Put your pinkie in the air and practise your poshest accent for these delightful high teas
If you’re looking for an excuse to get all dolled up, it's time to explore Perth’s sophisticated high tea scene. We are talking scones with jam and cream, crisp cucumber sandwiches, dainty decorated cakes, and honestly what more could you want?
The British tradition of high tea originated among England’s most affluent during the 1840s. It was during the latter part of the 19th century that the tradition was celebrated by both upper and middle classes.
Here’s a roundup of Perth’s best high teas, which are sure to get you feeling fancy and festive, much like a Bridgerton, taking tea in the drawing-room. Whether it's for Mother's Day, a hen's do, a date or just hanging out with friends, high tea always feels like on occasion.
If you’re looking for a sophisticated way to style your Saturday, head to Fleur for the ‘Afternoon Bloom’ high tea.
You’ll be putting down $65 per person for a glass of Prosecco upon arrival and the set menu that features the best of savoury and sweet. Think mushroom and truffle arancini, smoked salmon and caper chouquette, basque cheesecake and lemon and yuzu meringue tartlet.
Fleur offers two Saturday sittings, at noon and 2.30pm.
With bespoke cocktails and a seasonally inspired menu, high tea at the Westin’s Haven Lounge is all kinds of heavenly.
The thoughtfully curated menu features traditional high tea foods like fluffy scones, dainty finger sandwiches and small sweets.
The Westin’s high tea is $59, and you can add a glass of Chandon NV Brut for an extra $10. Or $79 per person will include a glass of Moet and Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne.
High tea is available on Saturdays and Sundays, with two sessions daily (11am to 1pm and 2pm-4pm), and diners must book and pay in advance.
If you’re searching for a high tea with spectacular panoramic views over the Swan River, look no further.
C Restaurant in the Sky is a little more sweet than savoury and caters for all tastes and preferences with a selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours, bite-sized savouries and freshly baked scones, coupled with fresh coffee and nine fine tea blends.
There are a few different options depending on your budget and preferences. For $59 per person, you’ll get a tiered array of sweet and savoury bites with bottomless tea or coffee. For an extra $15, a glass of Australian sparkling wine will be included, and an extra $20 will buy you a glass of Moet.
The Bottomless Sparkling and Wine High Tea package means endless glasses of Australian Yalumba sauvignon blanc, shiraz or Jean Pierre sparkling for $85, and the Premium Bottomless Moet & Chandon High Tea includes an endless waterfall of Moet for $130. Both packages are two-hour sessions.
If you’re on the prowl for child-friendly school holiday options, the Children’s High Tea package costs $42, which is available for children 12 and younger.
High tea is served every day of the week, and bookings are essential. If you have specific dietary requirements (such as gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan), please provide these when you book.
Inside the southeastern wing of the historically steeped State Buildings, above the official marking of Perth’s Point Zero, the Cape Arid Rooms are the home of Como the Treasury’s afternoon tea.
The space is one of high ceilings, timber-shuttered windows and walls adorned with the exquisitely intricate watercolour and ink paintings of renowned Western Australian artists Alex and Philippa Nikulinsky.
The couple’s series of paintings known as the Cape Arid Collection – from which the rooms took their name – were inspired by their adventures to Cape Arid, a national park located 120 kilometres east of Esperance.
Inspired by Western Australia, the Tagon Bay Edition of the Como the Treasury afternoon tea is a journey of sensory exploration featuring seasonal local producers from Moora citrus to Rose Mallee beef.
For $75 per person, the afternoon tea offerings include treats like a coffee almond éclair; cookies and cream delice; cocoa sponge; mandarin and milk chocolate tart; beef toasted brioche with onion cream; and the leek tart with smoked ocean trout. The standard high tea comes with tea or coffee, and you can order specialty soda, cocktails or wine a la carte.
All of 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.
We love traditional high tea, but sometimes tiers of scones and sandwiches can get a bit samey. Enter Flight Club, the social darts bar, which has reinvented the English tradition.
It’s a deadly dynamic duo that ought to be on everyone’s radar. Bottomless high tea meets bottomless darts.
