Australia is a breath-taking place known for its beautiful beaches, unique wildlife and delicious food. All of these attractions come together to produce one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Now, although the country is known for its hearty breakfasts and smoky barbecue, it has so much more to sample food-wise. For example, Australia also offers a taste of sophisticated dining with countless establishments offering some of the best high teas on the planet.
Born from British tradition, high teas have now become a popular trend around the globe. They entail an assortment of delicate cakes and exquisite sandwiches, the perfect addition to any social media profile.
However, with so many options currently available, it can be hard to decide where to take your high tea.
Well, if you are planning a trip to Brisbane, worry no more. We have all the information you need to find the perfect tea and pastry combination.
In the following article, we have rounded up 13 of the best places to get high teas in Brisbane.
So why not take a look at our list and see which menu and venue catches your eye?
Location: 81 N Quay, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3556 8888
For the first entry on our list of the best places to get high teas in Brisbane, we have chosen a hotel that puts a creative spin on the classic high tea. W Brisbane offers an elegant experience inspired by some of the greatest artists across history.
It is home to the themed ‘Eat Your Art Out’ high tea. This is a very different take on a traditional high tea where customers get to paint whilst they eat. You can unleash your inner Van Gogh from Friday to Sunday, between 11 am & 3pm.
Combining art with decadence, this high tea comes loaded with beautifully presented, tasty snacks. Just some of the delights include Chocolate Cherry Profiteroles, Confit Duck and salty Lobster Tarts.
However, the best thing about this high tea is that it can be served with a round of cocktails from the bar. Each creations boasts its own edible print and artistic inspiration.
If you feel like leaving the hustle and bustle of Brisbane behind, then you can travel north for 35 minutes to the seaside town of Scarborough. We recommend making the trip as Scarborough is currently home to one of the finest high teas in the whole of Australia.
Based in a stunning colonial manor, Reid’s Place is the perfect establishment to spend your afternoon. The restaurant itself is set against the backdrop of a beautiful garden, where you can live out your Jane Austen fantasies.
While this particular high tea does not boast elaborate pastries and cakes, everything they provide is delicious, homemade and moreish. In fact, we predict that you will want pack up any leftovers before making your way back into the city.
Dandelion & Driftwood is the kind of place that knows how to do high teas right, with the iconic cafe currently being based in the heart of Hendra.
Known for its original recipes and concoctions, this establishment offers customers three-tiered tea stands chocked with sweet and savoury delights. Think buttery scones, ribbon sandwiches and ornate cupcakes.
However, if you are not in the mood for a milky brew, then you can substitute your tea for something a little harder, with the cafe offering champagne and rose as naughty alternatives.
If you enjoy a boozy brunch, then you will simply adore a boozy high tea, with Brisbane offering one of the best in the whole country.
Located in Newstead, this high tea experience is served in the private comfort of The Matriarch’s premium cocktail garden. Here you can sample fluffy scones and hearty sandwiches, all served with their own unique twist.
However, in this instance, that twist is a trio of gin cocktails, served to complement your various treats. Each drink sports a fruity flavour such as cherry, apple and summer berries. Fun and refreshing, they are the perfect accompaniment to the delicious food.
When it comes to the full royal experience, there’s no better high tea than the one provided by Customs House.
Offering stunning views of Story Bridge, this heritage-listed establishment delivers some of the best ribbon sandwiches in the city, as well as a wide selection of delicious treats and pastries.
Beyond the traditional offerings, Patina also offers delicate cupcakes, handmade petit fours and lashings of vintage champagne. The result is a high tea experience fit for the Queen of England.
If you have been searching for the classic high tea experience, then look no further than the service provided at The Lab.
Situated in the heart of Treasury Brisbane, everything about this high tea screams Secret Garden, making it the perfect location to sit back with some family and friends.
Overseen by Chef Steven Jones, this establishment draws on years of London-based 5-star experience, resulting in a bottomless high tea served with its own hand-crafted brew. However, if tea is not on the menu, you can also swap your china cup for a glass of sparkling wine. Yum!
High tea doesn’t have to be a sophisticated affair to be good, something that our next entry proves in spades.
Based across two different locations, Passiontree Velvet offers a more casual take on the high tea experience, which makes it the perfect place to relax after a long day of perusing the local shops.
Known for its own signature patisserie, the establishment offers a range of handmade delights from chocolate to cakes, with everything being made by a team of internationally trained chocolatiers and pastry chefs.
This is one high tea that you will never question when it comes to quality and taste.
