Review: Mandarin Oriental Hotel High Tea

A few of us ladies decided to see what the classier side of DC did on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. When we found ourselves searching for a place to warm up from the biting cold on this windy January day we ended up wandering into the Mandarin Oriental Hotel's Empress Lounge high tea. (in reality we had a reservation...but it seems no reservation is necessary.)

Pro's

• Your choice from a variety of teas or coffees ($32) or cocktails($38)
• Buffet style of both sweet & savory for plenty to eat
• Comfortable couches to relax on
• Lovely patio area and views of the Tidal Basin in the summer
• Good attentive service without feeling rushed

Con's

• Ambiance was underwhelming for such an expensive luxury hotel (creepy mural of an Empress with monkey's swinging over DC and no music)
• Not enough savory treats (lacking the traditional cucumber finger sandwiches)
• Savory treats seemed stale... left over from Saturday's high tea
• Not a separate room...the Empress Lounge is directly off the main lobby of the hotel

Overall I give the Mandarin Oriental Hotel's Empress Lounge high tea a 3.5/5 stars. As I have nothing to compare it too I felt it was a wonderful way to start my discovery into DC high tea but left me wanting more.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel

1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20024

T: +1 (202) 554 8588

High Tea Empress Lounge

Saturday & Sunday

2:30pm - 4:30pm