Tea in the Lobby, at the Stamford Plaza Hotel Brisbane

Stamford Plaza Brisbane provides a top-notch classical hotel high tea experience with standout scones and great service.

It’s late afternoon and I make my way through Brisbane’s centre to the city’s latest high tea venue. The Stamford Plaza Brisbane has only been reopened for a few months following severe damage in the Queensland floods but you wouldn’t notice. After a $20 million renovation, business is taking place as usual and everything seems as elegant and perfectly poised as it has been for years.

Upon entering the marbled-clad Lobby, I’m greeted with stunning floral bouquets and drifty sounds from a strings-wielding musical ensemble. Inspired by the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, the Stamford takes cue from a colonial past and offers a high tea service fit even for the Queen. Yes, I’m not pulling out the standard idioms – the Stamford actually served high tea to Her Highness during the royal visit to Australia last year.

I meet my friend who’s a fellow writer and now author, and we select the mid-range high tea complete with a glass of sparkling. At $45 a head, we enjoy delicate salmon blinis and non-greasy chicken curry puffs to start. We then enjoy the obligatory double serving of scones, but this time not-too overwhelming, as they are petite in size and varied. I spoil myself with the Valrhona white chocolate variety topped with copious amounts of fresh, homemade preserves.

Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic host Leah offers suggestions on which of the Dilmah loose-leaf teas should accompany each bite. We enjoy Green Tea and Jasmine as well as a personal favourite, Rose with French vanilla. A bespoke selection of cakes and pastries leaves us well and truly full. The Essence of Queensland is a Stamford signature and should be sampled by all visitors. I devoured the carrot cake and will be going back for more of the butterscotch mousse.

 Stamford Plaza BrisbaneAfternoonTea Menu

• Honey roasted leg ham, seeded Dijon mustard sandwich
• Poached chicken and roquette on wholemeal loaf sandwich
• Cream cheese and cucumber with a hint of lime sandwich
• Smoked Salmon and potato blini, caviar and crème fraiche
• Handmade Stamford curry puff
• Freshly Baked Scones: Buttermilk, Stanthorpe apple, date and nutmeg and Old fashioned treacle and valrhona white chocolate
• Boutique preserves and Meander Valley double cream
• Sweet treats: A bespoke selection of delicate cakes and pastries, including Stamford Plaza’s Signature Essence of Queensland

 

Overall, the Stamford Plaza provides a top-notch classical hotel high tea experience with standout scones and great service.

The Stamford also offers a Morning Tea served with a view of the Brisbane River, please check the website for more information. Groups of up to 30 people can be catered for in the Lobby.

 

High Tea Brisbane – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory.