This was published 1 year ago
Live like royalty with Brisbane’s best high tea
Spoil your mum, your partner, your friends and yourself with Brisbane’s best high teas.
By Nick Dent
High tea is more popular than ever and available at hotels and restaurants across town.Credit: Sofitel
Sofitel Brisbane executive chef Bastian Boll dusts two plump buttermilk scones with icing sugar then slips them into a folded white napkin.
He takes a Madagascan vanilla bean and slices it lengthways, scrapes the sticky interior into a bowl of cream and icing sugar, takes an enormous beater and starts whipping it into Chantilly cream.
Producing a blowtorch, he quickly toasts the top of a lemon meringue tart, and finishes it off with grated lime. He carefully adds it to a two-tiered plate already laden with macarons, chocolate mousse petit fours and savoury sandwiches on colourful brioche buns.
After the COVID slump, high tea in Australia is on the rise, according to high tea expert Michelle Milton, founder of the website High Tea Society.
“It’s really picking up. I’ve seen a whole lot of new venues open in the last six months, and those that were closed have reopened.”
As it grows in popularity, it’s also diversifying, Milton says. “It’s not all about the cakes and the sweet items – at least half the high tea is actually savoury now.
“Theming high teas is very popular. It could be a chocolate high tea, it could be cheese themed, it could be a cocktail partnership. What I like is the creativity that these chefs are going to.”
Whether you swing sweet or savoury, boozy or caffeinated, classical or contemporary, Brisbane has a high tea for you. All you need is an appetite for the finer things in life…
Sofitel Brisbane High Tea is made in the hotel’s pastry kitchen overseen by executive chef Bastian Boll.Credit: Sofitel Brisbane
Sofitel Brisbane High Tea
The view of Anzac Square and Post Office Square from lobby bar Cuvée is almost as impressive as the view of what’s on the plate at the Sofitel. The French hotel group is playing the Gallic card heavily with its gluten-free high tea offering. It’s hard not to get excited about Valrhona Ivoire white chocolate and fruit scones, seasonal confiture and Chantilly cream; or Lyonnaise onion, beetroot, and Meredith goat cheese quiche. A glass of Veuve Clicquot is included in the price.
Where: 249 Turbot Street, Brisbane
When: Fri-Sun 11am-4pm (bookings essential)
How much: $79pp
Sunshine State High Tea at W Brisbane comes with a white chocolate jigsaw puzzle.Credit: W Brisbane
Sunshine State High Tea at W Brisbane
This high tea, served on a three-tiered W-shaped platter, is curated to showcase Queensland and Australian produce. Think Yeppoon spanner crab and wakame on a rye bun; Townsville-farmed lobster on a brioche bun; or Toowoomba free-range egg sandwich with confit garlic. Up top are the sweets such as Queensland rum and banana cake, or native spice-infused Earl Grey mousse with calamansi and rosella. The showstopper here is a jigsaw puzzle made from Belgian white chocolate, depicting a quintessential Queensland image that changes week to week. Black teas by T Bar skew patriotic with Australian lemon myrtle and Australian grown Sunburnt chai.
Where? 81 North Quay, Brisbane
When? Fri-Sun 11am-3pm (bookings essential)
How much? $70-$99
Stamford Plaza’s Spirit of Brisbane High Tea is designed to showcase Queensland produce.Credit: Stamford Plaza
Spirit of Queensland High Tea at Stamford Plaza
The Spirit of Queensland High Tea riffs on the tastes and produce of the Sunshine State from outback to coast. Highlights include a quiche made with Daintree barramundi, a Mount Cotton chicken mini wrap, scones made with Queensland blue pumpkin and Stanthorpe cider apple, and a “Day at the Ekka” – a deconstructed strawberry sundae in a glass. Enjoy them all in the splendour of the Stamford Plaza’s grand lobby. For kids, the Chocolate Factory High Tea is popular during school holidays.
Where? 39 Edward Street, Brisbane
When? Sat and Sun 2-4pm (bookings essential)
How much? $59-$79
Collet Art Deco High Tea at Dandelion & Driftwood includes a coupe of Collet champagne.Credit: Dandelion & Driftwood
Collet Art Deco High Tea at Dandelion & Driftwood
Popular Hendra cafe Dandelion & Driftwood’s high teas come in three-tiers with signature ribbon sandwiches, assorted savouries, pastries and mini filled croissants on the base tier. The middle tier has scones with The Grainge raspberry jam and double cream. The top tier is for sweets including mini lemon curd tart, mini caramel tart, cupcakes and others. For the Collet Art Deco High Tea, throw in a coupe of Collet champagne. They also do packaged “High Tea at Home”.
Where? 20 Doncaster Street, Hendra
When? Daily 9am-2.15pm (bookings essential)
How much? $75pp
Top Brisbane restaurant Bacchus has a high tea offering.Credit: Bacchus
High tea at Bacchus Restaurant
A restaurant with the fine-dining clout to back up its ritzy reputation, Bacchus is led by chef de cuisine Manuele Erriu. For high tea, expect the likes of madeleines, cannoli, macarons, lemon tart, scones, chicken mini croissant, tuna and salmon sandwiches, and a mac and cheese croquette. It’s served with continuous Harney & Sons fine teas or barista coffee. An “Endless Chandon” upgrade gets you two hours of champagne, because why the heck not?
