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It's high time for a high tea


Traditionally, the high tea was the domain of ladies who lunched long into the early eve. Nowadays, while it's still an afternoon delight, it seems nobody can resist the allure of a crumpet, a Danish or a jam scone. Add a pot of tea - loose leaf to be certain - and you've got yourself a highly civilised and often quite tranquil social occasion.

There's a fair variety of high teas on offer in cafe, restaurant and hotel settings, but they all share a commitment to the bare essentials - the sweet, the savoury and the satisfying.

1
 
The Victoria Room
Darlinghurst
Exotically furnished with cosy lounges, restored antique chairs and tables and luscious greenery, this decadent indoor bar and restaurant offers high tea on the weekends for glamorous ladies and gentlemen who like a good scone, cucumber sandwich, tea or that ever-so-effervescent glass of bubbly.

2
 
Art Gallery of NSW Restaurant
Sydney
Not just a feast for the eyes, the Art Gallery of New South Wales has a contemporary dining space for those who have had their fill of fine art and are now hungry for a good feed. High teas are served from 2pm-4pm every day of the week, with light sandwiches, frittatas, prawns, rice paper rolls, mousses, cakes and leaf teas. Banquet options are available for those interested in sampling the lot.

3
 
Tea Lounge
Yarralumla
Luxury hotels often provide high calibre high teas, and the Hyatt Hotel Canberra is no exception with its opulent, chandelier-lit Tea Lounge. Here, an assortment of sandwiches, pastries, muffins, croissants, fresh fruit, cakes and desserts are accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. And who said a high tea couldn't include coffee? There's coffee, tea and hot chocolate to choose from, which can be savoured outdoors in one of the two courtyards.

4
 
The Hotel Windsor
Melbourne
For a truly royal experience, the impressively lavish Windsor Hotel offers high, or afternoon, tea served on three-tiered silver stands between 3pm and 5pm every day for $45 per person, and at various times on weekends and public holidays for $65 a pop. Making a welcome appearance are classics like baked raisin and vanilla scones with jam and cream, ribbon sandwiches and French pastries. Simply divine!

5
 
Street Talk Cafe
Armadale
Renowned for making the best coffee in Melbourne, Armadale's Street Talk Cafe also serves an all-day breakfast that includes croissants, toasted focaccia, berry muffins, freshly-made pies and pancake stacks served with poached eggs, bacon and maple syrup. It's an urban high tea of sorts, with the pop art decor and communal coffee table bringing it all down to earth.

6
 
High Societea
Clayfield
Clayfield's innovatively named High Societea caters specifically to functions, with five banquet options including the Royal Ascot High Tea, the Savoury High Tea, the Chocolate Indulgence, the Gluten-Free and the Children's Tea Party. Served on delicate antique china tea sets with sweetly-scented homegrown roses, these sweet and savoury options range from $17.50-$39.50 per person.

7
 
Top of the World Revolving Restaurant
Glenelg
Try a high tea in the heights at Glenelg's Top of the World revolving restaurant on level 12 of the Atlantic Tower. With a 360 degree view of the picturesque beachside town, it's quite literally the highest tea in Adelaide. Bookings for high teas are essential, as they're only served on Sundays between 2pm and 5pm each week in the restaurant's Eclipse Lounge, featuring filo pastries, chocolate truffles and any tea under the sun; organic peppermint, earl grey and even Mexican chilli chai.

8
 
The Grill
Perth
'Grill' by name, contemporary fine dining by nature, the Duxton Hotel's restaurant presents a high tea every day from 2pm-5pm, with banquet options for an affordably-priced $22 and $32, featuring the finest in finger sandwiches (such as the Tasmanian smoked salmon with caper cream), cakes (including the summer fruit tartlet with Cointreau cream) and an exotic range of loose-leaf teas (like the peachy Oolong Formosa Grand from Taiwan).