As Bangkok begins to welcome its first glance of winter, now is probably a good time to enjoy a gastronomic day out amidst the changing weather. To make the excursion even more luxurious, there are plenty of awe-inspiring afternoon teas on offer throughout the city.
Whether it be to catch up with friends, strengthen a mother-daughter bond, discuss a business deal or simply a culinary remedy, the alluring repertoire of gourmet finger food and miniature confections promises to raise the gathering to another level.
Here's a list of 5-star establishments where distinctively-conceptualised tipple time affairs are currently celebrated.
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
Inspired by timeless American dishes originated at the Waldorf Astoria New York, the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok presents a new afternoon tea set that includes the iconic Waldorf salad, eggs Benedict and red velvet cake among many other delicacies.
The afternoon set, which is served at Peacock Alley lounge on the hotel's upper lobby floor, encompasses savoury creations such as crab cake with Thousand Island dressing; organic eggs Benedict with smoked salmon; Waldorf salad tortilla wrap with walnut tuiles; green zebra tomato-shaped virgin Bloody Mary; and foie gras tower with strawberries glass and white balsamic pearls; lobster roll with baby cos lettuce and Sriracha mayo; and larb tuna on rice cracker with kaffir lime powder.
From the sweet side are modern strawberry red velvet cake; New York sundae choux; hazelnut-mango-passion fruit pie; corn cake with pistachio-orange chantilly and lime macarons; and scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and homemade strawberry jam.
The Peacock Alley's Iconic Afternoon Tea is on offer daily from 1-5pm, until Nov 30. The price is 2,500 baht per set for two persons inclusive of fine tea or signature coffee.
For more information and reservations, call 02-846-8888.
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
To celebrate the greenery that encircles the environmentally-focused hotel, Sindhorn Kempinski's award-winning Lobby Lounge presents a new afternoon tea set inspired by its surrounding nature.
Dubbed The Verdant Afternoon Tea, the seasonal concept is created by British executive pastry chef Paul Kelly, whose career profile includes years of heading the pastry kitchens of 5-star establishments around the world.
Kicking off the soiree is an ample helping of Korat melon and coconut granita served in a whole coconut.
The savoury part of the set encompasses items such as foie gras terrine with crue de cacao and blueberry on brioche; Scottish salmon tartare on pumpernickel with Avruga caviar; shrimp cocktail wafer with mango and tobiko roe; Coronation chicken sandwich on sourdough; and marinated free-range chicken breast with golden raisins and Madras curry.
The sweet side features raspberry and Chiang Mai vanilla tart; chilled blueberry consomme shots; quenelle of soybean cream with carrot jelly and almond sable; lemon poppyseed madeleine; and chocolate praline of the day.
The set, priced at 2,300 baht per two persons, comes with classic and raisin scones, accompanied by clotted cream, lemon curd and strawberry jam, and choices of premium tea.
The Verdant Afternoon Tea is offered daily, 2-5pm, until Nov 30. A 100 baht proceed from every tea set sold on Wednesday will be donated to the Foundation for the Blind as part of The Melody Of Giving Back programme whereby a sight-challenged pianist performs during the afternoon tea.
For more information and reservations, call 02-095-9999.
The St. Regis Bangkok
Available at The St. Regis Bar and The Drawing Room on the 12th floor, The St. Regis' newly-launched afternoon tea concept takes cues from multi-coloured autumn leaves and the abundance of seasonal produce.
A vibrant gourmet concept by Indian pastry chef Shyamal Mukherjee, the Autumn Afternoon Tea set showcases bite-sized delicacies such as octopus and heirloom tomato tartlet; smoked duck and berry sauce on red velvet bun; Parma ham and fig on white bread; beetroot and mustard-marinated salmon éclair; and organic root vegetable hummus with green olive crumb.
Pistachio éclair; raspberry pate de fruit; Coco Rocher cronut; carrot cake Swiss roll; and 72% dark chocolate caramel macaron represent the sweet renderings.
The scones -- classic and cranberry -- are served with apple jam, herb-infused orange jam and clotted cream.
To reflect the woody, earthy autumn air, the tea time snacks are presented on an exclusively hand-crafted, multi-tiered wooden stand with matching bowls.
The Autumn Afternoon Tea is served daily, 2-5pm, until Nov 30. The price is 1,800 baht per set inclusive of tea or coffee for two persons.
For more information and reservations, call 02-207-7777.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Every weekend, the Grand Hyatt Erawan's atrium lobby will turn into a European culinary showcase under the theme A Summer In Europe.
There, afternoon tea connoisseurs will find a repertoire of newly-launched tea-time creations, passionately curated by the hotel's French executive chef David Senia, presented amidst lush decoration mimicking a sun-kissed European countryside.
Incorporating new and interesting approaches into the contemporary cooking style and old-world recipes, the new afternoon tea set features a quintessential assortment of classic European delicacies and popular Western snacks and sweets.
Highlights include black truffle croque madame; salmon macaronade with horseradish cream; summer tuna bagnat aioli rolls; citrus orange blossom canelés; mango & basil meringue tart; rambutan and coconut crumble tart; pandan custard and longan-honey jelly; and freshly-baked classic British scones with clotted cream and homemade jam.
A selection of TWG's exclusive blends and speciality tea mocktails will be offered alongside the small bites.
A Summer In Europe afternoon tea is available every weekend from 3-5.30pm, until Nov 30. The prices are 1,950 baht per set for two persons inclusive of tea, and 2,400 baht per set for two persons with sparkling wine.
