Spotlight Hotel
9 Hotel Afternoon Teas That Hit the Spot
Few things feel more indulgent than whiling away the time over an aromatic brew and dainty treats in a plush hotel setting, whether you’re in Switzerland or Singapore.
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April 27, 2026
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Afternoon tea has been a beloved British pastime since 1840, when a Duchess got peckish in the late afternoon and began requesting cakes and tea delivered to her chamber. She invited friends to join her, high society soon caught on, and tea time has since become a staple of luxury hotels the world over—with TikTok videos popularizing the experience for a new generation.
Whether you’re craving the classic tea treatment or a more contemporary and whimsical take, you can find a satisfying option at many Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection properties (2-night minimum stay required)—including some favorites below. Plus, when booking a stay through AmexTravel.com with your Platinum Card®, you’ll receive a $100 credit2 to use toward eligible charges, such as afternoon tea.
2Eligible charges vary by property.
Raffles Boston | Boston, MA
Boston has a long history with tea, but at Raffles Boston, the only place you’re dumping it is into your cup. The hotel’s 17th-floor Long Bar overlooks the skyline and offers a seasonal menu inspired by the Boston Public Garden; bites might include pea tarts or fresh strawberry sweets prepared on flower-themed china. Freshly baked scones, clotted cream, and jam are always on the menu, alongside a glass of Lallier Champagne.
Top tea: Palais des Thés Parisian teas are the preferred selection; its fruity and floral Hammam Tea is a bestseller and fits with Raffles’ garden theme.
Bellagio | Las Vegas, NV
Away from the blackjack and bling of The Strip, the Petrossian Bar at Bellagio offers a more refined activity. Its classic afternoon tea comes with egg sandwiches on pumpernickel bread and raspberry macarons, while a live pianist serenades guests. High rollers can choose an extra course full of caviar, including caviar tacos with gold leaf and tuna topped with caviar.
Top tea: Among 12 menu options, Thunderbolt Darjeeling is described as the Champagne of black teas—it goes well with a dollop of caviar.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park | London, England
If you throw a scone in London, you’ll hit a worthy afternoon tea. Claridge’s is arguably the most traditional, with its signature small scones. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park turns out an elaborate afternoon tea complete with hanging cake stands at The Rosebery. While seasonal items rotate, Coronation chicken and cucumber and herb sandwiches are beloved constants. Raisin and plain scones are plated warm alongside loganberry, crystallized ginger and apple jam.
Top tea: The British Sticky Toffee blend from the Sahyadri Mountains in Southern India has notes of caramel, toffee, and chocolate. Matcha, another hot choice, is whisked tableside.
Park Hyatt Bangkok | Bangkok, Thailand
The organic tea gardens of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand are the inspiration for the experience at Park Hyatt Bangkok’s Living Room. It begins with a welcome drink of green tea blended with cucumber and lime juice, and tea is present in each of the accompanying dainty pastries, from Southeast Asian butterfly pea to Earl Grey. A trolley stocked with decadent, artistic cakes makes the rounds, providing a sweet fix.
Top tea: When in Thailand, Araksa Tea’s signature Thai blend is a must. It’s creamy with notes of vanilla and best sipped with milk.
Adare Manor | Adare, Ireland
Ireland’s rainy weather practically begs for a steaming cup of tea. At the 840-acre Adare Manor, it’s served in The Gallery, a majestic gathering space with stained-glass windows, woodcarvings, and lofty wooden arches. Dig into a bite-sized roast Irish beef striploin, followed by a chocolate choux filled with raspberry. Raisin and plain scones are plated warm alongside loganberry, crystallized ginger, and apple jam.
Top tea: The hotel’s signature blend, 1832—named after the year that The Galley was built—is a black tea infused with a variety of spices to help keep you warm.
Rosewood Hong Kong | China
Be it milk tea or afternoon tea, the drink’s popularity is going strong in Hong Kong, influenced by both Chinese customs and former British colonial rule. None serves a more elegant spread than the Rosewood Hong Kong’s Butterfly Room, where the art itself is a visual feast. Finger sandwiches feature Peking duck and caviar, potted crab, and sea urchin, while Hokkaido black sesame flan and Japanese strawberry tartlet are presented alongside scones.
Top tea: Rosewood Hong Kong’s “tea cellar” houses 14 teas from Mariage Frères. The Early Grey Imperial is among the most popular, made with world-class Darjeeling tea and bergamot.
Capella Singapore | Singapore
This exclusive afternoon tea is only available to guests staying at Capella Singapore. It unfolds in the Living Room, a 1880s bungalow that once hosted British military balls. Four rotating menus include plays on local favorites like a chicken bakwa and cheddar cheese sandwich, and kueh bahulu—a Malay version of a madeleine cake.
Top tea: Eight Jing teas are brewed in the Living Room, including Jade Sword—a savory, earthy green tea that cuts the sugar in Singapore’s addictive sweets.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad | New York, New York
High up on the rooftop of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, afternoon tea comes with a sweeping view of Manhattan. The menu pairs New York classics, like bagels and lox, with creative treats such as piña colada pavlova and chocolate matcha cake. Add a caviar bump or the chef’s specialty caviar service.
Top tea: Tali's Masala Chai, a black tea with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, stands out for its savory and spice blend.
Jumby Bay Island, Oetker Hotels | Jumby Bay Island, Antigua
Beachgoers can take a break for refreshments in the shade of Jumby Bay Island’s Estate House, where afternoon tea comes with ice. The menu is distinctly Antiguan, including local Johnny cakes with 18-month-aged Comté cheese, curried saltfish barbajuan, and vanilla scones—a nod to the country’s vanilla production. At Jumby Bay Island, tea is included as part of the all-inclusive dining program, plus you get a $200 credit to use at the spa.
Top tea: Among the variety of TEALEAVES teas, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party has notes of passionfruit and vanilla that pair perfectly with this Caribbean island.
*
12pm check-in, when available
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available1
Daily breakfast for two
$100 credit to use towards eligible charges2
Guaranteed 4pm check-out
1Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
2Eligible charges vary by property.
3,*
12pm check-in, when available
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available1
$100 credit to use towards eligible charges2
Late check-out, when available
1Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
2Eligible charges vary by property.
3The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
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