Afternoon tea at the Waldorf Astoria is a long standing tradition. However, here in Orlando after the pandemic it became a thing of the past for awhile. The resort brought it back and then did away with it again before I had the chance to try it. I had my eyes peeled for another offering, and then finally on Mother’s Day, the Waldorf hosted tea again!
I knew immediately I wanted to try it. Plus, at $45 per person, it was by far the most reasonably priced tea in the area. While I never mind paying for a nice experience, tea can be very expensive for a rather small amount of food.
I love Peacock Alley at the Waldorf regardless. It is so bright and welcoming, setting it apart from most hotel bars around. This is Florida, after all, and feeling that glamourous but beachy vibe even when indoors is pretty fantastic.
For the occasion, Mom and I brought out some bright floral dresses that fit the tea, Florida, and Mother’s Day vibes. I love any excuse to get dressed up! Luckily Mom does too! And she leans into my matching but not matching vibes.
A piano player added ambiance throughout the experience. He played everything from Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift to Disney classics and one of my favorite songs Hallelujah. The peacock themed menus and teacups were another great touch to the afternoon. It was so clear how well all the details were thought out.
But let’s get to the real stars: the tea and the food.
They offered a variety of teas but Mom and I stuck with our favorites: black for her and earl grey for me. They were both exceptional and we finished the entire pot.
The food was presented on a beautiful tray and included cucumber and pear (my favorite), turkey, and deviled egg (I wished this had been traditional egg salad – the flavor was good but without the egg white, it didn’t quite work for me). There were plenty of sweet treats with a little mango cake and the macaron my favorite. I’m always a macaron gal!
The bar is always open and since one of my favorite bartenders was there I also had a cocktail. They made excellent cocktails in Peacock Alley and it’s a nice touch to be able to order any cocktail you desire, or really, even additional food from the all-day menu. Try the fries!!!
I hope the Waldorf continues to offer tea and that they continue to push and make the experience even more special. It’s really cool that this old-time tradition is making such a huge resurgence all over the world. There are few things in life better than an elegant but easy afternoon enjoying tea and snacks.
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