The best afternoon teas at Jumeirah

A distinctly English ritual dating back to Victorian times, afternoon tea was conceived in 1840 by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, as she’d feel hungry around four in the afternoon and request a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake.  

Today, afternoon tea is a distinguished custom, loved the world over; the elegance of neatly crimped sandwiches, the thrill of picture-perfect pastries and the unmistakable tinkle of teaspoons tapping against polished silverware. From canapés that look too good to eat, to rare teas sourced from India and China, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts serves award-winning afternoon tea in remarkable locations around the world. Here, we reveal where you can experience this most enchanting afternoon affair.

Immerse yourself in Dubai's beating heart

Jumeirah Emirates Towers

Nestled in the city's vibrant financial hub, Jumeirah Emirates Towers' famous silhouette has been reimagined as part of Daefi Lobby Lounge's delectable experience. Enjoy freshly baked scones paired perfectly with Devonshire clotted cream, organic strawberry jam, or whipped apricot butter prepared by the hotel's talented Chef Reiner Lupfer, who was celebrated on Hotelier Middle East's Executive Chef Power List 2022. You can also indulge in a selection of five uniquely curated sandwiches and canapés including oakwood-smoked Scottish salmon and Alaskan king crab. End on a sweet note with eight courses of sweet desserts, including passionfruit white chocolate, petite amuse bouche, red velvet truffle and salted Cannels de Bordeaux, all served with a choice of artisan tea, coffee or fresh juice.

A regal experience on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

England’s Queen Victoria was fond of afternoon tea, and at Dubai's Jumeirah Zabeel Saray you can enjoy yours like Arabian royalty in the regal Sultan's Lounge, basking in its Ottoman elegance while enjoying freshly-ground Turkish coffee or Arabian-inspired tea. Combining regional flavours such as rose and pistachio, our pastry chef’s creations are works of art, including candied butterflies and sugar cherries which teeter on sweet Middle Eastern delicacies.

A tribute to nature inspired by London’s Kew Gardens
The Carlton Tower Jumeirah

Crowned the world’s best pastry chef in 2019, Chef Jessica Préalpato works with seasonal, locally sourced produce, exploring and celebrating the best ingredients available in England. Rooted in Desseralité, an exclusive concept inspired by the botanics and flora of the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in west London, Jessica’s exciting new take on an afternoon tea offers a non-traditional menu with unexpected pairings. Tuck into a selection of surprising sandwiches and croissants filled with duck egg and black truffle, H Forman & Son London smoked salmon with pickled shallots and wild garlic crème fraîche. During the festive season, you can enjoy your meal in front of the crackling open fire in the tea room of The Chinoiserie for an extra Christmas sparkle.

Behind the scenes of an extraordinary architectural feat
Burj Al Arab

Arabic for “reception of the house”, Sahn Eddar sits at the entrance of Dubai's Burj Al Arab, which soars up out of the sparkling Arabian Gulf like a tall white sail billowing in the breeze. Perched on a comfy sofa in Sahn Eddar, from one side you can enjoy seemingly never ending views of the resort’s rainbow-coloured atrium, renowned as the world’s tallest. From the other side, you can gaze back at Dubai’s glittering shoreline, made all the more mesmerising by our live harpist’s soothing melodies. Our Burj Al Arab afternoon tea includes a glass of Louis Roederer brut Champagne or sparkling Date Juice, accompanied by your choice of hot beverage, a delicious selection of sandwiches by Chef Andrea Migliaccio, and carefully crafted pastries by Executive Pastry Chef Tom Coll, topped off with scones, double cream and an array of jams.

An oasis on Dubai’s palm-fringed shoreline
Jumeirah Al Qasr

Inspired by spectacular Middle Eastern palaces and the ancient tales in 1,001 Arabian Nights, Jumeirah Al Qasr is part of the stunning Madinat Jumeirah. The resort is built in the style of Dubai’s ancient wind towers, a traditional and natural source of air conditioning. These sand-hued towers are surrounded by a maze of pretty waterways which you can cross in a traditional wooden abra boat to arrive at Al Fayrouz Lounge and its sweeping terrace, which has terrific views of Burj Al Arab. Here, you can browse our impressive collection of hot and cold tea, including rooibos passion fruit iced-tea and a jasmine and basil tea-based mixed blend. Then feast on lobster kunafa pastries, pastrami pretzel and oh-so-sweet treats including a spicy pecan gingerbread and a chocolate and salted caramel religieuse – stacked choux pastry bites.

Savour award-winning afternoon teas when you stay at Jumeirah's hotels and residences.