The best high teas in Sydney right now

Go for: A Sri Lankan-inspired high tea that's serving up delicious bites with an equally meaningful mission.

What's for tea? Colombo Social gives the traditional high tea a Sri Lankan twist with a menu inspired by the flavours of Ceylon. Expect savoury morsels like lamb curry sausage rolls, fish cutlets, beef patties, seeni sambol and cheese tarts, followed by Amma's love cake and freshly baked scones served with house-made pineapple jam. Better yet, every sitting includes unlimited cups of premium Dilmah tea (yes, it’s Sri Lankan), with the option to upgrade to bottomless tea-inspired mocktails or cocktails for extra. What makes this high tea even sweeter is its purpose. Created in partnership with Dilmah Tea, every booking funds ten meals for schoolkids in rural Sri Lanka through Harvest², supporting daily school meal programs, sustainable agriculture and women-led employment initiatives.

Price: $50 per person, including unlimited Dilmah tea; add $20 for unlimited tea-inspired mocktails or $40 for cocktails.

When: 12-4pm every weekend

Address: 159 Enmore Rd, Enmore

Go for: Tea overlooking the Quay.

What’s for tea? On Level 36 of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, this is potentially the highest high tea in Sydney. Tackle the three-tiered snack tower from the bottom up. The menu is seasonal, though it may include things like smoked salmon sandwiches, Yamba prawns, spanner crab vol-au-vents, lemon yuzu squares and more. A vegan high tea menu is also available. 

Price: From $98 for high tea (weekdays) to $168 with unlimited Champagne

When: 11am-4pm daily

Address: Level 36, 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks

Go for: Delectable morsels, luxurious Victorian decor and jaw-dropping 180-degree harbour views.

What’s for tea? The tea selection goes beyond the standard black blends (though the Earl Grey is excellent) to include seasonal green teas, Asia’s largest selection of Ronnefeldt tea and a delicate peach-flavoured white tea. Soak up the enchanting harbour and bushland views while enjoying a daily rotation of timeless finger sandwiches, along with crisp parmesan shortbread and truffle mushroom arancini. The petit four selection may include mango and coconut cheesecakes, lemon meringue tartlets and a thin sliver of chocolate praline that is as light as a chocolate cloud. They accommodate vegan and gluten-free diets (just let them know in advance), and all guests can upgrade their afternoon tea experience with a cocktail or glass of Australian sparkling wine.

Price: From $80 per head for traditional high tea to $125 for Champagne high tea; $55 for children

When: 10am-3pm daily

Address: Suakin Dr, Mosman 

Go for: Old-world glamour under the chandeliers.

What's for tea? Served from 10am daily, guests are spoilt for choice with three pages of tea on offer at this QVB classic. That’s a whopping 26 teas, including their ‘splendid Earl Grey’ blend and a chocolate-lavender harmony tea. You’ll sit up nice and straight on a little velour chair while making short work of sweet and savoury pastries, chubby scones with jars of mixed berry preserves and clotted cream, and soft little finger sandwiches. Gluten-free and vegan options, and a child-friendly high tea ($55) are also available. 

Price: $80 per head for traditional high tea; $115 for bottomless high tea

When: 10am-3.30pm daily

Address: Level 3 North-end, Queen Victoria Bldg, 455 George St, Sydney 2000

Go for: Afternoon tea with unbeatable views of Sydney Opera House.

What’s for tea? Sit back in the Dining Room at this luxury hotel and enjoy multiple courses of impressive, bite-sized delights. The savoury offerings are five-star delicious, and, depending on the season, may include spanner crab tartlets and salmon quiche. But also save space for the warm yoghurt scones with strawberry gum jam and clotted cream. Wash your afternoon tea down with a Byron Bay Tea – ginger zing, oolong and chai to name a few. Or go all out with a glass of NV Tattinger Cuvée Prestige.

Price: From $95 per person

When: 2-4.30pm on weekends

Address: The Dining Room – Park Hyatt, 7 Hickson Rd, The Rocks

Go for: A pretty special high tea experience inside the historic sandstone walls of Capella Sydney.

