It doesn't get lovelier than the afternoon tea service at Halekulani. It's a pricey but very special treat if you happen to be in the area on vacation. The relaxation and truly excellent service is well worth the price. I have to say, I almost cancelled our plans to go after an evening of pre-dinner cocktails at House Without A Key. I couldn't imagine paying almost $50 a person for the type of service we received there. But I'm glad we persevered, because the tea experience turned out to be quite the opposite. Our servers were beyond attentive during our tea, helping us to select our pots, presenting each lovely course, and offering to box up what we didn't finish at the end in a very cute reusable totebag, which I wasn't at all expecting but highly appreciated, as someone who can't stomach food waste. The tea and the food offerings were exquisite. I had a wonderful honey oolong, and my husband went with the house earl grey blend, which he loved. I do wish that milk had been brought with the tea, as I prefer my black teas with a smidge of dairy, instead of just sugar, but I'm sure it would have been brought if we asked. But since the tea was lovely on its own, we just went without. The first course served is a basket of cloth napkin-wrapped and still warm scones and financiers. These were accompanied by adorable little jars of lemon curd, strawberry jam, and a thick clotted cream, which honestly tasted best all layered together--a little tart, a little sweet, and a little fat. The scones, studded with currents, were buttery and light. Scones aren't normally my favorite because of how dry they can be, but these were great, and split easily with a fork to open up and pile high with condiments. But the financiers, normally one of my favorite pastries, were perfected here, baked in a canele mold, which allowed for more chewy, caramelized edges. Fresh and warm, they were heaven. These were tough acts to follow, but we were soon bought a two-tiered tray of savory sandwiches and desserts. There were 4 mini tea sandwiches, each lovely, but my favorites were the lox on rye, which featured buttery salmon studded with capers, and a chicken salad sandwich, topped with crushed peanuts. I typically add toasted slivered almonds when I make chicken salad at home, but have never thought to use peanuts instead. Now I'm kicking myself for all the wasted years, because this was absolutely decadent. The desserts were probably the weakest link, although still all very tasty. My favorite was a pastry shell filled with what tasted like banana cream. But I would rather have had another another jam- and cream-topped financier, to be honest. I'm not sure if I would return, simply because it's an odd hour to have such a large amount of food, and I think that next time, I'd try to find a place that serves a lunchtime tea instead. But who knows--I wouldn't turn up my nose at a visit back, if only to stuff my face with canele-shaped financiers. read more

What a nice place to have afternoon tea! Located in the Halekulani in Waikiki, you've got front row seats to a beautiful beach, Diamond Head, and great weather. Well, at least the weather was perfect when I finally made it out to Orchid's. It is a little pricy, considering you're not there to indulge in a tea and sandwich buffet. But it was off the beaten path for me and a nice afternoon spent with some great company. For the "Classic" option, you get your choice of one tea flavor, and also includes 4 mini sandwiches - chicken, salmon, cucumber, and ham - and also a few dessert bites. My favorite was the salmon. Be forewarned: every person attending your tea party must purchase one set. No "sharing" allowed. Meaning, everyone is expected to order something. No biggie. Just be prepared to fork over approximately $40 dollars, depending on the option you select. As for the tea - I opted for "Eden Rose" and was very happy with my selection. My friends all liked their choices too. Overall, it was a great experience. I'd say this is something nice to do with a few girlfriends over a special occasion. The service was great. The ambiance was excellent. Check them out for a new experience! read more

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Afternoon tea, not high tea. 4pm is proper. Pinky up; NEVER. Tea then milk. 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock to stir. Never tap the spoon on the cup. No slurping. Scone is pronounced "SKON". Break, not cut the scone then apply condiments. One item on the plate at a time. Finger sandwiches are eaten with fingers. Sticky sweets are eaten with a fork. One bite treats? Never. Enough rules of etiquette for an afternoon snack? Lucky we live Hawaii. Oh yes, the rules should be followed, but we get to do it with a gentle sea breezes and a view of the Pacific to die for. The bikini clad, bronzed beauty dancing to her own beat on the beachwalk an added bonus. Simply put, very good. Selection of well brewed, aromatic teas. Four adaptations of the classic British finger sandwiches including a velvety cold smoked salmon with lemon cream on rye and intriguing chicken with horseradish topped with crushed peanuts that taste oddly like a peanut butter sandwich. The breads, seeded with flavors that compliment the tea. Well controlled sweetness for the cakes. Well made, warm poppy seed mini cakes and fresh baked currant scones with chilled Devonshire cream, silky lemon curd, and bright Kula strawberry preserve. Gigantic fresh Kula strawberries with fresh whipped cream and an agreeable glass of champagne. How civil. Note / Tips: Tea is served in Orchids (beach view) and the Veranda (garden view). If the trades are blowing, opt for Orchids. Reservations only taken for Orchids. The Veranda does not seat parties larger than four. The best and most authentic of the top afternoon tea services on Oahu. Brilliant. read more

