Afternoon Tea - 5 star luxury at home
Afternoon Tea with lengthy indulgent conversations is a great way to pamper and reset ourselves at any time. It is even more special when you’re pregnant. While dinners out are always fun, late nights can be difficult when pregnant, sometimes dependent on the differing intoxication levels of friends!
During lockdown, don’t let this treat bypass you. While we crave hugs from friends and family, we can still enjoy their amazing company (virtually) and organise delivery or collection of the perfect Afternoon Tea from some of our most loved and established hotels in the country. Perfect for a virtual baby shower, friend’s birthday or just because…
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as Afternoon Tea" - Henry James
Afternoon Tea At Home - Our Recommendations
The Shelbourne
Recapture the experience of joining friends in the Lord Mayor's Lounge for one of the most exquisite afternoon tea experiences in Ireland. Included is a selection of impeccably dainty sandwiches, homemade buttermilk scones with clotted cream and jams and richly sticky gingerbread. Not stopping there, the classic afternoon tea box includes sweet treats from Executive Chef Garry Hughes. Additionally, for the ultimate experience, you can rent all cutlery, linen and crockery, including the tiered serving stand.
Afternoon Tea is €100 for two people with an additional fee for delivery (Dublin only delivery)
The Merrion
'Art Tea' - The art collection which is good enough to eat. Enjoy a menu of selected teas, tasty sandwiches, Merrion scones, tea breads and Chef Paul Kelly’s Stunning LOVE pastries. Enhance with a Merrion floral bouquet or a bottle of Henriot Champagne. Place your order by phone and collection is available 24 hours later. From the pastries to the salted caramel mousse and a blackberry macaron filled with cassis ganache to the delicate sandwiches and scones, the Merrion delivers in its take home Afternoon Tea.
Afternoon Tea is priced at €35 per head or €55 with the addition of Henriot Champagne. Collection only.
The K Club
Carefully boxed in a handsome, tiered K Club-branded Afternoon Tea caddy, you can also have this delicious array of goodies delivered straight to your door with the White Glove service from The Parcel Concierge; a delivery service now available in Kildare and Dublin for €25 per order or collection is available. You can choose to upgrade your order with a bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne. With a selection of sophisticated finger sandwiches featuring free-range Irish chicken, langoustine, glazed ham and an array of gorgeous sweet creations from this master patissier.
€35 per person with a minimum two person order. Collection and delivery available in Kildare and Dublin for a fee.
Castlemartyr Resort
Always a firm favourite, Afternoon Tea at Castlemartyr Resort is a luxurious and decadent experience. For those times when a family treat is required, Castlemartyr offer a children’s Afternoon Tea with their very own ‘Marty Bear’. Call to arrange a delivery within 20 km of the resort or collection is available.
€50 for two and €20 per child.
https://www.castlemartyrresort.ie/
Metropole Hotel, MacCurtain St, Cork
This Afternoon Tea includes the perfect sandwiches, sweet scones, cream and jam, plus treats like macaroons and a delectable range of other sweet treats. With an option to add prosecco and a children’s afternoon tea, this is a great choice for those based in Cork.
€25 per head and €14 for the children’s option. Collection available or delivery within 10km radius.
Fitzers Catering
For an option that facilitates delivery nationwide in Ireland, this is an excellent option from the long-standing Fitzers Catering Company. What a super option for friends and family living in different areas. Discuss and enjoy the quartet of savouries which includes polenta cups with fresh crab crème fraîche and chive. Follow with the decadent and indulgent sweets, all served on an Afternoon Tea stand. Upgrades with champagne, wine and cheese plates available.
€40 for one or €60 for two.
Mount Juliet Estate
Each Afternoon Tea box has been specially created by Chef John Kelly and his team and uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy freshly baked Guinness and treacle brown bread and white soda bread loaves, served with a selection of toppings including Coronation chicken, Duncannon smoked salmon and beef pastrami with all the trimmings. Sweet treats include lemon drizzle cake, coffee opera cake, frangipane tart and freshly baked scones with homemade raspberry jam and lemon curd. Children's afternoon tea is additionally available and options range from afternoon tea for 2 to the Mount Juliet’s Family Afternoon Tea for two adults and two children.
Traditional Mount Juliet Afternoon Tea for two people is priced at €80. Delivery is available within Kilkenny.
Our Advice
So while we have all dabbled in some baking this past year, the shopping and preparation time required to assemble a full Afternoon Tea will never be as pleasurable as the delight in viewing the masterpieces compiled by these 5 Star pastry chefs.
We love the option of the Fitzer's Catering nationwide delivery for the perfect virtual baby shower or a simple catch up with friends. Additionally, for those of us lucky enough to live close to any of the 5 star offerings, I think we might have to sample a few!
As Oscar Wilde once said, “Tea is the only simple pleasure left to us.” Go ahead, treat yourself!
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