Spots of Tea
No need to go down a rabbit hole to find a tea party in this town. From traditional Victorian services to feather boa affairs that would do the mad hatter proud, Lei Chic's tracked down the island's top pots — perfect for celebrating an unbirthday or a very important Alice-inspired date.
A Cup of Tea
You’ll feel like an English queen in this Victorian setting of floral décor and dark woods. Choose from three different meal combinations of soup, salad, baked goods and sandwiches. The soups change daily, ranging from hearty chowders to creamy bisques, and all tea services comes with assorted sweets like rocky road crunch, lemon tarts, and chocolate cake, baked daily by their in-house chef. A Cup of Tea, 407 Uluniu St., Suite 101, Kailua, 808.230.8832. Tea service ranges from $19.95 to $29.95 a person.
Pacific Place Tea Garden
A modern take on a centuries-old tradition, Pacific Place’s tea service combines tea blends selected and mixed by owner Lynette Jee. Order from the menu of 40 custom teas, and enjoy fresh mini pastries, macaroons, fresh fruit, and tea sorbet, all served on a three-tiered porcelain plate. Tea service also comes with your choice of a ham or smoked ahi sandwich. Pacific Place Tea Garden, Ala Moana Center, 808.944.2004. Tea service available noon to 5 daily, advance reservations required, $14.95 per person.
Tea at 1024
Start off your tea party by picking out your personal tea cup, and accessories like large brimmed hats and feathery boas. Your first course is a house salad with strawberries and feta with mixed greens, then choose from seven sandwich choices, like chicken curry, crab and olive, cheddar cheese and tomato, peanut butter and jelly, smoked salmon, or cucumber and pesto. Parties of three or more get all the sandwich choices, parties of two get a choice of four sandwiches. A tiered plate of desserts is the final course, with sweets like chocolate haupia pudding cups, lemon fruit parfait, brownies, scones, clotted cream and jam. Tea at 1024, 1024 Nuuanu Ave., Chinatown, 808.521.9596. Tea service starts at $17.95 per person.
Wai'oli Tea Room
Nestled in Manoa, this open-air restaurant is surrounded by lush greens and cool breezes. The high tea service comes with elegant antique English china, 21 different hot tea varieties, and a three-tiered tray topped with freshly made sandwiches, fruit cups, and a tasty array of baked goods, like mini apple duffs, oatmeal raisin cookies, green tea scones, chocolate cheese cake tarts, and Wai'oli tea cake served with honey butter and sweet cream—all of which change monthly. Wai'oli Tea Room, 2950 Manoa Rd., 808.988.5800. Tea service is offered 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, advance reservations required, $18.75 per person.
Westin Moana Surfrider
Perhaps the most luxurious and most strictly English of all the teas in town. Sip on custom tropical tea blends while you enjoy the shade of the stately Banyan veranda. Start with delicate sandwiches like focaccia bread with Westphalian ham, an open-faced smoked salmon roll, and a mini croissant with turkey salad. Vegetarian sandwiches are available upon request. Pastries arrive on a three-tiered china full of buttery scones accompanied by rich Devonshire cream, lemon curd and preserves, petit fours, cream puffs, chocolate opera, fruit tart, mango cream profiterole, and macadamia nut florentine. Kaffir lime-lemon grass green tea sorbet is a refreshing finale to the experience. The Westin Moana Surfrider, 2365 Kalakaua Ave., 808.921.4600. Tea service is $32.50 per person, offered daily from 1 to 4 p.m. Champagne and afternoon tea service is $42.50 per person.
