11 Of The Best High Teas In Brisbane

Throw your pinkies in the air for dainty delicacies at the best places to experience high tea in Brisbane.

Fluffy finger sandwiches, itsy bitsy cakes, flowing bubbles, and fragrant brew – the art of high tea is totally irresistible. Dating as far back as the 1840s, the afternoon dining experience is still ridiculously popular, and Brisbane plays home to an abundance of sittings. From the confines of luxurious hotels to standalone destinations nailing new takes on the traditional, high tea in Brisbane is worthy of your bucket list.

1. Strangers’ High Tea, Brisbane City

Dine where the very highest of society frequented at Strangers’ High Tea , staged inside Queensland Parliament’s acclaimed Strangers’ Restaurant. Live classical music and ornate nineteenth-century design fill the historical space, which was once exclusive to male members of parliament. Delight in the high tea menu of scrumptious treats, rolled out of the kitchen on various dates throughout the month (best to check the website well in advance as tables fill quickly). Think buttermilk scones, raspberry Opera slice, pumpkin and feta tarts, chicken and cucumber sandwiches, and more.

Address: Parliamentary Annexe, 69 Alice Street, Brisbane City

Strangers’ High Tea at Queensland Parliament House. — The high tea at Strangers’Restaurant is a must for classic high tea lovers. (Image: Strangers’ Restaurant)

2. Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel High Tea, Brisbane City

Beloved for its elegant high tea in the heart of town, Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel puts on three unique versions. Staged on Saturday and Sunday weekly, The Spirit of Queensland High Tea pays tribute to the flavours of the Sunshine State, spanning tropical fruit, Daintree barramundi, Stanthorpe cider-apple and raisin scones. Saturday, weekly, also plays home to a Chocolate Afternoon Tea where more than 17 takes on everyone’s favourite sweet stuff is delivered with baked scones. And if it’s the school holidays, don’t miss Wizardry High Tea which blends a theme of which craft and, well, wizardry (just go with it, your kids love it), with the sweetest of treats.

Address: Corner Edward and Margaret Streets, Brisbane City

Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel high tea in Brisbane City. — The unique flavours of the Sunshine State are infused into the Spirit of Queensland High Tea. (Image: Stamford Hotels and Resorts)

3. Sofitel High Tea, Brisbane City

Bringing the hotel’s signature French flair to its high tea, the Sofitel group deliver an enchanting experience. Sofitel High Tea at Sofitel Brisbane Central is set within Cuvee, the hotel’s sophisticated lobby bar, and its weekly Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sittings are stacked, literally, with patisseries crafted by their in-house team plus mouth-watering sandwiches and your choice of a glass of Veuve or a mocktail. A high tea in Brisbane with a side of lovely city streetscape views, too.

Address: 249 Turbot Street, Brisbane City

Sofitel Brisbane Central's high tea. — Savour the afternoon with mouth-watering sandwiches and delicate pastries. (Image: Sofitel)

4. W Brisbane High Tea, Brisbane City

A high tea in Brisbane dripping with the hotel chain’s distinct rock and roll flavour, W Brisbane High Teas (there’s a series of them) are set within the eclectic Living Room Bar. Amid a sea of metallics, pop prints and soft seating, the themed high teas nod to whatever they’re vibing at the moment. Be it the ‘Pretty In Pink’ menu that’s available until the end of June 2024 or any one of the special occasion high teas that tap into the likes of Easter and Mother’s Day, there’s always something delicious going on. Check the website for menus and dates.

Address: 81 North Quay, Brisbane City

5. Dandelion & Driftwood, Hendra

You might know Dandelion & Driftwood for its epic breakfasts but the cosy north Brisbane cafe also nails high tea sittings and takeaway high tea box sets. Available at any time of the day, you need to pre-book your sitting but get organised because the spoils are abundant. Ribbon sandwiches, thick, fluffy scones, mini tarts, cupcakes, and tiny pastries provide all the stomach lining your boozy (or non-boozy) beverage selection needs.

