I do love a high tea in Perth. There’s no better excuse to get a pretty frock on, get your pinkies out and catch up with family or friends over scrumptious sweets, scones and savories. I treated my parents to a high tea for Christmas, at what’s considered Perth’s best high tea at COMO The Treasury.
This very special afternoon tea is held in the grand Cape Arid rooms, with it’s high ceilings, fireplaces and views out to the cathedral. After we were greeted and seated, but before we look over the tea menu, our eyes are drawn to the beautifully made serving stand tiers. Like everything about the COMO’s afternoon tea, no detail has been overlooked. Each tier of the stand is made from a different West Australian timber – Red River Gum (Moore River), Jarrah (Donnybrook) and Tuart (Wellard).
The intricate watercolour and ink paintings around the Cape Arid Rooms are by renowned West Aussie artists Alex and Philippa Nikulinsky.
The stunning works feature native flora and fauna, from the Cape Arid National Park. Prints can be purchased.
The service at the Cape Arid Rooms is second to none. Each of our waiters are super professional, but not in a stuffy way. They were all warm, chatty, informative, helpful and on the ball with everything we may need – from tea top-ups to dropped napkins. They really elevated the experience for us.
The high tea is $75 per person, inclusive of free-flowing Mano a Mano coffee and Teassential teas. This local tea company, and their tea and herb infusions, are found within the State Buildings. There’s traditional black tea blends, to fruity teas, and even rare indigenous teas. I enjoyed the minted raspberry, while my parents savored the hard-to-find Darjeeling tea – known as the “Champagne of teas”.
Cape Arid Rooms High Tea – The Menu
The exquisite setting calls for a food offering to match. The first tier to be devoured are the savories. These are all tasty and fresh – freshness is SO important for a quality high tea. If the sandwiches are cut too early, the bread can be served dry – a big no no. These finger sandwiches were as fresh and delicious as can be.
- Shark Bay Crab on brioche, pickled kohlrabi, ice plant
- Mt Barker chicken and sun-dried tomato, cucumber sandwich
- Pea and Borrello ricotta tartlet, parmesan, lemon thyme
Before they cool too much, the warmed scones (plain and fruited) are begging to be smothered with jam and house made vanilla clotted cream.
The order in which you smother jam and cream onto your scone is up to you. I like to pop cream on first. I found out on my Instagram page that I’m very much in a minority!! 82% of people preferred their jam to be added first – shocking! I won’t even ask people how they pronounce “scone” haha
Next up, after a new pot of tea, are the scrumptious sweets;
- Bahen & Co chocolate tart, raspberry, hibiscus confit
- Gnangara strawberries, blueberry, vanilla delice, almond joconde (almond sponge)
- Hazelnut dacquoise, Kununurra mango compote, passionfruit
The Gluten Free Factor – COMO The Treasury High Tea
If you’re gluten intolerant, you can be assured that you won’t miss out or have any inferior food. At other venues, I’ve had an almost completely different high tea experience to the other people I was dining with. The GF food seemed “bought in” and not that great. At the Cape Arid rooms, minor GF friendly tweak’s are made to each item. I thoroughly enjoyed every morsel.
I absolutely loved The Como the Treasury high tea – up there with the absolute best in Perth. I love that every item has a provenance and link back to an area of WA. It really tells a tale of the land and abundance of wonderful produce in our state. COMO The Treasury is the PERTHfect place to indulge yourself in the city.
Get more info on the Como The Treasury High Tea in the Cape Arid Rooms on their website. Find COMO Treasury at 1 Cathedral Avenue, Cnr St Georges Terrace, Perth.
