Sky Tea in the Panorama Lounge Bar, InterContinental Sydney

Experience sky high views of Sydney Harbour, alongside the beautifully crafted Sky Tea Menu in the Panorama Lounge Bar at the InterContinental Sydney.

On the 31st floor of the InterContinental Sydney, The Panorama Lounge Bar offers a delicious High Tea menu, served with an incredible view of some of Sydney’s most iconic attractions.

Nestled between the idyllic Sydney Botanic Gardens and the iconic Sydney Harbour, the Panorama Lounge Bar lives up to its name, offering panoramic views of the gardens, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

After being seated at our table and enjoying the stunning views, we were bought the three-tier cake stand, laced with a selection of delectable savoury and sweet treats. The High Tea menu itself is heavily inspired by its surroundings, drawing on local flavours and monuments to create a unique spin on classic high-tea dishes.

Sky Tea

The Sky Tea is served with a range of La Mason Du loose leaf teas, along with either sparkling wine ($79pp) or French Champagne ($89pp).

For anyone with specific dietary requirements, the staff at the InterContinental are all too happy to accommodate, and adjustments can be made to the menu to meet a range of dietary needs – simply add a note in your booking for any requests.

The bottom tier of the cake stand was dedicated to finger sandwiches. Each sandwich had a different type of bread, but all of them were fluffy and just the right amount of firm.

First, I started with the Classic Egg sandwich. The egg flavour was delicate and not overpowering, while the chive mayonnaise added a delicious creamy texture.

Sky Tea – photo Holly Harverson

We tried the smoked salmon sandwich next, which was made with fresh, house-smoked Tasmanian salmon and a dill creme. With salmon being one of my favourite indulgences, I was all too eager to try it, and I was not disappointed. The dill flavour in the creme was subtle, but it paired beautifully with the smokey flavour of the salmon itself.

Lastly, we enjoyed the chicken sandwich. Similar to the egg sandwich, the chicken filling was extremely creamy, thanks to the mascarpone in the mixture. Each bite was a mouth-watering combination of the subtle chicken and tarragon flavours, with a deliciously creamy texture.

The top tier of the cake stand was a treat for both the eyes and taste buds. Each treat was decorated with precision and to reflect the beauty of the surrounding environment

The first dessert we tried was the lavender and blueberry pearl tart. The tart itself was a crunchy and sweet pastry, filled with a delicately flavoured lavender and blueberry filling of a vibrant purple colour. On top was a small meringue with a silver foil embellishment, along with fresh blueberries and blueberry flavoured pearls. These added an extra element to the silky filling, giving a juicy burst of flavour with every bite.

Sky Tea

Next we enjoyed the vanilla marshmallow, topped with stewed strawberries and lemon Myrtle. The marshmallow itself was pillow soft and delicately flavoured, while the strawberry and lemon myrtle garnish cut through the sweetness, adding a delightfully fresh Zing.

The Mandarin Opera slice was next, and as the name would suggest, it was garnished with slivers of white chocolate to replicate the iconic sails of the nearby Sydney Opera House. The slice itself – which is reminiscent of a layered cake – was beautifully soft and creamy in texture, with the subtle mandarin flavour that was just enough to add something to the dish, while not overpowering it.

Our last sweet treat was easily my favourite – the salted caramel Macaron. As most well-made macarons, the cookie itself was airy and light, while maintaining a delicious crunch in every bite. The ganache centre was just the right ratio to the cookie, and was delightfully creamy, while still maintaining the crunch-factor. The overall flavour was of sweet, buttery caramel, with just the right amount of salt to balance the sweetness. The cherry on top (so to speak) was a candied hazelnut that gave one final bite of caramel crunchiness to leave you wanting more!

Scones with jam and cream

To round out our Intercontinental High Tea sitting, we enjoyed some traditional buttermilk scones, served alongside Bonne Mamon strawberry jam and fresh cream. Each bite was deliciously dense, while still soft and fluffy; the perfect end to a beautiful High Tea experience.

While the Sky Tea Menu is the main High Tea Serving on offer at The Intercontinental, they also offer a bespoke vegan High Tea menu and a High Tea for children.

The Vegan High Tea offers a range of wraps, with a variety of delicious fillings, along with some mouth-watering sweet treats and gluten Free, Vegan scones (which are just as fluffy and tasty as the real deal) served with jam and coconut cream.

Sky Tea – supplied photo

Sweet selection – supplied photo

Sandwiches – supplied photo

The Children’s high tea offers a similar spread to the Sky Tea, with fun ‘rainbow sliders’ (egg, chicken and ham, cheese and tomato), scones, jam and cream, and a variety of fun treats such as fairy bread, lamingtons and gingerbread men. The drinks menu for the Children’s High Tea is also perfect for kids, offering chocolate & popcorn milkshake, lemon iced tea, and a selection of fruit juices and soft drinks.

Enjoy one of Sydney’s best views with a 5 star High Tea experience at the InterContinental’s Panorama Lounge Bar. With a delicious selection of savoury bites, sweets, and traditional High Tea treats, The Sydney InterContinental’s Sky Tea has something for everyone!