Where? 9 Glenelg Street, South Bank
When? Sat-Sun 1pm (bookings essential)
How much? From $49 (kids $35)
The Kitchen Sunday High Tea at Old Government House
Built in 1862 to house Queensland’s first governor, Sir George Bowen, Old Government House is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the entire state. Why wouldn’t you want to have high tea here? Now a free museum on the QUT campus, it has an elegant courtyard cafe, The Kitchen, offering high tea one Sunday a month (usually earlier in the month). Expect freshly brewed teas, finger sandwiches, sweet and savoury pastries, and a glass of champagne or juice on arrival. Time it right and your high tea will come with a live classical music accompaniment.
Where: 2 George Street, Brisbane
When: Sun 10am-12pm sittings (bookings essential)
How much: $79pp
The Balfour Kitchen & Bar serves a Vietnamese-influenced high tea.Credit: The Balfour Kitchen & Bar
High tea at The Balfour Kitchen & Bar
The wraparound Queenslander veranda at Spicers Balfour Hotel off Brunswick Street is the unique setting for a high tea with a subtle Vietnamese influence courtesy of head chef Lachlan Horstman. Horstman’s approach is evident in the likes of spanner crab tart with avocado mousse, pork terrine with pickled onion, and shiitake mushroom brioche, while sweets, including a Portuguese pasteis de nata tart, are all dairy and gluten free. Enjoy a glass of bubbles on arrival followed by a range of coffees and organic single estate teas by Chamellia.
Where: 37 Balfour Street, New Farm
When: Every second Sat and Sun 11.30am-2.30pm (bookings essential)
How much: $89pp
Belle Epoque at the Emporium Hotel in South Brisbane serves seasonal high tea.Credit: Belle Epoque
Seasonal high tea at Belle Epoque
Think of the Belle Epoque in Europe and you think of the Moulin Rouge, post-impressionist art and splendid restaurants, and this brasserie and patisserie at the Emporium Hotel in South Brisbane could not be better named with its lavish design and its impeccable way with French pastry. Its high tea has truffled chicken finger sandwiches, orange chocolate mousse, an apple and vanilla macaron and the retro flourish of a vol-au-vent. The extensive selection of teas including all the usuals plus green tea, China Pai Mu Tan White Peony, herbal tea and chai. Champagne or sparkling is extra.
Where: 267 Grey Street, South Brisbane
When: Mon-Sun 10.30am-2.30pm (bookings essential)
How much: $80pp
Ultimate Chocolate Fondue High Tea at Room with Roses
The art deco Brisbane Arcade was opened in 1924 and remains a jewel in the heart of the inner city. Room with Roses matches its surroundings on the gallery level with a stylish cafe service and a range of daily high teas (booking in advance recommended). The one for chocoholics adds a housemade chocolate fondue with fruits, biscotti and marshmallows in addition to ribbon sandwiches, warm savouries and raspberry scones with Chantilly cream. Add on a glass of sparkling white for just $10.
Where: Gallery Level, Brisbane Arcade, 160 Queen Street, Brisbane
When: Mon-Sat 9.30am-2.30pm (bookings essential)
How much: $58pp
St Catherine High Tea at the Shingle Inn comes with the ambience of an English tea room.Credit: Shingle Inn
St Catherine High Tea at the Shingle Inn
Born during the Depression and still going strong, the Shingle Inn is the kind of tea room where you’d expect to see Miss Marple sipping Earl Grey in a corner. Wood panelling, chandeliers and prim tea lady uniforms all add to the Downton Abbey ambience, but Traditional High Tea is an affordable $44 here. Splurge with the St Catherine High Tea – it gets you a glass of Pol Roger Brut Reserve non-vintage French Champagne.
Where: Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane
When: Tue-Sat 9am-3pm; Sun 10am-2.30pm (bookings recommended)
How much: $60
Get an Espresso martini with your High Tea at Lennons Restaurant & Bar.Credit: Mitch Lowe
High Tea at Lennons Restaurant & Bar
The Espresso martini is the difference with this good-value high tea in the restaurant of the Hyatt Regency Brisbane, which is named after the historic Brisbane hotel that existed in this spot from 1972 to 2013. The menus by executive chef Krisztian Herczig change seasonally but you can bank on scones, cakes, sandwiches and quiche. If you’re lucky, you may get a raspberry and coconut slice with crunchy crystallised flakes, or smoked chicken and truffle wrap.
Where: 33 Burnett Lane, Brisbane
When: Sat-Sun 2.30-4.30pm (bookings essential)
How much: $55pp
Champagne High Tea at Patina at Customs House
The restaurant terrace of this commanding 1889 building is the place to enjoy a high tea for views of the Story Bridge and the river. Feast as daintily as you can on ribbon sandwiches, savoury canapes, scones with jam, cream and fresh raspberries and assorted petite desserts and macarons. Teas are from La Maison du Thé, and your glass of champers is Louis Roederer Brut Premier.
Where: 399 Queen Street, Brisbane
When: Tue 3pm; Wed-Sun 10.30am and 3pm (bookings essential)
How much: $88
Did we get it right? Did we forget something? Let us know at nick.dent@nine.com.au.
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