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I am a tea drinker but It was my first real afternoon tea in Hawaii today. I had tea and Mini cake at Veranda at Kahala hotel but I could not have a full tea set due to I had dinner reservation right after. And today my girl friend took me there as my birthday tea. It was just perfect in every possible way. The best location, sweets, tea and wonderful company. You know, when you live here and work everyday and some weekends, you often don't stop and think that you live in one of world paradises. This place is perfect spot to make you see and feel the air of Hawaii many people are attracted to from all Over the world. We all have to stop and smell roses some times. So I did . How lucky we are to have Halekulani and how lucky I am to have such wonderful friend. read more

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You can't beat the view of the beach with high tea at Orchids inside the Halekulani Hotel. They have 12 different teas and three afternoon tea options. My party did the classic afternoon tea and my favorite items from this selection were the poppy seed bread, the lemon curd and strawberry preserve for the scones, the smoked salmon on rye bread, and all the decadent desserts. The desserts were very pretty, lightly sweet, and just fancy. Such a beautiful place to celebrate or just enjoy an afternoon with tea sandwiches, pastries, desserts and tea! read more

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Went for the walk-in only afternoon tea in the gazebo across Orchid's restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. Fans and a breeze through the restaurant provide a cool sitting area for the fancy tea. Heavy white tablecloths and napkins add an elegant touch. We were given menus, chose the classic tea, and then a box of many assorted teas to choose from. After smelling them all, we chose the Halekulani tea & the chamomile. When the tea and food arrived it was so beautiful! The savories had many choices and the sweets were delicious and came with little pots of lemon curd, strawberry jam, and clotted cream to eat with the tiny scones and sweet sticky profiteroles. We couldn't finish everything and were still stuffed. Took our leftovers home to enjoy later. Valet parking with full validation, plus tip. An elegant afternoon. read more

Great service, beautiful hotel. Sandwiches and desserts were delicious, and the tea selection was lovely! read more

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I have the most amazing friends who take me to amazing places for my birthday (thank you Cara Y!!). This year, I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon at the halekulani for tea on the veranda. It's so fancy and cute and made me feel like I was in England. Basically magical. Seating for afternoon is first come first served and there are only a few tables, so plan accordingly!! For $35, you get your choice of tea, a basket of scones, a plate of desserts and a plate of sandwiches. You can upgrade your tea to add a glass of champagne for additional cost. :) I chose the jasmine tea, but there is a leaf sample box that you are presented with to choose which tea you'd like. It's kind of fun smelling all the different teas. The scones are phenomenal and they come with a variety of spreads including strawberry jam, lemon curd and cream. They'll even pack up your left over scones if you ask nicely! The presentation is excellent and the desserts are seasonal. I can tell that the pastry chef likes getting creative because we had a little dessert with a pipette in it. It makes me want to go back and try different desserts when they change the menu. The service was excellent, I can't say enough about the wait staff; everyone was so professional and courteous. A couple next to us left in the middle of their tea for some reason and not knowing if they were going to return, the waiter draped cloth napkins over the food so the wildlife wouldn't be able to get to it. The ambiance here is really perfect for afternoon tea. I like that the veranda faces the courtyard instead of being on the ocean and that you can lounge about in the adjacent "living room" area next to orchids. I highly recommend Halekulani afternoon tea for special occasions or something fun and different :) read more

