Introduction

Welcome to another episode of me sampling the afternoon teas of this world. After I recently got to experience the offerings at the Zürich Dolder Grand, I figured it was only fair to give another one of Zürich’s landmark hotels a try. And so, today I bring you the afternoon tea at the Hotel Baur au Lac at Zürich’s Bürkliplatz, on the shore of Lake Zürich.

Afternoon Tea at Le Hall

The afternoon tea is served at Le Hall, which is the lobby lounge behind the foyer. The hotel’s decor is opulent and very grand. As we arrive, a waiter immediately come to greet us. He tells us we’re lucky to have obtained one of the only two tables directly by the fire place.

The Service & Staff

The staff are polite and helpful. Before we sit, the waiter takes our jackets, while a young waitress brings us the menus for the afternoon tea. What is interesting about this afternoon tea, is that everything on the étagère is replenished on request. Although to be honest, I was quite full by the time we were done, even without asking for seconds. Similarly, the waitress suggests leaving us one menu as we work our way through the selection of teas.

The Meal

To drink, we ask for a bottle of sparkling water. The teas are by Länggass, which is a tea trader from Berne that has some exquisite blends. I have the Earl Grey, while my partner has the Darjeeling. They’s both exceptional. I also appreciate that the tea is served with a small ramekin to place the tea sieve in to prevent it from going bitter.

The afternoon tea at the Baur au Lac is in a classic style. It is served on a three-tier étagère. At the bottom level are the finger sandwiches: cucumber, smoked salmon, and bresoala. There’s also a small puff pastry with cream cheese. I’m really not a fan of bresoala, or meat in general for that matter. Other than that, though, the sandwiches are good. They’ve been freshly prepared, so the bread is not stale or soggy.

The scones are freshly baked and very good. They’re still warm. There are three plain scones and three with raisins. The scones are served with strawberry jam, lemon curd, and what I think is probably mascarpone.

As for the sweets, the green ones on the left are chestnut with grapefruit and matcha. The two macarons have the elegant and delicate flavour of rose, while the tartlets on the right are with pistachios.

Conclusion

Of the three afternoon teas in Zürich I’ve posted here, I think the one at the Baur au Lac is the one I enjoyed the most. I thought it was quite polished. Call me a traditionalist, but I appreciate that this afternoon tea was quite close to what it should be. In close second place, I would put the afternoon tea at the Zürich Park Hyatt, just around the corner from the Baur au Lac. The Dolder Grand comes in third place, considerably far behind the other two. Interestingly, the Dolder so far has been the most expensive.