A WINTER GARDEN AT HIGH TEA BY CORDIS

The stylish, contemporary design of the hotel’s lobby lounge provides an intimate and relaxing setting for the daily High Tea by Cordis

There are other high teas around town, but none delivers such a memorable experience as the diligently crafted High Tea by Cordis. Here, the menu changes with the seasons. As the cooler weather settles in for a good few months and we seek comforting hospitality, booking in for Cordis’ current Winter Garden offering is a heart-warming prospect.

Some things are as one would expect of a good high tea — such as delicate club sandwiches with cucumber and champagne ham, and fluffy scones served with homemade jams and South Island clotted cream — but you’ll also be wowed by the profusion of special additions. On the winter menu, a fresh slice of South Island truffle cosies up to mushroom cream and venison in a heavenly savoury spoonful. Red onion and port wine soup awaits you, in its own chic glass box, topped with pickled fennel and a brown onion gel. A dainty, velvety hot chocolate milkshake is delivered to the table and, as you nibble your way up to the top tier of desserts, you’ll find creations almost too beautiful to bite into.

Included in the regular price is your choice from a wide range of High Tea by Cordis boasts close to 50 types of black, green and oolong tea, which have been directly sourced and blended by experts. There’s even a qualified tea sommelier on hand to help. There are options, too, to add a “tea-tail”, which is a tea-infused cocktail, or a little fizz to your day with sparkling wine or Champagne. After all, life is worth celebrating, especially when high tea is this good.

Just for July: every signature High Tea by Cordis ordered (adults only, must be 18 or over) is served with a complimentary Hendrick’s GnTea cocktail. This bespoke creation combines an infusion of tea and Hendricks gin and is poured from a vintage Hendrick’s tea set, from a unique tea trolley, served with a refreshing ribbon of cucumber.