From the lightest and fluffiest buttery scones with clotted cream and preserves to dainty tea served to the sounds of a live pianist, Joburgers love to take time out for afternoon tea. Here's our pick of some of the best Afternoon and High Teas this city has to offer.

Hotels and restaurants

54 ON BATH

For those who love a glass of bubbles as much as a cup of tea... plus five-star luxury. 

For those who want to sit back, relax, and not take life too seriously.

Tucked away from the buzz of Sandton Central you'll find the Da Vinci Lounge at the Da Vinci Hotel, a relaxed space in a private courtyard with a small pool, where an urban High Tea is served buffet-style on the first Sat of every month. Start with a home-made lemonade welcome drink before exploring the buffet tables that include savoury treats such as smoked salmon, sandwiches, and filled croissants, as well as a variety of dips and bread and hot savoury items including cheese and jalapeño rissoles or chicken pinchos. For those with a sweet tooth, imagine a table piled high with Nuttikrust truffles, scones, and of course, what is a High Tea without a slice of cake?

Price: R425 p.p.   
When: High Tea is served Sat 14:00 –17:00. Booking is essential. Call +27 11 292 7160 or email davinci-banqueting@legacyhotels.com

FAIRLAWNS BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SPA

For those needing a reset close to the city or a bridal shower heaven.

Enjoy a leisurely "tea in the woods" themed High Tea at this luxurious boutique hotel tucked into quiet Morningside, five minutes from Central Sandton. Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa's setting is the gorgeous Manor House Bistro overlooking the hotel gardens, or weather permitting, you can take tea on the terrace. The style is classic English afternoon tea with a choice of inventive savoury options like their truffle, mushroom, and goat's cheese vol-au-vent and scrumptious duck and sour cherry pies, accompanied by a towering stand of cakes, fluffy scones, and generous cups of loose-leaf tea. There is also the option to enjoy a glass of bubbly with your High Tea (available by the glass). 

Price: Morning Tea R320 p.p; Afternoon Tea R425 p.p.
When: High Tea is available daily in the morning and afternoon. Bookings are essential. Call +27 11 802 7261 or email reservations@fairlawns.co.za.

LIBERTÉ

For those looking for Friday afternoon indulgence

In a world where the four-day weekend is something being debated globally, Liberté’s High Tea offering fits in perfectly. Tea is served in a cast-iron pot – which we love, as it keeps the brew at an optimal temperature for longer – on two elegant, silver multi-tiered stands, the first bearing the savoury selection, and the second the sweet. You can look forward to vol-au-vent puff pastry cases, roasted zucchini strips with halloumi, flatbreads, olives, and a selection of sliced cheeses. The portions are well thought through, and it’s a comfortable and utterly comforting High Tea for two. The setting is laid-back, and the whole experience suggests the start of a good weekend. A lovely option for catching up with friends in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
 
Price: R500 for two people.
When: Fri from 11:00 – 15:00. High Tea is available for group bookings of 10 or more any day of the week. Bookings essential. Call  +27 10 824 5791 or email bookings@liberte.com

OLIVES & PLATES

For those serious about the setting, and want the perfect spot for tea with your mother-in-law.

Located on the Wits campus in a historic Dutch house canopied by oak trees, Olives & Plates at Wits Club is one of Joburg’s true hidden treasures. Olives & Plates is known for its bountiful cake displays and generous servings with OTT (over-the-top) presentation, but did you know they also offer a picture-perfect High Tea on the first weekend of every month? It all begins with a glass of bubbles in a crystal Marie Antoinette glass paired with a vanilla macaron and berry panna cotta. Then you’ll get stuck into a menagerie of mini-cakes and savouries that include sumptuous salmon bagels, spinach and feta roses, exquisitely presented deluxe cucumber and egg sandwiches, and some of the best mini-lemon meringues, white chocolate salted caramel cheesecakes, and coconut cakes we’ve ever tasted, all on a gorgeous, tiered cake stand.

Price: R640 p.p. 
When: High Tea is served on the first weekend of every month. Booking is essential. Call +27 11 717 9365 or email club@olivesandplates.co.za

THE PALAZZO MONTECASINO

For those who love a bargain as much as a good spoil.

High Tea at The Palazzo Montecasino is served at the hotel’s Medeo Restaurant terrace, overlooking a pool that would make any Hollywood starlet feel at home. For groups, you can also arrange High Tea in the pretty rose garden of the hotel's private Rosa venue. The generous High Tea menu, presented with elegance, comprises a variety of extravagantly decorated little cakes, tarts and pastries, colourful macarons, petite quiches, assorted sandwiches, sweet and savoury scones, and a fine selection of single-origin Ceylon teas.

Price: R385 p.p. 
When: High Tea is served daily from 14:00 – 17:00. Booking is essential. Call +27 11 510 3000 or email Palazzo.dining@tsogosun.com

THE SAXON HOTEL, VILLAS & SPA

For those looking for the ultimate indulgence, in absolute privacy.

One of South Africa's most luxurious hotels, The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa hosts indulgent Morning and Afternoon High Teas in truly opulent surroundings. The Saxon High Tea is an elegant and traditionally styled High Tea served in the Piano Lounge where the hotel's resident pianist will be tinkling the ivories to set the mood. Expect savoury delights like their miniature egg florentine with toasted dombolo, sous-vide egg yolk, sautéed spinach and hollandaise sauce, and poached prawn and avocado verrine with a tomato and tabasco foam, and sweets that will simply take your breath away. Their chocolate éclair with nyangbo chocolate and vanilla chantilly is hard to beat. Paired with exceptional Ronnedfeldt teas and the very best service, this is an experience you won't forget. 

Bakeries and pâtisseries

JUST TEDDY

For those with limited time or looking for decadence with convenience.

From competing in the Great South African Bake Off to running a market stall, in 2020 Ted Zaki of Just Teddy Pâtisserie moved to one of Joburg's most upmarket malls, Hyde Park Corner, and its incredible popularity has only continued to grow. During lockdown, Just Teddy pioneered the High Tea in Box, which you can enjoy at home (still available via their website) or you can enjoy High Tea at their pâtisseries in Hyde Park and Sandton. The menu is a delightful array of the day's selection of French pâtisserie, Middle Eastern-inspired savouries like Lebanese spinach pies, and topping off the three tiers, fresh scones with cream and jam.

For office parties, kiddies' parties, and selfie snaps galore.

Out of town

DE HOEK COUNTRY HOTEL

For a weekend away, or those looking for an escape.