Autumn High Tea at The Westin Melbourne

The Westin Melbourne’s Executive Chef Apoorva Kunte masterfully translates the essence of autumn into this high tea experience, blending seasonal flavours with artistic presentation.

Tucked away from the bustling energy of Collins Street, the Lobby Lounge at the Westin Melbourne offers a hidden sanctuary in the heart of the city’s Paris end.

The natural light pouring into the space creates a serene atmosphere, contrasting beautifully with the vibrant, fast-paced world just steps away. The soft acoustic melodies playing live in the background add to the refined elegance, while the distant sounds of champagne bottles popping remind you of the high-end events that unfold nearby. This secluded gem offers a sense of luxury and exclusivity, making it feel like a hidden escape within Melbourne’s most prestigious corner.

The Westin Melbourne’s Autumn High Tea

Savoury selection

Savoury selection

The Westin Melbourne’s Autumn High Tea offers an exquisite way to embrace the season’s beauty through both taste and presentation. Featuring three tiers of handcrafted treats, this seasonal menu is a celebration of locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, thoughtfully curated to mirror the enchanting autumn landscape. Every bite and sip tells a story of contrast—warmth and coolness, richness and lightness, vibrance and subtlety.

The savouries embody autumn’s ever-changing temperatures, with a blend of comforting warmth and refreshing crispness. The Chicken, Spinach, and Pesto Pillow Bun impresses with its vibrant green exterior, delicately sprinkled with sesame seeds, concealing a rich, herby filling. The Cauliflower and Dill Croquette with Truffle Aioli is delightfully crisp, the golden exterior giving way to a soft, aromatic interior topped with a dollop of luxurious truffle aioli. The Cajun-Spiced Crumbed Prawn offers a dramatic presentation, perched elegantly over a shot glass filled with lettuce and cocktail sauce, it reinvents the classic shrimp cocktail with a satisfying crunch and smoky heat. Meanwhile, the Jalapeño and Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Cheese Finger Sandwich is a subtle yet sophisticated fusion of creamy and spicy, neatly enveloped in soft white bread.

The Westin Melbourne’s Autumn High Tea

To complement the high tea experience, I chose the Vintage Imperial Puerh, a deeply aromatic and complex tea with notes of fragrant incense woods, dried plum, and a lingering chocolate aftertaste. This rich tea beautifully enhanced the flavours of the seasonal treats. Jing, renowned for its dedication to sourcing the finest single-origin teas, brings a world of exceptional flavours to the menu. Among its exquisite offerings, the refreshing Lychee Iced Black Tea, the bold and fruity Blackcurrant & Hibiscus, the delicately fragrant Jasmine Pearls, and the refined Organic Yunnan White Peony each offer a unique sensory experience.

Inspired by the shifting tones of autumn, the desserts are a visual delight. The Rosella and Raspberry Parfait is a stunning layered creation in shades of pink, served in a glass with a crumble base that mimics a refined trifle. Cream cheese lends a velvety richness, elevated by the floral and tart notes of Chambord and rosella crèmeux. The Blackcurrant Delight is a masterpiece, its layers of vanilla lime genoise and blackcurrant cream forming an elegant gradient of green and purple, topped with a perfectly tempered white chocolate feather and a gleaming blueberry both visually striking and bursting with flavour. The light, zesty vanilla lime genoise has a soft, sponge-like texture that melts in your mouth, while the rich blackcurrant cream brings a tart, fruity depth that perfectly balances the sweetness. Visually striking, every bite is a harmonious blend of vibrant tastes and textures.

Sweet selection

Rosella and Raspberry Parfait with cream cheese, Chambord and rosella crémeux and crumble

Sweet selection

The Westin Melbourne’s Autumn High Tea

The Citrus Fruit Tart is a true showstopper, its golden yellow glaze and delicate pink edible flower reflecting the brightness of autumn afternoons. The mango-forward tropical gel and Callebaut white couverture sit atop a crisp hazelnut shortcrust, delivering a divine mix of creamy, nutty, and fruity flavours.

For the ultimate indulgence, the Dark Chocolate Semifreddo Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich is an absolute must-try. This dessert sandwich features a rich, dark chocolate semifreddo filling with a smooth, mousse-like texture that melts in your mouth. At its core, a refreshing cherry centre adds a burst of flavour, perfectly balancing the sweetness while the sandwich’s crunchy exterior evokes the comforting taste of freshly baked chocolate treats, with a warm, cocoa finish. Visually stunning, this dessert is crowned with a delicate gold leaf, adding the touch of elegance it deserves.

 

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The scones continue the theme of contrast, with a Vanilla Scone providing a classic, buttery experience, while the Dark Chocolate, Pepper, and Lemon Scone surprises with its intriguing balance of bitterness, spice, and citrus. Served with luscious berry conserve and whipped cream, they are the perfect conclusion to the indulgent sweets.

Served in the elegant Lobby Lounge daily from 11am to 4pm, the Autumn High Tea at the Westin Melbourne is an experience that goes beyond just taste, it is a sensory journey through the colours, textures, and flavours of the season.

For $78 per person, with optional add-ons of Chandon Brut or Rosé, it is a luxurious yet accessible way to celebrate autumn’s charm. Whether you’re a high tea aficionado or a first-time guest, this seasonal menu is not to be missed.

Autumn High Tea Menu:

SAVOURY

• Chicken, spinach and pesto pillow buns
• Cauliflower and dill croquette, truffle aioli
• Cajun spiced crumbed prawn, cocktail sauce
• Jalapeño and sundried tomato cream cheese finger

SWEET

• Rosella and Raspberry Parfait with cream cheese, Chambord and rosella crémeux and crumble
• Blackcurrant Delight with vanilla lime genoise and blackcurrant cream
• Citrus Fruit Tart with Callebaut white couverture, tropical fruit gel, hazelnut, shortcrust, edible flowers
• Dark Chocolate Semifreddo Cookie Sandwich  with cherry centre, Tasmanian pepper berry sea salt, rocher dunk

SCONES

• Vanilla
• Dark chocolate, pepper and lemon
• Served with whipped cream and berry conserve

High Tea Melbourne – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory