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With an abundance of afternoon tea options in Hong Kong, we couldn’t possibly leave the city without experiencing this quintessential tradition. We had a tough time narrowing down our list as a quick Google search yielded an endless number of promising results. So, we left it up to our friends who brought us to Café Gray Deluxe.

Located on the 49th floor of the swanky Upper House boutique hotel in Admiralty, the restaurant itself is just as classy. With high ceilings and a spacious and modern interior, I didn’t feel like I was in Hong Kong anymore – no shared tables or cramped eating quarters here. And let’s not forget about the stunning view!

The View

Café Gray Deluxe is brought to us by Chef Gray Kunz. He comes with an impressive resume with experience as Executive Chef at Plume in the Regent HK, Adrienne at The Peninsula NYC and Lespianasse at the St Regis NYC. While in NYC, he was awarded a number of prestigious accolades with numerous James Beard nominations and being inducted into the Culinary Institute of America’s Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Since Café Gray Deluxe is located in the hotel, they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Afternoon tea is also available everyday between 3:30pm and 5:30pm. The four of us dropped by for afternoon tea on a Sunday afternoon. We didn’t have a reservation but lucked out when we snagged the last available table. I highly recommend making a reservation (especially on weekends) to avoid disappointment.

Cafe Grey Deluxe

Their afternoon tea is normally priced at 235HKD per person or 395HKD for two people. However, we visited while a special Elie Saab inspired menu was being offered. When they initially said it was a special menu, I thought it would translate into a deal. Turns out, we had to pay a premium for this – 290HKD per person or 530HKD for two.

The special Elie Saab menu was inspired by the flavours and scents of their new fragrance. Here’s a look at what we indulged in:

Crab Salad Mini Croissant – with spring radish and cucumber

Crab Salad Mini Croissant

Cedar Wood Smoked Salmon – with caviar, crème fraiche and micro cress, Foie Gras Crostini – with fleur de sel, Roast Beef on a Pretzel Bun – chipotle aioli, oven dried tomatoes

Mini Sandwiches

Black Currant Scones

Black Currant Scones

Blueberry Macarons – orange blossom water, gold leaves, Mandarin Cheesecake – short bread crust, Fig and Ricotta Tartlet and Coupe of Jasmine and Longan – vanilla mousseline

Dessert

Frangelico Blue Ombre Cake and Lemon Financier with berries and cream

Dessert

After several consecutive days of non-stop walking (the life of a tourist), a relaxing afternoon tea experience at Café Gray Deluxe was just what we needed. I’ll admit that while the food was enjoyable, it didn’t blow me away. But the experience on the whole was fantastic with the stunning views and great service.  I wouldn’t hesitate to come back!

At a glance:

  • Located in the swanky Upper House boutique hotel in Admiralty
  • Spacious, modern restaurant located on the 49th floor; great views
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner is offered every day; afternoon tea is is available daily from 3:30pm to 5:30pm
  • Reservations are recommended
  • Had a great afternoon tea experience; the food was enjoyable (although it didn’t blow us away), the service was great and the views are amazing

Ratings (out of 5):

  • Food: 3 stars
  • Service: 4 stars
  • Atmosphere: 4 stars


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