One Lump or Two?

Tea Time at the Biltmore

By Lizzie Wilcox

November 2019

Afternoon Tea is something we normally associate with upscale places in London, like The Ritz or Claridge’s. But Gables residents do not need to book a flight over the pond to experience this epitome of civility. Every Thursday through Sunday afternoon, the lobby of the Biltmore Hotel transforms into an English tea parlor.

With seating times at 2, 2:30 and 3 p.m., afternoon tea in this grand space is a perfect way to recharge before proceeding on to the rest of a hectic weekday. Or it can be a nice addition to a relaxing weekend.

As with any proper Afternoon Tea, it’s not just a cup of tea in the lobby of a hotel. And the Biltmore rises to the occasion. Shortly after being seated, a three-tiered tray arrives at your table, stacked with finger foods – scones, deviled eggs, salmon and chicken salad sandwiches – all delicious enough for Queen Elizabeth herself to snack on. As for the tea itself, all the popular varieties are on hand: green, black, oolong, and various caffeine-free herbal teas. And they are served in lovely china. On the recommendation of our waitress Izzy, we chose something a little different – the White Petal tea.

As with all the afternoon offerings, you are served real tea leaves that steep in your personal teapot; when you pour the tea, you place a filter over the teacup, so that you don’t ingest any stray leaves. The flavors are stronger with each cup as the leaves soak in the hot water.

The entire ambience is completed by a live harpist. If you’ve never heard a harp being played in person, you’re in for a real treat. It is serene in the best sense of that word, and if the tea hasn’t mellowed you out, the music definitely will. The Biltmore’s harpist-in-residence (so to speak), Katherine, sits on one end of the room, deftly strumming the giant, golden instrument. She may even throw some familiar tunes in, like the Pink Panther. As the Brits like to say, “Cheers.”