High tea in Cape Town is the ideal way to indulge in luxury or celebrate the moments that deserve the best. Whether you’re looking for a birthday party or a meetup with long-lost friends, Nabeel Allie created the list for you.
Our collection of high tea spots caters to every budget and visits various spots across the Peninsula, from seaside views to tucked-away suburban gems.
CELEBRATE THE ONE&ONLY WAY
The One&Only afternoon tea is one of Cape Town’s most exclusive high tea experiences. It’s tranquil setting in the V&A Waterfront comes with all of the location’s seaside beauty without the busy hustle and bustle. High tea at the One&Only is typified by stunning views and a delectable stand of sweet and savoury delights, all handmade by the chef of the day.
This exclusive high tea experience happens daily from 2pm to 3pm and booking is essential. Hosted in the Vista Bar & Lounge, you can sit right on the water’s edge in as you enjoy the afternoon in luxurious privacy. Lounge among palm trees or relax inside with table mountain as your backdrop. Enjoy a pot of tea with pastries and baked treats in one of Africa’s most luxurious resorts.
Whatever the special occasion, celebrate it with a high tea at the One&Only. Maximize your stay by booking lunch or dinner at the lounge to experience the full extent of the One&Only kitchen, or save a seat at the spa to be pampered and relaxed.
Cost: Classic Afternoon Tea, R425pp. Cap Classique Afternoon Tea, R495pp
When: Afternoon Tea is served daily from 2pm to 5pm
Where: Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Website: oneandonlyresorts.com | Email: reservations@oneandonlycapetown.com | Tel: 021 431 5888
CLASSIC CAKE AND TEA AT THE NELLIE
High tea at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, is a quintessential Cape Town outing. High tea at The Nellie separates itself from the rest by delivering a unique urban experience from its location between Orange and Kloof Street, one of the city’s trendy hotspots. Their high tea celebrates a wide range of teas, curated by their tea sommelier, Craig Cupido.
“Tea is about connection, especially when served during a traditional tea ceremony,” Cupido said. Stroll beneath the arches and take a seat inside or on the balcony as you make a tea selection. Take your pick from dozens of teas and enjoy a walk-in garden, typified by the flawless lawns and rows of roses, as you await the arrival of your tower of baked goods and a pot of tea.
Booking is essential for high tea. There are two seating times, 12pm and 3pm, available from Wednesday to Sunday. Put in a request with the pianist as you book so that live music can set the scene with you to celebrate with sumptuous cakes, pastries and sandwiches made in-house and stacked in tiers.
Cost: R495 per adult and R325 per child
When: Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm & 3pm
Where: 76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Website: belmond.com | Email: restaurantreservations.mnh@belmond.com | Tel: 021 483 1000
TWELVE APOSTLES’ LUXURY HIGH-TEA
High tea at Twelve Apostles’ is a modern take on an age-old tradition. The high tea has three seating times and is available seven days a week. It’s hosted in two of the resort’s iconic venues, The Leopard and The Conservatory, making their high tea a slice of accessible luxury at one of Africa’s most exclusive hotel resorts.
To further celebrate accessibility, Twelve Apostles also offer a vegan high tea, speaking to the growing importance of plant-based diets and cuisine. Guests enjoying the vegan high tea can expect Chef Gina’s plant-based delicacies like dairy-free scones, coconut pan cotta, banana and oat cookies and more. Twelve Apostles’ standard high tea offering includes tea-time treats like cream puffs, chocolate brownies, macarons and more.
High tea at the Twelve Apostles includes a bottomless selection of loose-leaf teas and speciality coffee. If you’re feeling indulgent, opt for their Moët & Chandon High Tea, served with a glass of Brut Imperial champagne. Booking is essential and seating times from Monday to Friday are R40-R50 less.
Cost: R495 per person from Monday – Friday, R525 per person on Saturday and Sunday | Vegan high tea, R495 per person from Monday – Friday, R525 per person on Saturday and Sunday
When: Monday to Sunday, 10am, 12.30pm & 3pm
Where: Victoria Road, Oudekraal Nature Reserve, Cape Town
Website: 12apostleshotel.com | Email: info@12apostles.co.za | Tel: 021 437 9000
AFRICA’S TRENDY HOTSPOT, THE SILO HOTEL
High tea at The Silo Hotel is more than baked goods and pots of tea. Africa’s best city hotel according to Travel+Leisure hosts its Royal Tea from Thursday to Sunday, seating from 2.30pm to 3.30pm and serves handmade in-house delicacies to rival them all. For four days a week, this award-winning venue serves a selection of petit gateaux and exquisite teatime treats, as well as several savoury delights.
