Travel Like An Aristocrat—A Guide to Thai Afternoon Tea

Fashion and vigor are part of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. While many hotels offer afternoon tea, three 5-star hotels stand out with their stylish and luxurious environments.

W Hotel, known for its night club style, chose the exceptional time-honored House on Sathorn (the former Russian embassy) as a dining room in Bangkok. The interior of the dining room maintains the European-style luxury, which is supplementary to the light yellow color of the exterior room. 3 types of salty bread—sandwich with chicken in curry, truffle mushroom croissants, and salmon bread are highly rated. 12 desserts offer a variety of savory snacks such as scones, macaroons, muffins, Financiers, egg tarts, puffs, and fruit towers. Premium TWG tea is served to offer a pleasant afternoon tea experience.

W Koh Samui is also a must-go place for online celebrities. Sofas on the water of WooBar is a really special attraction. The afternoon tea set is a little more expensive than afternoon tea in W Bangkok.

Address: 106 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Open Hours: 14:30 - 17:30 (Monday to Sunday)

Located on the banks of the Menam river, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel has housed many royal aristocrats and literary masters and its afternoon tea room is named The Authors’ Lounge. The European vintage style with white and green as the main colors adds much elegance and luxury to the afternoon tea room and makes it one of the most popular places for afternoon tea and photography. The Authors’ Lounge serves three types of afternoon tea sets: Thai set, British set, and British vegetarian set. The Thai tea set is very special. On the whole, the environment is better than the food.

Address: 48 Oriental Avenue, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Opening Hours: 12:00 - 20:00

As one of the only 4 SO Sofitel hotels around the world, SO Sofitel Bangkok is located in the heart of Bangkok, opposite Lumpini Park. Many young visitors are attracted by the distinctive and stylish rooms themed around the five natural elements—water, earth, wood, metal and fire as well as its Sky Bar. The MIXO at the 9th floor serves afternoon tea sets which are especially popular among young people. Although it has a less luxurious environment than some other hotels, SO Sofitel Bangkok stands at an easily accessible location and provides a beautiful view of the park. The afternoon tea here is slightly different from British afternoon tea and mainly features French desserts and sandwiches. You can get unlimited beverage refills.

Address: 2 North Sathorn Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Opening Hours: 14:30 - 17:00

Contrary to Bangkok, Chiang Mai features a touch of pastoral tranquility. Chiang Mai offers a more casual afternoon tea experience.

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is a favorite destination for many celebrities.

Late famous Chinese actor and singer Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing once bought a villa here. As one of the world's top 10 unique luxury hotels, Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is more unique than luxury. Surrounded by terraces, woods, and farms, it does not really look like a luxury hotel until you are inside. Having afternoon tea here is like living in Alice's Wonderland. Having afternoon tea in a rural setting is close to the original British royal tea style. The afternoon tea set features both British food and Thai food.

Address: 502 Moo 1, Mae Rim-Samoeng Old Road, Chiang Mai 50180

Opening Hours: 14:00 - 16:30

The Imperial Mae Ping Hotel can't be ignored even when you casually stroll through Chiang Mai's old city. The hotel is the favorite of the late famous singer Teresa Teng and is where she passed away. As a tribute to her, Room 1502 has been made her memorial suite. When having afternoon tea here, you can have yourself shown around the suite by staff members who served Teresa Teng. The hotel offers generous afternoon tea sets, which are reasonably authentic, but also the cheapest among these hotels. If you're staying at the hotel or visiting the hotel is a part of your agenda, having afternoon tea in the hotel is very cost-effective. The old-school hotel decor and songs by Teresa Teng make you feel like you are time-traveling into the past.

Address: The Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, 153 Sridonchai Road, Chang Klan, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Opening Hours: 14:00 - 17:00

Anantara, Chiang Mai is the hotel featured in the Chinese movie Protege starring Andy Lau and Louis Koo, where you can have the same afternoon tea served to the two actors in the movie. The hotel is a complex made of teakwood. The half outdoor environment along the bank of the Mae Ping River is comforting and relaxing. Waiters/waitresses are well-trained and helpful. Afternoon tea sets feature a variety of desserts and salted dim sum served in generous portions. Staying here for a relaxing afternoon, you may feel as if time was put temporarily on hold.

Address: 123-123/1 Charoen Prathet Road, T. Changklan A. Maung

Opening Hours: 10:00 - 20:00

As a popular destination among Chinese visitors, Samui Island features a large number of Internet-famous hotels serving afternoon tea. In addition to W Hotel and Four Seasons mentioned previously, these 3 following hotels are also often visited and photographed.

The Library is a famous modern resort in Koh Samui that features a large library and a unique red swimming pool. Against the beautiful backdrop of white sands and clear seawater, having afternoon tea snacks which are exquisitely arranged on beachfront marble tables is really a unique experience. Photos of your afternoon tea time here will certainly draw the most attention. A tea set for two is really cheap, less than half the price of a tea set in other 5-star hotels.

Address: 14/1 Moo.2 Chaweng Beach, Bo Phut, Koh Samui, Suratthani, 84320

Opening Hours: 13:00 - 16:00

Vana Belle, Koh Samui is a 5-star hotel under Starwood Hotels & Resorts that features a private beach and swimming pool and has rooms that each have an infinity pool. Another unique feature of the hotel is the excellent ocean view from the French windows. Although the afternoon tea is a little expensive, spending a beautiful afternoon on a private beach in the 5-star hotel is worth the price. Afternoon tea is served in a traditional Thai bird cage, which is also a symbolic feature of the hotel. The tea set is served in generous portions and can even act as your dinner if you have a small appetite.

Address: 9/99 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi Beach, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, TH-84 84320

Opening Hours: 15:00 - 18:00

Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury resort often compared with the most popular hotel on Samui Island—W Koh Samui. Although it does not have sofas on water as W Koh Samui does, Banyan Tree Samui features private villas on the mountainside overlooking the beautiful sea and offers afternoon tea at half the price. Banyan Tree Samui serves two types of afternoon tea sets: local Banyan Tree sets and traditional British tea sets.

Address: 99/9 Moo 4, Maret Surat Thani Lamai Bch 84310, Thailand

Opening Hours: 11:00 - 23:00

Afternoon tea, originally an activity for aristocrats in the 17th century, is now much simpler and is often an opportunity to meet friends and relax in a quiet and pleasant environment. The main difference between an enjoyable tour or a busy travel schedule is perhaps whether you have time to "waste" on afternoon tea.