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Afternoon tea time with a girlfriend of mine visiting from California was a great way to celebrate a reunion!! Classy, fancy, and dress up for tea is our thing to make girl time a fun and exciting time!! We were moved by the service we were provided by the hosts. Although they were fully booked, they made room for us in the Veranda to accommodate our limited time! Keith, the gentleman who called out for us after being told there was no room at tea time and that wait time was about 40 minutes. Keith noticed a family asking for their bill and called out to us to let us know we may be accommodated much sooner than expected. We waited a short while in the foyer and enjoyed the fresh drapery atmosphere of a luxurious island getaway, surrounded by large flows drapes and opulent island treasures throughout the venue. It was an incredibly titillating experience and I would love to come back again and bask in the ambience! The teas weren't your everyday type teas, they were some premium blends of tropical flavors and a taste that makes memories in your mouth! It was addicting!! I highly recommend the Jardin Rouge and the Anniversary Blend! They paired well with the scones, sandwiches, and the other light snacks! We also enjoyed our glass of champagne to celebrate our girl time reunion! The desserts were Devine!!! Subtle chiffon and truffle layers in between delicate pastry layers, the raspberry or strawberry eclair was amazing!!! Beautiful outside setting of the green courtyard and the veranda draped in large exquisite drapes made our experience a memorable one! We look forward to visiting again! read more

Recently Honolulu Magazine listed the Halekulani as one of the best afternoon teas in Honolulu. So naturally, favoring all things fancy, I had to go! The Halekulani offers three types of tea service daily from 3pm in their Veranda and at Orchids: classic $32; champagne $49; and celebratory $54 (champagne + coconute cake). Seating is limited on the elegant Veranda so if you don't have a reservation, you may be seated at Orchids - which is just as beautiful with open air seating and ocean and diamond head views. We were able to make reservations for tea on any other day, but Sunday. Possibly because of their Sunday brunch at Orchids. Because their tables at the Veranda seat four and they can only accomodate one party greater than 4, I was advised to arrive early to get that space. When I arrived, I checked in with the reception at Orchids who told me to hang out by the Veranda to catch the man setting up the tables. I didn't see anyone so I wandered into the lounge where I asked about the tea. The man basically told me that tea didn't start until 3pm so I told him my situation with the larger party. Finally, they said they could put two tables together since they were seating a table of two and a table of 3. Just a warning if you have your heart set on having afternoon tea on the Veranda! I was lucky enough to have their tea service both on the Veranda and at Orchids. The menu is the same with the exception that the Halekulani blend is not offered at Orchids (they sub it with chamomile) and they use the same settings from the restaurant. You'll get the floral tea cup settings on the Veranda. Other than that, it is the same fine selection of teas. I highly recommend getting the blueberry rooibos iced for these hot summer days. The tea service starts with freshly baked currant scones and poppyseed mini muffins served with double devonshire cream and the most amazing lemon curd and Kula strawberry preserve. The sandwiches include: ham and watercress on poppy seed bread; cucumber with cream cheese and chives; chicken with Horseradish; and smoked salmon on rye. My favorite was the chicken. The assortment of pastries were visually stunning, but my favorite was the pretty red tiered dessert topped with a flower. Afternoon tea is such a relaxing and refined experience and to share it with family and friends makes it unbeatable. One of the better ways to end any day. read more

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I love when the hardest part of the day is deciding between tea or coffee. If only there were more days like that so my friends and I planned ahead to make afternoon work. I called to make reservations at least a couple of weeks in advance. The day before Halekulani reservations office called to remind me of the reservation. It's free valet parking with validation as well. There are two seatings for afternoon tea. One being at Orchids and the other on the Veranda. The Veranda seemed first come first serve while at Orchids you can make reservations everyday except for Sundays. We went to Orchids and seated right in the front so we had a view of diamond head and the ocean. There were birds flying here and there but not on our table or chairs. Their tea is amazing! There's a tea chest where it describes what type of tea and where it's from. You can even sniff the tea before choosing. My friends ordered the earl grey, pineapple coconut with mango and I ordered the blueberry roobios with the afternoon tea set. The set comes with assorted sandwiches, desserts, scones and a pot of tea per person. Presentation was beautiful! Each item had a significant design! Especially the cream puff dessert with the kahlua syringe. Scones are provided with lemon curd, strawberry jam, and cream. Tea is refillable so don't forget to ask for more! Hands on, the experience was fun. We felt so classy and fancy. It did get a little hot but that's because it's Hawaii and we're in summer. I think I would prefer trying the veranda next time. It was completely shaded and had a more private feel to it. The food was good but there were some items I didn't know what I was eating. I'm not much a dessert person but my friends who love desserts said that the desserts could be a lot better. Portion size is good as well. We were full at the end of the tea time so no worries. Carbs all day everyday! read more

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This was my first Afternoon Tea experience and I must say it was GREAT! I came because of the special pastry chef from Japan had desserts to share. We got tea, finger sandwiches, scones, and 3 cakes of our choice. OMG, it was all good. Why only 4 stars? Well...one of the servers really didn't understand English very well. I had the hardest time telling him what I wanted, or get answers to questions. And....the cleaning lady in the bathroom had no courtesy to acknowledge my question when I asked if it was ok to use the bathroom. She just gave me a dirty look and gave me a gesture to go use the open bathroom...GEEZ!...I thought this was a high-class hotel. Yelp 365 Challenge #26/365 read more

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I'm a tea addict and I love the afternoon tea at Halekulani! You can smell the tea leaves before choosing the teas. I got the 30th anniversary blend and the jasmine tea. Loved the little sandwiches and desserts. This is a legit tea service because the scones come with clotted cream, my favorite!! You can sip the tea and enjoy the snacks while relaxing near the beach with a view of Diamond Head. My friends treated me to the "celebratory special" for my birthday, so sweet! :) read more

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Location and atmosphere is great. Beautiful area with open air. The service was not great however. Our waiter was rushing us and my father in law was standing looking at the teas and the waiter rudely asked him to sit. Service was slow and seemed a little off for being a 5star hotel afternoon tea experience. Additionally upon paying, the second I signed the receipt and left a tip the waiter rushed over to grab it. At most places, it's customary to wait until after the guests leave before grabbing the receipt. I'm also disappointed that after receiving our tea, we asked if it was possible to switch out some of the desserts with fruit. We received the fruit but were never told it was an $18 up charge. I expected a much better experience for $300. read more

Me and my daughter love afternoon tea and everywhere we travel we try to locate afternoon tea venues. I made a reservation at 3:00 pm at the Halekulani on our first day in Honolulu. We loved it ,the view and the hotel are beautiful, the service excellent. Valet (parking validation) for those dining is available for 4 hours . On each table is a tea sampler with the description of the teas and samples of the tea in glass vials. We selected a peach and a green, the tea sandwiches and pastries were filling and good. The preserves and cream were to die for when spread on the scones. Overall, we had a lovely experience and will definitely return again. read more

Aloha! This is my first review although I've been using Yelp to find yummy eats for years:) Let's get started! I'm a tea fanatic so my boyfriend took me to Afternoon Tea at Halekulani for my birthday and it was fantastic! I've been to other "tea parties" on the island and this is hands down my favorite spot. The teas were delicious. You get to choose a flavor for your own pot of tea and can ask for more hot water after you gulp down the first pot ;) I'm a fan of Earl Grey and really enjoyed the Eden Rose tea. My boyfriend got the Anniversary tea and it was great as well. The sandwiches were scrumptious! I really liked the chicken sandwich covered with crushed peanuts. Who would've thought to put peanuts on the edge of a sandwich?! Yum! I honestly thought the desserts would taste like something you could get at a buffet, but they did not! They were light, delicate and well... yummy! There are two spots you can enjoy your tea and sandwiches at --The Veranda and Orchids. Orchids is a nice spot if you want to enjoy the ocean breeze and view. The Veranda is nice for a quiet and intimate experience. All in all, I loved this place and am trying to find a few friends to go back with for more. :) read more

Halekulani Afternoon Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Favourite afternoon tea place on island. Better than the kahala hotel and the view beats the Moana Surfrider's even though their tea and pastries were just as good! As an afternoon tea connoisseur , take it from me that this place delivered an extraordinary experience! read more

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I once took an online quiz to figure out which Downton Abbey character matched my personality. It was of no surprise that I was the: Dowager Countess! She's my favorite character on the show and I'm pretty sure in my past life I was her because that's how much I adore high tea! Enjoying a hot cup of freshly brewed fragrant tea while sinking my teeth into delicate sandwiches and dessert is my very favorite way to spend any afternoon! I was invited to have high tea at the Halekulani and was expecting to be seated at Orchids. To my surprise we were seated in a quiet room next to the Lewers Lounge. You might be disappointed that you're not getting an ocean view, but I actually preferred the serenity of the tea room because it doesn't as though you're in Hawai'i. Not knocking our island paradise, but a truly wonderful afternoon tea experience is like jumping down a magic portal into a world where life is hushed to a whisper, you are taken care of like royalty, and everything in your life is at peace. Do you understand how difficult is for someone like me who is a mother of three to have peace and quiet? It's rough. The nice thing is that if you still want the ocean view you can also be seated at Orchids. Our waiter was a sweet man who presented us a selection of teas in a beautiful wooden box and delivered a basket full of freshly baked currant scones. I've had scones from all around the world and these were so light and fluffy! If you've ever tried to make scones at home you know this is no easy feat because they can turn as dense as a hockey puck in a minute. The scones come with adorable jars of devonshire cream, lemon curd (my personal favorite), and Kula strawberry preserve. The tower of treats that we enjoyed had: -Ham and Watercress with Grain Mustard on Poppy Seed Bread -Cucumber with Cream Cheese and Chives on Caraway Seed Bread -Chicken with Horseradish on Whole Grain Bread -Smoked Salmon with Lemon Cream on Rye Bread -An assortment of insanely amazing pastries (see photos, but be warned they're almost too pretty to eat) The entire food experience was only made better by fantastic service, free valet parking and my gigantic Santa-sized belly full of treats. As we people watched guests through the veranda doors and drank tea from our delicate cups, I couldn't help but feel as though I was happily trapped in a Jane Austen novel. All I needed at that moment was my Mr. Darcy so we could scowl at one another. Afternoon tea daily 3-5 pm Classic afternoon tea - $32 Champagne afternoon tea - $49 Celebratory afternoon tea - $54 read more