For $59 per person, you’ll have two hours of bullseyes with bottomless sandwiches, cream cheese bagels, tiramisu slices and passionfruit cheesecake, buttermilk scones and orange and almond cake. Plus, each player will receive their own bottle of bubbles.
The menu promises to cater to vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners.
Bar Uma is the cocktail bar sister to Uma, the Pan Pacific’s Peruvian restaurant. The word Uma is derived from a pre-Incan dialect and means mountains and water.
The bar is inspired by the Amalfi lifestyle, and diners are invited to live “la dolce cita” with a menu that focuses on Mediterranean flavours.
Curated by the pastry team, the many teas on offer are complemented with sweet and savoury offerings, inspired by Italian summers.
Food includes citrus and candied fruit scones with berry confiture and cream; tiramisu and honey and lavender ricotta cornetto. Prosciutto and melon skewers are on the savouries menu, along with bocconcini, pesto and tomato crostini and marinated Fremantle octopus with Mediterranean vegetables.
The cocktail collection celebrates all things Italian, with drinks named after the picturesque towns and landmarks along the Amalfi Coast, like Sorrento, Blue Grotto and Monterosso.
There is a range of high tea options, including the non-alcoholic for $58 per person and the Australian Sparkling Wine High Tea for $78 per person. For $88 per person, the Australian Sparkling Wine High Tea includes a Malfy Gin cocktail on arrival, and for those wanting to go deluxe, the French Champagne High Tea is priced at $122 per person.
Located in the heart of Crown Metropol Perth and drawing inspiration from the enchanting bistros of Paris, Bistro Guillaume’s acclaimed chef Guillaume Brahimi presents a menu fusing modern and French classics.
With its chequerboard flooring, coupled with a view of the resort-style pool, the chic lime green dining room has a luxe vacation feel.
From 2pm on Saturdays, Bistro Guillaume offers an afternoon tea that features a menu of chocolate tarts, macarons, lemon meringue tartlets, chocolate eclairs, smoked salmon tartlets, duck pithiviers, crab sandwiches, roast beef and chicken baguettes.
The high tea is $50 per person with tea or coffee, and an extra $15 will buy a glass Moet Champagne.
Known for its sensational food and world-class wine, the Swan Valley is close enough to be enjoyed as a day trip, while still providing that “far away” feel.
Pop into the Cottage Tea Rooms from Tuesday to Saturday at either 11am or 2pm for high tea consisting of beetroot, feta and herb puffs; cheese and bacon scones; chicken sandwiches; strawberry cheesecake; passionfruit vanilla slice; and of course, scones with jam and cream.
The Tea Rooms offer a traditional high tea comprising four sweets, four savouries, three sandwiches and two scones with jam and cream per person. This includes bottomless tea or two coffees. This package is $35 per person on weekdays and $40 on weekends. If you’ve got the kids coming along too, there’s a kids' high tea menu for $20 per child.
If you’re searching for the perfect school holiday activity, the Fairy High Tea option is the one for you. Every Tuesday to Saturday at 10am, for $35 per child, the Children’s High Tea includes a sausage roll, cheese and bacon quiche, fairy bread, chocolate fudge and macaron, along with a guided workshop to create a magical fairy garden to take home. Parents can also book a traditional high tea package to enjoy at the same time.
Cottage Tea Rooms can cater for vegetarians but not gluten-free, dairy-free or other dietary preferences.
This cute café offers high tea with a selection of savoury and petite desserts. As everything is made in-house, the team can cater for special dietary requirements with a minimum notice of 48 hours.
Bites by D offers three two-hour high tea sessions from Tuesday to Sunday. The morning sitting starts at 11.30am, the afternoon session is at 2pm, and the twilight session starts at 4p30pm.
Coffee or tea is included, and guests can bring their own wine or champagne for $5 corkage per bottle. The weekday high tea is priced at $45, and it’s $55 per person on Saturday and Sunday. The twilight session is $59 per person.
If you'd rather eat at home, the café also offers individually packed takeaway high tea boxes featuring a selection of savouries and sweets Tuesday to Sunday between 8am and 4pm for $40 per person. The boxes include things like cheese and chives scones; croissant with pesto, cheddar and rocket; beetroot and cream cheese tart; berry financier with toasted meringue; and coconut dacquoise with mango and raspberry mousse.
