High tea
Photograph: Supplied | Como The Treasury
Photograph: Supplied | Como The Treasury

The 6 best high teas in Perth

Raise your pinky to finger sandwiches, fluffy scones and fancy petit fours

Alexandra Casey
Contributor: Dale Anninos-Carter
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If you’re looking for an excuse to get all dolled up, Perth’s oh-so-sophisticated high tea scene is calling. From fluffy scones with jam and cream to crisp cucumber finger sandwiches and dainty decorated cakes, high tea in Perth is the ultimate indulgent afternoon ritual.

High tea originated in 1840s England, when it was first enjoyed by the upper classes before becoming a much-loved tradition across society. Fast-forward to today, Perth has well and truly embraced the ritual, offering everything from classic towers to creative, seasonal twists. No matter your vibe, these are the best high teas in Perth that are sure to make you feel fancy and festive, much like a character from Bridgerton taking tea in the drawing room.

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Best high tea in Perth

1. Cape Arid Rooms

Go for: The seasonally evolving high tea with a focus on native ingredients.

What’s for tea? The south-eastern wing of the historically steeped State Buildings is home to COMO The Treasury’s luxe high tea. Your afternoon will be a journey of sensory exploration featuring the season’s finest local producers, which might include Bannister Downs Dairy, Teaessential matcha and Torre Butchers ham. And while Cape Arid Rooms’ high tea menu is ever-changing, you can expect a focus on native and local ingredients intertwined with new-wave bites. Think: A Halls Family Dairy camembert served with a leek filo tartelette and whipped horseradish crème fraiche and Shark Bay prawns on brioche, with dill, cucumber and Marie Rose dressing; followed by a Tucker Bush Quandong and persimmon cheesecake with ginger Sable Breton — plus so many more. All treats are served with your choice of tea or filter coffee, with Champagne or specialty cocktails available as add-ons. The tea blends featured on the menu have been carefully curated in collaboration with Teassential – a Western Australian tea company located within the State Buildings. Whatever the month, rest assured that delightful, intricate fare and sips are on the horizon. 

How much? From $85 per person

Alexandra Casey
Alexandra Casey
Contributor

2. Haven Lounge

Go for: An elegant affair with a focus on seasonality.

What’s for tea? Step out of the city life chaos and into elegance with bespoke cocktails and a seasonally inspired high tea at The Westin’s Haven Lounge. The pretty little three-tier cake stands make for a picture-perfect foreground to the Haven Lounge’s bright, contemporary space, complete with plush booths that invite you to stay for a good time and a long time. Oh, and a tasty time too. Every Friday through to Sunday between 11am and 2:30pm, Haven Lounge puts on a show with a thoughtfully curated menu that changes throughout the year. Recently, the tabletops have seen the likes of 'A Winter in New York', ‘Springtime in Paris’, ‘Festive’, as well as a pink monochrome and chocolate affair too. Four savouries and five sweets await nibbling, along with a scone and unlimited coffee throughout the fanciful afternoon. But if you’re feeling like going the extra mile, you can raise a toast to a glass of Chandon NV Brut for an extra $10 or a glass of Moët and Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne for $20. A lovely pairing with your smoked chicken tart with tapenade and basil emulsion.

How much? $79-$99 per person

Alexandra Casey
Alexandra Casey
Contributor
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3. C Restaurant in the Sky

Go for: The panoramic views with a twist (quite literally) and a high tea that’s available seven days a week.

What’s for tea? If you’re searching for a high tea with spectacular panoramic views over the Swan River, then look no further. C Restaurant in the Sky has long been known for its 33rd floor locale that looms over the CBD’s St Georges Terrace, and it’s nowadays somewhat novel revolving, spherical dining room. So if it’s a meal and a show that takes your fancy, C Restaurant might just be your ticket to a sweet time. Speaking of, their high tea never misses. With a selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours, bite-sized savouries and freshly baked scones, coupled with fresh coffee and ten fine tea blends, you’re in for a treat. Expect bites that sound a little like delicate blueberry tarts and macaroons that’ll send you straight to flavourtown, along with perfectly-puffed sausage rolls and sliders to boot. You can even bring the kids along and treat them to C’s bite-sized Children’s High Tea package for $49 per child. How’s that for a ‘high’ tea?

How much? $65-$167 per person

4. Hearth Restaurant

Go for: A ‘Ritzy’ affair by the Swan River shoreline.

What’s for tea? At the base of one of Perth's best hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, lies a swish, sun-filled dining room where ‘local elegance meets world-class hospitality’, so they say. Hearth Restaurant is reasonably new on the block and it shows – the classy interior boasts deep blue tones across plush booths, shimmery polished concrete floors, marble tabletops and gold detailing that screams lavish. Hearth’s afternoon tea doesn’t fall short either, heroing seasonal ingredients and native flavours that are transformed using contemporary techniques. Two courses of savoury and sweets are the go at Hearth, and if you’re lucky, your divine spread might include Jarrah honey confit duck croquettes with hoisin sauce and kumquat mayo, smoked salmon brioche topped with Jarrah truffle honey, ricotta and Geraldon wax; alongside a Blackbutt honey sponge with Darjeeling tea mousse and bee pollen. When the thirst sets in, opt for a beragave package of Seven Seas Tea from Margaret River or Howard Park Petit Jeté, or Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut from Reims. Don’t mind if we do.

How much? $87-$215 per person

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5. Flight Club

Go for: A fun-leaning experience that strays from tradition.

What’s for tea? Tired of the same old high tea shenanigans? Head to Flight Club, the social darts bar reinventing the English tradition. From $89 per person, you’ll enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless bullseyes along with bottomless prosecco, cocktails, canapés, pizzas and some cheeky sweets too. It’s different, it’s unusual, we like it. Every Saturday and Sunday, you can try your hand at some precision shots while snacking on things like Reuben sliders stuffed with pastrami and pickled cabbage with a slathering of thousand island dressing, zucchini fritters with chipotle ranch, and chocolate-dipped profiteroles for good measure. There’s a separate gluten-free and vegetarian menu too if that’s how you tend to roll. On the tipple side of things, inventive numbers include the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and Watermelon Crusher Slushie. But if you’re skipping the booze, zero per cent prosecco and mocktails are always on hand too.

How much? From $89-$119 per person

6. Mrs Rabbit Tearooms

Go for: A cute garden high tea with BYO bubbles

What’s for tea? Renowned for its sensational food and world-class wine, the Swan Valley is close enough to be enjoyed as a day trip while still radiating that ‘far away’ feel. And if you’re looking for more than just a drive through the hills and a more often than not obligatory winery visit, pop into Mrs Rabbit Tearooms on your next citybreak for high tea consisting of traditional homestyle baking, complete with vintage crockery for an English country garden experience, sans the gloomy weather. A High Tea experience is only available on Saturdays, and walk-in's only allowed on Sundays. Expect beetroot and feta tartlets, cucumber and mint sandwiches, lavender shortbreads, and of course, scones with jam and cream. From Wednesday through to Friday, you can order from a varied high-tea-adjacent menu that sounds glorious. Warming pots of tea of about 20 brews are yours for the taking too. How does a Scottish breakfast or Turkish delight cuppa sound? But if you’re all about jazzing things up a bit, Mrs Rabbit Tearooms welcomes BYO bubbles for just $3.30 corkage per person. Say no more.

How much? From $66 per person

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