It’s a couple of months since this high tea birthday celebration at the Sydney Opera House. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed high teas at venues around the world. To be truthful my sentimental favourite is not in my home town, but at Raffles Singapore. Perhaps it’s the colonial setting, where I can escape to another exotic time when a tiger was shot in the Bar and Billards Room, or imagining authors Rudyard Kipling or Somerset Maughan sipping a Singapore Sling in the chair next to me. Back home, in time and place, I’ve tried most of what Sydney’s afternoons have to offer.
My Sydney favourites are each as much a tourist indulgence as a local outing - Guillaume at Bennelong the Sydney Opera House, the restaurant @ the Art Gallery of NSW and the Tea Room @ the QVB (Queen Victoria Building).
High tea at the Sydney Opera House is undoubtedly delicious. Each piece on both the savoury and sweet plates is light, flavoursome, entertaining and thoughtful. Though it’s rare for me to complain, it’s such a pity the service at the Bennelong restaurant can tend to be a little… umm… patronizing.
But what would a soiree be without music…
Or an afternoon be without sweet treats…
Can you guess my favourite treat of the day?
Guillaume at Bennelong
Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney Australia
+ 61 2 9241 1999
September 03 2010 at 9:58 am
Yeah … the food was pretty good that day. Raffles – the first time – was still my favourite, what with the sterling silver tea pot and wonderful tea and the never ending great nibbles all afternoon.
September 03 2010 at 10:50 pm
I’ve only heard bad things about the Opera House High Tea, until now.
I love the idea of the Opera performance, it adds a special dimension to the high tea that other venues cannot deliver.
Last time I went to the QVB I was disappointed too.
My favourite high tea is at the Observatory hotel. Even in large quantities (I had my family 21st birthday there) the quality remained high with the freshest scones, interesting sweets and a willingness to cater to the no seafood, vegetarian and gluten free needs of my guests.
High tea is so fun though anywhere you choose to do it, isn’t it?
September 03 2010 at 11:18 pm
cooeee Marlo – yes the food was really scrumptious at the SOH high tea – but the service … ? I haven’t tried the Observatory hotel – will do so at some stage on your recommendation – oodles x