High Tea at The Royal Hotel

Cakes and canapés in Riebeek Kasteel

Take a dainty step back in time and travel to the seat of South African olive country for high tea at The Royal Hotel in Riebeek Kasteel. The four-star accommodation is a colonial treasure, and with a heritage that dates back to the 19th century and a seemingly never-ending stoep – deemed ‘the longest south of Limpopo’ – the charming, country outpost is the ideal place to have your cake and eat it too. 

Here, you can enjoy formal high tea on the expansive verandah, or if you wish, you can take a more casual afternoon tea on the back terrace, which overlooks vineyards and a dam framed by the majestic Kasteelberg Mountains. 

Hight tea at the Royal Hotel

High tea at The Royal Hotel takes place every Saturday at 3:30pm, and guests are invited to settle in for a smorgasbord of savoury canapés and sweet dishes. Arranged buffet-style, the well-loved tradition treats visitors to delicate finger sandwiches, delectable quiches, heavenly tarts and pastries and, of course, an aromatic selection of imported loose leaf teas. 

A regal affair, high tea at The Royal demands a certain sort of decorum. Thus, guests are asked to dress smart casual. 

High tea costs R125p/p for adults, and R65p/p for kids under 12. Do note, booking is essential, walk-ins will not be accepted. To reserve a spot, contact The Royal Hotel on +27 (0) 22 448 1378.

Cake and afternoon tea at The Royal Hotel

For a casual take on high tea, there is cake and tea on offer from 4pm to 5pm, daily. There is an assortment of cakes available, but the carrot cake, topped with light-as-air cream cheese frosting, has a reputation for being the best in town. The chef’s secret is to soak the cake in brown sugar syrup before icing, making the sweet treat beautifully moist and crumbly at the same time. The cake is delicious washed down with a pot of Earl Grey tea, and while you sip you can watch the resident ducks waddle by looking for a crumb.

The double chocolate brownies – they have a white chocolate layer on top - are also to die for, and if that’s all too rich, try the passion fruit cheese cake.

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Read more about an overnight at the Royal Hotel in Riebeek Kasteel.

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