On the Hunt for Beijing’s Best Afternoon Tea: Raffles
Posted: June 20th, 2012 | | | Afternoon Tea, Chang An Avenue, Charles de Gaulle, China World Hotel, CityWeekend, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, George Bernard Shaw, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Kempinski Hotel, Park Hyatt, Raffles Beijing Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, Sofitel Hotel, Writers Bar | No Comments »
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Afternoon Tea at Raffles Beijing Hotel Writer's Bar
As soon as you step into Raffles Beijing Hotel, you are engulfed in over a hundred years of historical relevance. While other famous hotels in Beijing have made big names for themselves in modern day China, few can boast a legacy as long as Raffles.
From the Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt, Sofitel Beijing Hotel, Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, and China World Hotel (in chronological order), I have ventured far and wide in my ongoing hunt in collaboration with CityWeekend to discover Beijing's best Afternoon Tea, but none of the others can say they have hosted the many Chinese and foreign literary legends like Kipling, Conrad and Coward who have been in residence at the hotel, visited or written about it over the years.
Built in 1901, Raffles Beijing Hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in the city. With a long and colorful history, it was once known as "the only deluxe hotel in the Far East" and they even have 9 Personality Suites named after its most famous patrons who have paid homage to this fabled hotel including Charles de Gaulle, George Bernard Shaw, Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Henri Cartier-Bresson.
With glittering chandeliers and high arched ceilings, you feel like you've just stepped into the 1920′s. History is everywhere you turn – from the black and white photographs of China's leaders including Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai to the original timber sprung dance floor, all these pieces together in one place evokes the spirit of a long-established rendezvous for both social and business gatherings.
LumDimSum Snapshots of Raffles' Writers Bar:
Stepping into Writer's Bar in Raffles Beijing Hotel
Recall the glamour of the 1920s with glittering chandeliers and its original timber dance floor
Writers Bar has hosted writing luminaries Kipling, Conrad and Coward
Raffles once served as an important venue between Chinese and foreign politicians
Snuggle Up in Writers Bar Lounge with a Notebook and Pen
Live Guzheng Performance in the back of Writers Bar
Although a live guzheng performance is nice in theory, it was set in the back of the room and the sound was not strong enough to fill the awkwardly quiet void throughout the lounge.
When we first arrived at 3:30PM on a Sunday afternoon, there were a couple of other loungers in Writers Bar, but it was so quiet we found ourselves carrying out conversations in barely audible whispers and looking around awkwardly as if we did something wrong every time we clinked a glass by accident.
Other than the lack of a lively atmosphere, the lounge is lovely and the service was smooth. Afternoon tea at Raffles' Writers Bar includes a glass of sparkling wine, choice of tea or coffee and a three-tiered display of scones, sandwiches and desserts for RMB 134 per person + 15% service charge.
Soon after we sat down and chose our tea from their wide menu selection (Spring Darjeeling, Asam Barl, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Fancy Sancha, Jasmine Gold, Herbs and Ginger, Peppermint, Pure Camomile, Vanilla Rolbosh, Superior Oolong, Lemon Grass, Ceylon Decaffeinated, Xi Hu Long Jing, Tie Kuan Yin, Gong Ting Pu'er, Bi Luo Chun Chrysanthemum), we were quickly served the entire afternoon tea set in one go.
LumDimSum Snapshots of Afternoon Tea at Raffles' Writers Bar:
Afternoon Tea at Raffles includes Sparkling Wine, Tea/Coffee and 3-tiered Display
Selection of Sweet Cookies & Biscuits to Enjoy with Tea/Coffee
Two Complete Afternoon Tea Sets for Two
LumDimSum Breakdown of Raffles' Afternoon Tea Set:
Top Tier of Scones: (L to R) Raison & Plain Scone
I prefer to save the best for last, which is why I started my afternoon tea with a plain scone, but opted to save my raisin scone for last.
The scones here are super soft, freshly baked and light as a cloud. Unlike the other stodgy, crumbly scones which felt like a rock in my stomach, this scone is fluffy with a soft, doughy consistency and the plain scone even goes to the trouble of adding a light smear of lemon peel on the top crust. Served with very spreadable clotted cream (not the clumpy, cottage cheese consistency I've found elsewhere) and famous raspberry and orange marmalade Tiptree jam from Essex, England, I imagine this is about as good as it gets in the world of scones.
Previously I had claimed that the Ritz-Carlton had the best scones in town, but that was prior to this review. I have found a new winner for best scones in Beijing as Raffles knocks the Ritz off the throne and takes the crown.
Raisin & Plain Scones Served with Clotted Cream and Tiptree Jam
Making my way down to the next tier, I settle upon a trio of sandwiches.
Middle Tier of Savory Sandwiches: Cucumber Sandwich, Egg Sandwich,
I have been jaded by dry and crusty sandwiches in the past, but China World Hotel's perfectly moist and fresh sandwiches gave me hope for quality finger sandwiches.
