Best Afternoon Tea in Taipei

If, like me, your definition of a celebration is to head to a fancy schmancy hotel for afternoon tea, then you’re in luck with Taipei. Home to a range of hotels and restaurants serving quality high tea Taipei style, there’s definitely a delicious meal waiting for every celebratory need. Don’t worry if over extravagance is not quite your scene – there’s still a bunch of more adequately priced places to satisfy your palate.

That said, watch out for phonies trying to disguise themselves as proper afternoon teas. It’s common for tea time Taiwan menus to – shock, horror! – not include scones, or cream, or those oo-it’s-a-tiny-tiramisu moments, instead dolling out waffles and burgers. Yum, but not the time or place.

You can rest assured that the following eateries have been thoroughly vetted, and all incorporate the traditional elements of an English afternoon tea.

So, without further ado, let’s get into where the best afternoon teas in Taipei are.

Grand Mayfull Hotel

Located in the aptly named ‘palette’ (more alluding to a paint palette, but potentially also for your palate (?), The Grand Mayfull Hotel’s best afternoon tea Taipei buffet – yes, I caved and added one – incorporates all the classic delights of tea time.

With the added benefit of being unlimited, from 3pm to 5pm diners can enjoy an endless array of gourmet goodies, from the price of NTD $1,900 per person. Just remember to loosen up your belt beforehand.

Qingqing Shishang Garden Club

Located near the National Palace Museum, Qingqing Shishang Garden Club (also stylized as Tsing Tsing Food Garden Club) is one of the best afternoon tea Taipei has to offer. With delicious nibbles complimented by luscious scenery – and all for the price of NTD $830 for two people! – this is definitely a destination that cannot be missed.

Afternoon tea is available from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, and it’s recommended to call ahead to reserve your spot.

Hotel Éclat

If you’re interested in a Taiwan professional tea menu specializing in elegant feasting, look no further than Hotel Éclat’s English afternoon tea. Available from 3pm to 5:30pm from $1,375 for two people, this boutique hotel in Taipei’s Da’an district is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Hilton Taipei Sinban

Technically veering into New Taipei City territory, the afternoon tea at Hilton Taipei Sinban should still be included on this ‘afternoon tea Taipei’ list because it provides a proper English afternoon tea experience.

Available from 2:30pm to 5pm from NTD $1,000 for two people, this creative and traditional tea is perfect for all your high tea needs. Plus, scones – need I say more?

Grand Hyatt Taipei

Now comes the tricky part: to buffet or not to buffet? For those more inclined in the latter, the Bel Air restaurant in Grand Hyatt Taipei holds a health-ier-conscious ‘Green Planet’ (plant-based) high tea every weekend (Sat&Sun) from 3pm to 5pm, with a set for one priced at $1,280.

In the mood for meat? Buffet at the Cafe for you, then. Although you’ll be missing out on the extravagance of a proper afternoon tea, the Cafe at Grand Hyatt Taipei still serves up some excellent views of Taipei 101, so I won’t feel too bad for you.

Grand Hotel Taipei

Suprisingly enough, the Grand Hotel Taipei – an institution renowned for its, well, more traditional Chinese vibe – makes a splendid English afternoon tea. From $1,280 per person, the Grand Hotel Taipei afternoon tea is available from 3pm to 5pm at the Garden Cafe.

W Hotel Taipei

Though the fairly steep price of NTD $1,800 per person doesn’t quite match the casual dress code vibe, the W Hotel Taipei afternoon tea is not one to be missed. With rave reviews across the board, the W hotel afternoon tea offers a modern take on the classic high tea.

It’s also an afternoon tea Taipei 101 style, since the W Hotel Taipei is quite literally opposite the skyscraper.

Mandarin-Oriental Taipei

Yes, you too could be like these three ladies: classy, charming, and feasting on delicious scones. Speaking of scones, now and for a limited time only, the Jade Lounge (home to the Mandarin Oriental Taipei afternoon tea) has a Lunar New Year menu – and yes, it includes scones.

From delectable savouries like ‘cranberry foie gras parfait’ and ‘milk fish mousse’, to innovative sweets like ‘alpine oolong tea cake’ and ‘black sesame mousse cake’, this is high tea to the max.

Which means you’re expected to dress for the occasion, so no slippers allowed here! (No seriously, the Mandarin-Oriental Taipei afternoon tea has a very strict dress-code).

Tea time comes in slots from 1pm to 3pm or 3:15pm to 5pm, from Wednesday to Sunday, and costs $1,480 per person for the classic afternoon tea set.

Shangri-La Taipei

Want an afternoon tea Taipei Xinyi style? Look no further than the Marco Polo lounge at Shangri-La Taipei. With immersive views of Taipei’s skyline, this smart casual eatery hosts weekend high tea from 2pm to 5pm every Sat&Sun.

Feeling lucky? Why not enter the year of the rabbit in style with the hotel’s limited edition tea set, from $1,380 per person until Feb 28th 2023. With an incredible menu featuring “roasted duck, scallions and cucumber [in a] buckwheat crepe roll” and “lunar new year fire cracker popsicle” – whatever that means, I’m sure it tastes awesome – I’ll let Shangri-La Taipei off the hook for their omission of scones. Just this once.

Taipei Restaurant Bus

I know what you’re thinking, and yes, that does say bus. Gorge on delicious nibbles aboard the Taipei Restaurant Bus, the first of its kind in Taiwan, while it takes you through down-town Taipei.

Launched in partnership with Regent Taipei, this immersive afternoon tea Taipei experience lasts from 2pm to 3:30pm and costs NTD $1,800 per person. Pricey, but worth it.