There’s nothing like a warm cup of tea, good company, and some dainty homemade cakes on a peaceful afternoon.
Considered as one of the oldest and the most well-known British customs, the English afternoon tea has always been a popular and a well-loved cultural pastime of the upper class society. Since it has spread across the world, tea rooms and even coffee shops are starting to introduce their own afternoon tea sets, allowing us to experience the “tai tai” (translation: a wealthy married woman who does not work) life for a day.
Despite similarly named, afternoon tea and high tea are very different from each other. The former is a light meal that consists of scones, sandwiches, and tea while the latter is a heartier meal that consists of roast beef, ham, and stronger brews of tea. Traditionally, afternoon tea is more often enjoyed by women as it is considered a ladies’ social occasion. In fact, afternoon tea is typically enjoyed between 4pm to 6pm while high tea is served on a high table at the end of the workday, shortly after 5pm.
Having an afternoon tea session is an occasion that allows us to temporary escape the hustle and bustle of the city while catching up with friends. However, with the prices starting from RM20, there’s no denying that it is considered a luxurious occasion for many.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled some of the best and most affordable afternoon tea places for you to treat yourself and your friends over the weekends:
1. TWG Tea Salon & Boutique
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The luxury to have an afternoon tea session in TWG Tea Salon & Boutique is definitely a well worth experience. The tea room, which has opened several outlets in Malaysia, has one of the best tea services in town. Its astounding tea menu alone, calls for the return of patrons. Also, newbies may come out of the tea salon feeling slightly more knowledgable as the servers at TWG Tea Salon & Boutique are willing to share their knowledge about every aspect of the tea service with customers.
Patrons can choose the afternoon tea set that comes with 2 freshly baked scones or muffins served with TWG Tea jelly and whipped cream or 1 patisserie from their trolley. The scones served at this place come straight from the oven and are made to pair with the sugar free blueberry jam or devonshire cream. The finger-sized sandwiches, which are placed on the 2nd tier on the tray, are nothing to shout about, but their macaroons and pastries make up for it as they are nothing short of amazing.
- Price: RM30 – RM 40 per person
- Address: Pavilion Kuala Lumpur / Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall
- Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily (Afternoon tea is served from 2pm-6pm daily)
- Tel: +603 5621 2899
- Website | Facebook
2. Nosh
UPDATE: Nosh is temporarily closed.
Nosh in Bangsar is particular known for its remarkable homemade cakes, but one thing you’re guaranteed to notice in the place is their take on the traditional English afternoon tea. As compared to every other place listed in this post, Nosh is an unlikely place to have afternoon tea. But, to our surprise, it has the most interesting afternoon tea set as the pastry chef brings a twist to the dishes.
Nosh’s version of afternoon tea set consists of homemade fruit scones with homemade strawberry jam and whipped cream, open-faced sandwiches, cream puffs, and a selection of their savoury cakes They are made to pair with a freshly brewed pot of tea from the Bharat Tea Plantation at Cameron Highlands. The quality of the set is incredible as Nosh only uses top notch quality ingredients for its creations.
Despite the absence of breathtaking setting, Nosh still serves as a great place to relax or socialise with friends over tea and desserts.
- Price: RM63 for 2 pax
- Address: No. 7, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Opening hours: Afternoon tea is served between 2:30pm – 5pm on weekends
- Tel: 03-22013548
- Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. Pastryville
Pastryville is hands down, the most affordable place to have afternoon tea in the city. The boutique bakery only charges RM45 for a full afternoon tea set which comes with homemade pastries and freshly baked cakes.
At Pastryville, you’ll find a a three-tiered stand that consists of raisin scones, cream puffs, freshly baked pastries, and a selection of gourmet desserts. The scones are slightly crusty on the outside, which matched perfectly with the clotted cream and strawberry jam. Their cream puffs are filled with a generous amount of cream and their pastries are really flavourful. Patrons can choose to pair them with either freshly steeped tea or steaming hot coffee.
The bakery has opened multiple outlets across the country, including Hartamas Shopping Centre, e@Curve, Subang Parade, Wangsa Walk Mall, Wisma UOA II, and Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus.
- Address: Hartamas Shopping Centre, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
- Opening hours: Afternoon tea is served between 3-6pm daily
- Tel: 03-6206 4060
- Price: RM45 per set
- Website | Facebook
4. Newens Tea House
Newens Tea House has opened its first and only international outlet on the Indulge Floor of the premium shopping mall.
Hailing all the way from London, UK, the Newens Tea House introduces its infamous Original Maids of Honour tarts, a recipe that is 500 years old. These dainty pastries were first served to King Henry VIII and have continued to be produced exclusively with a secret recipe by Newens bakers since the 18th century.
The English afternoon tea includes the maids of honour tarts, freshly baked scones that comes with devonshire cream and preserves, colourful macaroons, assorted sandwiches, pastries, and fruit tarts. The set is, of course, made to pair with a cup of coffee or a pot of steaming hot tea. Patrons can choose their desired tea from over 60 different tea blends.
With the Art Deco-inspired establishment that seats 150, “Newens Tea Boutique” is definitely the place to go to if you’re looking to have a quiet afternoon with your best friend.
- Price: RM50++ per person
- Address: Indulge Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
- Opening hours: Afternoon tea is served between 2.30-5.00pm
- Tel: 03 2719 8550
- Website | Facebook
5. Betjeman & Barton
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Tucked away in a quiet corner of 1 Utama’s Old Wing, Betjeman & Barton could’ve gone completely unnoticed if it wasn’t for its insane selection of tea and its unique afternoon tea set.
The tea room, which was first opened in Paris almost a century ago, has over 20 tea boutiques around the world. When we say they have an insane selection of tea, we really meant it because Betjeman & Barton brings in more than a hundred different types of tea that are sourced from various regions including China, India, Japan, and Ceylon. It doesn’t matter if you’re a tea newbie or a tea connoisseur, the staff will explain and recommend a tea that may appeal to you the most.
Priced at RM60 per set (which is suitable for 2 – 3 people), its afternoon tea set is a creative blend of classic French desserts and pastries. The set includes picture perfect macarons, handmade chocolates, assorted sandwiches, eclairs, croissant, and some tea-infused cakes.
- Price: RM60 per set (suitable for 2 – 3 people)
- Address: 1 Utama (Old Wing), Lot G220, Ground Floor Centre Court (next to One World Hotel)
- Opening hours: 10am – 10pm Daily, Friday & Sat (until 10.30pm)
- Tel: 03-7731 5433
- Website | Facebook
Got any places with awesome afternoon tea set that you think we need to add to the list? Let us know in the comments box below!
