Tea at Halekulani in Waikiki

On the last day of my recent trip to Hawaii, I treated myself to afternoon tea at Halekulani in Waikiki.  Known as one of the most exclusive and pricey hotels in Honolulu, I could only hope to be spending bit of time there as a guest for tea.  A few hours surrounded in luxury at a much more affordable price point can only be a good thing, especially after having splurged at the Lupicia Tea Shop earlier in the week.

True to the ideal time for afternoon tea, Halekulani serves tea daily from 3-5:30 pm.   As I arrived at the tail end of their afternoon tea time, I was seated in the Veranda, a smaller room overlooking the main courtyard at the hotel.  Not far from the Veranda area, Orchids, one of three restaurants at Halekulani, also serves tea with from 3-5 pm.  Orchids sits oceanfront with a beautiful view of Diamond Head in Waikiki Beach.

Just after a large group of local women dressed in the most elegant island style sundresses left the tea room, I was seated at one of the 6 tables in the Veranda.  While the restaurant Orchids has a warm and breezy vibe, the Veranda is peaceful, intimate, and classy.

Halekulani’s afternoon tea offerings include European style tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries.  While their savories are traditional classics, some of their desserts are uniquely island-inspired.

Shortly after being seated, you’ll be presented with a gorgeous wooden box of Halekulani’s loose leaf teas to choose from.  I had a hard time choosing between their Pineapple Coconut Rooibos with Mango blend and their signature Halekulani Blend, made from black, peppermint, and jasmine teas.

After 10 minutes of sniffing my way though all of the elegant boxes of tea, I decided on the Halekulani Blend.  It was my last day on the island and I knew a kick of caffeine would help me make the most of my last hours there.

Being the signature blend of the hotel, I expected more from the Halekulani Blend.  It was just a little on the flat side.  A pleasant-tasting black tea, just not particularly memorable.

The picture perfect current scones were quite delicious, with a texture somewhere between crumbly and flaky.  The Kula Strawberry Preserves that accompany the scones are made from locally grown strawberries from the neighboring island of Maui. The cute little canele were eggier and lighter in texture than the scones were, and the poppy seeds flecked throughout were a unique addition.

What was extremely delightful and memorable was the spread of afternoon tea goodies that came next.  As is expected when you have an elegant afternoon tea, quality, art, and vibrance is the emphasis of the meal, not quantity.  The elegant presentation of the sandwiches and petit fours was spot on and so luxuriously inviting.

The Smoked Salmon with Lemon Cream on Rye was basic yet delicious.  I’m always impressed to see how many ways top chefs can shape a slice of smoke salmon to create a beautiful canapé.

halekulani afternoon tea smoked salmonThe Chicken and Horseradish on Whole Grain tea sandwich was also fairly good.  They coated one side with crushed peanuts, which an interesting and unexpected variation.

By far my favorite bite of the meal was this Shortbread topped with a Passion Fruit Mousse and Edible Flowers. It was a fresh, airy bite of tropical island fruitiness with a bit of buttery richness to finish.

My second favorite petit four was this Matcha Green Tea Sponge Cake with a Coconut Cream Filling.

Since the tea room is completely open to the hotel’s main courtyard, you’ll occasionally see birds flying through–a charming twist on having tea in a place as inspired by nature as Hawaii is.  I suppose at some point the birds would become less charming, but on the day I was there they added a touch of leisure and whimsy to my tea experience.

After leaving tea, I took a stroll around the hotel grounds.  I came across the gift shop, where you can buy some of Halekulani’s tea blends to take home.  They also sell Harney & Sons’ Guide to Tea, which I already have in my collection of tea books.  If you are looking for a reference-like book to learn about different kinds of tea in a systematic way I highly recommend it.

I came across this intricate and artistic teapot egg upon leaving the gift shop.  Inside this panoramic hollowed goose egg lies a Chinese maiden in classic Han dynasty clothing. What’s even more amazing is that the figurine itself is completely made out of noodles by a local artisan who lives in Hawaii!  What a way to finish my Halekulani tea experience.

I’ll leave you with a picture of a sunny yellow hibiscus, Hawaii’s state flower, outside the entrance of Halekulani.  If you love taking tea and are in Hawaii, an afternoon at Halekulani is an elegant and unforgettable experience that shouldn’t be missed.  Despite the hotel’s fancy decor and exclusivity, a tea break here will leave you relaxed, rejuvenated, and wondering when you’ll be able to return back for more.

 

Leave a Reply to Bonnie Eng Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

shootingvienna

Too bad the blend was not that special but the location and ambience of that place just looks so perfect. The afternoon treats look like a delight as well, hope I can be there one day 🙂

Reply
Bonnie Eng

I know right? All things combined, it was still a very lovely experience. When you get there someday soon, just try to order another tea. =)

Reply
Monica

What a beautiful way to stop and enjoy life for a moment. The atmosphere, tea and food looks incredible. We went to Hawaii on our honeymoon; wish we’d done an afternoon tea instead of a luau. : )

Reply
Bonnie Eng

🙂 So funny…well, I’m sure you must know now–a good luau certainly has it’s benefits too! Next time, you can check out an afternoon tea in HI and know you’ve covered all the bases!

Reply
Lokness

Afternoon tea is so much fun! I will keep in mind about this place when I visit Hawaii one day. By the way, have you tried Gordon Ramsay’s afternoon tea in LA? It is pretty good! And they also have the tea picking box too!

Reply
Bonnie Eng

You know, I’ve been meaning to check that out for the longest time! Isn’t that where you took your cute Gravitar picture? Must make time to go…I love anything Gordon Ramsey! 😉

Reply
Lokness

Haha, yes! Good eyes! I love Gordon Ramsey too! I would love to try his beef wellington in Gordon Ramsay Steak (vegas)!

Reply
Catherine Dream

Since I’ve recently become a huge lover of a whimsical, decadent afternoon tea, this post was such a pleasant read and LOVED those photographs.
Here in the UK we are serious about our afternoon tea.

Reply
Bonnie Eng

Hey there Catherine! BTW I love your name. 🙂 I’m so pleased that you liked this little post. Many times, people don’t associate Hawaii with afternoon tea, but there are definitely some lovely places to get tea there. I often wish that our tea culture in the US would be as developed and cherished as that in the UK…I guess we are still working on it! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Reply
Laura McCoy

I am an afternoon tea fanatic and just discovered your blog. Looking forward to following after this scrumptious review of Halekulani!

Reply
<< PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST >>