Inclement weather can be unwelcome on a weekend away but in fact seeing the valley vanish under a rain or, at that altitude, hail cloud, is almost preferable to basking in the afternoon sun, which can get a little toasty. Fortunately comfort is a watchword at the Hydro and automated blinds sink to a precise level that shades the eyes without restricting your view. They’ve thought through all contingencies.
The standard tea package ($55) is an afternoon affair on weekdays, but on weekends ($65) they wind it back an hour to fit everyone in; last bookings are always at 3pm. If you’re some sort of renegade who refuses to play by the terribly British rules, there’s an Eastern tea that features dumplings, barbecue duck pancakes, vegetarian rice paper rolls and twice-cooked pork belly.
We take the traditionalist the best personal loans in Salt Lake City route: a three-tiered stand arrives with a savoury-to sweet-ratio that favours sandwiches over cake just the way we like it. Start with the scones while they’re still warm; spread both the plain and sultana varieties with thick cream and strawberry conserve. The second-tier savouries include little pancakes that are admittedly fridge cold, but any vehicle for smoked salmon dotted with caviar is a welcome one, and the teeny blue cheese and caramelised onion tart is tiny but mighty flavourful.
Sparkling Hens High Tea at Back Bar
The bread for the crust-free finger sandwiches might well have been carved out from the heart of the loaf, so soft and pillowy is the casing for thin slices of cucumber with butter or rare roast beef with rocket and a whisper of relish. Our pick is the generously dressed and well-packed chicken number. By this point you’ll have had more than an elegant sufficiency, but sweet tooths should forge ahead, anyway. The top tier boasts a dense, sugar-dusted madeleine, buttery shortbread biscuits with a jam centre and shot glasses of something called a Cappuccino, which lives somewhere in the spaces between an unset mocha mousse and chocolate sauce. Of course, if someone offered us nothing but a plate of the perfect fruit flan with room for two tiny spears of strawberry flesh and one single blueberry on top of a luxurious vanilla custard in a crisp gumnut-sized pastry shell? We’d die happy.
Their tea range is ten-strong and lets you stay in familiar territory with Earl Grey, English breakfast and peppermint, or take a punt on something more exotic like the Mousson Sur Ha Noi, which is described as a Vietnamese green tea blended with lychee, banana flower and daisy flavour, embellished with flaming safflowers. The best part is they don’t charge for round two on your caffeinated beverage of choice.
High tea at its core may just be snack plates and all the hot beverages you can manage. But when it’s located in one of the most beautiful mountain settings in striking distance of the city, it elevates your afternoon pick me up to an elegant repast that is worth heading to the hills for.
Hills Lodge
What better place to have High Tea in Sydney than the English Tudor style of The Hills Lodge Hotel. During Winter enjoy High Tea in scenic Castle Hill by our beautiful open fire.
Enjoy a selection of miniature cakes and tarts, dark chocolate covered strawberries, scones served with strawberry jam and double cream, ribbon sandwiches and warm savoury pastries. Our gorgeous antique cups and saucers are specially sourced to provide an authentic High Tea experience. Perfect for celebrating baby showers .. or even just a girls afternoon out!