Where to Find the Best High Tea in Canberra

Bottomless tea and coffee, glasses of bubbly and a bevy of delicious treats in miniature form… what’s not to love about high tea? Across the national capital, there are several restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels that do truly excellent high teas – serving everything from mini sandwiches to swanky Champagne. Whether you’re organising a casual Sunday afternoon hang or a fancy hen do, here are our picks for the best high tea in Canberra.

White Rabbit

True to the bar’s theme, White Rabbit does high tea with an Alice in Wonderland spin. Every Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy sweet and savoury bites paired with signature cocktails and the option to add French sparkling. The best part is you can book a spot in the late afternoon, so if you plan to stick around at White Rabbit after your high tea experience, you can easily move straight on to evening drinks.

From $75 per person

65 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City

The Marion

With views over Lake Burley Griffin, The Marion may be one of the most picturesque places for high tea in Canberra. The menu leans towards the traditional, comprising scones with jam and cream, petite sandwiches, savoury pastries and mini cakes – complemented by an extensive selection of Ronnefeldt teas. You can also order glasses of sparkling as well as cocktails, if you prefer your high tea on the boozier side.

From $75 per person

ACT Parks Depot, Barrine Drive, Parkes

Hyatt Hotel Canberra

Given the Hyatt has a dedicated tea lounge, you know you’re in for a real treat here. The hotel’s high tea is a classic take that includes scones with jam and cream, dainty sandwiches, savoury morsels, mini cakes and slices. If you don’t quite have the appetite for a full high tea, you can also order a Devonshire tea with scones, jam, cream and your choice of tea or coffee.

From $85 per person

120 Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra City

Adore Tea

As the venue’s name suggests, Adore Tea takes its high tea very seriously. Not only do you get a sparkling iced tea on arrival and three types of tea, but you can also enjoy a very delicious tea-infused high tea menu: think sandwiches, savoury delights, desserts and scones imbued with different tea flavours. Yep, this is definitely one for tea lovers!

$75 per person

2/2 Dacre Street, Mitchell

Queen’s Terrace Cafe

A Canberra jaunt wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Parliament House – especially when there’s high tea involved. At Queen’s Terrace Cafe, you can partake in a delightful afternoon tea complete with sweets and savouries, your pick of tea or coffee, and an optional glass of bubbly. Make sure to tour Parliament House, as well as its gardens and fascinating exhibitions, before or after your feast.

From $60 per person

Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Canberra

More of a boozy breakfast fan? We’ve put together a list of our favourite bottomless brunch spots in Canberra. And if you’d like to kick on afterward, make sure to check out our list of the best Canberra bars.