Indulge in a High Tea

Sophisticated Sips & Blissful Bites

An essential part of elegant entertaining for generations, High Tea is without a doubt one of the most delicious traditions. Whether you are joining us for the first time, toasting a celebration or special treat, or have discovered your new and splendidly sip-sational home-from-home, taking tea at Elysian Fields is always a magical occasion.

Expect iconic teas, extraordinary cakes, blissful bites of patisseries, still-warm scones with complementary preserves, curds, and clotted cream, of course, and an array of freshly prepared sandwiches.

So, who’s for tea?

How Do You Take Your Tea

It is high time for some teatime spent in lovely sipping bliss, enjoying luxurious food and amazing conversation with friends and family. A high tea is an occasion to relax or to celebrate a special event with your loved ones. We would be delighted for you to join us!

Please note - our high tea is offered at 45.00 per guest with a deposit for the first guest required on reservation.

Afternoon Tea

A scrumptious sampling of savory snacks, presented on a traditional three-tier tower, and offered on fine china, our Afternoon Tea includes petit fours and patisseries, tarts, chocolate bonbons, fresh scones with clotted cream and fruit spreads, and finger sandwiches with your choice of tea.

Cream Tea

A celebration of confections, our Cream Tea includes warm scones, handmade curds, and clotted cream with your choice of tea as well as a sampling of petit fours, chocolate bonbons, tarts, and patisseries. All splendidly presented on a traditional three-tier tower and offered on fine china as is only fitting for fine fellow you are.

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

- Henry James

Manners Maketh the Tea

Nothing quite beats a cup of tea and a fresh scone at the right time – but when exactly is the right time? Clearly, and dare we say thankfully, these days the answer is ‘whenever the fancy takes you’, but that doesn’t stop some insisting on the existence of a set of rules.

So, let us take you by the hand.

Tea has been constrained by all kinds of rules and practices over the centuries, in Britain as much as Japan. At Elysian Fields, we encourage you to cast off the shackles of tradition, but then again tradition is why many come to us - so for your interest, we have listed a few 'rules' of etiquette that have grown up around the taking of tea in Britain.

Feel free to keep or break them all: we’d never dream of disapproving.

How to Hold One’s Cup

Grasp the handle between one’s thumb and fingers, rather than entwining one’s fingers through the handle. Do not feel obligated to extend the little finger… unless one would like to evoke an air of elegance, refinement, and sophistication, that is. Or perhaps one is inspired by great figures of grace such as Miss Bennett, Hyacinth Bouquet, Ada Lovelace, Professor Tolkien, or Lord Tennyson. We could go on…

Stirring One’s Cup of Tea

It is most proper to move the spoon gently to and fro, from front to back, rather than round and round in a circular motion, and to avoid the clinking of the spoon against the side of the cup. Indeed, such is but a matter of basic good manners.

How to Eat One’s Scone

Begin by cutting the scone in half, though we’ll allow one to expertly break it in half, should one feel confident. Then spread it with clotted cream and then jam. Or jam and then clotted cream. Why not try both in turn? If one opts to begin with the cream, then one is indulging in the Devon method. If the latter, then it be by the Cornwall method that one prefers to enjoy one’s scone.

To Crust or Not to Crust?

Pray, guess what? The choice is entirely up to oneself. Those we feel duty bound to report that the Duchess of Bedford, one of the earliest proponents of afternoon tea as a social affair, had the crusts removed from her sandwiches. Thus, if emulating Victorian aristocracy is one’s desire, proceed and excise all crusts. When cutting sandwiches into fingers, crusts are of no assistance. However, if cutting into triangles, either method suffices.

When to Take Tea

We must admit to a bout of bewilderment… whenever one looks on a clock near Elysian Fields, the hands seem always to be set to four o’clock. This marks the traditional hour for afternoon tea – a respectable interval from luncheon, and not overly proximate to dinner. So goes the theory, at any rate, and for a ‘traditional’ occasion. …then again, one does know how we feel about ‘rules’…

How to Dress for Tea

While contemporary tea parties often adhere to a formal or semi-formal dress code, many still revel in donning vintage attire for the occasion. This practice harmoniously aligns with the aesthetic and ambiance of traditional tea parties.

Indeed, it is an enchanting manner in which to revive and celebrate the allure of a bygone era.

And do not neglect your hat, darling! When afternoon teas were in the height of fashion, it was a rare sight indeed for a lady to attend a social event sans hat. Outfits were deemed incomplete without this essential accessory. This custom endures to this day, with a tea hat or fascinator now being an indispensable element of any tea party ensemble.

Fascinators, those exquisite headpieces, are typically affixed to a hair clip or headband. In addition to bestowing an air of elegance upon your tea party attire, they also provide a delightful topic of conversation among friends, who may admire and discuss the various designs, patterns, and hues of each other’s tea hats. As is only proper and necessary, of course.

All this to say, my dear, rules and codes of dress aside, please come adorned in whatever makes you feel like the bright, shining, beautiful being you are.

If you do decide to dress in your best and brightest, however, please enjoy an extra confection of your choice on us. It is simply the only thing to do to complement the compliment of your charming company and stately dress.

So, Who’s for Tea?

We would be absolutely delighted and utterly enchanted if you were to join us for tea! Simply reserve the day and time that would be best for you and your charming cohort.

Visiting the Elysian Fields Bakery every day sounds like a delicious, if somewhat impractical, idea. After all, there’s no such thing as too much cake. But fret not as the good news is that we offer the option to enjoy a High Tea at home, which are just as extraordinary as a proper trip to Elysian Fields (almost…).

…and when you’ve tried a High Tea yourself, whether visiting with us at the bakery or spoiling guests with a perfectly splendid tea at home, don't forget to share your sophisticated sip & blissful bite moments with us with a hat-tipping tag of @elysianfieldsmagic.

Looking After Your Dietary Requirements

Elysian Fields is pleased to offer several dietary specific options: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Nut-Free. Should you or any of your party require one of our dietary options, please let us know in advance of your visit.

Please be aware that due to our products being made, served, and displayed in an environment where allergens are present, this might result in a risk of cross contamination.