For more information or reservations, call 02-254-1234.
137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok
This lovely Sukhumvit hotel has been known as one of the city's best, yet humblest, destinations for afternoon tea affairs. The tipple time treats are served at the top-floor Baan Borneo Club as well as the garden-enclave Bangkok Trading Post on the front ground.
Currently, there are two options: classic and vegan. Both are ingeniously crafted.
The classic, dubbed Boutique Of Jewels, features savoury bites such as avocado scallop tart with caviar; crab rhubarb salsa; cauliflower with smoked eel and vanilla mousse mille-feuille; chargrilled eggplant with tahini and prosciutto choux; and lobster and green pea taco.
On the sweet side are blueberry yoghurt mousse; coconut mousse with lime jelly; chocolate cherry tart; and mango cheesecake topped with mango salsa-coconut sauce.
While the plant-based Nature's Opulence set, which requires a minimum one-day advance reservation, showcases items such as avocado carpaccio with green peas tonka ganache on sesame cracker; parsnip cremeux with piquillos pepper on quinoa crunch; and mirin-marinated tofu sandwich with edamame and lemon confit; seaweed tartare and pickles tart with Japanese beetroot pearls; coconut ganache on lemon meringue; pistachio mousse with orange coulis; and a dairy-free scone with apricot-miso jam and chocolate cremeux, to name a few.
The food is served with a choice of premium tea blends. The Boutique Of Jewels afternoon tea is priced at 1,800 baht per set for two persons, or 2,200 baht per set inclusive of two glasses of sparkling wine. The Nature's Opulence vegan afternoon tea costs 1,600 baht per two persons including choices of tea and kombucha or 2,000 baht per two persons inclusive of sparkling wine.
Both afternoon teas are available daily from 1-5pm, until Dec 31.
For more information or reservations, call 02-079-7000.
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
Specially for the season, the hotel's executive pastry chef Franck Istel has created the Autumn Melodies Afternoon Tea, portraying various colours and shapes of the much-loved time of the year. Bright hues of marigold orange and primrose yellow illustrate the transformation from the warm European summer to the gentle, cool winds of autumn.
The set showcases 14 items of sweet and savoury delicacies that depict iconic favourite autumn ingredients and tastes such as pumpkins, hazelnuts, pistachios, honey and lemon.
There are Mont Blanc chestnut purée with whipped cream; chocolate hazelnut ball with chocolate shortbread; half-sphere lemon lime cake; wildflower honey mousse, white chocolate honeycomb; pistachio cherry madeleine cake; quail egg and black truffle choux; salmon and dill rillettes cannoli; smoked duck and pumpkin mustard cream tartlet; foie gras and chicken mousse cannelé with berry compote and roasted hazelnut; mini taco prawn cocktail; and cauliflower panna cotta and ikura roe.
The scones come in three flavours: vanilla, coffee and matcha green tea and are served with homemade blood orange curd, clotted cream and strawberry vanilla jam.
The Autumn Melodies Afternoon Tea is available daily until Nov 23, 2-5pm at the Lobby Lounge and Hanuman Bar. From Wednesday to Sunday, an autumn song list will be performed by renowned harpist Tong-Juan Wang during the afternoon tea session. The price is 1,290 baht per set inclusive of a choice of Ronnefeldt tea or coffee.
For more information or reservations, call 02-162-9000.
Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit
Carlton hotel's new afternoon tea is designed to cater to chocolate aficionados.
Served at Tuxedo Espresso Bar on the ground floor, the seasonal edition of afternoon snacks is crafted with high-quality chocolates from Belgium and France.
The set showcases nine choices of pastries and confections including dark chocolate mousse with strawberry jelly; double chocolate tart with a chocolate micro sponge; white chocolate mousse with praline; white chocolate mousse with passionfruit gel; dark chocolate Grand Marnier macaron; white macaron vanilla ganache; and Old Scottish chocolate scone with condiments.
Chocolate also stars in the savoury act. There is bacon & potato pie with chocolate mix; smoked chicken sandwiches with hazelnut chocolate sauce and apricot on charcoal toast; and mini chocolate waffle with tomato cream topped with Parmigiano reggiano cheese & Himalayan pink salt.
The Chocolate Afternoon Tea is available daily, 2-5pm until Dec 14.
The price is 1,380 baht per set for two persons inclusive of a pot of tea or coffee or 1,680 baht per set for two persons with two glasses of sparkling wine.
For more information or reservations, call 02-090-7888
Shangri-La Bangkok
To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month, a special edition of afternoon tea, dubbed Pretty In Pink is featured at the hotel's riverfront Lobby Lounge.
The set, created by new Bulgarian executive pastry chef Alexander Hekimov, includes sweet items such as vanilla panna cotta with rose and lychee; macaron with raspberry and cream cheese mousse; creamy strawberry namelaka with chocolate sponge; 86% dark chocolate and strawberry truffle; mango and passionfruit tart; and strawberry cheesecake sable Breton.
Representing the chef's pink-hued rendition of savoury finger food are pomelo-coconut salad on pink lotus petals; tiger prawns with vermicelli coconut, tofu and chives; foie gras terrine with pickled radish, strawberry on brioche; organic vine tomato with whipped boursin cheese; and smoked salmon with pickled cucumber, shallot, sour cream and herring roe.
The Pretty In Pink Afternoon Tea is on offer daily 2-6pm, until Nov 30. It is priced at 1,999 baht net per set for two persons inclusive of tea or coffee.
For more information and reservations, call 02-236-7777.
