Discover Where to Enjoy A Different High Tea in Cape Town

Hit me with your best pot!

Last Update 17 May 2019

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you." William Ewart Gladstone was equally as passionate about these infusions as the Chinese, who would rather go three days without food than a day without tea.

It is always a good time to grab a book, or a few friends and enjoy a good dose of tranquili-tea. Whether it’s tea for two or two for tea, Cape Town has the right tea spot for you.

High Tea/Afternoon Tea in Cape Town and surrounds is always a great way to seal the day.

NEW ASIAN TEA EXPERIENCES
Sip premium Chinese oolong teas or refresh with a tall green tea-based fruit ice tea or get an Instaworthy cheese moustache with Royaltea’s signature cheese tea. There is so much to try from matcha green teas to decadent bubble teas filled with tapioca pearls and topped with Oreos. Share these speciality teas at Royaltea in Cape Town.
Plus: Also try Royaltea’s weekly loose-leaf tea tastings and Tuesday tea special.

3 Locations: 50 Kloof Street | V&A Food Market | Old Biscuit Mill | +27 (0)71 406 9835 | info@royaltea-sa.com

DRINK PREMIER BREWED ROOIBOS TEA AT COCO SAFAR
Coco Safar in Sea Point has some delicious coffee roasted to perfection in their state-of-the-art roaster, but that does not mean that they neglect their tea. They treat rooibos with the high respect it deserves, affording it the same care as they do their coffee. You can order fermented rooibos from the espresso bar or siphoned from the slow bar. Pair it with one of the delicious pastries from their patisserie for the ultimate Coco Safar high tea experience.

Artem Centre, 277 Main Road, Sea Point | +27 21 433 1336 | generalenquiries@cocosafar-sp.co.za

 

126 Cape Café at The Hilton

Tea and pastry pairing daily from 12:00 - 18:00
Drinks: A wide variety of Ronnefeldt speciality teas are on offer at this upmarket hotspot. Choose from the Rooibos chocolate truffle tea, the masala chai tea, matcha tea and more!
Snacks: 126 Cape Café offers authentic halaal certified treats and head chef, Candice bakes fresh pastries daily. Croissants, either filled or not, are on the menu, as well as cookies and muffins, of which the flavours change quite regularly. 126 Cape Café is also known for mini mono-cakes, which includes black forest, strawberry cheesecake or various flavoured tarts, to name but a few. With the pastry pairing, the best offerings are on the menu, including the milk and fynbos honey wedge, cardamom and pistachio scented macaroon, as well as the lemon and lime-spiked meringue. Go on, treat yourself!

Hilton Cape Town City Centre | Buitengracht Street | Cape Town| +27 (0)21 481 3710

The Silo Hotel

The Royal Tea is as elegant as its name suggests, the pastry chefs at this award-winning hotel are popular for their exquisite tea time treats. Allowing guests to devour them in peace, afternoon tea is served daily at 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Call ahead and make a reservation to avoid disappointment.

Drinks: The tea chest includes a wide array of speciality loose teas and the coffee is roasted in Cape Town by Truth. 

Snacks: Indulge in a selection of petit gateaux and exquisite teatime treats, including a mouthwatering selection of savoury delights to the Royal Tea experience.

Silo Square |  V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | +27(0)21 670 0500

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

Sit down to a traditional Swiss Farm style tea at the picturesque Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa while the melodic background music of Alida is played on a Baby Grand in the background. Guests receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival. Traditional high tea is from 10am - 5pm daily.

Drinks: Dilmah teas with a variety of flavours to choose from, including vanilla, almond, Moroccan mint, and all the standards teas.

Snacks: Scones with cream and preserve, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, sweet pastries, baked cheesecake with berry compote and carrot cake with cream cheese and roasted hazelnut topping.

Minor Road 16 | Franschhoek | +27(0)21 876 8900

 

The Cellars Hohenort

The Low Carb High Tea is the perfect excuse to indulge in guilt-free treats in the afternoon; whether it is sweet or savoury, you are sure to enjoy yourself. Settled in the flourishing Constantia Valley, on the slopes that created Table Mountain, you can admire the magnificent views as afternoon tea runs from 3pm to 5pm.

Drinks: From classic green to sweet ginger, there is a variety of teas and coffees to choose from. The popular favourites have to be the vanilla rooibos tea, red berry teas as well as camomile tea.

