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10 of the Most Festive Afternoon Tea Services to Celebrate the Holidays

A global collection of the season’s most enchanting holiday tea rituals, from regal London salons to Cape Town’s waterfront and Paris’s grandest grande dames

By Gogo Taubman
Assorted gourmet dishes and champagne on a festive red tablecloth, arranged in an elegant dining setting.
Festive Afternoon Tea Service at the St. Regis in Washington, D.C. Photo: Courtesy of St. Regis Washington, D.C.

Offering a moment where grand hotels and storied dining rooms around the world turn tradition into spectacle, festive afternoon teas are one of the holiday season’s most enchanting rituals. This year, chefs and pastry visionaries lean into nostalgia, fairy-tale escapism, and couture-level craft, creating elaborate menus that honor both heritage and imagination. From Regency-inspired confections in London to Parisian brioches layered with dulce de leche and Cape Town’s sunlit take on classic tea, each experience embraces the celebratory spirit of the holidays. Below, discover the most festive afternoon teas of the year, handpicked for their artistry, atmosphere, and aura of holiday magic.

Cozy lounge with leather chairs, soft lighting, red curtains, and a glowing window creating an inviting atmosphere.
The Beaumont Mayfair’s afternoon tea service offers a quintessentially London experience. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaumont
Festive afternoon tea setup with pastries, sandwiches, scones, and tea cups in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
The Beaumont’s Christmas-themed afternoon tea during London’s most celebrated time of year. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaumont

1. The Beaumont Mayfair | London, UK

In all its refined Mayfair elegance, the Beaumont Mayfair leans into its Gatsby Room’s Art Deco setting. Here, pastries are scented with cranberry, sage, and chai, alongside playful creations such as the White Christmas Snowflake and Spiced Christmas Present hit the seasonal notes. Adding depth and even more aroma, a collaboration with JING Tea introduces expressive, single-garden varieties from Assam and Bavaria. With its quiet glamour, thoughtful flavors, and unmistakable London charm, the Beaumont offers a holiday tea that feels both timeless and freshly imagined.

The Festive Afternoon Tea at The Beaumont Mayfair is available until January 4, 2026.

Person pouring champagne into glasses with elegant appetizers on a table in a sophisticated setting.
Champagne is poured next to elegant bites at the St. Regis Washington, D.C. Photo: Courtesy of the St. Regis Washington, D.C.
Opulent living room with red velvet furniture, ornate gold ceiling, and a crystal chandelier.
The hotel’s opulent lobby is the perfect setting for its Champagne & Caviar Holiday Afternoon Tea. Photo: Courtesy of the St. Regis Washington, D.C.

2. The St. Regis | Washington, D.C.

In D.C., the St. Regis embraces pure indulgence with a champagne and caviar-centric tea served in the hotel’s grand lobby. Savory preparations lead—smoked salmon cheesecake mousse, Angus beef topped with Ostrea—before giving way to a dark chocolate creameux finished with little “caviar” pearls. A Ladurée macaron cart rolls through for a final sweet moment.

The Champagne & Caviar Holiday Afternoon Tea occurs in the St. Regis Washington, D.C.’s lobby. Until January 4, 2026, the experience is available Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Elegant afternoon tea set with decorative teapot, assorted pastries, and sandwiches on a green tablecloth.
Elegant afternoon at The Dunlin, an Auberge Collection property, exudes southern charm. Photo: Courtesy of The Dunlin

3. The Dunlin | Johns Island, SC

Designed with Alice Naylor-Leyland of Mrs. Alice, The Dunlin’s riverside tea service has an elegant, tablescape-driven sensibility. Executive Pastry Chef Elizabeth Grant incorporates Southern notes into a traditional English format with her lineup of homey, sweet, and savory bites. Loose-leaf teas pair easily with each course, while the setting of Linnette’s, the Auberge Collection property’s waterfront restaurant, adds a calm, grounded backdrop. Exuding Charleston charm, this experience offers guests a chance to enjoy a time-honored Southern tradition in a relaxed, quietly festive setting.

20 miles outside of Charleston, The Dunlin offers its Auberge Holiday Fête: Afternoon Tea at Linnette’s on Saturdays and Sundays, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, throughout December.

Two people toasting with champagne over a table with elegant desserts and name cards.
Three of Dickens’s tales turned into treats at this Festive Art Afternoon Tea. Photo: Courtesy of Rosewood London
Cozy library with festive garlands, bookshelves, fireplace, and plush seating in a warmly lit elegant room.
The Rosewood London’s tea service takes place in this cozy room amidst festive property decor. Photo: Courtesy of Rosewood London

4. Rosewood | London, UK

Rosewood London turns its Mirror Room into a Victorian stage set for a Dickens-inspired holiday tea. Each pastry becomes a tiny narrative moment, translating three of the author’s works into composed pastry forms. A chocolate-and-cherry cake wrapped in a red chocolate “scarf” celebrates A Christmas Carol. Oliver Twist is presented as a lemon mousse with a raspberry jelly center. A gingerbread-and-pear creation dotted with edible trinkets is for The Old Curiosity Shop. As one of Rosewood’s most imaginative holiday tea iterations, the Mirror Room’s reflective surfaces and Victorian notes also provide a natural frame for this narrative approach.

This Art Afternoon Tea takes place in the Rosewood’s Mirror Room. Through the end of the year, it is served Thursdays through Sundays, 12:00 to 5:45 PM.