Booking is essential to secure a table at this high tea experience to avoid disappointment. Enjoy a refined modern take on traditional high tea as you sit atop an art gallery in one of Cape Town’s most luxurious districts. Geometric cake towers, bespoke crockery and transparent teapots are some of the nuances that make this high tea a Royal Tea.
The Silo is a celebration of art, architecture, style and design and their Royal Tea is an extension of that celebration. Their head pastry chef, Devin Jones, works with his team of chefs to serve freshly baked goods and handcrafted delicacies. Sip your tea with an unbeatable view, eat your cake atop Africa’s leading contemporary art museum and enjoy a luxurious high tea like no other.
Cost: R425pp
When: Thursday to Sunday, 2.30pm to 5pm | Last seating at 3.30pm
Where: Silo Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Website: theroyalportfolio.com | Email: info@thesilohotel.com | Tel: 021 670 0500
BASK IN THE CONSTANTIA WINELANDS
Considering that you can enjoy afternoon indulgence at 11am, high tea at The Cellars Hohenort is one of a kind. Located in the rolling hills of the Constantia Winelands, this high tea delivers an out-of-town experience in your backyard.
The Hohenort’s in-house pastry chefs concocted this high tea offering with the intent to be decadent. The gloriously indulgent four course menu includes smoked salmon roulade, beef tartare, bocconcini, blueberry scones with chantilly cream, and dark chocolate and caramel mille-feuille.
Bask in the Constantia sun as you enjoy a luxurious high tea outing.
Cost: Classic high tea R435 per person, R215 per child. Booking essential.
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 5pm (last sitting at 3pm)
Where: 93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, Cape Town
Website: thecellars-hohenorthotel.com | Email: reservations@collectionmcgrath.com | Tel: 021 794 2137
SEASIDE HIGH TEA CELEBRATIONS
Enjoy a high tea in Casa Labia’s gorgeous ballroom, decked out with timeless accents and quaint affectations. Their high tea baked goods are served on traditional three-tier stands with savoury and sweet selections. Fine china and white tablecloths decorate Casa Labia’s high tea, a traditional experience in a timeless setting.
High tea might not be the first association we make with Muizenberg but Casa Labia is a fixture in Muizenberg’s fabric and its long history in the community makes its offering grounded yet refined. The entire ballroom is available for booking, making it especially popular for families. High tea stands feature a blend of sweet and savoury snacks and each guest enjoys bottomless tea.
Sweet treats include chocolate eclairs with crème pâtissière topped with Raspberry Dust, lemon poppy and elderflower lamingtons, baked cheesecake with peanut butter fudge crumble, and a further three tiers worth. Enjoy these delicacies alongside teatime savouries like salmon and cucumber roulade with cream cheese and gremolata, white truffle arancini balls, chicken and garlic aioli sandwiches, and more.
Cost: R395 per person
When: Monday to Friday, 11am to 5pm | Saturday and Sunday, 11am and 3pm & 3pm to 5pm
Where: 192 Main Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town
Website: casalabia.com | Email: casalabia@ideascartel.com | Tel: 021 180 3119
SUN INTERNATIONAL’S PREMIER HOTEL – THE TABLE BAY
Regarded by some as one of the best meeting and conference venues in Africa, it’s important to remember that all of The Table Bay’s offerings surpass global standards of excellence. Their high tea is one of those offerings in a hotel that boasts five separate dining venues. The Table Bay’s high tea has two seating times, 2pm and 4pm, on weekends only and lasting a neat hour and a half each – short and sweet.
Slightly more orderly than other high teas, The Table Bay serves theirs in four courses. The first course celebrates tea-time sandwiches, serving classics like salmon and cucumber, butter croissants and beef pastrami, as well as tandoori tartlets with tzatziki. This is followed by a collection of scones and followed thereafter by sweet treats like pistachio opera and fruit platters.
Their high tea is completed with a final course of local cheeses served with traditional jams. Enjoy this well-packaged high tea in one of Cape Town’s most beautiful settings. Stay and stroll through the Waterfront neighbourhood after your tea to pick up an extra treat or two if you’re still feeling peckish.
Cost: R395 per person
When: Friday to Sunday, 2pm to 3.30pm, 4pm to 5.30pm
Where: 6 West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Website: suninternational.com | Email: tbhres@za.suninternational.com | Tel: 021 406 5000
THE ORIGINAL LOCAL FAVOURITE GONE GLOBAL
Coco Safar’s afternoon tea in Cape Town is one of the Atlantic Seaboard’s most sought-after outings. Self-described as a luxurious all-day café, Coco Safar’s high tea experience is only available from Fridays to Sundays between 2pm and 6pm, although group bookings on alternate days are available via special request. Booking is essential to secure a table.
Described as offering the finest luxury coffee and cafe offering by publications like L’Officiel and Forbes, you can be sure to receive a world-class experience. The high tea-tasting menu is a culinary journey that lives up to the hype, taking you from Cape Town to Paris, Istanbul and back to Cape Town before a final stop in Shanghai.
Start off with frozen Cape buchu, a frozen sphere with eucalyptus smoke, before enjoying a Parisian chessboard, oysters and crispy potato mille-feuille. Your high tea journey to Istanbul features a pot plant with smoked beetroot espuma, passionfruit jam, crème fraîche and chocolate crumbs. Coco Safar has put their luxurious touch on the classic Cape Koesister, creating theirs with a choux pastry base.
Cost: High Tea at R695 per person.
When: Friday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm
Where: 277 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Website: cocosafar.com | Email: orders@cocosafar.co.za | Tel: 021 433 1336
NESTLED IN THE SUBURBAN SLOPES OF TABLE MOUNTAIN
The Vineyard’s high tea is served in the shadows of Table Mountain’s eastern slopes. Surrounded by evergreen trees and endlessly green lawns, this suburban luxury spot delivers an understated high tea in a picturesque setting for all of your special occasions. Only available on the weekends, booking is essential if you plan to celebrate your special moments with high tea at The Vineyard.
High tea at The Vineyard includes savoury snacks like crustless quiches, smoked salmon Portuguese rolls and butter chicken mini pies. Indulgent chocolate-crusted whipped ganache tarts with hazelnut crème, classic Florentines and Bakewell tarts set the tone for the kind of rich sweet treats you can expect.
The Vineyard’s friendly high tea experience is ideal for everyday visits as well as once-in-a-lifetime celebrations. With only three days available per week and two hours available per day, booking is absolutely essential if you want to secure your high tea celebrations. Groups of 10 or more should note that a venue fee and surcharge will be charged.
Cost: R335 per person
When: Friday to Sunday, 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Where: Colinton Road, Newlands, Cape Town
Website: vineyard.co.za | Email: reservations@vineyard.co.za | Tel: 021 657 4500
RELAX IN THE YARD AT V&A WATERFRONT’S SILO PRECINCT
The Yard in the Silo District, Africa’s trendiest urban space, delivers a high tea for all in the Silo District. Booking is essential to secure a high tea table at The Yard and a minimum of two stands must accompany every booking. If you needed one, this is a great excuse to try their lauded vegan high tea offering.
A traditional three-tiered cake tray is decorated with red velvet and chocolate cake, panna cotta and peach pie, as well as a handful of other delectable plant-based delicacies. On the savoury front, expect spring rolls, a range of vegan sliders, Hara kabab and pastries. The traditional high tea offering includes macaroons, salted caramel eclairs, various cakes and so much more
While you enjoy your high tea experience, take a stroll around The Yard space and walk among some of the city’s up and coming designers and crafters. If you’re feeling peckish after emptying your three-tiered cake tray, open the restaurant menu and choose from a wide range of internationally-influenced local dishes. Breakfast lovers make sure you visit on Sundays when The Yard offers all-day breakfast.
Cost: R425 for the classic high tea and R475 for the vegan high tea – price per high tea stand
When: Contact for seating times and group details
Where: Silo District, V&A Waterfront, South Arm Road, Cape Town
Website: theyardatsilo.co.za | Email: theyardqueries@gmail.com | Tel: 021 879 1157
WYNBERG’S HIDDEN GEM OF A COURTYARD
If you’re looking for a low-key high tea outing, this much-loved Wynberg classic is the spot for you. Located inside Courtyard 53, High Tea Cake Shop offers a quaint cafe experience on your doorstep. Their classic high tea includes three sweet and savoury options and their premium high tea features four sweet and savoury options.
Each sweet baked treat is made with a classic homestyle baking feel, helping to create a friendly and familiar ambience. High Tea Cake Shop’s setting in Courtyard 53 lends itself to an easy-going consumer experience. It’s part of a business community and your high tea outing includes everything Courtyard 53 has to offer.
Pop them a visit for a charming celebration or picturesque afternoon tea that’s still tasty and indulgent without needing to book weeks in advance or damage the bank balance.
Cost: Classic R95 per person and premium R110 per person.
When: Contact for detailed times and availabilities as per party size
Where: Whitby Rd, Wynberg, Cape Town
Email: hightearestaurant@gmail.com
