Refinement, live piano, sipping and nibbling — what’s not to love about Shangai’s top hotelafternoon teas?
The Peninsula Shanghai – at least the original version back 100 years ago – is one of the co-founders of afternoon tea in the ‘Far East’, as it was known back then.
Afternoon Tea was first brought by European pioneers and adventurers in 1923 by The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited at The Astor House. Astpr House is just across Suzhou Creek from the Bund.
The Peninsula Shanghai serves a divine afternoon tea with accompanying live music.
The food selection is the usual classics, with the highlight perhaps being the authentic English scone with jam and cream. Don’t leave Shanghai without having this ultimate tea – even if you live here, then just be a tourist for the day.
The Heritage Afternoon Tea Set Menu in The Lobby is priced at ¥320 per person, or ¥580 for two people sharing (+16.6 percent).
Banyan Tree Shanghai on The Bund
Banyan Tree Shanghai on The Bund has the exotic Asian feel that the name suggests. All of the hotel is actually better for Summer. While Winter doesn’t really suit, in Summer they can open the huge rooftop with amazing views, and the massive baths in the room are more appropriate on humid asian days.
Ordering from a wide menu, the price is ¥188 per person ( prices+16.6 percent, 2:30-5pm).
The Birdcage Afternoon Tea on their TOPS terrace is ¥528 per set, which includes a double serving of both coffee and tea, from 3-5pm.
Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai
Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai, does everything well. Their most recent afternoon tea recipe is a little different; the Monet Afternoon Tea.
Inspired by the work of Claude Monet, the tea snacks and cakes are all artistically and colourfully presented.
The shelves are full of finger sandwiches and mini burgers, including Honey-Glazed Ham with Vanilla Pineapple Compote, Smoked Duck Breast with Fig Chutney and Sour dough Bread, Summer Tomatoes with Fresh Basil on Grilled Baguette and many more.
Available from 2-4:30pm every Saturday, the Monet Afternoon Tea is priced at ¥248 per person.
The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi
An ultra-feminine hotel, this is perfect for a mother’s get-together. It’s a little pricier than others – currently 888 RMB +15% service charge for two.
But they take absolute pride in their afternoon tea, as The Langham is renowned as where afternoon tea was born over 150 years ago.
Snacks and sweets are so good that you will silently fight over enjoying them all!
Two glasses of rose champagne or a fine selection of coffee or tea complement your romantic rose afternoon tea.
They make a limited number every day so you need to book in advance.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On The Bund
The Waldorf is another hotel where the heritage is entngled in every pillar and corridor of the hotel.
Formerly a news room in 1910 where the Shanghai Club members read their papers, caught up over the latest news and smoked a pipe, Salon de Ville is where afternoon tea is now served. You can chat about Shanghai and the world, just as they did 100 years ago when first exploring China.
The recent adfternoon tea is based around red velvet, with smooth sweets the higlight, accompanied with harp music played live.
2–6pm weekdays, 1:30-6:30pm weekends. ¥338 per person, ¥588 for two (+16.6 percent).