Raffles, Dubai

Visit Raffles Website HERE
Cost: 190AED for 2

Hands up, Dubai is not in the UK and as this blog is dedicated to afternoon tea in the UK, I really shouldn't be putting this on here. However afternoon tea at Raffles in Dubai is too good not to tell you about it. I'm not saying you should go to Dubai just to sample the afternoon tea here, but if you ever find yourself in Dubai, you MUST go!

The afternoon tea at Raffles won top spot for best afternoon tea from Time Out Dubai. Therefore on our trip out there to visit my brother, we all thought it was worth a visit. We arrived to a very grand atrium - giant palm leaves (I think?!), huge ceramic pots (taller than the average human adult...) and classy Egyptian decor. We were sat in their "salon", just over to the left of the main atrium. The sofas were huge and very comfy - we didn't leave for hours! The tea menu was extensive offering some teas I had never heard of. What's great about here is you can try out as many teas as you like.

Four of us went to tea. About 3 members of staff were needed to bring the food out. They brought out a round of sandwiches, the scones and a stand with the cakes on. They then brought out the exact same thing again. Our table was covered... with a vast array of delights. I didn't quite know where to start first....

• the classic sandwiches but with an unusual and beautiful twist on the presentation (cucumber strips tied round the outside of the bread, salmon and cream cheese victoria sponge styled sandwich, layered egg sandwich)
• plain scones
• cheese scones
• raisin scones
• mini cornish pasty type pastries
• home made chocolate bourbon
• fruit tart
• chocolate cupcake
• fruit cake
• macaroon with pipette of coulis (wow!!)
• shortbread



Tea for two....

The pipettes of coulis... AMAZING presentation!

Happy me... even after I devoured most of the food...

Afternoon tea at Raffles Dubai is probably my best experience of afternoon tea so far. Since our trip, I have heard they have put a fashion spin on it (Berkeley hotel-esque), so I may well return when we go to Dubai next time... Ok, definitely return!!