Review: High Tea at Liberté

03 Apr 2024

Tuck in at Liberté's High Tea. Photo: Supplied.

Vol-au-vent puff pastry cases for High Tea. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Liberté is the sister establishment to Natasha Maciel’s well-established and highly popular Italian restaurant, Pronto, at The Woods (formerly the Colony Centre) in Craighall Park. A French-inspired eatery, the interiors are a welcoming and rich royal blue, with plush, grey velvet banquettes, pops of pink chairs, brass-framed mirrors, and touches of lush greenery.

The space conveys a sense of triumph; after all, the name shouts "freedom". On a signature wall, the words “I have the freedom to create what I want” call out across the space, and there are plenty of delicate touches of whimsy that testify to this. The ceramic plates bear a delicate feminine figure, and even the coasters carry a message: “All good things are wild and free”, “Don’t let the tamed ones tell you how to live,” and "Go where you breathe free” are a reminder that life is to be lived.

Tea at **Liberté** is served in a cast-iron pot. Photo: Supplied.

And so we get to High Tea on a Friday, a relatively recent offering from Liberté. In a world where the four-day weekend is something being debated globally, Liberte’s 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 arrival, you’ll be offered an opportunity to peruse the tea box, which has 12 varieties of tea to choose from. Being traditionalists we opted for English Breakfast but for the more adventurous there was everything from Indian chai to a fresh Four Red Fruits.

High Tea is served. Photo: Johanneburg In Your Pocket.

Tea for two arrived at the table on two elegant, silver multi-tiered stands. The first bearing the savoury selection, and the second the sweet. Starting from the top, was a selection of vol-au-vent puff pastry cases, our favourites filled with creamy spinach and topped with smoked salmon. Roasted zucchini strips with halloumi were delicately wrapped into parcels, while at the bottom, flatbreads, olives, and a selection of sliced cheeses. The sweet stand had two layers that included a delectable chocolate ganache, a lighter-than-light pastry with a puff of custard and a High Tea essential – fluffy scones with cream and jam.

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.

High Tea is served on Fri from 11:00 – 15:00. The cost is R500 for two people. High Tea is available for group bookings of 10 or more any day of the week. Email bookings@liberte.com