I’d like 8 of these chairs please…
There are times that only a little civility will do. Bush walking is fine and dandy (and quite frankly something that I actively avoid). BBQ’s are a much loved family get together. But sometimes a girl needs a little morning tea in a 5 star hotel. We’d popped into the Hydro Majestic on the way back from a shopping trip only to be told that as it was the Christmas period, their lounge was only open from 12-1pm (hardly long enough for a relaxing tea) so we ventured a little closer to where we were staying to Lilianfels.
The grounds are lovely, looking out towards Echo Point and their lounge has an elegant chic femininity to it. It’s only 11am but they’re flexible with their start times (afternoon tea is supposed to start at 12noon) but it’s not a problem. Nothing is a problem here and for the harassed or the ones in need of some TLC, its the perfect place.
There’s a selection of snacks, light meals and sweets but we order from the afternoon tea menu. For the 5 of us, we order the Lilianfels High tea for 2 with 2 pots of earl grey $66, a lamington tea for one with coffee $17 and a trio of Chocolate tea for one with coffee $21 and an extra Hot Chocolate $5.50. We ask if there are any newspapers or magazines to read and they’re ceremoniously brought to us. We can’t help but be impressed by the polite, deferential service.
While we wait for our tea, we venture outside to the manicured lawn area which also has tables and chairs. It’s lovely and a touch of gentility and overlooks Jamison Valley but as I am not particularly tall, I can’t see over the shrubbery.
Our drinks arrive first, Tuuliki is impressed by the pot of decaf that she gets, she only expects a cup but is pleased that she has a whole pot of coffee which gives her several cups full, and that soy milk is available. Rose enjoys her hot chocolate but concedes that the Paragon hot chocolate is better. Blythe enjoys her coffee and Anneli and I enjoy the silver service Earl Grey tea.
Foreground: Trio of Chocolate tea for one with coffee $21. Background: a lamington tea for one with coffee $17
Our lamington tea arrives first, its three mini lamingtons on a rectangular plate. They’re fresh and soft, probably the nicest lamingtons we’ve had. At the same time, our trio of chocolate arrives and we have a chocolate mousse, a chocolate layer cake and another lamington to choose from. The chocolate mousse is heavenly, a creamy sweet chocolaty concoction and the chocolate layer cake is accented on top by a thin gilt worded chocolate square and is devoid of any obvious “layers” but its extremely moist and rich inside with a hint of prune to moisten it further and a delicate dark chocolate ganache coating on the outside. I’m very glad that we ordered this plate.
Lilianfels High tea for 2 with 2 pots of tea $66
Our three tier afternoon tea arrives and everyone is impressed by how it looks. On top, there are two plain and two fruit scones, on the second layer are the pastries and cakes and on the bottom tier are the sandwiches and clotted cream (yes! finally a place with clotted cream!) and jam. Its a colourful and mouthwatering selection and somehow we manage to divide this into 4 as Tuuliki being a non egg eating vegetarian, partakes of the scones with cream and jam.
The sandwiches are eaten first, there is salmon on brown bread which Anneli and Blythe enjoy amongst much appreciative murmuring, Rose and I share the chicken, avocado and lettuce which is soft and pillowy good and the roast beef on fresh sourdough bun with mustard. I am not such a huge mustard fan but the mustard and beef are perfectly balanced, giving it just enough kick. I want more but restrain myself.
I try a little scone and its good, better than the Paragon but not as good as the QVB tea room scones.
I am however onto bigger and better things trying the cake tier. The mocha eclair is in a word or two fantabulous. The choux outer is not soggy at all like so many eclairs can be, the mocha creme patisserie is gorgeous and the chocolate coated coffee bean on top a lovely finishing touch. It’s everyone’s favourite. The strawberry tart is rich and buttery and the finely diced strawberries and custard cream lovely but then again, I don’t think I’ve ever met a strawberry tart that I didn’t like and this is no exception. The passionfruit tart is slightly too tangy for me although those that like a bit of bite or tang to their tarts might enjoy this. We’ve tried the lamington and chocolate layer cake before and the extra piece of chocolate cake is quickly divvied up. We’re pleased that the food is so good as they could’ve easily gotten away with average food given the setting.