Address: 20 Doncaster Street, Hendra

6. Treasury Brisbane’s High Tea at The Lab, Brisbane City

Embrace old-world character and decadent spoils at Treasury Brisbane’s High Tea at The Lab , the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Soft carpeting and rich timber furniture create a plush, homely space to dig into your tower of temptation, served to guests every Saturday and Sunday. You can go with the standard menu or upgrade with Chandon and premium Moet, but regardless, your tower will arrive with ribbon sandwiches, in-house pastries, quiche, frittata, and scones.

Address: 130 William Street, Brisbane City

7. Fancy Tea at The Matriarch, Newstead

Love the eloquent boozing element of high tea? Fancy Tea at The Matriarch is just the ticket. Focused on injecting even more fun into Brisbane’s high tea offering, the team fill their lush, greenery-splashed space with a traditional menu paired with three boozy concoctions from Wednesday to Sunday. Think tea-infused cocktails like Hendricks Gin & Tea, and vodka and lemon peach tea. If you’d prefer mocktails, they can always cater for you too.

Address: 1/22 Masters Road, Newstead

8. Zen Garden High Tea at Bar 1603, Brisbane City

Serving spectacular afternoon spreads from Friday to Saturday, Bar 1603 offers a magical Zen Garden High Tea . A homage to the flavours of Japanese cuisine, the meal caters to both savoury and sweet palettes however that’s where everything you think you know about high tea ends. Forget finger sandwiches forever as you dive into a stream of sashimi, gyoza, Karaage chicken, Matcha mouse, a chocolate cherry blossom tree and more.

Address: 27-35 Turbot Street, Brisbane City

Zen Garden High Tea at Bar 1603. — Looking for something a bit different? These whimsical snacks are sure to surprise. (Image: 1603 Bar)

9. High Tea at Bacchus, Rydges South Bank Brisbane, South Bank

Fine china porcelain and velvet chairs set a high-luxe, high tea scene at Bacchus inside Rydges South Bank Brisbane. Catering to both adults and children on Saturday and Sunday, this high tea is still worthy of your finest frocks as a roll call of classic indulgences light up your table. Two hours of bottomless Mumm bubbles (for the grown-ups, obviously) and the likes of Reuben sandwiches, croquettes, truffle egg pillows, seafood wraps, and all your obligatory scones and sweets will floor you.

Address: 9 Glenelg Street, South Bank

10. High Tea at The Kitchen, Old Government House, Brisbane City

Held on just one Friday every month, High Tea at The Kitchen in the beautiful Old Government House, plays home to an atmospheric dining experience you can’t miss. Located at the bustling Queensland University of Technology campus right near the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, the venue pops together a beautiful selection of delicacies spanning finger sandwiches, handmade sweets and pastries. You’ll need to check the website for upcoming dates and make sure you book your table in advance.

Address: 2 George Street, Brisbane City

The Kitchen at Old Government House high tea. — Elevate your Friday afternoons in the timeless Old Government House. (Image: The Kitchen Old Government House)

11. High Tea at The Balfour Kitchen & Bar, New Farm

Be swept away in frangipani trees and ultra-lush greenery at High Tea at The Balfour Kitchen & Bar . It’s a stunning setting, embraced entirely if you can wrangle a spot on the converted Queenslander’s wraparound balcony. Staged once a month on a Saturday and Sunday (check the website for upcoming dates), this high tea in Brisbane features mouth-watering sweets including the likes of mini tarts, macarons, and specialty cakes, plus savoury brioche, smoked trout bruschetta, pork terrine, and scones with Chantilly cream and jam.

Address: 37 Balfour Street, New Farm

Spicers Balfour Hotel in Brisbane's high tea. — Indulge in exquisite delights amidst scenic beauty. (Image: Spicers Retreats)

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

11 elegant spots to enjoy high tea in Brisbane