For a high tea that’s as pretty as a picture with all the trimmings, the Brisbane Marriott has you covered.
This high tea begins with a difference, starting with three delicious macarons of passionfruit, pistachio and salted caramel, warming up your sweet tooth before you dive into the three-tiered stand. All three sweetly filled biscuits were lovely but the salted caramel was a favourite and left you wanting more.
Traditionally, this high tea is served with a glass of sparkling wine and your choice of tea or coffee, but we opted for the non-alcoholic pairing of a tropical mocktail, which was as equally refreshing as it was delicious. It went down well with the finger sandwiches, which were served on the freshest bread. Options included shaved ham with vintage cheddar, smoked turkey with tomato and relish, smoked Tasmanian salmon with cucumber and caper aioli and spiced egg on a miniature roll with baby herbs. The miniature egg roll was the highlight, it was deliciously creamy and tangy. This venue was also accommodating of dietary requirements, providing pregnancy and vegetarian friendly sandwich options, which were creative and satisfying.
Next, we made our way up the stand to the scones. Unfortunately, these let down the experience somewhat as they were slightly undercooked in the middle, leaving a doughy taste in your mouth. Despite this, the lemon curd was a lovely accompaniment. When I requested a tea menu, I was advised they did not have one on hand. Instead, you’re asked to suggest a tea you would like, and they would see if they have it. I find it’s more traditional and more pleasant to peruse a tea menu at your leisure to find something new to tickle your tastebuds. On this occasion, I opted for an earl grey because that’s what I could think of in the moment.
The highlight of this high tea is without a doubt the dessert tier. Not only was it exquisite to look at, but each little morsel was a treat for your senses. Where the scones let this high tea down, the desserts elevated the experience. The selection included a chocolate hazelnut tart, passionfruit and dark chocolate sandwich, mascarpone fig cream cake, jasmine tea mouse, ube mouse with black sesame crunch and a strawberry cream grove tart. The highlights for me were the ube mouse and chocolate hazelnut tart – but I couldn’t fault a single item. What made this even more enjoyable was we were able to take home the items we were too full to finish, enjoying them a few hours later without over-stuffing ourselves.
Overall, this is a lovely high tea experience with some room for improvement. While the staff are lovely and attentive, they lack the knowledge or the motivation to explain the high tea to you once it is placed on your table. Does this high tea tell a story? Do they source their ingredients locally? I couldn’t tell you because this was not shared with me. A high tea often sets itself apart as a five-star experience when the staff have a thorough knowledge of the menu and can take you through each tier and each item, so you understand what you’re eating and share in its story. The Brisbane Marriott also does not provide printed menus at the table, so you go in blind when picking up each item. While this doesn’t deter greatly – when compared to other hotel high teas in Brisbane, the difference is noticeable.
Afternoon tea at the Brisbane Marriott is served at Motion Dining. The menu includes an assortment of petit fours, handmade macarons, freshly baked scones and scrumptious sandwiches complemented with a glass of sparkling wine, freshly brewed coffee and a selection of tea. You can enhance your experience with a glass of French champagne.
Bookings are essential and are required 24 hours in advance.
To book call 07 3303 8034 or book here.
High Tea Brisbane – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory
Reviews for this venue:
- 29 May 2020: High Tea at Marriott Brisbane
- 28 November 2016: High Tea at the Marriott Brisbane