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Halekulani offers one of my favorite afternoon tea services on the island. I have several afternoon tea places that I am partial to but none of them has the entire package like Halekulani does. If you are looking for the ultimate afternoon tea experience, Halekulani delivers on all fronts--gorgeous view, intimate ambiance, five-star service, wonderful tea, and scrumptious tea accompaniments! Tea service is offered in two locations--the veranda and Orchids. They don't take reservations for the veranda, but do so for Orchids. The veranda offers an incredibly serene ambiance while Orchids offers an ocean view. I have only had tea on the veranda and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were around six tables only in the veranda tea room and we were only one of two parties there when we arrived. It was lovely having tea in such a peaceful setting--the toils of everyday life were forgotten and we could focus on simply enjoying the moment. Our waiter was impeccably dressed and looked after us attentively. If you want more tea, you have only to ask. At the Halekulani, they don't simply pour more hot water into the pot--they will give you a fresh pot of tea. Everything from finger sandwiches to the basket of fresh scones and poppy seed muffins to the exquisite desserts was delicious. I absolutely adored the little elegant jars of lemon curd, devonshire cream, and Kula strawberry preserves. If you are looking to pamper yourself or someone special, check out the tea service at the Halekulani! read more

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Very disappointing Afternoon Tea Service especially considering the esteemed reputation of the Halekulani Hotel. The finger sandwiches were stale and tasteless, the desserts were very mediocre with one particular dessert tasting just like it had been dolloped with your nearest grocery store "cool whip" and not much else. It seemed like ages for our teapots to get refilled and we were left with parched throats, so that we had to take a major pause in eating for fear of choking. Also, there just were not enough servers to go around and we were left forgotten. A much better bet would be the High Tea at the Kahala Hotel or Moana Surfrider, our recent experiences were exponentially better there. read more

sip sip tea! hot gossip! aha I came here with my boyfriend as part of my birthday celebration as this place is quite fancy and I've always wanted to try it. I also wanted my boyfriend to accompany me since he's such a lover for pastries! We made reservations and the process was very easy. We picked out two teas for us to drink and we shared! We got the organic assam and the ceylon and india tea and both turned out splendid. They also have sugar on the side if you like your tea sweetened! They will also refill the pot with hot water for you so don't be shy!! The spread included 4 types of sandwiches/savory items and 3 different desserts. You also get a basket of scones and lemon poppy muffins? and you get 2 each for both the scones and lemon poppy. Surprisingly it was so filling we couldn't finish. The basket of scones was my favorite as the jelly and fresh butter they gave us was such a nice compliment. I would be happy with the basket itself haha! My favorite was the fresh buttercream and my boyfriend loved the lemon jam. Everything else on the tier was also yummy and I'm glad that it also came with grapes since it was a nice way to clear our palette. I do think since there are other tea places now for a better price to see what you like and experience all of it since they all something different. This is a great way to treat yourself! ps: they say no flip flops on the website but i wore my tory burch slippers with a nice dress and no one said anything :) read more

