Afternoon tea: Tokyo top picks

Complete with live piano music, the atmosphere at this 28th-floor spot in the heart of the city is worth savouring. Until the end of May, you can enjoy their Floral Afternoon Tea, a mouth-watering mix of flower-inspired sweets and pistachio cream puffs with chocolate ladybirds. Combine your organic tea or coffee with three different kinds of sandwiches. Refills are free, so take your time and enjoy the view.
When? 12noon-5.30pm (weekends and hols from 1pm)
How much? ¥4,300 (plus tax and service)

The Chinzanso's third-floor lounge provides great views of the hotel's gorgeous Japanese-style garden. Stop by for classic English afternoon tea, produced in collaboration with famed perfume brand Annick Goutal and featuring a variety of finger foods and three types of scones – including vanilla, peach and classic plain. You can choose from more than 20 kinds of tea, all with free refills.
When? 12noon-6pm
How much? ¥3,800 (plus service)

Enjoy this traditional English-style afternoon tea in the beautifully lit, sunny atrium on the 41st floor of the Park Hyatt. The set includes unlimited mini-sweets and finger foods, as well as seasonal scones that come in flavours like lavender. It also comes with a bottomless tea selection – a full 25 different flavours are available.
When? 2pm-5pm (from 12noon on weekends and holidays)
How much? ¥5,000

The majestic chandeliers add an additional touch of style to this traditional afternoon tea setting. The tea stand features homemade organic scones with their original clotted cream, sandwiches, and petits fours made with seasonal ingredients, while around 20 tea flavours are available with free refills.
When? 2.30pm-5pm
How much? ¥3,900 (plus service)

Look out over the lush garden while enjoying the Westin's 'classical' afternoon tea, offered only on weekends at the Lounge. Pastry chef Kazuo Suzuki's sweet relishes include mini-sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a variety of desserts, all very neatly plated. The drink selection features ten different kinds of herbal and standard English teas, as well as several varieties of coffee. Refills are free here too. For the third session of the day (5pm-7pm), a glass of sparkling wine is included.
When? Weekends (three rounds of two hours each from 12noon, last orders 30 mins before end time)
How much? ¥4,500

Unlike your typical afternoon tea purveyor, the Hyatt Regency brings you a plateful of seasonally themed desserts at their all-day dining restaurant. Prepared by Hirokazu Sato, the hotel’s renowned pastry chef who used to practise his craft at Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki in Paris, it's offered plate by plate – like a course meal ranging from amuse to coffee with petits fours. Free refills for tea and coffee are included, while a savoury waffle plate will be introduced from May.
When? 2.30pm-5pm
How much? ¥3,300 (plus service)

Indulge in health-conscious, seasonal afternoon tea on the InterContinental lounge's massive luxury sofa. Take your pick of either a classical British stand or Japanese-style tiered food boxes. The latter come with sakuramochi and a parfait featuring black sesame ice cream. We also like the veg smoothie soup prepared by the hotel’s French chef.
When? 11am-10pm (last orders 8pm)
How much? Weekdays ¥3,333, weekends ¥3,833 (plus tax and service)

Who said afternoon tea sets should be dominated by sweets? The Conrad’s China Blue offers dim sum afternoon tea on weekdays, serving up three varieties of savoury steamed dumplings and even a bowl of spicy noodles. Chef Albert Tse’s creations incorporate influences from Chinese herbal medicine to keep you healthy, while the subtle presentation is sure to satisfy your eyes. You’ll also get to pick your favourite from a range of Chinese teas, including blooming tea, white tea and pu-erh.

When? 2pm-4pm
How much? From ¥3,800 (plus tax and service)

In addition to the Zabo lounge's popular afternoon tea, the Cerulean Tower has started to offer a limited serving at the 40th-floor Bello Visto. This one features a quiche, shrimp cocktail, marinated salmon, sandwiches, scones and a variety of sweets, while more than 20 kinds of tea and coffee are available with free refills. The bar waives its table fee for tea time, but you can choose to pay the price (¥1,188) anyway in exchange for a glass of champagne. There are only five pairs of this set available per day, so reservations are essential.
When? Weekdays 4pm-7pm, weekends from 1.30pm (two hours)
How much? ¥3,800

Feel the heart of the city at this 45th-floor space, where the standard Heavenly Tea set comes with superb lemon scones and a seasonal menu. On weekends, the resident 'tea master' serves his signature brew. Also, this spot offers a set for kids (12 years and younger), inviting you to enjoy an elegant tea moment with the young 'uns.
When? 12noon-5pm
How much? From ¥4,200 (plus tax and service)

The Hilton's renowned dessert buffet is always a worthy choice, but this refined tea set – served at the sophisticated lounge on the second floor – isn't to be missed either. Alongside classic treats like mini sandwiches and scones, it features several kinds of desserts, themed on strawberries until May 22 and taking on an Alice In Wonderland appearance (pictured) for summer.
When? 2.30pm-6pm
How much? ¥3,500 (plus tax and service)

Marunouchi's Four Seasons caters to finger food fans with its extensive selection of mini-bites that includes highlights like a small wagyu beef burger and truffle popcorn with cumin and parmesan chips. 30 kinds of drinks, including hot chocolate, are available with free refills, while champagne or sparkling wine costs an additional ¥1,000.
When? 2.30pm-5pm
How much? ¥4,000 (plus tax and service)

If it's a Japanese-style, seasonal afternoon tea experience you're looking for, there's no place better than the Palace. Up to the end of May, the hotel is offering a spring-themed tea set, with smoked salmon and asparagus sandwiches lined up right next to inarizushi rolls and wagashi sweets made with seasonal ingredients. Their strawberry-filled desserts are another highlight, but don't forget the free refills of either coffee, English tea or Chinese tea, with the latter available in 20 different flavours. 
When? 1pm-4.30pm (weekends from 2pm)
How much? ¥4,000 (plus tax and service), ¥5,800 with champagne