Top Spots for Afternoon Tea in Cape Town

Mount Nelson Hotel is synonymous with all things classic and colonial, and their famous afternoon tea is no different. Pull up a comfortable chair in their naturally lit lounge and indulge in a feast of treats. On offer is a selection of pastries, cakes and savoury sandwiches, which you can enjoy while soft live piano music is played nearby.

The Cape Grace spares nothing when it comes to creating a memorable high-tea experience. Like the hotel, it’s a classy affair, and you can relax in the library while savouring a variety of sweet and savoury treats, all served with a pot of imported tea.

Taj Cape Town offers one of the most popular high teas in the heart of the city. This exquisite hotel on Wale Street takes a decidedly sweet approach to the concept, with almost all dishes on offer 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.

If you’re looking for one of the city’s less pretentious, but surprisingly scrumptious, high-tea options, pay a visit to the Kirstenbosch Tea Room. They offer an English tea for two, which features a selection of classic sandwiches, quiches and scones, along with a wide selection of imported teas.

The Twelve Apostles is a luxurious hotel with a truly remarkable outlook over the Atlantic Ocean and the collection of mountains of the same name. The afternoon ‘Tea by the Sea’ is a decadent variation on the tradition; you can expect cream scones, chocolate brownies, sandwiches and a wide selection of teas and coffees. The location, along with the exquisite foods, make this a popular treat for locals and visitors alike.

One&Only Cape Town’s Vista Bar & Lounge hosts one of the city’s most modern and extravagant afternoon teas. It takes place every day between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, and there’s usually musical accompaniment to amuse you while you work your way through a large selection of treats. The focus of the afternoon tea is on all things sweet, from cookies and cheesecake right through to éclairs and macaroons, and you can wash them all down with a wide selection of teas and coffees.

Afternoon tea at The Table Bay at the V&A Waterfront is a tranquil affair, thanks to the stunning views of Table Mountain and the harbour and the soft tinkling of the piano in the background. The classic décor of the hotel sets the tone for its afternoon tea, which tends towards a traditional approach, with a range of delicacies prepared by the in-house team of expert chefs.

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. Like many things at this celebrated hotel, this is an unmissable treat.

The garden lounge and patio at The Vineyard are perfect places in which to dine out on a delicious afternoon tea. It’s served daily between 3.30 and 5.30, and you can expect a mix of sweet and savoury items, ranging from lamb and mustard wraps to amazing salted-caramel brownie bars.

The Granary Café at the stunning new The Silo hotel offers one of the city’s newest afternoon tea options; it’s called the Royal Tea, and you can expect to see the in-house pastry chef’s petit gâteaux, along with an endless array of sweet treats and savoury items.