When it comes to afternoon tea, The Peninsula eats about the environment, while Mandarin Oriental eats about the taste. Established in 1963, Mandarin Oriental, like The Peninsula Hotel, represents the highest standards in Hong Kong's hospitality industry.
The Clipper Lounge, one of Mandarin Oriental's many restaurants, is located in the loft of the lobby and is the place to serve buffets and afternoon tea, most notably afternoon tea. Compared with the open and spacious lobby café of The Peninsula Hotel, the Clipper Lounge is a little lacking in space due to its attic floor, and the number of cafés is not as good as that of the Peninsula. However, the sable décor complements the Chinese furniture, exuding a touch of oriental sentiment and creating a quiet and warm environment. Looking out the window, you can see the Central Ferris wheel on the Central Promenade.
Mandarin's afternoon tea is not about the scenery, but about the refreshments themselves. Traditional pancakes, raisin pancakes, and cakes are all from Mandarin Bakery. Pastry Chef Yves Matthey, winner of the 2017 World Gourmet Summit Award of Excellence for Pastry Master of the Year, oversees the creation of breads, pastries and cakes with sweet but not greasy desserts. Rosehip jam is unique to Mandarin, with a moderate sweetness and attractive aroma, and then blends with butter cream into the still hot muffins, and the sweetness and buttery aroma immediately produce a chemical reaction on the taste buds. Others such as cucumber and egg salad sandwiches have a refreshing and greasy taste, foie gras mousse fig jam puffs are smooth and delicate, and oolong tea black chocolate cake has a rich flavor. It costs more than 300 Hong Kong dollars to taste more than 10 kinds of refreshments in Mandarin, which is really worth the price.
According to the standard of English afternoon tea, Mandarin's afternoon tea is also made of three-tier tray with dim sum, black tea is brewed in a sterling silver teapot, and the teacups and plates are white porcelain cutlery. The use of utensils is not as refined as that of The Peninsula, but it is simple and traditional.
Afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental is more contemporary, and countless elite white-collar workers in Central choose to enjoy afternoon tea here and talk about the world. Whether you are tired of traveling and shopping and want to find a quiet place to rest, or you want to taste delicious desserts, this place can satisfy you. However, Mandarin's tea time is not fixed, starting at 2:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 4:15 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays, and 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. If you want to experience the afternoon tea time in Mandarin, it is best to book the time and number of people on the official website more than 4 days in advance. If you go at short notice, even if you arrive on time, it is easy to have a table reservation. The Mandarin Oriental doesn't have much to ask for in terms of clothing, but don't be overly casual either. The price is HK$298 per person from Monday to Friday, and 318 per person on weekends and public holidays.
Mandarin pastries and rose jam can be purchased at Mandarin Cake Shop, and they are also a good choice as souvenirs.
