and a touch of fabulous with black and white twirly swirly plates, and a bespoke stand akin to a glossy black Rubix cube. Spread amongst the cubicles are some of Zumbo’s classics such as the Passionfruit Tart and Zumbarons; new creations like the white glazed yuzu vanilla cake and Just Love Me, a chocolate, raspberry, and pistachio delight; and savouries that include lobster rolls, goat cheese tarts and Caesar sliders.
So, raise a glass to creativity and add on a glass of tiny bubbles from their 60+ selection of Champagnes. And fear not, those with dietary requirements needn’t miss out as Zumbo has also curated gluten-free and plant-based High Tea just for you. ($95, champagne not included, available Saturday and Sunday 11am, 1pm, 3pm).
QT Sydney, 49 Market St, Sydney; qthotels.com/Sydney-cbd
MODE KITCHEN & BAR
Leave the world’s chaos behind as you walk into the elegant Four Seasons Hotel and find your seat at MODE Kitchen & Bar, the chic signature restaurant serving lunch, dinner, and High Tea on the weekend. Sip on Jing tea and coffee while you enjoy a selection of house-made sweet and savoury bites such as the clever Mini pear with Valrhona dark chocolate delice, scones and whipped cream, egg and white truffle sandwiches, and tiger prawn rolls.
Children have their own special version that includes five sweet dessert items. ($89pp, children’s $59pp, available Friday to Sunday 2pm to 4pm)
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, ground floor, 199 George St, The Rocks; modekitchenandbar.com.au
HYATT REGENCY SYDNEY
It’s an all-Aussie adventure at the Lobby bar of Hyatt Regency Sydney with their G&Tea, the hotel’s uniquely Australian twist on the classic High Tea. Available on Saturday for one sitting only, the flavours of native ingredients are interspersed amongst sweet and savoury morsels such as the bitter orange and pepper berry scones, apple and wattleseed zucotto, and hazelnut cassia bark truffles.
You also get two botanical G&Ts with a choice between Sydney’s own Poor Toms Gin, Opihr, or Bloom London gin. The Hyatt Regency also has a regular rotation of seasonal G&Tea sessions, so keep an eye on their socials. ($75pp, $35pp aged 6-17, available Saturday 2.30pm)
Lobby Lounge of Hyatt Regency Sydney, 161 Sussex St, Sydney; FB: hyattregencysydney
LORD ASHLEY BAR AND LOUNGE
With a perfectly majestic setting overlooking Terrigal beach, the Lord Ashley Bar & Lounge make everyone feel like royalty – at least for two hours when guests relax into the comfy lounges, delicately sip their tea, and nibble on the house-made scones, signature quiches, and finger sandwiches the swoon over the petite glass cups with pecan and palm cheesecake topped with dainty pansies, Gâteau Opéra and vibrant macarons.
For the little ones, there are the special Kids High Tea served with milkshakes, party pies, ham and cheese fingers, fairy bread and cake. Young or old, High Tea at Lord Ashley is always regal. ($46pp, $22 for children, available daily 12.30pm to 2.30pm)
Crowne Plaza, Pine Tree Ln, Terrigal; Facebook/LordAshleyBarAndLounge
G&TEA
Every story has two sides; at G&Tea, they’re as different as night and day. From 8am through the afternoon, it’s all about tea. Lots and lots of different types and flavours of tea. Have a seat in the navy blue and rose velvet banquettes seating with three tiers of sweet and savoury delights, including Cajun prawn remoulade on a brioche bun and a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich on rye along with a matcha and yuzu choux au craquelin. And vanilla bean panna cotta topped with, appropriately enough, gin-infused rhubarb and raspberries.
While there is a lengthy list of tea (25 +), you’re welcome to opt for coffee instead or add a glass of sparkling wine or Champagne for an additional fee. Once the sun starts to fade, the folding doors above the bar reveal shelves of golden-lit bottles of gin. From there, it’s “so long teatime” and a buzzy welcome to G&Ts. ($55pp, available Thurs to Sun 12pm to 4pm)
The Star Sydney, Level G, The Star Grand Hotel Lobby, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont
star.com.au
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