Where: Salt Lake City, Utah Style: Traditional elegance Tea Selection: 12+ loose leaf teas and 4 flavored hot chocolates Teatimes: Tuesday to Saturday, 1 to 3:30, reserved on the half hour Reservations: Online reservations required Contact:Reserve here, 801-258-6000 Cost: $32 Afternoon Tea; $24 Children 12 and under Destination Tea Tip: The parking garage is a quick walk from the front entrance, or bring cash to tip the valet.
Destination Tea Notes: We’ll get straight to the point: put afternoon tea at The Grand America Hotel on your destination tea bucket list. This afternoon tea experience goes above and beyond our criteria for the best afternoon teas — scratchmade, delicious, creative recipes + high quality teas + beautiful ambiance + gracious service — for a frankly incredibly reasonable price. Scroll through our pics to see how The Grand America strives to spoil its teatime guests with surprise extras. Although the hotel was built fairly recently, in time for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, we commend their choice to decorate in Old World fashion, with hand-blown glass chandeliers and marble floors imported from Italy, handmade solid wood French furniture, cerulean blue upholstery and rugs set against wood paneling in the lounge, and original oil paintings from the early 20th century. Music lovers will also get a treat, when they find themselves humming along to the modern songs the harpist sprinkles into her repertoire.
Afternoon tea is served in the lobby lounge.
The harpist sets an elegant, calming mood, but listen carefully…it’s not all classical tunes.
The Lobby Lounge offers a blend of loveseats, low tables and dining tables for afternoon tea seating.
A cozy corner for tea for two, with a colorfully potted palm to recall the original hotel palm courts where afternoon tea was famously served in the early 20th century
For those who want their tea fashion to be on full display, reclining at these lounge tables is perfect.
This early 20th century original oil painting, “Mother and Child” of Lady Gail Mott, wife of the co-founder of General Motors, with son Charles, overlooks mothers and their children taking tea together.
Younger guests can practice manners, teatime etiquette and dressing their best.
Tea Selection
For a dramatic opening, our server sets this “jasmine fairy maiden flower” on the table to bloom as it steeps, while we choose our teas. We recommend sipping this delicious tea, but only after it completely cools, because the wine glass is scalding hot to the touch at first.
Each guest receives a personal teapot. Noting that this tea list focuses on high quality teas rather than artificially flavored blends, we choose Peppermint, Jasmine Silver Tip, Darjeeling and White Petal (chamomile with sweet olive and white tea).
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Two items await us on the table as we are seated. The black currant scones are lovely, with lemon curd, raspberry jam and clotted cream. Next is a curious item: a decadent strawberries and creme chantilly — essentially a wine glass of rich whipped cream with berries. It is so yummy, if out of step as an amuse bouche for afternoon tea. It would seem more apropos served in a reduced portion (such as a shot glass) at the meal’s end.
The savories are well made: Egg Salad with Tarragon, Roasted Turkey Sandwich, Smoked Salmon with Dill Crème Fraîche on Pumpernickel (the table favorite), Cucumber Sandwich with Feta Cream Cheese and Olive, and Chicken Waldorf with Celery and Cranberry on Brioche.
Dessert is divine: Hazelnut mousse, citrus madeleine, passion fruit chocolate cake, lemon tart, salted caramel tart, butter cookie with raspberry jam, vanilla macaron and raspberry gumdrop (known in France as “Pâte de Fruit”). [I expanded my French vocabulary!]
Truly, in this setting, I need to be robed in a flowing tea gown with beautiful beading and embroidery.
Easter Egg! When you visit, request the “Art Tour at the Grand” pamphlet and see if you can find this perfectly themed painting in the halls off the lobby: “Le Thé” by Henri Bouvet, depicting his family having tea.
I enjoyed the experience. I think it would be helpful if they noted on the menu: please select one hot beverage of your choice. I was under the impression that we would be able to try a few teas. It was a bit uncomfortable to be told we could only have one pot of tea. The harpist was wonderful. It is elegant, relaxing and delicious!
I miss the selection & display of the food as it was prior to COVID. I hope it will soon return as it once was. Its been such a disappointment to see these small offerings on individual plates yet the price is higher.
We love comments! Destination Tea's comment policy shares a guiding principle with afternoon tea etiquette: please be gracious. We welcome honest comments that are not rude or scathing.
I enjoyed the experience. I think it would be helpful if they noted on the menu: please select one hot beverage of your choice. I was under the impression that we would be able to try a few teas. It was a bit uncomfortable to be told we could only have one pot of tea. The harpist was wonderful. It is elegant, relaxing and delicious!
I miss the selection & display of the food as it was prior to COVID. I hope it will soon return as it once was. Its been such a disappointment to see these small offerings on individual plates yet the price is higher.
Marie, thank you for reading and commenting. We were very happy with the afternoon tea here – did they once have a larger menu served on tiered trays?