Afternoon Tea at the Makati Shangri-La

Inspired by blog posts on afternoon tea which I am devouring for purposes of a trip I'm planning to go on this year, I am now reminiscing on my most recent afternoon tea in our very own Makati Shangri-La.

One Sunday afternoon in February,  I attended a wedding of my college friend. Since the wedding finished unusually early (around 2 pm), we decided to proceed to Makati Shangri-La (the reception venue) and just spend the rest of the day having afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge (which turned out to be a really good choice since the lauriat reception dinner started past 8 pm already).

I simply love the grandness of Makati Shang's Lobby Lounge. I love how the afternoon light streams in from the floor to infinity windows. Certainly one of my favorite places in Manila. One afternoon to escape the hectic pace of the city. This is a place to relax and certainly, to indulge ourselves.

And the wonderful ambiance was only enhanced by a violin and piano ensemble. Our afternoon tea was only becoming lovelier :)

Makati Shangri-La has several tea set choices for afternoon tea: Shangri-La (P650), Filipino (P530), and Classic (P530). Each selection of afternoon teas comes with your choice of Ronnefeldt tea or Lavazza Coffee. They have such a wide selection of teas that it's quite hard to choose.

We ordered the Shangri-La and the Filipino tea set. For my tea, I ordered Caribbean Summer, a fruit infusion, mainly because I like the name :) My companion had classic Earl Grey, taken with milk of course.

Here's what the menu says the the Shangri-La set included: foie gras creme brulee, roasted bell pepper dip with garlic and olive focaccia chips, roasted vegetable quiche with olive tapenade, lobster and saffron mayonnaise on wakame ciabatta, signature sandwich: onion jam, lettuce, smoked turkey, tomato, avocado, and brie on sunflower brown bed. Then for the sweets, it had broken lemon meringue pie, white chocolate and wasabi panna cotta with mango relish, sparkling sacher lollipop, and green tea and strawberry tiramisu. And here's what it looked like. All I can remember is that they were all yummy! :)

And while afternoon tea is not traditionally Filipino, we Pinoys can proudly say that we have mastered the art of merienda ("afternoon snack") and I love how our very Filipino delicacies and traditions have been wonderfully blended in with the very British tradition of afternoon tea :)

The Filipino set has bibingka (sweet rice cake), beef kaldereta empanada (beef stew pie), vegetable okoy (fritters), pan de leche with chicken adobo spread, calamanis tartlet, young coconut salad, rice paste roll, and leche flan. The bibingka was certainly traditional and nostalgic-yummy :)

And of course, the tea was served in gorgeous and authentic bone china. I have been dreaming of having a real tea set of my own and these pictures remind me once again that I want one, whether a new set or a vintage find :)

Having tea at the Makati Shangri-La's Lobby Lounge is certainly one of the loveliest ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. Cheers! :)

Outfit Post
T & M nude asymmetrical dress
Patricia Fernandez handmade bib necklace
Vintage clutch
Charles & Keith leopard print heels

Afternoon Tea at the Makati Shangri-La Lobby Lounge
Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City
Prices are exclusive of service charge and other government taxes.
For restaurant inquiries and reservations, please call the Restaurant Reservations and Information Centre at 840 0884
Dress Code: Smart Casual