Bahamas/Destination Tea Reviews

Destination Tea: The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle

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Where: Nassau, Bahamas
Style:  Tea salon
Tea Selection: 10+ loose leaf teas
Teatimes: Daily by reservation
Reservations: Reservations required
Contact: cafechanningnoelle@gmail.com or 242-327-3899
Cost: $65 Afternoon Tea
Destination Tea Tips: Email may be the best way to secure your reservation. After several phone calls and an email, we were able to confirm ours. It is their policy to take advance payment in person, but that requirement was later waived for us, possibly because we were from out-of-town.

outside Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas

Destination Tea Notes: Having grown up enjoying “after school tea” as a young girl, etiquette consultant Loretta Thomas now runs a very grown up tea salon in the Bahamas’ capital, where you will find the best, most authentic scones on the island, and anywhere. A few years ago, she expanded her Cafe Channing Noelle, decorating the adjacent space with gold tones, velvet couches and chairs, mirrors and chandelier, to host special occasion afternoon teas. Know that The Duchess Tea Salon may run on island time (it was 30 minutes before any food or drink was brought to the table), but the afternoon tea, from start to finish, is worth the wait. Everything is made in house, and everything is fantastic, possibly save the housemade clotted cream, which spread more like a crème anglaise. Throughout the menu, afternoon tea standards, from coronation chicken tea sandwiches to macarons, are each perfectly prepared, making this a wonderful choice to introduce newcomers to afternoon tea. Loretta herself checks on her guests, making sure teapots are replenished, and (much to our delight), second servings are offered! Only five minutes from the airport and ten minutes from Baha Mar, we recommend adding The Duchess to any Nassau itinerary.

The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
The sumptuously decorated room also has gorgeous marble floors, its one drawback being the tables are a bit cramped.
The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Owner Loretta, being an etiquette coach for the British School of Excellence, also uses the space for her etiquette classes.

Tea Selection

afternoon tea menu at The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Velvet covered bi-folds pop open to reveal beautifully designed menus. From chatting with Loretta about our tea choices, we discover that the salon offers Fortnum and Mason teas, among others. Loretta led us to several delicious options, though we do prefer a full tea list with descriptions to make sure we aren’t missing something fabulous. Teas are perfectly steeped and decanted with the exception of the white tea, which is safe to leave steeping without becoming bitter – proof of Loretta’s expertise.
tea cozy at The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Our first time seeing these majestic Mariage Frères tea cosies

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

Loretta Thomas presents the three-tier trays at The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Loretta presents her three-tiered trays, whose portions are perfectly sized with satisfying finger foods.
tea sandwiches at The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Tea sandwiches include: Coronation Chicken with Apricot, Honey Roasted Ham with Horseradish and Honey Mustard, Cucumber with Watercress and Herb Cream and Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream. Loretta brought us a second plate of our favorite – the Coronation Chicken sandwiches – delicious!
scones with cream and jam at The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Fresh-baked scones are perfection, served with strawberry preserves and a house clotted cream, which Loretta did verify she slow bakes herself. Somehow its consistency was like a thinned sour cream.
scone recipe from The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
Our new prized possession – Loretta shares her scone recipe!
desserts at The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas
We have sampled many a pastry chef’s artful creations that could not hold a candle to these perfectly crafted pastries: moist Chocolate Decadence and Carrot cakes, zesty Lemon meringue tart and freshly made macaron.

Destination Tea’s Afternoon Tea Scorecard

Destination Tea's Afternoon Tea rating for The Duchess Tea Salon at Cafe Channing Noelle in Nassau, Bahamas

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DestinationTea
Tea Voyageuse, discovering the world of afternoon tea, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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