Editor’s Note: We’ve been informed that Passiontree Velvet has closed its outlet in Queensland, though it is still operating a cake delivery service in Sydney.We will let you know if we hear more.As this is the case, why not try this recommendation instead…?
Run by the National Trust, there are many reasons to slip back into the past at this gorgeous heritage-listed museum. Not least the wonderful Wolston House Valentine’s Day High Tea.
Featuring a full range of delicious, tempting bakes and pastries, all enjoyed in the stunning surrounds of the old farmhouse. Whether you prefer to dine inside, or out in the garden, the choice is yours.
Check the website to see if the Cafe is offering High Tea on other dates as well. But if you want to treat your loved one to a very special Valentine’s feast, make sure you book the High Tea at Wolston Farmhouse early. It’s hugely popular and spaces go quickly.
Sitting in the sun outside the homestead on a sunny afternoon, you’ll understand why this is one of the finest places to get High Teas in Brisbane.
Location: 39 Margaret St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3221 1999
If there’s one place in Brisbane that loves high teas, it’s the Stamford Plaza, which offers the full experience in the morning and afternoon.
Offering panoramic views of the Brisbane River, this particular establishment offers a host of different high tea options, with each one sporting its own unique menu of cakes and pastries.
However, if we had to choose the best high tea available, we would have to pick their Chocolate High Tea buffet, which features chocolate in several different forms from shaved to solid. Delicious!
Editor’s Note: At the time of writing this, the Stamford Plaza is temporarily closed. Please call the number above for further updates.
Did someone say gluten-free? Not only is every item on Covent Garden’s menu delicious, but they are also gluten-free. And that even extends to their high tea service.
Along with a wide spread of savoury canapes and indulgent desserts, this high tea comes with a signature cocktail made from gin and tea. It creates a unique experience unlike any other in the city.
But that’s not all! Not only is this high tea completely gluten-free, but it is also served in a stunning botanical-inspired setting, complete with vibrant blooms and an outdoor courtyard.
All-in-all this is one of the best places to get high teas in Brisbane.
Next on our rundown of the best places to get high teas in Brisbane we’re off to the Marriott.
If swan-shaped pastries sound like your idea of heaven, then you will simply adore this high tea by Motion Dining.
Based in the Brisbane Marriott, this experience allows customers to sit in a cosy dining room as they nibble their way through the hotel’s signature menu. Better still, with every delicious treat is served with a glass of French champagne.
However, if you want to sample the best of the best, then we highly recommend ordering a plate of their salmon and cucumber sandwiches. Yum is not the word!
Located in an elegant Brisbane arcade, this high tea is the very definition of traditional. However, it still promises to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
Known for their fluffy scones with jam and cream, this establishment also offers other decadent delights. Indeed, their passion fruit sponges and range of tasty sandwiches are divine.
The beautiful setting and delicious food make this one of the best high teas in the city.
Location: Emporium Hotel South Bank, Ground Floor, 267 Grey St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Ph: (07) 3556 3333
When it comes to international experiences, there’s no better place to visit than Belle Epoque. It offers the closest thing Brisbane has to a real Parisian cafe.
However, this quaint location is probably best known for its cosy decor and delicious high teas. Pleasingly, they come in both vegan and gluten-free options.
Sporting a selection of sinful treats, this cafe is famed for its buttercream and hazelnut macarons. Personally though, we enjoy its Persian spice cake, with warm figs and cream. No wonder Belle Epoque is amongst our best places to get high teas in Brisbane.
If you want to experience some of the best pastries in Australia, then you will find everything you need at Spicers Balfour.
Featuring a handmade menu of ornate pastries and cakes, this fine establishment is based in a lush courtyard, where you will be offered a wide selection of specialty teas.
When visiting this location, you will get the chance to sample chocolate-coated fruit, as well as chocolate chip cookies and smoke salmon brioche. Now if that doesn’t sound good then we don’t know what does.
When it comes to great places to eat in Australia, the list really is endless. There are so many different restaurants, cafés, and chains to try that you really are spoiled for choice. From Italian food, to Japanese food, to a good ‘ole rump steak, the food options are endless.
This is why I decided to set up my blog, Eatability, to share the best food and drink spots in Australia with as many people as possible. Hi, my name is Dylan Cole, and I moved to Australia five years ago from England, UK.
Through this blog, I will be sharing and recommending some of my favorite places you need to visit, such as where to find the best pizza in Adelaide, and the best bakery in Brisbane. Whatever food you are fancying, I have got you covered!