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Halekulani is my favorite hotel on Oahu so when I found out that they had afternoon tea, I just had to go right away! First of all, there are no reservations allowed on weekends so seating is on a first come first served basis. Tea is located next to Orchids and Lewers Lounge on a small veranda. There are 5 tables of 4 so good luck getting a table! The service was spectacular and what you would expect of this five star hotel. As for the tea and food, I found the tea selection to be a little on the small side. I have had afternoon tea all over the island and was just a little disappointed at the selection. The food on the other hand, was 5 stars all the way. The presentation alone was breathtaking. The food was so beautifully made that I almost didn't want to eat it! I just wanted to take pictures of it and stare at it. The desserts especially were just amazing. Overall, the setting was beautiful and the food and service were great too. I would highly recommend having afternoon tea at Halekulani! TIPS: Valet parking is free for 4 hours with validation. Tea is served daily from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm. read more

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According to our wonderful server, tea at Halekulani has been updated recently and, "is sooo much better than before". The price has gone up $5 to $32, but it really was fantastic! Tea: Each pot was brewed separately with fresh leaves, so we got to try several different kinds. There were many unique choices... one of the best was Earl Grey with Maui lavender. Food: There is no longer a dessert tray. Instead, you are served 3 desserts and 4 sandwiches. Everything was tasty (not bland like tea food can sometimes be), and the gold-dusted jasmine infused chocolate mouse 'pockets' were so heavenly I nearly swooned. Setting: Very elegant with heavy creme-colored drapes and roses on and around all the 6 tables. The bright, airy room opens out to a sunny tropical courtyard with palms and lush greenery. (And wait until you try the high-tech Japanese toilets in the restroom... Hilarious!) Come here for a special occasion or for a few hours of pampering. There is no way you'll be disappointed. read more

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This place was located in a beautiful location and the service was pretty good. What lacked was the food, all the tea sandwiches were a little stale and the flavors were bland. The desserts were good and so was the tea. For $36 I was expecting a little more since we do high tea/afternoon tea at home and it's quite lovely. A tiny bit of work and this place could be great. I might come back someday but not for this trip. read more

Elegance actualized. Everything here is beautiful and abundant! From the literal basket full of scones to special devonshire clotted cream, lemon curd, and strawberry preserves, to towers of gold dusted desserts...this is the epitome of tea as far as I'm concerned. It's expensive, definitely for a special occasion, but I would say it's worth it just to enjoy a beautiful afternoon in a beautiful setting with delicious food. Choices of tea are abundant, the servers are super friendly and very polite. read more

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This was the height of elegance! Gorgeous view, gracious service, delicious food. A little pricy but you get what you pay for, I felt like a Princess. This place is wonderful, an absolute must do! read more

My bestie and I went here today to celebrate her engagement. After much anticipation, I must say this place was not what I expected. It was even better!!!!! I am not a big tea person but they have so many varieties to choose from that it would be hard not to find something for everybody. I had the blueberry rooibos, chilled. On a hot day like today, it was absolutely perfect. It was the perfect blend of tea and fruit. The desserts were so soft and light. The scones and muffins were so fresh and warm. They seriously melted in our mouths. The sandwiches were very delicious as well. We had the celebratory package that came with a glass of champagne, strawberries with cream, and a cake. All of which were just amazing. I think we might have to make this afternoon tea date a thing!! I am definitely looking forward to going again!!! The staff was also very friendly and helpful with the selections. Our waitress was very attentive and would bring refills for my iced tea and water before I ever had to ask. The view was gorgeous. They have opened seating in the Orchid room so that patrons could get a beautiful view of the ocean. However, beware of the sparrows!!!!! They are FEARLESS!!!! They were nice enough to wait until we were finished eating before they came and picked at our leftover cake. No amount of swatting would deter them. They were on a mission. I swear one even hissed at me LOL. read more

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Such a cute room to have afternoon tea in! It looked very clean and fancy! We came in on a Sunday and it was not busy at all which was unusual said the waiter but it was great because we felt like we were VIP! The tea select was great and out of all the wonderful options I went for the jordin rouge and it was absolutely amazing!! We had our own individual tea pots and the food came out super cute finger foods and it looks deceiving like you can eat a lot because they're so tiny but I was so stuffed we didn't have any room to finish! The scones were amazing my favorite were the lemon poppy seed! It comes in an array of condiments. We wrapped it up to bring home and it came in the cutest halekulani bag! Definitely a great place to be with your girlfriends or your hubby! So cute! For $36 per head it was very well worth it! Such great staff read more

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A great experience...Liz our server was super nice...pastries and finger sandwiches were delicious...tea excellent...great view...great day of afternoon tea! read more

Halekulani Afternoon Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Love the idea of having tea time in an open-air restaurant. Love the view of the shoreline and of diamond head. Love how this restaurant is located in a gorgeous hotel. But what I didn't love was the tea, the champagne, the scones, the sandwiches, the desserts. Why? Because... The Tea: smelt good but flavors didn't shine through enough The champagne: ok but not worth spending extra for The scones: not bad but not as fresh as I expected it to be The sandwiches: fancy but I've had better (with simpler ingredients) The desserts: pretty but flavors were one-dimensional To sum it up, 5 stars for presentation but 2 stars for taste. And for the price I paid, I'd rather they focus on making everything taste better than look better. One more thing that I did love was the lemon curd. I'd come back just to be able to have their lemon curd, but hopefully the scones would be fresh and warm. read more

Halekulani Afternoon Tea - love the view, not so much the desserts - Tea Rooms Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Ambiance - 4 stars for the view of diamond head and how it's outdoors facing the ocean. Be careful of hovering bird and possibility of bird poop! Afternoon tea experience - 3 stars. Only 6 tables at most. Make your reservation. We got the Celebratory Tea ($54) set and the regular Afternoon tea set ($32): Ham and Watercress with Grain Mustard on Poppy Seed Bread Cucumber with Cream Cheese and Chives on Caraway Seed Bread Chicken with Horseradish on Whole Grain Bread Smoked Salmon with Lemon Cream on Rye Bread Freshly Baked Currant Scones Served with Double Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd and Kula Strawberry Preserve Assorted Afternoon Tea Pastries and Cakes A Pot of Fine Tea (we got fruity teas: blueberry and mango/pineapple) I didn't find the sandwiches to be that outstanding. The poppy seed muffin was too sweet. I've had better scone. The Celebratory set came with champagne, fresh strawberries with cream and a coconut cream cake. Parking - ticket was valeted for 4 hours. Get it stamped! read more

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Decided to do this Afternoon Tea for my 21st birthday with my mother. This was the right decision! I called ahead to make reservations for the Orchids and also requested no salmon with our tea set. On the 29th we arrived early and were seated promptly at 3pm at a beautiful table with a view of Diamond Head. We chose the Celebratory Tea Service ($50 or so) that came with a glass of champagne, strawberries and cream, a slice of coconut cake for each of us and the usual afternoon tea spread (sandwiches, scones and delicate desserts). I thoroughly enjoyed the whole spread but it was actually so much food! I would've been happy with just the delicious scones, poppy seed muffins and the jam, lemon spread and cream. I did wish that there was a "heavier" item in the mix, for example a cheesecake square. Everything was extremely light, with the desert being made mostly of mousse and the sandwiches being very soft and delicate. The coconut cake was good but it was also made of a very light cake with whip. I was given (for my birthday) a nice coconut sorbet with fruit that I really enjoyed. I really would've been happy with just the scones and cream. I wish I could order them to go! The staff was very helpful and attentive and I'll be back soon! read more

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Can we please talk about this place. The best service that I have ever experienced... even by Hawaii standards. Everyone was so great from the host to all the servers at both Orchid and the Veranda. I can't stop gushing about them!! The food was delicious and the prices are unbeatable for what you get! They offered to put my desserts back in the fridge bc I was working and eating slow. One guy offered to stand there and watch my things as I ran to the restroom. So much class and just amazing in literally every single way. Fell in love all over again with Halekulani. read more

Halekulani Afternoon Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My first time having afternoon tea was here at the Halekulani. It was everything i had envisioned it to be. Classy, fancy, & sophisticated. Everything was beautifully decorated with orchids & the ambiance was amazing. Love the ocean view! Service was ok. I chose the tea service that included a glass of champagne & strawberries with cream. The 3 tiered assortment was so beautifully presented. The sandwiches were just ok though. I only really likes the ham & cheese one. The desserts were just ok as well. Too rich in flavor for me. The best part of the meal was the scones! Freshly baked & warm with strawberry preserve, whip cream, & lemon curd. The strawberries were good too! Very sweet & the cream was delish! I chose the blueberry flavored tea which was very good as well. Sandwiches & desserts were just ok, but the ambiance makes up for it! read more

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Great service, divine delicacies, and beautiful setting. The last thing I'd want to do in Hawaii is go to afternoon tea. It just felt done and common. We can get afternoon tea literally anywhere. My two girlfriends really wanted to get it so I decided to go along. I was surprised at how beautiful it was. There was a bride and room out in the courtyard taking their wedding photos while we sipped our tea with our pinky up. Their finger sandwiches and sweets are in the top tier of what I've had for afternoon tea so recommend checking this place out if you're in the mood for a posh afternoon. read more