Civility restored and persons calmed, we are ready for our trip home.
The Lounge, Lilianfels
Lilianfels Avenue
Echo Point, Katoomba, The Blue Mountains
Tel +61 (02) 4780-1200
Open: 10am-10pm
http://www.lilianfels.com.au
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16 Comments | Add your own
It looks very lady like
Hi Emily-It is indeed but not that bad if you happen to be a guy
Hi Lorraine – thanks for visiting my blog! As a newbie blogger I’m not sure how to send a direct message back, but just wanted to say I LOVE your blog!! Will be in the Blue Mountains this weekend, staying at the Hydro (have heard mixed reviews on it) but will definitely note some of the places you’ve reviewed. Thanks for keeping an awesome, useful blog!
Hi Nat-Thankyou so much!
Have fun-the Blue Mountains are great to visit and are an especially good destination for foodies! 
Hi! This looks beautiful! Great blog! I’m thinking about bringing my friend there for her hen’s party – was it busy while you were there? Do you think it would be possible to reserve the lounge?…
Hi Bec-Thanks so much!
We went around 11am from memory so it wasn’t full but it was busier when we left. There is a gorgeous outdoor section too if the weather is nice. I’m sure you could reserve a section of it, they’re very accommodating!
Have enjoyed this fantastic High Tea before. Setting, service & food fantastic. Another time we ordered the Lamington tray & whilst they were delicious they were definitly on the small side for one serving. The Lillianfells Lounge is the most wonderful place to pass a quiet afternoon by the fireside whether with friends or just by oneself.
Hi Pip-Yes they’re not large servings are they-but yes the setting and service is just so lovely I could overlook that
Hi NQN,
I just love your blog. I’ve been eating vicariously through your blog having moved away from Sydney a year ago! With all your beautiful photos, I almost feel as though I’ve eaten them myself!
I wanted to ask if you could recommend a couple of places that you might know of that would cater a high tea/afternoon tea for my upcoming wedding? I LOVE Lillianfels high tea, and wanted to emulate it for my guests….
Love Debs
Hi Debs-First of all congratulations on your wedding! What an exciting time for you
Thankyou so much for reading and for such a lovely comment!
There are quite a few places that do High tea and can perhaps cater. Have you tried contacting the hotels directly? The Sir Stamford does a gorgeous one that I just went to. Otherwise there are catering companies that I think would be able to cater a high tea and may be able to hire out the equipment like the nice china etc. I don’t know if that is of any help but best of luck with finding one that suits-it sounds like a wonderful idea!
I’ve been there. We stood there for ages waiting for someone to seat us. A flustered waiter assured us he would be with us soon. After ten minutes, we wandered over to a table and sat down. 15 minutes later and we still hadn’t been given a menu or asked if we’d like anything to drink. They weren’t even that busy, they just totally ignored us. It was terrible. We walked out.
We went to lilianfels for High Tea just recently and found it very disappointing. The service was terrible, they got our reservation wrong, our order wrong and did not apologise for anything. Instead of clotted cream, they served some runny cream. A total disaster, esp after reading your review, I was left very disappointed. I think it’s under new management which may explain it.
yes, I agree with you Diana. I went to Lillianfels for afternoon tea yesterday, and while some aspects were lovely, others were completely unacceptable. We ordered the chocolate tea (I wish we had yours Lorraine!) which had a brownie, raspberry mousse and then what should have been a chocolate fudge cake. But instead it was like a pumice stone, burnt like a cinder inside. I couldnt believe what we had just been served, it just tasted terrible. How anything like this could even leave the kitchen is appaling. They were not even busy, let alone apologetic. The delicious scones saved the moment, but only just.
I’ve been there last weekend.
The food is ok but sooooooooo expensive…not worth it.
This hotel is very substandard and a disappointment considering I spent my week of Honeymoon when I got married 5 years ago in the most prestigious room available. To come back and experience spider webs hanging off the curtains, dust filled vents and draw nobs missing from cabinets; I felt I was robbed of over $600.00 per night which is not the most prestigious room of them all. The breakfast and lunch was very poor standards and could have experienced and served greater variety at the Hilton or Stanford for a lot
less. This hotel requires their stars to be dropped severely.
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