Where to enjoy a luxurious afternoon tea with never-before-seen ceramic art


Raffles Makati offers Imperial Afternoon Tea with Ayala Museum's Qinghua Exhibition

If you're looking to take your afternoon tea experience to the next level, look no further than The Writers Bar at Raffles Makati. This revered institution, known for its earlier luxury brand collaborations with the likes of Kate Spade and Moët Hennessy, is continuing its tradition of themed afternoon teas this year with the Ayala Museum, featuring a Chinese-themed high tea.

Inspired by the Qinghua exhibit at the museum, The Writers Bar seamlessly incorporates the rich history, culture, and art of Chinese blue-and-white wares with a fine selection of TWG tea blends, savory and sweet canapés into a delectable afternoon tea experience.

The Imperial Afternoon Tea features a multi-tiered set for two, including savory canapés such as mantou with chilled milk fish and peanut sauce, foie gras on brioche with Shaoxing jelly, sweet and sour shredded pork tartelettes, fresh spring rolls with poached prawns, and steamed soy chicken with five-spice powder on dark bread.

For the sweet offerings, the menu includes Jasmine tea and caramel bamboo mousse cake, butterfly pea flower macarons, mini sweet potato pies, Mandarin and mango tartlets, red bean choux au craquelin, and black sesame pralines. Other inclusions are pineapple anise scones, homemade spice pineapple marmalade, and classic scones with clotted cream.

To enhance the experience, one can upgrade to include glasses of the hotel's signature mocktails, cocktails, or champagne.

“From Jan. 26 to Mar. 30, 2023, the Imperial Afternoon Tea may be enjoyed at The Writer’s Bar amid a captivating collection of Qinghua fine wares on loan from the Ayala Museum’s ‘Loving the Qinghua Exhibit,’ with select pieces publicly displayed for the first time exclusively at Raffles Makati,” the hotel says in a release. “These historical artifacts specially produced as export commodities from China to the rest of the world dating back 13th to 16th century.”

The Writers Bar, led by Raffles Makati Director of Sales and Marketing Eugene Tamesis, together with hotel manager Aubrey Ada, launched the Imperial Afternoon Tea last month in the company of VIP guests, celebrities, and media personalities. Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan and Roberto T. Villanueva Foundation President Marybeth Villanueva-Kilayko were also in attendance.

The Imperial Afternoon Tea is available daily from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. by reservation. Each set for two costs P2,800 net. If you present booked Ayala Museum tickets during your afternoon tea, you can enjoy a 20 percent discount. To reserve, visit http://bit.ly/BookTheWritersBar.

Photos courtesy of Raffles Makati