Where: Buckhead, GA Style: Elegant Traditional Tea Selection: 12 loose leaf teas Teatimes: Friday-Sunday 2:30-4 Reservations: 24-hour notice Contact: 404-563-7799 Cost:$40 Caroline Astor Afternoon Tea; $22 Children’s Tea Destination Tea Tips: Pull up to the main entrance of The St. Regis to have your car valeted (bring cash for a tip) and have your ticket validated at the hostess stand before you leave. Reserve afternoon tea during different seasons or holidays throughout the year to experience The St. Regis’ changing afternoon tea menus and specialty tea blends (i.e., the Mother’s Day tea with roses).
Destination Tea Notes: At the St. Regis Atlanta hotel, fashionably dressed afternoon tea guests wind their way up curling staircases to luxuriate in armchairs in the second-floor Astor Court, which acts as an indoor balcony, overlooking the beautiful lobby chandelier. In this setting, lovers of historical novels and period films should not be surprised if your first thought is, “if only I had worn a proper tea gown.” Here you can easily imagine yourself in the company of 19th century high society hostess Lady Caroline Astor, whose son founded the St. Regis. And when an executive pastry chef is in the kitchen, you know your afternoon tea repast will be a treat worth every penny.
At the top of the left staircase, a hostess greets afternoon tea guests. Go straight up!Afternoon tea tables hug the balcony railing or bask in the sun from floor-to-ceiling windows.
Tea Service
Uniquely, our server welcomes us by sharing the historical significance of the Astor Court’s afternoon tea, then familiarizes us with all twelve teas and the seasonal Mother’s Day tea by passing around samples of each.Each guest selects one tea and may request a second steeping. We tried several and shared, including the St. Regis’ own blend with black currant and peach essence.
Scones and Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Lemon curd, clotted cream and jams await the scones.Lemon poppy seed and violet scones arrive. One of our party declares the violet scones are the best she’s ever had. We wonder at how the violet flavor is so thoroughly infused throughout the scone. Magic?“Springtime savories” include roast turkey in spinach wrap with brie and apricot mostarda, green goddess chicken salad on whole wheat with heirloom tomatoes, smoked salmon flatbread with crème fraîche and caviar, and cucumber sandwich with watercress lemon aioli. All delicious and perfectly portioned for an afternoon tea.Two tiers of confections? If we must. Giving thanks to the expert hands who crafted these sweets, we “ooh and aah” our way through a linzer cookie, chocolate cremeux with mocha, lemon blueberry tartlet, strawberry basil petite four (great in-season flavor combination) and (the crowd favorite) a salted caramel and chocolate cone.Plenty of time for old friends to catch up and for new friends to meet
What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon! The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel was luxurious and ornate, yet welcoming. Our server was a wealth of knowledge in regards to the historical significance of the Astor Court’s afternoon tea and the wonderful selection of teas they offered. I appreciated having the opportunity to hear about each tea, and to be able to smell the tea leaves prior to making our selections.
The yummy confections, scones, and flatbread sandwiches were fantastic and well proportioned for an afternoon tea. The violet scones, lemon curd, and clotted cream were a favorite around the table. Again, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends!
What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon! The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel was luxurious and ornate, yet welcoming. Our server was a wealth of knowledge in regards to the historical significance of the Astor Court’s afternoon tea and the wonderful selection of teas they offered. I appreciated having the opportunity to hear about each tea, and to be able to smell the tea leaves prior to making our selections.
The yummy confections, scones, and flatbread sandwiches were fantastic and well proportioned for an afternoon tea. The violet scones, lemon curd, and clotted cream were a favorite around the table. Again, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends!