High tea at one of Hobart’s swankiest hotels is an afternoon delight

If you’ve ever enjoyed a midafternoon cup of tea and a scone, you’re encouraged you to visit this spectacular lounge to take it to the next level. FULL REVIEW >>

THE DECO LOUNGE AT THE TASMAN

12 Murray St, Hobart

Opening hours: High Tea is served from 11am-3.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Bookings are essential.

On the menu

Tasmanian lobster roll; leek, taleggio and black garlic croquette; wattleseed scone; hoji tea panna cotta; poached pear tart; a selection of teas. Winter High Tea at The Tasman, is $75, per person.

I HAVE never really been a lady who lunches, but a recent visit to The Tasman’s Deco Lounge for their signature High Tea could convert me to a lady who likes to go out for afternoon tea. From the moment we arrive there’s a sense of occasion and luxury that makes for a delightful midafternoon diversion. Our table (and very comfortable upholstered chairs) was right by the fire, which was perfect on a recent afternoon when the wind had a real bite to it and as soon as we sat down we were offered a glass of Arras sparkling and a house-blend fresh juice for our teenage lady.

A selection of the sweet and savoury treats that are included in The Tasman’s Deco Lounge’s signature high tea offering. Picture: Dearna Bond

The Deco Lounge is part of the recently opened Tasman Hotel and leans into the building’s Art Deco heritage when it comes to details and style – elegantly uniformed staff are attentive, menus are well presented and everything we eat has been designed to delight the eyes as well as the palate. The only decision we need to make this afternoon is what kind of tea we would like – I opt for a Moroccan mint, my niece decides on a Rooibos chai brewed with milk and my sister keeps it simple with English breakfast. All the teas are from Storm & India, Tasmanian tea purveyors based in Longford. We are each presented with a pot encased in a felt-lined cover to keep it warm, so the second cup will be just as hot as the first. You’re free to order as many teas as you like and we sample a few varieties throughout the afternoon.

Anna Maria Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, is widely credited with inventing afternoon tea. It was in the 1840s at her home, Woburn Abbey, just outside London, that she popularised the habit of pairing tea with a selection of small sweet and savoury snacks to tide her over between lunch and dinner. What started as a bit of summer fun proved so popular that she kept doing it on her return to London and soon any society lady worth her calling card was taking afternoon tea.

The understated elegant interior of The Tasman’s refined Deco Lounge. Pictures: Adam Gibson.

Almost two centuries later, our comestibles arrive at the table on a tiered tray, with freshly baked scones presented in a box to keep them warm, which is a thoughtful touch. Every element is beautifully executed and there are four savoury and three sweet items in addition to the scones. I begin with the Tasmanian lobster roll – delicate chunks of sweet meat in a light dressing atop a soft brioche-style bun. Topped with pearls of salmon roe, this two-bite delicacy is a delicious start.

Afternoon tea wouldn’t be complete without a finger sandwich and I’m happy to report that the chicken sandwich on pumpkin bread is a credit to its maker. It takes on a sculptural element with the addition of crispy chicken skin on top along with vibrant avocado (not wasabi, I assure my niece) wrapped in a brik pastry snap.

While it’s not strictly afternoon tea fare, my favourite bite is probably the croquette – a velvety mix of leek and taleggio formed into a baton then crumbed and fried until crisp. It disappears in seconds.

The elegant bar at The Tasman’s timeless Deco Lounge. Pictures: Adam Gibson

And so too the sweets. I begin with a scone – there are two each, one regular and one wattleseed. Both are still warm, light and fluffy – the ideal vehicle for Ashgrove cream and mixed berry jam, of which there is plenty. If you’d prefer butter (or decide you want both), there’s Meander Valley butter on hand as well.

Our other sweets are almost too beautiful to eat, but we are committed to the cause and I begin with a generously sized pear tart decorated with thinly sliced strawberries and exquisite, gold-dusted chocolate in the shape of a wombat.

Supplied Editorial The Tasman hotel in Hobart.

The other tarts are showcasing an echidna and a platypus and these works of edible art are based on pieces by local jeweller Ruth Waterhouse.

The panna cotta is equally artful – presented in individual jars topped with a golden sphere of chocolate and crowned with an impossibly delicate arc of chocolate – kudos to the pastry chef!

Every detail of this experience has been carefully considered and executed and if you’ve ever enjoyed a midafternoon cup of tea and a scone, I’d encourage you to visit the Deco Lounge and take it to the next level.