The three sandwiches served at Raffles are fresh, but the bread is not as soft as they could be as they were a bit hardened and on their way to quickly making a turn for the worse into actually being dry.
The egg sandwich was simple and straightforward, nothing much to complain or compliment there.
The smoked salmon sandwich is rolled up like a sushi roll, which I found quite clever and stylish.
Salmon Sandwich Rolls
The "cucumber sandwich" has got a whole lot more going on than just cucumber. The sandwich triangle is filled with diced tomatoes and topped with finely sliced strips of cucumber and carrot for a lovely spread of bright, summery colors.
Cucumber Sandwich
The last level of the three-tiered display is a spread of bite-sized desserts.
Bottom Tier of Sweets
The Chocolate Tart looks like brains and the berry bursts out squirts of juice which was unexpected, but it had a soft chocolate flavor that was more smooth and subtle than indulgently rich.
The Lemon Tart was a light, refreshing dessert, but it should have been topped with lemon meringue instead of thick cream.
Chocolate Tart / Lemon Tart
The Mixed Fruit Tart was my favorite of the batch. Sweet custard cream hugged the bottom of the mini waffle basket topped with really juicy fresh fruit.
The Mixed Nuts Tart was topped with candied walnuts which exceeded expectations, but a bit dry.
Fruit Tart / Mixed Nuts Tart
The Cheese Tart was encrusted in a vanilla shortbread rectangle shape with powdered sugar snowed over half the tart and a too-perfect-to-be-natural blueberry delicately placed in the center.
The Vanilla Macaroon was as lovely as a vanilla macaroon can be – a gooey center sandwiched between two airy meringue cookies.
Cheese Tart / Macaroon
As one might have guessed, I predictably saved the Blueberry Tart for last because I thought it looked the best, but appearances can be deceiving and I was left disappointed. The blueberry tart was enclosed in a chocolate-dipped dark waffle basket, which sounds like it would have been amazing, but it was chewy with zero crunch and that just killed the whole dessert. It's like trying to enjoy an ice cream cone in a stale cone – you can't.
Blueberry Tart
Not every delicacy served on the elegant three tiered display was flawless, but the scones are the best I've ever tasted and Writers Bar in Raffles Beijing Hotel is an exquisite and lovely lounge and no one can argue with that.
It's a great escape to spend a quiet afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of Beijing's famous Chang An Avenue and just sitting within a venue that has witnessed many of the city's significant social and political events across a hundred years of history is bound to inspire anyone to take to a pen and follow in the footsteps of all those literary legends who sat in this very lounge and wrote something brilliant.
Review of Raffles Beijing Hotel's Writers Bar Afternoon Tea:33 East Chang An Avenue, 北京东长安街33号, 原北京饭店B座和E座, Tel: +86 10 6526 3388 Ext. 4181. Afternoon Tea available daily, 14:30-17:30
Best Part:
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Built in 1901, Raffles is one of Beijing's most iconic hotels with a long and colorful history. The hotel has hosted visits by Charles de Gaulle, George Bernard Shaw, Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Henri Cartier-Bresson to name a few.
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Clearly a place that instigates inspiration, both Chinese and foreign literary legends like Kipling, Conrad and Coward have been in residence, visited or written about Raffles Beijing Hotel over the years.
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With glittering chandeliers and high arched ceilings, you feel like you've just stepped into the 1920′s, ready to waltz across their original timber sprung dance floor.
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Best scones I've tasted so far in Beijing - super soft, freshly baked and light as a cloud
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Live Guzheng Performance
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Long list of teas to choose from
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A great escape to spend a quiet afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of Beijing
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Lack of a lively atmosphere. We found ourselves speaking in barely audible whispers and every accidental clink of a glass or a spoon made us cringe. It was uncomfortably, awkwardly quiet.
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Although the scones were perfect and the best I've tasted so far, the rest of the finger sandwiches and desserts were all a bit dry and too many crumbly, crunchy biscuits that just left you feeling parched in spite of all the tea you are served.
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Afternoon tea is available daily, not only on the weekends, from 2:30-5:30PM.
Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)
- Food: 6
- Atmosphere: 7
- Service: 7
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Overall Experience: 7
LDS's Afternoon Tea Reviews in Beijing:
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Click here for previous review of the Ritz-Carlton Beijing's Afternoon Tea.
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Click here for previous review of the Park Hyatt's Afternoon Tea.
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Click here for previous review of the Sofitel Beijing Hotel's Afternoon Tea.
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Click here for previous review of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center.
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Click here for previous review of the China World Hotel.
Through the good and bad, one after the other, LumDimSum will continue to share her experiences as she hunts down and uncovers Beijing's Best Afternoon Tea.
Stay tuned for more LDS + CW Afternoon Tea Reviews to come…!
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