Brisbane Marriott has launched a new Blooming Afternoon Tea and true to its name, this one is all about florals, botanicals and beautifully presented treats.

I took my 10-year old daughter Rose with me to sample this new high tea. We’re already giving Marriott extra points for calling it an “afternoon tea“, which is the correct term – even though it’s more commonly known as “high tea” here in Australia.

Did you know I’m the Brisbane High Tea Queen? Read my guide to the Best High Teas in Brisbane here.

The Setting

The Brisbane Marriott is an elegant 5-star hotel located near the Brisbane River in the CBD.

High tea is served in Motion Bar and Grill – the hotel’s onsite restaurant, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are also served.

We were seated in a quiet corner by the window and were very well looked after by the attentive staff.

Even the napkin had been folded in the shape of a rose – a small detail but one that tied in beautifully with the blooming theme.

The Menu

The Blooming Afternoon Tea features botanical-inspired savouries, floral sweets, scones and the signature blooming tea collection.

This high tea starts from $69 and includes unlimited tea or coffee, with upgrades available for sparkling wine or cocktails.

The home of afternoon tea has to be London, with The Ritz leading the way. Read about our experience of afternoon tea at The Ritz here.

The Drinks

On the high tea menu you’ll find a selection of five signature blooming teas, all with botanical notes. If you’d prefer something more traditional, you can also choose classics like English Breakfast or peppermint tea.

We tried the black tea infused with amaranth, jasmine and strawberry. It was presented beautifully in a clear glass teapot and teacup – very modern, very striking. The tea starts off as a ball inside the teapot before gradually expanding – or blooming – as it steeps in the hot water. This was a lovely touch and perfectly in keeping with the botanical theme.

In addition to the tea, you can order a cocktail from the dedicated afternoon tea cocktail menu. All the cocktails have a floral theme. I tried the Chandon Garden Spritz and Rose had a non-alcoholic mocktail version made specially for her. Both looked beautiful and tasted delicious.

The Savouries

The savoury selection consisted of a cucumber ribbon sandwich, a smoked salmon ribbon sandwich, two turkey and cranberry mini-brioche rolls and a mushroom tartlet. I loved the traditional elements here. Cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches are classic high tea choices, paired with something a little more modern in the turkey brioche and mushroom tartlet.

The wild mushroom tartlet was absolutely phenomenal – the highlight of the savouries, and I’m not usually a big mushroom fan. The crisp pastry and rich, herby thyme flavour made it a sublime bite. Rose really enjoyed the turkey brioche roll, so it’s a good job there were two!

The Scones

The scone layer was very generous. Two huge scones each, one plain and one cranberry. The cranberry scone had dried cranberries on top, but I would have liked to see them throughout the scone for a more even cranberry flavour. The scones were served with raspberry jam and vanilla bean Chantilly cream. The jam was a little firm, but the cream was sweet and thick with a good vanilla flavour.

Although still not clotted cream! My quest to find clotted cream in Australia continues. The closest we’ve come so far is actually on the Gold Coast. Read about it here.

We could only manage one scone each and took the other home for later. If we’d eaten both scones, we definitely would have been too full for the sweets – and what a travesty that would have been!

The Sweets

This is where the Blooming Afternoon Tea really came into its own.

The sweets consisted of a passionfruit cheesecake, raspberry macaron, chocolate tart and vanilla brioche. Each was a delicate size, with a good variety of flavours to finish the tea. The chocolate tart was outstanding – rich, dark and indulgent. The vanilla blossom brioche was also sensational. It was puffy, sweet and creamy – like eating a cloud. We finished with the passionfruit cheesecake, which was light and zesty – the perfect ending.

High tea should always finish on a high and the Marriott really nails this. The sweets are what you build up to – they’re the pinnacle of the high tea and the lasting impression you take away. If you’re going to do one thing right, make it the sweets.

We recently had a high tea where the savouries were the highlight and the sweets a little disappointing – and it really affected our overall impression. Read about it here.

Blooming Afternoon Tea at Brisbane Marriott – Final Thoughts

I loved the balance of traditional and modern elements throughout this high tea, from the cucumber sandwiches to the blooming tea infusions. Overall, the food was delicious. I’ll be thinking about that mushroom tartlet and vanilla brioche for a long time to come.

This is a thoughtful high tea. The blooming theme runs throughout, from the tea and cocktails to the flavours and garnishes. It’s an excellent choice for a special high tea in the city.

With thanks to the Marriott for hosting us! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Where to Next?

Still deciding? I’ve now visited many of Brisbane’s best high teas, from traditional English afternoon teas to themed seasonal experiences. If the Marriott isn’t quite what you’re looking for, have a look at my guide to Brisbane’s best high teas to compare them all.

Making a weekend of it? The Brisbane Marriott Hotel is situated near the Brisbane River and a 10-minute walk from Queen Street Mall. If you’re visiting Brisbane, it’s a lovely base for a weekend escape.