Have afternoon tea somewhere grand

Afternoon tea somewhere grand means a pot of tea, sandwiches, scones and small cakes on a tiered stand, served slowly in a palm court or a hotel lobby built to impress. It is an hour or two of doing nothing in a beautiful room, which is exactly the point.

Where to do it

The Ritz, London, United Kingdom

The Palm Court at The Ritz is the classic: gilt, mirrors, a pianist, several sittings a day. Book well ahead. The dress code is strict: men need a jacket and tie, and jeans and sportswear are not allowed. It's the room most people picture when they think of tea in the United Kingdom.

The Peninsula, Hong Kong

Tea in The Peninsula's lobby in Tsim Sha Tsui has been a Hong Kong ritual for generations. It has long been first come, first served, so expect a queue at peak times; arriving early helps.

Raffles, Singapore

Afternoon tea is served in the Grand Lobby of Raffles Hotel, a white colonial building that is a national monument of Singapore. The Long Bar, birthplace of the Singapore Sling, is under the same roof.

Fairmont Empress, Victoria, Canada

The Empress has served afternoon tea since it opened in 1908, in a lobby lounge overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbour. It's a Victoria institution and one of the best-known teas in Canada, so book ahead in summer.

Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India

The Sea Lounge faces the harbour and the Gateway of India, and has been a Mumbai meeting place for generations. Ask for a window table in this landmark of India.

The Shelbourne, Dublin, Ireland

On St Stephen's Green, the Shelbourne's Lord Mayor's Lounge serves a classic tea with a view of the park. It's an easy walk from Trinity College and Grafton Street in Ireland's capital.

Mount Nelson, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town's pink grande dame sits below Table Mountain and is famous for its afternoon tea. Combine it with a morning at Kirstenbosch for a slow day in South Africa.

The Plaza, New York, United States

The Palm Court sits under a stained-glass ceiling, across the street from Central Park. Tea at The Plaza is a New York set piece in the United States, especially in the weeks before Christmas.

How to make it happen

• Book. Famous rooms fill weeks ahead, weekends first. Sittings are usually timed.
• Check the dress code. Smart casual covers most rooms; The Ritz needs a jacket and tie for men.
• Mention diets when booking. Grand hotels usually do vegetarian or gluten-free tea with notice.
• Eat in order: sandwiches, then scones, then cakes. Many places will refill the sandwiches if you ask.
• Settle the scone question. In Devon, cream goes on first; in Cornwall, jam. Nobody will stop you either way.
• Do it cheaply: a cream tea (just scones and tea), a department-store tea room, or a weekday sitting is the same ritual for much less.

Make a day of it with an evening at the theatre, or in your own city as a tourist at home.