Cape Town’s High Tea Hot Spots
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” ― Henry James
A high tea can be a reason to celebrate anything, whether its a birthday, a celebration or just a reason for the girls to get together.
I recently spent a few weeks exploring Cape Town for high tea inspiration for a birthday party and I was exposed to a surprising selection of high tea hot spots. And to describe them as anything less as indulgent would be a mistake! I was amazed at how many ways there are to make a cucumber sandwich look good!!!
If you have a sweet tooth, you will be in heaven, and even if you don’t, there is so much more to choose from.
1.) The Mount Nelson
The Mount Nelson is by far the “Queen of High Tea” in Cape Town, with a range of delicacies to suit any palate, sweet or savoury they really have it all. You can enjoy delectable finger sandwiches filled with rare roast beef and rocket, smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise or the ol’ favourite, cucmber. Then the cake varieties range from dark chocolate cake, scones with clotted cream and lemon meringue. Another winner is the authentic “melk-tert.” 
Mouth Nelson also has their own signature tea, blended out of Darjeeling, Kenya, Assam, Keemun, Yunnan and Ceylon, as well as rose petals from their very own garden.Details: served daily between 14:30-17:30
Price: R185/person and R85/child under 12
Dress: smart casual
Contact: +27 (0)21 483 1948
2.) Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa
Just as elegant, but also a little different to my experience at the Mount Nelson. A Swiss Farm – style tea in the magnificent, Franschhoek. When you arrive you will be treated to a glass of complimentary sparkling wine and your ears will be graced with the beautiful background music of notes played on a Baby Grand piano. 
Your choice of teas include Dilmah teas in a variety of flavours including vanilla, almond, Moroccan mint as well as all the standard teas. Snacks include freshly baked scones served with cream and preserves, authentic cucumber and cream cheese or fresh salmon and cream cheese sandwiches. Sweet pastries are a plenty and the very yummy bakes cheesecake topped with berry compote. If you are a carrot cake junkie then this carrot cake with cream cheese and roasted hazelnut topping is an absolute winner!!
Details: High tea is served daily from 10am – 5pm
Price: R95 – R195
Contact: +27 (0)21 876 8900
3.) The Cape Grace
Nothing spells elegance better than The Cape Grace. And their high tea serving is nothing short of wonderful!
The choices are endless, with a selection of macaroons, petit fours, scrumptious sandwiches, fresh scones with cream and jams. Something a little different is their Cape Malay feel, with spring rolls and beef satays that are also served. 
There are 8 different teas that are served, including the wonderful Earl Grey Tea, known for its distinctive orange Bergamont taste and aroma, only this one is accented with strawberry and kiwi. The Deluxe afternoon tea also gets served with a very yummy glass of sparkling wine!
Details: Tea is served daily between 11am and 6pm
Contact: + 27 21 410 7100
Price: Traditional tea is R75 per person, Sugar Buffet is R12/item, Deluxe R125 per person, Sugar and Spice is R110 per person and a slice of homemade cake is R40
4.) The One & Only
Set at the beautiful One and Only Hotel, this decadent buffet includes all sorts of very tasty treats. There were some absolute taste sensations and I believe the recipes are closely guarded secrets! To start with, the caramel and golf leaf éclairs are incredible, but with that comes baked vanilla bean cheesecake, macaroons, tea sandwiches and buttermilk scones.
But to top it all off, is the Lindt chocolate fondue into which you can dunk your strawberries (I died and went to heaven at this stage!!) There is a huge selection of no less than 35 different teas representing 8 tea families including green, black, white, Oolong and fruit teas. 
Details: Tea is served daily from 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Price: a very reasonable R145 per person including tea or coffee
Contact: +27 21 431 4511
This is something I haven’t seen for myself, but believe it to be amazing.
Watch out for the travelling blue-caravan!
Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour started in 2010 out of a caravan, her mission was to revolutionise the way people drink tea. To encourage a healthy alternative to take away coffee. Lady Bonin’s caravan travels from place to place selling traditionally brewed loose-leaf tea in Biodegradle take away packaging.
Lady Bonins tea services are available to hire for that special occasion, whether it be a wedding or baby shower, and also offers food pairing of delicious snacks to compliment her special teas.