Person pouring tea into a floral teacup on a table set for afternoon tea with plates and pastries.
Tea poured into floral teacups at Le Bristol, part of the prestigious Oetker Hotels and France’s first ‘Palace’ hotel. Photo: Courtesy of Le Bristol Paris
Elegant afternoon tea setup with pastries and tea on a round table near draped curtains and a wall sconce.
Le Bristol Paris’s tea time has been refreshed by their new head pastry chef. Photo: Courtesy of Le Bristol Paris

5. Le Bristol | Paris, France

Recently refreshed under Chef Maxence Barbot, Le Bristol Paris’s new afternoon tea is structured as a three-part performance. Savories lead into a pre-dessert and culminate in pastries such as Parisian brioches filled with dulce de leche and cacao nibs, as well as the hotel’s signature 21-layer chausson aux pommes. Café Antonia’s pale tones and period references channel Marie Antoinette in a crisp, modern way, sharpening this tea into a reflection of peak Parisian luxury.

This Festive Afternoon Tea at Le Bristol in Paris, France, is available daily through the New Year.

Afternoon tea set with pastries and teapots, against a festive backdrop with sparkling gold and white decorations.
Afternoon tea set with pastries and teapots, against a festive backdrop with sparkling gold and white decorations at the St. Regis New York. Photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis New York

6. The St. Regis | New York, NY

New York’s St. Regis teams up again with Ladurée inside La Maisonette, a skylit space originally designed as a breakfast room, creating an airy, almost nostalgic mood. Guests are served Ladurée signatures, including macarons, Eugénie biscuits, and Marie Antoinette tea, alongside holiday touches and a custom tree installation. Tied back to the property’s early twentieth-century tradition, namely Caroline Astor’s legacy of hosting, the experience maintains warm St. Regis energy while integrating the patisserie’s French heritage.

At La Maisonette, Ladurée’s Holiday Afternoon Tea is offered throughout this month on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

Festively decorated Ladurée Paris cart with pastries, lit Christmas trees, and ornate chandelier in a warm, elegant setting.
Festively decorated Ladurée cart with pastries beside lit Christmas trees. Photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis New York
An elegant dessert stand displaying assorted colorful pastries on a golden tree-like structure in a bright setting.
Chef Roger van Damme’s design-forward, festive afternoon tea treats. Photo: Courtesy of Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp

7. Botanic Sanctuary | Antwerp, Belgium

At Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, the holiday season is first embraced outdoors: monastery gardens strung with lights, small market stalls, and a Veuve Clicquot Lodge warming the courtyard. Inside, renowned pastry chef Roger van Damme’s Festive High Tea shows off his precision and imagination through pastries and savory bites. Advent Sundays (the last one being December 21st) introduce children’s choirs, deepening the sense of ceremonial tradition. Making it one of Europe’s more memorable winter escapes, architectural details, outdoor installations, and van Damme’s technical approach create a multi-layered holiday environment centered on Belgian hospitality.

This high tea is available from Wednesday to Sunday, between 12:30 and 5:00 PM.

Festive afternoon tea setup with sandwiches, Christmas-themed pastries on a tiered stand, and decorative red ribbons.
Champagne, sandwiches, and Christmas-themed pastries. Photo: Courtesy of the Lanesborough
Festively decorated room with multiple Christmas trees adorned with red ornaments, lights, and gifts wrapped underneath.
Christmas decorations at the Lanesborough, part of the prestigious Oetker Hotels. Photo: Courtesy of the Lanesborough

8. The Lanesborough | London, UK

The Lanesborough turns to Regency grandeur, à la Bridgerton, for its holiday tea, conceived in partnership with Netflix and Shondaland. Under the Grill’s domed glass ceiling, guests enter to warm, twinkling lights and rich seasonal decor. Head Pastry Chef Johan Thilby interprets characters and stories from the newest Bridgerton season through polished, witty desserts. From delicate scones to Queen Charlotte’s Bauble and the Winterball Pudding, the transportive and impeccably crafted holiday experience adds a cinematic lift to London tradition.

The Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough is available until January 6, 2026.

Elegant afternoon tea setup with tiered tray of pastries, champagne being poured, and assorted finger foods on a table.
Cape Grace’s, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, Cape Town take on festive afternoon tea service. Photo: Courtesy of Cape Grace

9. Cape Grace | Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Grace offers a sunny counterpoint to traditional winter tea. Set against marina views and the famed Table Mountain on the horizon, the hotel serves a seasonal menu that nods to the holidays without feeling heavy. Spiced cranberry limoncello spritzes, Yorkshire pudding with roast beef, and eggnog choux keep things playful and bright. Paired with the property’s own tea blend and the easy, breezy energy of Cape Town in December, the experience feels relaxed, festive, and distinctly local.

Until December 21, Festive Afternoon Tea is available at Cape Grace. From Thursday through Saturday, three afternoon tea seatings are offered.

Elegant outdoor cafe setting with tables set for dining, surrounded by lush greenery and soft lighting.
Tablescapes at the Lowell are the work of Dior Maison. Photo: Courtesy of the Lowell

10. The Lowell Hotel | New York, NY

In partnership with Dior Maison, the Lowell presents its signature Lily of the Valley Afternoon Tea at Majorelle, bringing a fashion-forward sensibility to the holiday tea experience. The salon’s townhouse architecture sets an intimate, almost residential tone for seasonal pastries, warm scones, and classic sandwiches. These classic menu items rest on Dior Maison’s porcelain, with floral motifs appearing through decorative accents and serving ware. Letting classic design details and atmosphere carry the moment, this experience connects the hotel’s Upper East Side identity with Dior’s established design vocabulary.

At Majorelle, the Lily of the Valley Tea is available every Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 to 4:30 PM and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00 PM.