
Overseen by government pastry chef Callum Liddicoat, the seasonal menu presently attracts inspiration from plentiful spring flavours, colors and blossoms. You’ll take pleasure in a trio of canapes to begin, with bites like recent backyard pea tartlet with mint and yoghurt labneh. For sweets, you might need a roasted banana caramel and fervour fruit dome that’s coated in edible flowers, and the sandwich choice elevates the nostalgic meals to a delicacy-level. You’ll end with a vanilla buttermilk scone topped with an oat crumble and served with mascarpone cream and house-made jam, alongside a doughnut crammed with vanilla custard and lemon curd.
Park Hyatt Auckland , CBD Head to Park Hyatt Auckland’s Dwelling Room restaurant by the water’s edge for luxurious afternoon tea with a view – and should you can, e book a seat by the window so you may people-watch (and boat-watch) when you tuck into your treats.
Fairly plates, ornate cake stands and dainty bites all flip a daily afternoon tea right into a particular expertise. With spring and summer season occasions season arriving, we’ve chosen a few of the greatest excessive teas in Auckland – so why not get a bunch collectively and dress up?
The lodge typically has themed afternoon teas, too. All through October, it’s placing on Steeped In Help, a four-course, pink-themed afternoon tea to boost cash for Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month – proceeds go in the direction of Breast Most cancers Basis NZ. There’s additionally a particular fundraising tea on October 12. On October 14, the Artists’ Dialog Afternoon Tea will rejoice Māori artists, that includes a four-course treats menu hosted by Sir Bob Harvey and discussions by artists Peata Larkin and Steve Dunlop. 99 Halsey Road, Auckland CBD.
Bellini’s tea choice is beneficiant; we advocate you strive T2’s Attractive Geisha, a inexperienced tea with flavours of strawberry and cream; or Morning Sunshine, a strong and malty black tea made with Assam, Darjeeling and Rwandan property teas. For those who choose bubbles, there’s NV Bedan prosecco rosé – or splash out with NV Bollinger particular cuvee champagne. Plus, you’ll go house with a free lipstick to maintain these kisses coming. 147 Quay Road, Auckland CBD.
The candy choice heroes the lippy with treats like a guava and strawberry mousse with sesame sable. Naturally, scones are on the menu (this one comes as a buttermilk scone with sweetened cream and blended berry jam) and savoury choices embody a beetroot tartlet with truffle mascarpone, Wagyu sausage roll with black garlic puree, and a hoisin hen sandwich with toasted sesame.
Bellini at Hilton Auckland , CBD Slightly than altering seasonally, Hilton Auckland’s excessive teas are themed in collaboration with high-end native manufacturers and firms – its present Kisses by Hilton afternoon tea was impressed by natural Kiwi magnificence model Karen Murrell’s Blushing Rose lipstick.
Moxie, Birkenhead
Set in a restored villa, Moxie is a family-run restaurant on the North Shore. The classic excessive tea is a crowd-pleaser, held on the final Sunday of each month. Teas are served in fairly teacups accompanied by crystal cream pots, little silver teaspoons, wee jam jars, candles and teapots, and ornamental pearls.
They’re all deliberate by chef-owner James Bratton’s mum Di Bratton and embody nostalgic classics equivalent to cucumber sandwiches (Moxie’s include dill crème fraîche and cultured butter), coronation hen, and traditional egg mayo, curry salt and chives. An ever-changing flavour of Di’s signature cupcake heads up the sweets, together with strawberry lamingtons. There’s a beneficiant collection of teas to select from and, in fact, be happy to pile your fresh-baked scone with the house-made jams. There are additionally month-to-month specials of French bubbles for $50 per bottle, or $10 a glass.
Particular occasion excessive teas embody Mom’s Day – subsequent 12 months’s Mom’s Day Excessive Tea is sort of bought out already – and there’s a Christmas version on December 10. For those who’re celebrating one thing, you may e book the excessive tea as a personal operate. Menus cater for many tastes (excluding vegan and halal) and bookings are advisable a minimum of two months prematurely as a result of phrase has gotten out that Moxie’s is a superb vacation spot. 82 Hinemoa Road, Birkenhead Level.
Cordis Auckland, Grafton
Whether or not or not you’re staying on the lodge, Cordis is a well-liked central Auckland excessive tea vacation spot. In addition to the signature providing, it has a devoted vegan excessive tea – and the Cody excessive tea makes for a dainty youngsters’ occasion with a distinction.
The usual excessive tea is a stunning fusion of conventional and modern gadgets: egg sandwiches or ones crammed with cucumber, peas and goat’s cheese, together with different savouries like a puff pastry wheel with pork stomach, gouda and apple. Sweets would possibly vary from chestnut and blackcurrant Mont Blanc tarts up to now or plain scones.
Even should you don’t comply with a plant-based weight loss plan, the vegan excessive tea is a spotlight because of bites like teriyaki vegan-cured “salmon” with slaw on a walnut cracker; creamy pecan-stuffed dates; vegan scones;and a vegan carrot cake. Each menus finish with a charmingly English almond Bakewell tart.
The Cordis is thought for themed youngsters’ menus and the lovable Cody excessive tea is served in a golden wheel cake tray embellished with little Cody plushies (the purple panda is the lodge’s mascot). Spinach and beetroot popcorn begins them off (some stealthy veggies in right here) and the choice contains fairy bread, crustless ham sandwiches, chocolate cake and buttermilk scones. 83 Symonds Road, Grafton.
The Wintergarden Pavilion, Parnell
Spring is within the air, and the winter gardens at Auckland Area are at their most spectacular presently of 12 months, so why not take pleasure in a stroll among the many flowers round a scrumptious excessive tea? Excessive tea on the Pavilion runs between 10am and 2pm, so it’s additionally an awesome lunch different if you wish to spend a leisurely day having fun with the heritage century-old glasshouses that have been uncovered earlier this 12 months after a two-year renovation.
The menu adjustments based on season and availability, however you may anticipate the likes of herbed vol-au-vents, salmon and cream cheese bites on rye, hen finger sandwiches, and scones with raspberry jam and whipped cream.
In line with the “sharing” spirit of the gardens, your excessive tea will likely be served on stands within the centre of a desk that you just’ll be partaking with others outdoors of your group, and the tabletop bouquets are simply what you’d anticipate from a venue well-known for its flowers. Bookings are important; gluten-free, vegetarian and dietary requests may be accommodated with two days’ discover. 20 Kiosk Street, Parnell.
Folds Patisserie, Mount Eden
At her bakery Folds Patisserie, pastry chef Wendy Lau combines European methods with Southeast Asian flavours, impressed by her childhood meals reminiscences in Brunei, Malaysia. Her excessive teas aren’t any completely different, and whereas the menu adjustments each three months, every merchandise has a nostalgic Singaporean-Malaysian vibe. Present savouries embody a nasi lemak tart, a laksa pie and a candy vinegar hen bao. From the sweets, strive the curry and salted egg macarons, and the roti kahwin.
Folds has Western teas and coffees however it’s price attempting the hojicha – a gentle, Japanese roasted inexperienced tea that’s mentioned to assist with leisure – or Thea’s natural matcha. There’s additionally an array of vibrant mocktails for a pick-me-up.
Folds has a quiet, cosy vibe, with delicate decor, comfortable cushions and smooth lighting to make you are feeling you’re in your individual little world when you take pleasure in your excessive tea. Lau is presently planning a vegan excessive tea for the primary week in November to coincide with World Vegan Day on November 1. She’s additionally some festive choices to create a Christmas vibe when the conventional excessive tea menu adjustments in December. Its excessive teas promote out quick, so reserving is crucial. 297 Dominion Street, Mount Eden.
Waitakere Resort & Spa, Waiatarua
Head out west on a weekend for this excessive tea that comes with a view of native bush, Rangitoto Island, the ocean and the CBD.
It’s obtainable between noon and 3pm, and is served on triple-decker stands – loads of area for what’s on provide – with both a pot of boutique tea or a glass of bubbles for the deluxe model. You might need an English muffin with cream cheese and smoked salmon, or basil pesto, mozzarella and tomato finger sandwiches. End off with praline nougat-filled mini eclairs and a strawberry jelly tart with white chocolate ganache. And don’t sleep on the banoffee tarts. The raisin scones are decadent, served with butter, fruit jam and passionfruit mascarpone cream. 573 Scenic Drive, Waiatarua.
Bluebells Cakery, numerous places
Identified for beautiful birthday truffles and cupcakes, it’s no shock that Bluebells’ excessive tea is fabulous. There are six completely different excessive teas to select from, plus a takeaway excessive tea if you wish to create your special day at house.
For a conventional British-style excessive tea, the usual model contains herbed egg tea sandwiches, quiche Lorraine, pork sausage rolls and a spread of cupcakes, cheesecakes and tarts. The pregnancy-friendly excessive tea takes the stress out of “Can I eat this?” with its Indian spiced filo, bliss balls and coconut ice, whereas the gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian choices make catering for a crowd an entire lot simpler. For those who’re treating the children, the junior excessive tea menu is cute with ham and cheese pastry twists, scones with jam and cream, and different sweets to maintain little fingers busy and little tummies full. Youngsters may also really feel grown up with their cups of sizzling chocolate and fluffies.
Obtainable seven days every week, the menu gadgets are seasonal and all served with classic tableware in all three places.
Miann Chocolate Manufacturing unit, Morningside
Have your very personal Charlie second as you step into this chocolate manufacturing facility for a dessert-laden afternoon tea. The clear glasshouses within the courtyard make for an much more singular setting.
Miann makes chocolate from 10 completely different areas and also you’ll style a few of them in your excessive tea – obtainable each Saturday frommidday till 6pm. Stay up for caramel chocolate choux, Caramellow tarts and pecan brownie, whereas for savoury the salmon, bitter cream and caper brioche bun is tough to beat.
As a result of it’s Miann, even the tea has a chocolatey edge. Attempt the Miann mix of chocolate husk and rooibos, or the blended berry with chocolate husk. You may nonetheless order commonplace teas however, when you’re right here, the recent sweets are to not be missed as they arrive in quite a lot of flavours. From darkish to take advantage of and white, you may get them spiked with dulce de leche, chilli, matcha and extra. 14 McDonald Road, Morningside.
Eden Backyard, Epsom
For a venue that’s in the midst of a busy suburb, Eden Backyard is surprisingly peaceable. The five-and-a-half-acre backyard is full of New Zealand native and internationally sourced vegetation, and tuīs, fantails, kingfishers and wooden pigeons making a background choir that’s a welcome change from metropolis noise.
Guide a traditional, vegetarian or pescatarian tea – there’s additionally a gluten-free possibility, however take into accout they don’t do vegan or dairy-free. This can be a cosy, homestyle excessive tea with scones and a conventional cucumber sandwich that’s been upscaled to incorporate hen. You would possibly eat shrimp mornay vol-au-vents or a blini with prosciutto and feta whip alongside sips of your Dilmah tea or espresso.
Excessive teas can be found from Tuesday to Sunday and, as with most venues, reserving 48 hours prematurely is required. Charges for the backyard are often $12, however that is included together with your excessive tea. You can too BYO wine and cake (for small charges), which is a bonus for extra-special events. 24 Omana Ave, Epsom.