What's for tea? Afternoon tea at Aperture has got to be one of the most beautiful in Sydney. The soaring ceiling gives the space a grand and elegant feel, while mesmerising, floral-like installations slowly open and close above. Leaves float gently down from the weeping fig trees, and the lush plants and green wall make it feel like you’re in an indoor garden oasis – not one of the world's best hotels.

The menu includes both sweet and savoury delights, such as a lobster roll with yuzu mayo and lettuce; tuna tartare on a tapioca crisp with spicy mayo and sea blite; a pistachio, white chocolate and orange lamington; and a peanut crunch profiterole. The scones come warm out of the oven and are served with raspberry and rosella jam and clotted cream. Aperture’s tea selection is also extensive – we liked the Blue Lagoon, which features hibiscus, rosehip, apple, orange peel and rose.

Price: $105 per person for the high tea experience; $21 for a glass of sparkling wine; $40 for a glass of Champagne

When: 12.30-4pm daily

Address: 24 Loftus St, Sydney

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

What's for tea? The quirky, eccentric chic of the QT Sydney 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. These include a passionfruit tart with a silky-smooth cream filling and Zumbo’s twist on a scone with Tasmanian strawberry and lemon myrtle jam and clotted cream. Of course, there’s also a selection of multi-coloured Zumbarons – the chef’s singular riff on a classic macaron. You can wash this fancy feast down with a glass of Mumm Champagne, a speciality tea or even a cocktail.

Price: From $79 per person for Zumbo high tea to $105 for bottomless Zumbo high tea

When: 11am-2pm on weekends

Address: 49 Market St, Sydney

Go for: An afternoon pick-me-up.

What’s for tea? The grandest Champagne afternoon tea awaits you on the mezzanine of this opulent European brassiere. Begin with smoked salmon madeleines and vanilla waffles with crème fraîche. Then, roll out the red carpet for the Charles’ impressive dessert trolley. They’ll spoil your sweet tooth with a choice between a range of options, which may include the 28-layer Russian honey cake; tarte aux pralines; marjolaine (nutty meringue layer gateau); or stonefruit and frangipane tart. There’s also handmade chocolate and macarons to complement your cake. 

Price: $79 per person or $110 with a glass of Moet

When: Mon-Sat 12-5pm

Address: 66 King St, Sydney 

Go for: Delectable delights and stunning Middle Harbour vistas.

What’s for tea? Adventure to the lower North Shore for a high tea steeped in history at Mosman’s Burnt Orange. Relax on the grand old balcony and cast your gaze over Middle Harbour, while snacking on things that may include mini quiche Lorraine and smoked salmon sandwiches with dill and crème fraîche. When it’s time for some sweetness, there's a mojito panna cotta, Moroccan orange and almond cake and, of course, freshly baked scones with homemade jams and chantilly cream.  

Price: $65 traditonal high tea; $75 sparkling high tea; $45 children's high tea

When: Wed-Sat 12pm; Sat-Sun 3.30pm or 4pm

Address: 1108/1109 Middle Head Rd, Mosman

Go for: Luxe high tea treats made 100 per cent from scratch in-house by acclaimed pastry chefs.

What's for tea? Tuck into three tiers of handcrafted sweets, savouries and scones from the high tea menu at the Four Season's Mode Kitchen & Bar. Every little part of the Afternoon Tea is made 100 per cent in-house by the hotel’s pastry chefs. Matching French technique with Australian flavours, the seasonal selection may feature a delicious egg and truffle finger sandwich; a tomato and stracciatella tart; tiger prawn brioche; and Mode’s signature pavlova. Gluten-free, dairy-free and other dietary preferences are also catered for.

Price: $99 for traditional high tea; $119 for Champagne high tea

Address: 199 George St, The Rocks

Go for: A period-style high tea.

What’s for tea? This picturesque and historic mansion in the Eastern suburbs dates back to the 19th century, around the time when high tea became fashionable in British culture. You’ll be delighted to find classic finger sandwiches and delicate tarts on the bottom tier of your high tea pedestal, while caramelised apple eclairs, chocolate truffles and passionfruit macarons decorate the upper tiers. Along with organic teas and coffee, you can also add cocktails or luxe Champagne.