If your staying at the Halekulani.... I would de recommend stopping and having tea if you just need to relax for a little bit (burning some time beore your flight or tired from being in the sun) The tea set is a (cake and sandwhich) which you can nibble on while you have some tea or coffee of your choice. You get a quiet view of the court hard which is relaxing. However... seems like all the hotels of the Hawaii you get visitors of birds who want you to share. But the staff does a good job preventing most of them from coming. read more

Prices started at $44 and go up per person. The place itself is beautiful, located inside the Halekulani hotel. There's free valet parking so validation as well! We got there a little after 3 and no one was outside to greet anyone. We ended up standing around for about 7 minutes waiting for anyone who worked there. A gentleman finally came out of the back and seemed surprised to see us. He sat us and we choose what we wanted. He seemed nice but he was very absent the whole time. We had to eventually flag him down for the check after waiting and waiting for him to come back and check on us (which didn't really happen). The venue is beautiful, we got to see a wedding out front, and we got a nice breeze. The actual food was just ok. The sandwiches weren't very exciting or flavorful, although they were beautiful. The desserts were beautiful as well, but not really my cup of tea (no pun intended). Overall it was an cool experience to have afternoon tea but for the price I wouldn't come back again. read more

Halekulani Afternoon Tea - Dessert - Tea Rooms Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It just doesn't get any better than this place. The views are iconic and being there feels like being in a dream. It made the perfect graduation celebration with my family on their visit to the island. The tea and the snacks were beautifully displayed and tasted divine. :) Cannot wait to return soon! read more

This afternoon tea is wonderful for a special day. I attended with my grandmother and husband. The tea selection was wonderful, and even my husband who isn't much of a tea fan found one he liked (with the help of some of the sugar lumps on the table). The tea sandwiches and desserts were very yummy. I would say that the star of the tea was the scones and the lemon curd, delicious! The view of the ocean is wonderful and very relaxing. There were a few things that prevented me from a 5 star review. One of which was that I had called in advanced and asked for a view of diamond head which I was told I could have. Upon arrival they said the didn't want to seat us on the patio due to the spritzing weather (despite the fact that there were many other people on there). Then instead of setting us inside with a partial view the hostess sat us behind a huge pillar!!!! I was extremely disappointed. One of the reasons I choose this place was due to the view, and it seemed like the made a conscious decision to not give us a view. The other thing that was an issue for me was that the server never popped back by to see how were were doing, or to even offer us more tea. Maybe 1 serving is all you get, but for the price I would have assumed that you could get another pot of tea. Overall fun, but the lack of the view will always leave a sour taste in my mouth. They do have valet and they will validate it for you which was a great touch and made my grandmother feel very special! read more

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I finally got to try the afternoon tea at Halekulani with my Mom and a friend the last week of 2016. I first called to make sure they still had the tea service for the Friday my friend and my Mom and I wanted to go, then made reservation on opentable for bonus points. I've tried 3 afternoon teas on Oahu, -the Moana Surfrider, the Kahala hotel and now this one at the Halekulani. I'd have to say of the 3, this by far had the best service, tea and scones. They even brought out a table cloth and a dish of water for my support animal! so nice for him to not be forced to lay on the ground! Parking- unless you are up for a long walk, there is no self parking here. There is validated valet. The view was nice - you can see diamond head and Waikiki. There are some bushes and shrubbery that prevent you/other people from just going strait to and from the beach to the restaurant. The sandwiches were just ok, if anything, were a tad lacking. Some were even mildly mushy as tiny tea sandwiches should not be. The dessert was also ok. Not the best not the worst, but the best thing here in comparison to the other places I've been to is the service and the tea, scones, in my opinion. summary of the tea services I've been to: 1. Halekulani had the best service, scones and tea. 2. Kahala hotel has the fanciest most legit china (wedgewood and silver) and dishes; best view with the dolphins and no huge crowds of tourist sprawled on the beach, but the dessert there was super sweet. 3. The Moana surfrider had the best sandwiches and desserts. Depending on what specific taste you are aiming to please there is a more specific choice for every taste but you really can't go wrong with any of these places. Most will run about $30-60 for the afternoon tea service. I really enjoyed this place just for the service. The above and beyond for my guests and dog were the cake topper for me - and since I loved the tea and scones, I would definitely return again, if not making this my new go-to for afternoon tea. read more