The Ritz-Carlton Pudong
Add: Ritz-Carlton Pudong, 52/F, 8 Shiji Da Dao / 世纪大道8号, 上海浦东丽思卡尔顿酒店52楼
Tel: 2020 1717 / 2020 1888
Hours: [afternoon tea] 2:30-5pm
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com
Price: 198~268 RMB + 15%/afternoon tea set
Visited: Nov 2011
Please note that this is an arranged tasting.
It was a full house when I visited Aura on a Saturday afternoon. The atmosphere was perfectly vivacious – not so quiet that I felt obligated to mute my conversations, but not so loud that it felt clamorous in the least bit. With soothing live jazz permeating the air, gracious waitresses and waiters waltzing around, and a full view of Lujiazui and the Bund – I knew this is a place worth lingering.
The Ritz-Carlton Afternoon Tea Set (268 RMB + 15%) is a traditional three-tier affair. Though it’s designed for one person only, the abundance of food is enough to satisfy two people. Smaller sets and a la carte options are also available.
1st tier: warm plain scone and raisin scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
2nd tier.
Orange mascarpone with prune cake, hazelnut financier with cherry, lemon meringue tart.
Jivara chocolate caramel tart, mixed fruit tart with sable breton, chocolate passionfruit macaron.
3rd tier.
Cucumber rolled, chive cream and white bread; smoked salmon, herb cream cheese, sesame bagel; foie gras terrine, onion marmalade, brioche toast.
Poached prawn, avocado, mango salsa; roasted chicken in pita bread; tuna sandwich; crab mayonnaise, flying fish roe.
Aura’s tiramisu (85 RMB), a concoction of velvety soft Mascarpone with savoiardi cookie soaked in coffee amaretto syrup, would be a great a la carte choice.
I was quite happy with the tea set at Aura, though the savory items weren’t as satisfying as their sweet counterparts. With gracious service and melodious live jazz, however, this is an ideal place to spend the afternoon. If you are making this your next high tea destination, do know that Aura doesn’t take reservations, so come early (tea starts at 2:30pm) if you want to secure a window table.
For more high tea options in Shanghai, take a look at the Shanghai Afternoon Tea Guide.
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