Snacks: Enjoy an array of open sandwiches, as well as sweet and savoury treats ranging from yoghurt honey panna cotta to broccoli roasted red peppers & goat cheese tarts.

93 Brommersvlei Road|  Constantia Heights | Cape Town | +27(0)21 794 2137

Tea cafés in Cape Town and surrounds

The Royal Hotel in Riebeek Kasteel

Journey out to the South African olive country for a spot of tea and tradition at one of Riebeek Kasteel’s colonial treasures. High tea at the Royal Hotel, a charming country outpost just an hour from Cape Town’s city centre, takes place every Saturday at 3:30pm. The regal affair demands that guests arrive dressed appropriately in smart casual wear.

Drinks: An aromatic selection of loose leaf teas.

Snacks: A smorgasbord of sweet and savoury delights. Guests can look forward to a buffet-style offering of delicate finger sandwiches, delectable quiches, heavenly tarts and decadent pastries. The carrot cake, with its light-as-air cream cheese, is a house speciality.

 33 Main Street | Riebeek Kasteel | +27 (0)22 448 1378      

Nigiro Tea Merchants in Claremont

‘Anytime is Tea Time’ at Origin Coffee Roasting & Nigiro Tea. Nigiro Tea Merchants is fast becoming synonymous with tea culture in Cape Town. Sit down in the calming space of the tea garden, and discover what all the fuss is about.  

Mondays to Fridays: 8:30am – 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am – 2pm.

Drinks: 180+ teas sourced from various parts of the world: China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi, Egypt, Turkey, Czech Republic and Greece. Green, White, Show Tea, Oolong, Black, Red, Fruit Infusion, Herbal Infusion and Rooibos.

Snacks: Dim Sum - vegetable and soya mince filled bun; Zong zi – two bamboo leaves filled with sticky rice, shiitake mushrooms, peanuts and soya mince. Breakfast and lunch options are also available.

20 Dreyer Street| Heritage House| Claremont|+27 (0)22 448 1378

Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Garden

Open seven days a week from 9am - 5pm; high teas on request.

Drinks: Black tea, Earl Grey, Herbal, organic rooibos, light buchu tea and Lavazza coffee.
Snacks: Cakes (they have had the same baker for 25 years using tried and tested recipes): apple crumble, milk tart, brandy pudding, scones, muffins and lemon meringue.

Rhodes Memorial Restaurant | Table Mountain Nature Reserve | Cape Town | +27(0)21 687 0000

Tibetan Tea House (Sophea Gallery)

The teahouse is situated on a verandah, where you have the best view of False Bay. The menu consists of vegan and vegetarian meals, popular in Tibetan culture. The Tibetan Tea House is opened from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

Drinks: The two most popular teas are the homemade spiced Chai and the Tibetan salty butter tea. They serve these in traditional Tibetan wooden teacups, as Tibetan folklore states that “drinking tea from a wooden cup makes you handsome, popular and wise!” Also on offer is an excellent range of imported organic black, white and green teas, fruit infusions and flavoured rooibos teas that are sourced from truly organic suppliers who uphold fair-trade principles. Fresh herb teas and infusions from herbs, such as rose geranium, lemon geranium and lemongrass, are also on offer and are sourced from an on-site organic garden.

Snacks: The emphasis is on 'kind food'; that is, delicious vegan and vegetarian food based on Tibetan recipes. Despite the fact that Tibetans don’t really eat cakes, the sweet-toothed among us are well-catered for with an all vegan egg-free sweets menu. Scones, chocolate cake, apple crumble with vegan cream or ice-cream, lemon cupcakes which include gluten free-, egg free- and wheat free versions.

 

2 Harrington Road | Seaforth | Simon’s Town | +27 (0)21 786 1544

 

Kirstenbosch Tea Room

Daily afternoon tea served from 8:30am – 5pm. The high tea is served for groups of 20 or more so gather your friends and let that tea sink in.

Drinks: Dilmah teas with a variety of flavours to choose from, including Ceylon, Earl Grey, peppermint, chamomile, Green tea and ginger, are ready and waiting to be sipped. 

Snacks: This quaint café will fashion cucumber and cream cheese fillings or egg sandwiches; either on white or whole-wheat bread. You can also treat yourself to mini spinach-and-feta quiches, home-made scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream and cake.

Gate 2 | Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens | Rhodes Drive | Newlands | +27 (0)21 797 4883

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