The 7 best high teas in Perth

Go for: The panoramic views with a twist (quite literally) and a high tea that’s available seven days a week.

What’s for tea? If you’re searching for a high tea with spectacular panoramic views over the Swan River, then look no further. C Restaurant in the Sky has long been known for its 33rd floor locale that looms over the CBD’s St Georges Terrace, and it’s nowadays somewhat novelty revolving, spherical dining room. So if it’s a meal and a show that takes your fancy, C Restaurant might just be your ticket to a sweet time. Speaking of, their high tea never misses. With a selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours, bite-sized savouries and freshly baked scones, coupled with fresh coffee and ten fine tea blends, you’re in for a treat. Expect bites that sound a little like delicate blueberry tarts and macaroons that’ll send you straight to flavourtown, along with perfectly-puffed sausage rolls and sliders to boot. You can even bring the kids along and treat them to C’s bite-sized Children’s High Tea package for $49 per child. How’s that for a ‘high’ tea?

How much? $65-$167 per person

Go for: The incredibly ’grammable display and celebrity-curated snacks.

What’s for tea? The quirky, eccentric chic of the Santini at QT Perth provides the perfect backdrop for dessert legend and celeb chef Adriano Zumbo’s vibrant high tea experience. It showcases a perfect balance of style and substance, with a top-of-class selection of sweet and savoury bites presented on a specially designed cake stand made from an assemblage of black cubes, each housing a delicious morsel. The stars of the show are the desserts that Zumbo is most celebrated for. Themed high teas interchange every now and then to keep diners on their toes, and a more recent rendition has seen the ‘G&T High Tea’ work some magic. It comes with a warning label though: “These are not dainty delicacies, but bold little show-offs that’ll leave your taste buds tingling.” We can only hope that means there’s a selection of multi-coloured Zumbarons to choose from too – the chef’s singular riff on a classic macaron. You can wash this fancy feast down with free-flowing gins all Saturday long. Indulge at your own risk. 

How much? From $99 per person

Go for: An elegant affair with a focus on seasonality.

What’s for tea? Step out of the city life chaos and into elegance with bespoke cocktails and a seasonally inspired high tea at The Westin’s Haven Lounge. The pretty little three-tier cake stands make for a picture-perfect foreground to the Haven Lounge’s bright, contemporary space, complete with plush booths that invite you to stay for a good time and a long time. Oh, and a tasty time too. Every Friday through to Sunday between 11am and 2:30pm, Haven Lounge puts on a show with a thoughtfully curated menu that changes throughout the year. Recently, the tabletops have seen the likes of 'A Winter in New York', ‘Springtime in Paris’, ‘Festive’, as well as a pink monochrome and chocolate affair too. Four savouries and five sweets await nibbling, along with a scone and unlimited coffee throughout the fanciful afternoon. But if you’re feeling like going the extra mile, you can raise a toast to a glass of Chandon NV Brut for an extra $10 or a glass of Moët and Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne for $20. A lovely pairing with your smoked chicken tart with tapenade and basil emulsion.

How much? $79-$99 per person

Go for: A ‘Ritzy’ affair by the Swan River shoreline.

What’s for tea? At the base of one of Perth's best hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, lies a swish, sun-filled dining room where ‘local elegance meets world-class hospitality’, so they say. Hearth Restaurant is reasonably new on the block and it shows – the classy interior boasts deep blue tones across plush booths, shimmery polished concrete floors, marble tabletops and gold detailing that screams lavish. Hearth’s afternoon tea doesn’t fall short either, heroing seasonal ingredients and native flavours that are transformed using contemporary techniques. Two courses of savoury and sweets are the go at Hearth, and if you’re lucky, your divine spread might include ratatouille croquettes with bush basil and sun-dried tomato mayonnaise; a Shark Bay prawn charcoal éclair topped with dill, chive and tobiko roe; alongside muscat-poached pear with river mint and juniper berry ganache. When the thirst sets in, opt for a beragave package of Seven Seas Tea from Margaret River or Howard Park Petit Jeté and Moët and Chandon Grand Vintage. Don’t mind if we do.

How much? From $82-$210 per person

Go for: The seasonally evolving high tea with a focus on native ingredients.

What’s for tea? The south-eastern wing of the historically steeped State Buildings is home to COMO The Treasury’s luxe high tea. Your afternoon will be a journey of sensory exploration featuring the season’s finest local producers, which might include Bannister Downs Dairy, Teaessential matcha and Torre Butchers ham. And while Cape Arid Rooms’ high tea menu is ever-changing, you can expect a focus on native and local ingredients intertwined with new-wave bites. Think: duck croquettes with mandarin gel and red vein sorrel; Fremantle tuna with flaxseed cracker, grilled eggplant and squid ink; as well as Bahen and Co chocolate choux with cherry and pepper berry mousse. All treats are served with your choice of tea or filter coffee, with Champagne or specialty cocktails available as add-ons. The tea blends featured on the menu have been carefully curated in collaboration with Teassential – a Western Australian tea company located within the State Buildings. Whatever the month, rest assured that delightful, intricate fare and sips are on the horizon. 

How much? From $85 per person

Go for: A fun-leaning experience that strays from tradition.

What’s for tea? Tired of the same old high tea shenanigans? Head to Fight Club, the social darts bar reinventing the English tradition. From $89 per person, you’ll enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless bullseyes along with bottomless prosecco, cocktails, canapés, pizzas and some cheeky sweets too. It’s different, it’s unusual, we like it. Every Saturday and Sunday, you can try your hand at some precision shots while snacking on things like Reuben sliders stuffed with pastrami and pickled cabbage with a slathering of thousand island dressing, tomato-basil bolognese arancinis (which just happen to be vegan), and chocolate-dipped profiteroles for good measure. There’s a separate gluten-free and vegetarian menu too if that’s how you tend to roll. On the tipple side of things, inventive numbers include the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and Watermelon Crusher Slushie. But if you’re skipping the booze, zero per cent prosecco and mocktails are always on hand too.

How much? From $89-$119 per person

Go for: A cute garden high tea with BYO bubbles

What’s for tea? Renowned for its sensational food and world-class wine, the Swan Valley is close enough to be enjoyed as a day trip while still radiating that ‘far away’ feel. And if you’re looking for more than just a drive through the hills and a more often than not obligatory winery visit, pop into Mrs Rabbit Tearooms on your next citybreak for high tea consisting of traditional homestyle baking complete with vintage crockery for an English country garden experience, sans the gloomy weather. From Wednesday through to Sunday you can fill the gap with beetroot and feta tartlets, cucumber and mint sandwiches, lavender shortbreads; and of course, scones with jam and cream. Warming pots of tea of about 20 brews are yours for the taking too. How does a Scottish breakfast or Turkish delight cuppa sound? But if you’re all about jazzing things up a bit, Mrs Rabbit Tearooms welcome BYO bubbles for just $3.50 corkage per person. Say no more.

How much? From $66 per person