[Tasting Report] Why Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong is a Must for a Trip to Hong Kong: Ambiance, Pricing, and Taste Reviews Explained – Overseas Afternoon Tea Guide #2

Following my previous article, I’m back with a review of the afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong!

You can read my previous article here

[Advance Booking Required] Why Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong is a Must for a Trip to Hong Kong: Insider Tips to Secure Your Reservation – Overseas Afternoon Tea Guide #1

When thinking of Hong Kong travel, there are many attractive experiences including cuisine, shopping, and night views. Among these, the afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong Hotel is an absolute must for any traveler. Here, you can enjoy exquisite tea and sweets in a space that reflects Hong Kong’s tradition and prestige, spending a truly elegant time.

In this article, I’ll detail the atmosphere, cost, and reputation of The Peninsula Hotel’s afternoon tea!

Reservations are Definitely Essential!

After finishing our morning tour of Kowloon, we headed to The Peninsula Hong Kong at our reservation time, quite hungry. I had heard that the afternoon tea set was so substantial that we might not be able to finish it, so we skipped lunch and made sure our stomachs were ready.

Upon arriving at the hotel and heading to the Lobby restaurant on the first floor, they confirmed our reservation and guided us to a table near the center of the venue. As expected, we were told that almost all the seats were filled with guests who had made reservations, confirming that we had made the right decision by booking in advance.

Ordering Afternoon Tea

After 2 PM is tea time. You can order various teatime menus, including afternoon tea. We of course ordered the afternoon tea.

The content of the afternoon tea on this day was as follows. The concept was “Celebrate Istanbul,” with a Turkish-inspired lineup for the afternoon tea set. The menu included:

Smoked salmon, basil cream cheese, and spinach on simit

Kisir with chicken breast, bulgur, tomato, and mint

Beef kasik wraps with lettuce, potato, and pomegranate seeds

Cucumber sandwich

Octopus, avocado hummus, black olives, and feta cheese on pastry

Turkish style semolina cake with lebani

Grilled mochi tartlet with rose cream

Pistachio baklava

Orange blossom roulade with orange jam

Various fruit-flavored Turkish sweets

There are many unfamiliar terms here, but these are Turkish dishes and sweets. It’s not traditional Turkish cuisine, but rather a contemporary fusion style based on Turkish cuisine.

The price was 868 Hong Kong dollars for two people. That’s about 16,000 yen (approximately $110) at today’s exchange rate, plus a 10% service charge. Budget about 20,000 yen ($140) and you’ll likely get some change back. It’s relatively expensive, but still considerably cheaper than staying at the hotel itself.

For tea, we selected from the menu. I chose a limited-time tea, while my companion chose Earl Grey. Coffee is also an option, apparently.

Enjoying the Atmosphere While Waiting for Afternoon Tea

While waiting for our afternoon tea, we took photos of the venue. The classical interior of The Peninsula Hotel evokes a sense of history. Listening carefully, jazz music filled the venue. Looking up, I noticed a jazz band playing live.

After a while, our tea arrived, followed by a stylish amuse-bouche. It featured caviar… I’m not sure what exactly it was called, but an elegant flavor filled my mouth.

How Does It Taste?

The vibrant afternoon tea set arrived! The bottom tier had scones, the middle tier had sandwiches (savories), and the top tier featured desserts (pastries). Typically, you start eating from the bottom tier, but in this case, perhaps the correct approach is to begin with the savories from the middle tier?

The Turkish fusion dishes I listed earlier were mostly concentrated on this tier. I tried each one while pondering “what exactly is a beef kasik wrap?” Each item had a unique character and was delicious. Personally, I enjoyed the crispy savory pastry. The cucumber sandwich had a straightforwardly fresh cucumber taste, which was interesting. It might have worked well as a palate cleanser between desserts.

Next, I tried the scones. These were old-school raisin scones without any fancy twists. The simple flavor almost transported me to the English countryside. No, wait—I’m in Hong Kong! Desperately stopping myself from mentally traveling to England, I picked up the scone in front of me, spread some clotted cream on it, and took a bite.

What is this?! It’s incredibly delicious! The clotted cream, which I had only expected to serve as a flavor enhancer, paired perfectly with the scone, surprisingly becoming the highest-rated item I’d tasted since arriving in Hong Kong. From this point, I forgot to take photos and couldn’t stop eating.

And then came the much-anticipated desserts (pastries). Alongside a chocolate plate inscribed with “THE PENINSULA HONG KONG,” the artistic plate featured orange and coconut purées. The appearance was so adorable that I became completely captivated. I couldn’t start eating until I had taken enough photos to satisfy myself!

Despite saying that, there was a time limit, so I eventually decided to dig in. I enjoyed each pastry one by one, savoring the fragrant aroma of pistachios, the refreshing scent of oranges, and the exotic fragrance of roses. As expected of Turkish fusion cuisine, these were somewhat familiar desserts with names I couldn’t quite recognize, offering slightly novel flavors. My curiosity and appetite were both satisfied, creating another wonderful memory.

As an Activity for Your Hong Kong Trip

What did you think? Over two articles, I’ve introduced The Peninsula Hong Kong’s afternoon tea! Whether you’re traveling with friends, on a date, or with a group (we actually saw some male groups there!), this Hong Kong afternoon tea experience is highly recommended. Be sure to enjoy this slightly luxurious, immersive experience that exists because of Hong Kong’s British colonial heritage!

Book The Peninsula Hong Kong from these links!

www.booking.com