Price: From $75 per person for traditional high tea to $105 for Spritz high tea

When: Wed–Fri 11.30am-3pm; weekends 10.30am-3pm

Address: 69a Wentworth Rd, Vaucluse

Go for: An Italian take on afternoon tea served in a heritage-listed Finger Wharf building.

What's for tea? Ovolo Woolloomooloo’s Italian-inspired high tea offering, Dolce & Mare, pays homage to the Italian immigrants who settled in the area following World War II. The sweet and savoury offering celebrates the flavours of the Mediterranean with a focus on fresh seafood, which makes sense given the hotel’s waterfront location. Kick things off with mini lobster rolls topped with fresh chives, Sicilian-inspired swordfish croquettes with a creamy sauce, rockmelon gazpacho with Parma ham and grissini, and cute caprese sliders with semi-dried tomatoes, mozzarella and basil pesto. Sweets include a holiday-like Limoncello ricotta cake, snowball tiramisu and a mixed berries zabaglione.

Price: $89 per person for the tea pairing, $99 for a glass of prosecco or $119 for a glass of Veuve

When: Thur-Sat at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm 

Address: 6 Cowper Wharf, Woolloomooloo

Go for: A seriously affordable high tea experience.

What’s for tea? The scone specialists at the Tea Cosy pay tribute to Britain’s age-old tradition with what they call 'The Grandstand' – three levels of treats made using recipes from three generations of their family. Pump up the jam with a sampling of freshly baked scones, plus finger sandwiches filled with curried egg, cucumber or housemade maple butter. Although drinks aren’t included, you’re spoilt for choice with house blend black and herbal teas, all served in fine china teapots and dressed in cute knitted tea cosies. You can also go down the boozy route with a smooth hot chocolate, Peach Bellini or glass of sparkling. 

Price: $30 per person (min. 2 people)

When: 9am-3pm daily

Address: 7 Atherden St, The Rocks 

Go for: A low-key high tea without the city crowds.

What’s for tea? If you’re shimming over to Parramatta for a show at Riverside Theatres or a game at CommBank Stadium, kick things off early with a boozy brunch at Novotel Sydney Parramatta. Start on tier one with savoury sandwiches and quiches, before working your way up to raspberry opera slices, profiteroles, macaroons and Portuguese tarts. The pillowy scones with housemade jam and clotted cream seal the deal, along with a glass of complimentary sparkling and unlimited tea and coffee.

Price: $59 per adult; $29 per child

When: 11am-1.30pm on weekends

Address: 350 Restaurant & Lounge, Novotel Sydney Parramatta

Go for: High tea inside the Parliament of New South Wales 

What's for tea? Overlooking the gorgeous greenery of the Botanic Gardens, each Friday a high tea is put on for the public. The line-up may include blueberry scones with housemade jam and cream, lemon meringues, mini leek and gruyere quiches and beef brisket pillows, among two tiers of other impressive treats. Go traditional with tea and coffee, or start your weekend early with a glass of sparkling wine or rosé.

Price: $70-$85 per head

When: 12-3pm on Fridays

Address: Strangers' Restaurant, New South Wales Parliament House, 6 Macquarie St, Sydney

Go for: A refined high tea in the heart of the CBD.

What's for tea? Paradox's Signature High Tea is a classic affair with a polished twist. Expect a traditional three-tier stand loaded with delicate savouries, warm scones and beautifully crafted sweets, all paired with premium loose-leaf teas from La Maison Du Thé or barista-made Vittoria coffee. Sample menu highlights include curried chicken and celery tarts, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, prawn and salmon roe rolls, honey and Earl Grey tea cheesecake, berry pavlova, banoffee tarts and colourful macarons, with warm traditional scones served alongside house-made preserves and clotted cream. There are gluten-free, vegan and kids' options available, plus the whimsical Cloud High Tea, featuring cloud-inspired pastries, white chocolate scones and refined savoury bites. Add a glass of bubbles for an extra touch of indulgence.

Price: Traditional or Cloud High Tea $85 per adult & $40 per child

When: 10am-2.30pm daily

Address: 27 O'Connell St, Sydney