The Best High Tea in Melbourne

There’s a (not entirely unfair) association between high tea and snobbery. It doesn’t help that you “take” high tea rather than “have” it. Or that it evokes imagery of a pinkie-finger-out ladies-who-lunch set that’s largely irrelevant in contemporary Australia.

And yet, the fun’s undeniable. High tea is a great excuse to dress up, not to mention a socially acceptable way of eating cake after cake. Some of these venues cleverly put their own spin on it (we see you, Yugen Tea Bar). But the ones who stay classic do so well, and very extravagantly. For either of these experiences, check off this list of Melbourne’s best high teas, curated by Broadsheet’s expert food and drink editors.