Trip Report & Review – Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula, Hong Kong

This is not a traditional “trip report and review.” It’s not a hotel stay or a flight, but rather a meal at a fantastic hotel. The Peninsula Hong Kong is one of the oldest hotels in Hong Kong and its afternoon tea at The Lobby has essentially become an institution in Hong Kong—some might even call it a “must do” while visiting the city.

This trip report/review is part of a series. See also:

• Part 1: British Airways Galleries Lounge Washington-Dulles
• Part 2: Lufthansa Senator/Business Lounges Washington-Dulles
• Part 3: United Global First Lounge Washington-Dulles…”Are You a Spy?”
• Part 4: United Global First Washington-Dulles to Tokyo-Narita
• Part 5: ANA Business Class Tokyo to Taipei
• Part 6: Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge Taipei-Taoyuan
• Part 7: Cathay Pacific Business Class – Taipei to Hong Kong

I hadn’t set foot in The Peninsula Hong Kong in about seven years, but my fond memories of afternoon tea there never disappeared. The last time I dined at The Lobby was a farewell lunch with my best friend before I left Hong Kong, which is why I was always hesitant to return…I guess I just wanted to preserve those special memories. However, this time around I was playing host / tour guide for a friend from the states and thought an afternoon at The Lobby was essential. The Lobby is perhaps the hottest afternoon tea “attraction” in Hong Kong and the hotel does not let non-hotel guest make reservations. We arrived at around 1:45 pm (tea starts officially at 2 pm) and were met with a line of about 50 people at the hostess stand.

Having been there before, I knew this was the norm…so I took the opportunity to snap some pictures of the restaurant.

The dress code was not overly strict and I didn’t see anyone turned away. However, it’s still something to keep in mind, especially if you are visiting Hong Kong in the summer.

The line was constantly moving, albeit slowly. A little less than an hour later, my friend and I were seated.  The menus were already waiting at the table. They had a variety of a la carte items, but most people go with the standard tea set which was HKD 598 (~USD 78) for two people. The price has since jumped to HKD 628 for a tea set for two just a month later.

We ordered the signature set and made our tea selections. I got the Verbena and my friend had the Moroccan Mint. About 15 minutes later, our order arrived.

The scones were warm and fluffy—just the right amount of butteriness, while the raisins added just a hint of sweetness that was much welcomed. The scones were accompanied by Devonshire cream and organic strawberry preserves, both of which were amazing.

The middle tier of the tea set contained the savories.

And finally, the top tier was all about the sweets.

In addition, we were also presented with a raspberry mousse, compliments of the chef.

For an afternoon tea service, there really isn’t much to “do”, but the waiters and waitresses checked on us constantly.

There was a live band on the balcony which served as pretty fancy entertainment for patrons during afternoon tea. The Lobby wasn’t the quietest dining environment, though that also makes for a lively atmosphere.

The Lobby has been gradually increasing the price (I remember when it was only HKD 398 just seven years ago), but that doesn’t seem to stop crowds from lining up outside the restaurant for almost an hour every day. Most upscale hotels offer afternoon tea in Hong Kong, but for some reasons, The Peninsula has that magic touch. It pays homage to the colonial days of Hong Kong and continues to be the classiest experience. On top of that, you can count on the food being up to par. It’s just one of those things that you have to experience once in your lifetime and I highly recommend treating yourself when you’re in Hong Kong!