I tagged along for a quick weekend in Munich while my better half attended a conference so I had carte blanche to try a couple of afternoon teas this time. The first one was the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich afternoon tea, a brilliant experience:
Afternoon Tea / High Tea at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich, Germany (five-star hotel)
Overall Mark: ★★★★★
Kempinski Munich Afternoon Tea price: 39€/person; A-la-carte Cakes & Sweets: 8-9€/piece
Tea refills: Yes (1 choice per person); Food refills: No
Service: Every day from 3 to 6 pm in the Jahreszeiten Lobby Lounge (Reservation not possible)
The Setting ★★★★★
The Kempinski Munich (formerly the Four Seasons Munich) sits in a historical building along Maximilianstraße, just a stroll away from Marienplatz. The hotel opened its doors in 1858 and hosted many prestigious guests throughout its history, including Franz Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth II.
The hotel’s grand entrance leads directly into the Jahreszeiten Lobby Lounge, where the afternoon tea is served.
The Jahreszeiten Lobby Lounge ★★★★☆
I’m always torn when it comes to Lobby Lounges, as they tend to lack the privacy offered by a dedicated venue.
This one is no exception but there are many reasons to love it regardless: the atrium’s gorgeous ceiling is one of a kind, there’s a stunning arrangement of beautiful flowers in the middle of the lounge and, last but not least, the pianist is brilliant.
Live music: Yes, from 3 to 6 pm.
Korean Jewel Green Tea
The Tea & Beverage Selection ★★★★★
There are more than 40 teas and infusions on offer, all sourced from the Ronnefeldt tea company. Each tea is carefully selected by the hotel’s tea sommelier “Joël Belouet”, who has been working at the Vier Jahreszeiten Munich for almost 45 years. The gentleman is now of age to retire but he still comes to the hotel three times a week. Working in hospitality is a vocational thing indeed!
The tea quality is excellent and each tea is perfectly brewed to ensure that you get to enjoy a perfect cup. Allow me to recommend the Korean Jewel Green Tea, one of the best brews I’ve had in a while.
The only downside is that the afternoon tea only comes with a single choice of tea so do choose wisely. You’ll be paying an extra 13€ per extra pot of tea, a fair price considering the overall quality but it can add up fairly quickly.
40 teas & infusions from the Ronnfeldt teahouse (black, green, white, oolong and infusions)
13€ per teapot
The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich Afternoon Tea
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich Afternoon Tea with Korean Jewel Green Tea
The Kempinski Munich afternoon tea is exactly how you’d expect a traditional English afternoon tea to be: you’ll get sandwiches, scones and cakes, plus à-la-carte pastries and chocolates should you crave for even more sweets.
The Savouries ★★★★☆
The afternoon tea starts with four sandwiches served in duplicate (so a total of eight sandwiches per guest):
- Roast-beef sandwich ♥
- Ham & Cheese sandwich ♥
- Salmon & Cucumber sandwich with Wasabi
- Egg & Remoulade sandwich
The Roast Beef and the Ham & Cheese sandwich were simple yet delicious while the Salmon sandwich was ruined by the excessive Wasabi (I’m normally quite fond of strong flavours but sometimes it just ruins the flavour).
It’s a small thing but I just love how the sandwiches are sprinkled with salad leaves, adds a refreshing touch which is most welcome in the summer.
The Scones ★★★★☆
While the savouries don’t offer much variety, the scones come in three flavours: Plain, Raisin and Chocolate. The toppings are equally varied: Strawberry Preserve, Clotted Cream and Lemon Curd.
The strawberry preserve is homemade and you’ll be able to tell: it’s heavenly and enhances the scone’s flavour tenfold. I’m always very pleased when scones are served with three or more toppings, especially when it’s lemon curd!
I simply regret that the scones weren’t served separately or at least wrapped in a blanket to retain their warmth.
The Cakes & Sweets ★★★★☆
The Afternoon Tea Cakes & Sweets ★★★☆☆
The afternoon tea cakes were less varied but quite tasty:
- Raspberry Mousse
- Passion-Fruit Tart
- Chocolate Panna-Cotta topped with Berries ♥
I enjoyed the choco pannacotta slightly alcoholic taste, it adds a nice kick to the chocolate mousse!
The à-la-carte Cakes & Sweets ★★★★★
Budget and appetite permitting, I strongly encourage you to order the pastries designed by the in-house head pastry chef “Ian Barker”. They are as marvellous, a true pleasure for the eyes and for the taste-buds.
Below you can admire “Les Fraises” cake (the strawberries) and the “Les Framboises” éclair (the raspberries) in the pictures below.
There are plenty of homemade pastries and chocolates to choose from. Any respectable sweet-toothed gourmet is bound to find happiness here, at the risk of breaking the bank and gaining a few kilos 🙂
A-la-carte cakes: 8-9€ a piece
Service ★★★★★
Kempinski Hotels offer impeccable service and the Vier Jahreszeiten is no exception. Having such a seasoned tea sommelier in charge is bound to make tea lovers like your truly even happier.
Below is a video detailing the contents of the Kempinski Munich afternoon tea:
Conclusion & Overall Mark ★★★★★
The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich Afternoon Tea is excellent and delivers a fantastic experience. It shines especially bright with its high-quality tea selection and à-la-carte cakes, thanks to its veteran tea sommelier and talented pastry chef.
Tea connoisseur and gourmets will have a fantastic time, but may also end up spending a hefty bit on extras!
+: Gorgeous setting
+: The live music
+: The tea selection
+: Tasty food
+: The Ian Barker cakes & sweets
+: Kempinski Service
+: The Tea Sommelier
-: A lot of people going through the lobby
-: No bookings
-: Expensive with extras (tea and/or pastries)
Phone: +49 89 2125 1745
Email: hotelbar.vierjahreszeiten@kempinski.com
Address: Maximilianstraße 17, 80539 München, Germany
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