5 of the best afternoon tea spots around the country
WHEN it comes to afternoon tea, South Africa is brimming with hotels, cafés, restaurants, and tea houses that offer a superior experience. Whether you are all about the setting or on a mission to uncover the city’s best scone, we are sure you will love the places we have gathered for you below.
GAUTENG
The Trea Garden
The café offers different teas (normal tea fruit infusions and ice tea). Their tea is from the Toni Glass Collection, which is a remarkable infusion of both tradition and new-age tea-drinking, sourced from all corners of the world. They also have House Blend from Earthen Coffee roasters, blended different African origins, Kenyan coffee from BLK, which is a Kenyan origin coffee roasted in Centurion by a blackowned roastery.
Located: 26 Swart Drive, President Park in Midrand
Gabriella’s Tea Room Gabriella’s Tea Room is inspired by her life, a combination of European cultures spanning both Hungarian and Italian traditions. Nestled in a world of its own, behind La Cucina di Ciro in Parktown North, the café offers a delicious selection for all diets, including special dietary requirements.
Located: 43 7th Avenue, Parktown North
WESTERN CAPE
Taj Cape Town
Taj Cape Town offers one of the most popular high teas, in the heart of the city. This beautiful hotel takes a decidedly sweet approach to the concept, with almost all dishes including varying amounts of chocolate. You’ll find everything, from chocolate scones to chocolate éclairs on offer, as well as a wide selection of loose-leaf teas to help you wash them down.
Located: Corner Saint Georges Mall, Cape Town City Cellars-hohenort
High tea at Cellars-hohenort is a more adult affair, with a wide range of savoury treats with a deliberately low-carb angle. You can expect roasted red peppers and goats’ cheese tarts, beef skewers, and broccoli, followed by sugar-free fruit pavlovas and dark chocolate, and beetroot cupcakes.
Located: 93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, Cape Town
KWAZULU-NATAL
Birds Tea & Coffee
Located under a covered verandah, the restaurant boasts eclectic decor that makes it memorable and interesting. The menu is so simple it almost adds to the quirkiness. It’s scrambled eggs on toast, boiled eggs on toast, avos, you guessed it – on toast – and a quiche of the day. Beyond that, there are freshly baked scones and a selection of cakes.
Located: 185 Lothian Road, Durban North